How to Rip a DVD to iTunes or the Apple TV App: 3 Tested Methods

I still keep several concert and movie DVDs that never appeared in my Apple library. To rip a DVD to iTunes today, the disc must first become a compatible digital video file; neither iTunes nor the Apple TV app imports the physical disc itself. The harder part is choosing a method that can read the source, preserve the right title and subtitles, and produce a file Apple devices accept.

I tested three conversion paths on Windows 10 and an M4 Mac with an external optical drive, then checked each MP4 in the Apple TV app. This guide shows how to rip a DVD to iTunes, choose settings for the source, and sync the result to an iPhone or iPad.

Quick Answer: How to Rip a DVD to iTunes or the Apple TV App

A physical DVD cannot be added directly to iTunes or the Apple TV app. First rip the DVD into an Apple-compatible file, import that file into the Apple TV library, and then sync it to an iPhone or iPad. MP4 with H.264 video and AAC audio provides the safest starting point for older and newer Apple devices.

• For a protected commercial DVD, use DVDFab DVD Ripper and check the detected main title before conversion.
• For a homemade or unprotected DVD, HandBrake provides detailed encoding, chapter, audio, and subtitle settings.
• For a short, readable disc that needs only a basic MP4 copy, VLC provides a simpler Convert/Save route.

Use only discs that you own or have permission to copy, follow applicable local law, and do not distribute the converted files.

How I Tested the Three Methods

I checked DVDFab 13.0.6.3, HandBrake 1.11.2, and VLC 3.0.23 with a Region 1 CSS-protected movie DVD and a homemade unprotected disc. The Windows 10 test used an LG WH16NS60 external optical drive and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Ti, while an M4 Mac covered Apple TV import and Finder sync. Each tool exported MP4 with H.264 and AAC. The comparison covered source loading, main-title detection, protection processing, conversion speed, subtitle and audio control, visible output quality, and successful playback after import. Hardware acceleration was used where the selected encoder supported it.

Method 1: Rip Protected DVDs to iTunes with DVDFab DVD Ripper

DVDFab DVD Ripper 13.0.6.3 converts physical DVDs, ISO images, and VIDEO_TS folders into MP4, M4V, and device-specific files for the Apple TV app. Its main value here is source access: the software can identify the main movie on many protected commercial discs, then let you select titles, chapters, audio tracks, and subtitles before encoding an H.264/AAC file for an Apple library.

The program also offers Apple device profiles, custom resolution and bitrate controls, video editing, and supported hardware encoders. I use this method when a commercial disc needs protection processing and reliable title selection.

Supported OS:

Steps to Convert a DVD for the Apple TV App

Step 1: Load the DVD source. Install DVDFab 13 and open the Ripper module. Insert the DVD into the optical drive, or use Add Source to load an ISO image or VIDEO_TS folder. Wait for the title analysis to finish before changing the profile.

Step 2: Check the selected title. Compare the selected title’s runtime with the movie’s expected length. Open Choose Other Titles when the disc contains episodes, bonus material, multiple cuts, or several titles with similar runtimes. Select the required chapters, audio language, and subtitle track.

Step 3: Choose an Apple-compatible profile. Open Choose Other Profile and select an Apple device profile. H.264 is the safer video codec when the file needs to play on both older and newer Apple hardware.

For broader control, choose Format > Video > MP4 instead of a device profile. This option lets you create one compatible file without selecting a particular iPhone or Mac model.

Step 4: Adjust the output settings. Open Advanced Settings and keep the DVD at its source resolution. Select AAC stereo as the compatibility track. When surround sound matters, retain a compatible AC-3 track as an additional option. Choose how subtitles should appear before starting the conversion.

Step 5: Export and check the MP4. Select a destination folder and click Start. Play the finished file locally and check the beginning, a middle chapter, audio language, and subtitles before adding it to the Apple TV app.

Optional: Convert Blu-ray to the Apple TV App

To convert Blu-ray to iTunes or the Apple TV app, use DVDFab Blu-ray Ripper with a compatible Blu-ray drive. Load the disc, check the detected main playlist, and choose MP4 with H.264 for broad Apple compatibility. Keep a standard Blu-ray at 1080p unless a smaller output is needed; changing a 1080p source to 4K does not create additional picture detail.

After conversion, import the MP4 through the same Apple TV app steps used for a DVD file. DVDFab DVD Ripper and Blu-ray Ripper are separate products, but both are in one software package.

Supported OS:

Method 2: Rip a DVD to iTunes for Free with HandBrake

HandBrake 1.11.2 is a free, open-source transcoder for homemade DVDs, unprotected discs, VIDEO_TS folders, and disc backups that are already readable. It converts the selected title into MP4 with H.264 and AAC, and its Apple presets apply compatible container, video, and audio settings. The title and chapter controls help separate a main movie or individual episode before encoding. The program does not defeat copy protection on its own.

