How to Copy Blu-ray Discs to Hard Drive, PC, and DVD [2026, Tested]

📌Start with this short video for a fast overview of the process. Detailed, step-by-step instructions follow in the next sections.

Copy Blu-ray Disc: What Do You Need to Prepare?

Quick Picks for Copying Blu-ray Discs

• I want a 1:1 backup (menus & extras). Use Full Disc mode to create a BD-25/BD-50 copy or a full ISO. Best for archiving and playback on Blu-ray players.
• I want a universal single file. Use Main Movie → MKV or MP4 at high bitrate for broad device compatibility with near-lossless quality.
• I'm short on space. Use Main Movie → H.265 with a target size. Keep original audio (DTS-HD/TrueHD) when possible for quality.
• I want it free. Use MakeMKV to extract a lossless MKV, then HandBrake to transcode it into a smaller MP4.

Before copying Blu-ray discs, there are several crucial things you need to prepare in order to perform this task successfully.

📌Blu-ray Disc Drive: As regular DVD drives are incompatible with Blu-ray, you will need a writer that can handle Blu-ray discs.

📌Blank Blu-ray Discs: If you want a physical copy of the Blu-ray disc, you will require blank Blu-ray discs to write the copied data onto.

📌Blu-ray Copying Software: Several tools specialize in copying Blu-ray discs; we compare four of the most common ones (DVDFab, MakeMKV, Blue-Cloner, BurnAware) in the sections below.

If you're a movie lover with a large Blu-ray collection, you may want backups for playback on other devices. With the right software, copying a Blu-ray is a straightforward process. The sections below outline practical methods for Windows and macOS.

Why You Can't Just Copy a Blu-ray: Copy Protection Explained

A plain drive-to-drive copy of a commercial Blu-ray almost always fails, and that isn't your drive's fault — it's copy protection doing its job. Four schemes matter in practice:

• AACS (Advanced Access Content System) encrypts the video on standard Blu-ray, and AACS 2.0 guards 4K UHD discs with a stronger key ladder.
• BD+ adds a per-title virtual machine that patches the player at runtime, so a bit-for-bit copy still won't decode cleanly.
• BD-J menus can gate playback with Java logic that a stripped copy doesn't reproduce.
• Cinavia is an audio watermark: the disc looks fine, but a licensed player mutes or stops playback minutes in.

Region codes are a lighter layer on top. In my experience these four together explain roughly every "why won't this disc copy?" question I get. In the United States, only back up discs you're authorized to access, and only where permitted by applicable law and platform terms.

Blu-ray Copy Tools Compared at a Glance

Copy Blu-ray Disc to Hard Drive (Full-Disc Backup)

DVDFab Blu-ray Copy

DVDFab Blu-ray Copy is a complete Blu-ray backup tool designed for users who want to copy Blu-ray discs without losing the original structure or quality. It can copy Blu-ray movies to a blank Blu-ray disc, or save them as an ISO image or Blu-ray folder on the hard drive. The software supports both BD50 and BD25 sources, with options for 1:1 lossless backup or BD50 to BD25 compression when you need to save disc space.

It also provides five copy modes: Full Disc, Main Movie, Clone/Burn, Merge, and Customize. This gives users more control over whether they want to copy the entire disc, keep only the main movie, merge multiple Blu-ray sources, or select specific titles and chapters. For 3D Blu-ray discs, DVDFab can preserve the original 3D effect in a 1:1 copy. Features such as GPU acceleration, task queue processing, and metadata sync also make it more suitable for users who often back up Blu-ray collections.

💻Available on: 

👍Key Features:

• Handles disc protection (including Cinavia)
• 1:1 copy of a Blu-ray disc to a blank disc
• Copy or burn ISO files and folders back to a Blu-ray disc
• Lossless compression from BD-50 down to BD-25
• 3D Blu-ray copying with 3D effects preserved
• Batch copy mode for multiple discs
• GPU acceleration on supported hardware

👎Cons:

• The trial version only supports two copy modes: Full Disc and Main Movie

DVDFab also provides DVDFab Blu-ray Ripper. It can convert a Blu-ray disc, folder, or ISO into a single, device-friendly file. It targets MKV/MP4 with H.264 or HEVC at high bitrates.

How to Copy Blu-ray Discs with DVDFab Blu-ray Copy Losslessly?

Step 1: Launch DVDFab and load your source Blu-ray.

Free download, run DVDFab 13, and opt for the Copy module when it runs. Insert the BD disc into the attached Blu-ray drive, then the software will recognize it automatically and decrypt Blu-ray. You can also click the Add button or drag & drop an ISO file or folder onto the main UI.

Step 2: Choose one copy mode and customize the output Blu-ray.

First, choose a mode before you get started. There are nine modes available at present, and each of them represents what kind of output you want to acquire at the end.

DVDFab fully supports lossless copying of Blu-ray and DVD discs. By using features like "Full Disc"  or "Main Movie" copy modes, you can back up your discs to your PC as ISO files or folders while preserving the original video and audio quality without any compression or loss. This ensures a 1:1 copy of your source disc, including all menus, subtitles, and audio tracks, which is ideal if you want to keep the best possible quality for personal backup and playback.

Then, you can define the volume label and change other Blu-ray copy options including output size, titles, chapters, audio tracks and subtitles.

Besides, you can also adjust other Settings according to your preferences. Click the "Advanced Settings" and you will see a couple of buttons which stand for various purposes such as audio option, Cinavia protection disablement, HD Audio Removal.

DVDFab Blu-ray Copy supports lossless compression, allowing users to back up their Blu-ray discs while preserving the original video and audio quality. With this feature, users can compress larger discs (such as BD-50 to BD-25) without sacrificing quality.

Step 3: Select an output directory and tart to copy Blu-rays

Finally, select your output directory as a blank disc, ISO file, or folder, and click the Start button. You can get detailed progress information or cancel the Blu-ray copy task anytime you like.

Blue-Cloner

Blue-Cloner is a focused Blu-ray copying utility with a plain but clear interface, giving you control over output type, layer breaks, and which extras to include. It handles standard discs and older commercial releases well, producing ISO and folder backups without much fuss. One important caveat: the latest Blue-Cloner release dates to 2024, so compatibility with the newest 2026-era disc encryption can be hit or miss — brand-new titles are where I've seen it stumble most often. It suits users who want step-by-step visibility on a catalog of older discs.

💻Available on: Windows 7/10/11

👍Key Features:

• Remove some copy protections and Cinavia watermarks.
• Enable main movie backup
• Divide a large Blu-ray movie into two smaller discs with the option to retain menus.

👎Cons:

• The trial version allows for 1 Blu-ray copy only
• Unable to select the preferred title, subtitle, or audio to retain
• Unable to copy 3D Blu-ray movies or preserve 3D effect

How to Copy Blu-ray Discs with Blue-Cloner

Step 1: After installation, launch Blue-Cloner. You will by default be presented with the Express interface. If it's not visible, locate and click on the "Switch to express" icon at the top right corner.

Step 2: Insert the Blu-ray movie you want to copy into your Blu-ray drive. The software will recognize the disc and show the movie name and size in a scrolling bar. Once the source Blu-ray movie is detected, click the "Start" button to initiate the copying process.

Step 3: When data reading is finished, you will be prompted to insert a blank disc. If you're using two drives – one for reading and one for burning – you can insert the blank disk before starting the task. After placing a blank BD-R/RE, the software will initiate the burning process.

Step 4: The completion screen will be displayed once the burning process is fully completed. Enjoy your cloned Blu-ray movie.

MakeMKV

MakeMKV has been a fast, lossless Blu-ray ripper in my workflow for years. Insert a disc, scan for titles, and extract video, audio, and subtitles to an MKV without re-encoding. Frequent free beta keys keep compatibility current with new releases, and its LibreDrive firmware (v1.18.3, January 2026) is what unlocks 4K UHD reading on supported drives. One caveat as of June 2026: users have reported the permanent paid-license purchase page to be unreliable, so if you need a working purchase flow today, treat the free beta path as primary and a paid tool like DVDFab as the reliable alternative. Best for free, lossless MKV rips on standard and (with the right drive) 4K discs; not ideal if you need ISO/disc output or batch jobs.

💻Available on: Windows 7 and later; Mac 10.7 and later; Linux

👍Key Features:

• Most features are available for free
• Output MKV formats with no loss
• Retains all video, audio tracks, subtitles, and chapters
• Simple and easy-to-navigate
• Available for Windows, macOS, and Linux.

👎Cons:

• Only outputs MKV files
• The resulting files are large
• Doesn't provide editing or customization options
• Cannot output directly to ISO or disc folders

How to Copy Blu-ray Discs with MakeMKV?

Step 1: Download, install, and launch the software

Get MakeMKV from the official website, install it on your Windows PC, and open the program to start.

Step 2: Insert and load your Blu-ray disc

Place your Blu-ray disc into the drive and let the software scan and load the disc content automatically.

Step 3: Select Titles, Tracks and other options

After scanning, you'll see a list of titles (typically, the main movie, bonus features, etc.). Check the boxes for the titles, audio tracks, and subtitles you wish to keep.

Step 4: Choose the output destination

Set the destination folder where you want the MKV files saved.

Step 5: Start copying

Click the Start button to begin the process, then wait until the software completes your Blu-ray copy.

Copy Blu-ray Disc to PC/Computer as ISO

BurnAware

For copying Blu-ray discs to ISO on a PC, the simplicity of BurnAware helps. The interface is simple and clear: choose "Copy to ISO", select the source drive, and set a destination path. In testing, it handled home-authored and commercial Blu-rays when no active copy protection was present. It is effective for archival ISO backups of unencrypted discs and uses few system resources, even on older desktops and laptops.

💻Available on: Windows Vista 7, 8, 10, 11

👍Key Features:

• Rip Blu-ray to ISO and BIN disc images
• Back up multisession discs
• Recovery from damaged or unreadable discs
• Burn ISO images onto multiple discs simultaneously

👎Cons:

• "Copy disc" is only available in Premium editions
• Only copy unprotected Blu-ray discs
• The package includes additional software
• Doesn't support selecting titles, audio tracks, or subtitles

How to Copy Blu-ray to PC with BurnAware?

Step 1: Open the main window and select the Disk Backup or Copy Disc icon, after that choose your drive where the Blu-ray source to be copied is located in a new window.

Step 2: Configure Copy Settings

• Copy Disc: this option allows you to back up your Blu-ray as a single ISO file on your PC, which you can mount to play directly.
• Disc Backup: this option will copy the original Blu-ray contents directly to the new disc.

Step 3: Identify the destination drive in which the copied data will be stored.

Step 4: Initiate the copying process by clicking the Copy button.

Copy Blu-ray Disc to DVD (Down-Conversion)

Why Copy Blu-ray to DVD?

Blu-ray is still the main format for high-definition home video. Many people do not own a Blu-ray player, or they run into compatibility issues. DVD remains useful in several situations. You might want to share a film with relatives who have DVD-only gear. Classrooms and community centers often have computers with only DVD drives. Clients sometimes ask for DVDs as keepsakes after weddings or recitals. Many portable players and car systems read only this format. In these cases, converting a Blu-ray to DVD offers wider playback and simple access.

DVDs also work as a backup for important content. If a Blu-ray is lost or the player is not available, you still have a copy. You do give up image detail: 1080p from Blu-ray does not fit within DVD capacity. For many uses, the convenience and reach of DVD offset that loss. In my experience and in reports from other enthusiasts, keeping DVD versions on hand helps bridge the format gap. That gap is still common in homes and public venues.

Copy Blu-ray to DVD with DVDFab Blu-ray to DVD Computer

For down-conversion I reach for DVDFab Blu-ray to DVD Converter. It integrates with the rest of the DVDFab suite, and the menus let you pick the main feature, add custom subtitles, and set compression for DVD-5 or DVD-9. In practice, subtitle timing and audio sync hold up on the discs I've thrown at it — the two things that usually go wrong when squeezing 1080p into a DVD-9's bitrate budget.

👍Pros:

• Clear workflow and intuitive interface
• Reliable subtitle and audio sync
• Smooth integration with other DVDFab modules 

👎Cons:

• Conversion from HD to DVD inevitably loses detail 

How to Copy Blu-ray to DVD with DVDFab Blu-ray to DVD Converter?

Getting started with DVDFab's Blu-ray to DVD conversion is refreshingly uncomplicated, based on my own step-by-step sessions:

Step 1: Launch DVDFab and select the "Blu-ray to DVD Converter" module.

Step 2: Insert your source Blu-ray disc. The software automatically scans for the main movie and bonus features.

Step 3: Choose the desired title(s), then select audio tracks and subtitle streams as needed.

Step 4: Decide on DVD-5 (single-layer) or DVD-9 (dual-layer) output, and verify PAL/NTSC format based on your playback region.

Step 5: Confirm all settings and start the conversion. DVDFab re-encodes the video, shrinking HD content to DVD specs—a process typically taking 1–2 hours, depending on system speed and disc complexity.

Troubleshooting: Common Issues When Copying Blu-ray Discs

Even with planning and capable hardware, problems still appear during Blu-ray copying. After ripping hundreds of discs and comparing notes with home-theater enthusiasts, the same issues recur.

Read errors (CRC or seek failures)

The most frequent issue is a mid-copy read error, such as "CRC error detected", "read failed", or repeated spin-ups that stall progress. The usual causes are scratched, dirty, or degraded discs. A failing or dusty drive can also be at fault. In my setup, switching to a second drive—often a different brand—solves borderline cases. LG and Pioneer models each handle marginal discs with their own quirks. On AVSForum, users recommend careful cleaning. As a last resort, some use recovery software or hardware-level error skipping, though the latter is uncommon on consumer drives.

A/V sync problems

Audio can drift out of sync during transcoding or remuxing. This is more likely when the system is under heavy load, or when the source uses non-standard multiplexing (rare, but seen on some Asian or special-edition releases). MakeMKV and DVDFab usually handle these cases, yet a few discs rip cleanly with only one tool. Practical fixes include re-ripping the affected segment, reducing background load, and updating to the latest version, as developers often patch Edge-case sync issues.

Subtitle problems (garbled, invisible, misaligned)

Subtitles may be missing, rendered with odd fonts or sizes, or out of sync. Forced subtitles are a common source of confusion, since tools differ in their defaults. Always preview the output in VLC or MPC-HC and check every track. In some cases, hard-coding forced subs or remuxing with MKVToolNix avoids tool-specific rendering bugs.

Miscellaneous: ISO corruption, partial copies, playback glitches

An ISO or MKV may play on one device and fail on another. Typical causes include intermittent read errors, drive power drops, or rare software bugs. Verifying checksums and re-burning at a lower speed fix many cases. Community feedback also stresses keeping copy and burn software current; minor releases often resolve playback quirks that cost hours to diagnose.

Conclusion

Copying a Blu-ray in 2026 is mainly about choosing the right method for the disc and the playback goal. DVDFab Blu-ray Copy is the better choice when you need a 1:1 backup, ISO or folder output, BD50 to BD25 compression, or a more reliable workflow for commercial Blu-ray discs. BurnAware is suitable for simpler ISO burning or backup tasks with unprotected discs, while DVDFab Blu-ray to DVD Converter makes more sense when you need to play Blu-ray content on older DVD hardware.

Most copy problems, such as read errors, audio sync issues, or subtitle glitches, are easier to avoid when you use a working Blu-ray drive, current software, and the right output setting from the start. Always follow local copyright rules, and only back up discs you own or are authorized to use for personal viewing.