Chapter ranges, queues, filters, quality controls, and subtitle selection provide more control than a conversion window. On an unprotected source, I prefer its preview and title controls for checking the result before a full encode; DVD VOBSUB tracks in MP4 must be burned into the picture one at a time.

Note: VLC is not required to install or use HandBrake for an unprotected DVD. Neither application adds complete built-in DVD decryption.

Steps to Convert an Unprotected DVD with HandBrake

Step 1: Open the DVD. Insert an unprotected DVD and launch HandBrake. Select Open Source, choose the DVD drive, and wait for the scan to finish. If HandBrake cannot read the source, first confirm that the disc is unprotected and can play normally.

Step 2: Select the correct title. Open the Title menu and compare the available runtimes. The longest title is often the main movie, but episodic and multi-title discs require manual selection. Use Range to encode selected chapters when a full-disc conversion is unnecessary.

Step 3: Choose an MP4 preset. For a standard DVD, start with Fast 480p30, HQ 480p30 Surround, or the corresponding 576p preset for a PAL source. An Apple preset can also produce an MP4 with compatible H.264 and audio settings, but a 1080p preset does not add detail to a 480p or 576p DVD.

Step 4: Check audio and subtitles. Choose AAC stereo for broad compatibility. Add a second surround track only when the target device supports it. In an MP4 output, HandBrake can burn one DVD VOBSUB track into the video; multiple pass-through VOBSUB tracks require MKV, which is less suitable for this Apple library task.

Step 5: Preview and encode. Use Preview to check a short section. Select the destination, click Start Encode, and play the resulting MP4 before importing it into the Apple TV app.

Method 3: Convert a DVD to iTunes with VLC Media Player

VLC Media Player 3.0.23 can open a readable DVD and send its title through the Convert/Save window to an MP4 file. This route suits a short, unprotected disc when you only need a local copy for the Apple TV app and do not need detailed title management. The profile still needs H.264 video and compatible audio settings before the file is ready to import.

VLC plays the source, which helps confirm that the optical drive can read it before conversion. I reserve this method for one-off jobs because title selection, subtitle control, error recovery, and protected-disc support are limited, and an unsuitable default audio codec can leave the exported MP4 incompatible with Apple software.

Steps to Convert a DVD with VLC

Step 1: Open the disc controls. Install VLC from VideoLAN, insert the DVD, and launch the player. On Windows, select Media > Convert/Save. On macOS, open the corresponding Convert/Stream controls.

Step 2: Select the DVD source. Open the Disc tab, select DVD, and confirm the correct disc device. Turn on No disc menus if VLC becomes stuck at the menu instead of reading the movie title.

Step 3: Check the title and starting position. Select the title or chapter when VLC displays those controls. If the output captures a trailer, bonus feature, or short clip, return to this screen and choose another title.

Step 4: Configure the MP4 profile. Select an MP4 profile with H.264 video. Check the audio codec rather than relying only on the profile name; AAC is safer for Apple playback than an MP4 profile that retains MP3 audio. Enter a destination filename with the .mp4 extension.

Step 5: Start and verify the conversion. Click Start and wait for VLC to process the title. Play the exported MP4 from beginning to end, or at least test several points, because VLC offers fewer checks for title structure and subtitle behavior during conversion.

Best Format for iTunes, the Apple TV App, iPhone, and iPad

MP4 or M4V with H.264 video and AAC audio is the safest general combination for importing a converted DVD into an Apple library. HEVC can reduce file size on newer hardware, but H.264 remains the better default when the file may move between older and newer Apple devices.

Upscaling a DVD to 720p or 1080p increases the encoded dimensions but does not recover detail that is absent from the source. Keep the original resolution unless a specific playback device or processing step requires another size.

Import and Sync the DVD Movie to iTunes on Windows

On a current Windows PC, Apple separates movie-library management and device syncing into two applications:

1. Open the Apple TV app.
2. Select the Sidebar Actions button.
3. Choose Add Files to Library or Add Folder to Library.
4. Select the converted MP4. It should appear under Home Videos.
5. Connect the iPhone or iPad and open the Apple Devices app.
6. Select the device, open Movies, turn on movie syncing, choose the imported video, and click Apply.

iTunes for Windows remains available for podcasts, audiobooks, and PCs that cannot run Apple’s newer applications. It should be presented as a legacy alternative rather than the default movie-management route.

Import and Sync the DVD Movie to iTunes on Mac

On macOS Catalina or later:

1. Open the Apple TV app.
2. Choose File > Import.
3. Select the converted MP4 and check it under Home Videos.
4. Connect the iPhone or iPad and open Finder.
5. Select the device in the sidebar and open Movies.
6. Turn on movie syncing, select the required video, and click Apply or Sync.

If the Video Will Not Import or Sync

Conclusion

To rip a DVD to iTunes or the Apple TV app successfully, match the tool to the source before choosing the output settings. DVDFab DVD Ripper covers protected commercial discs and offers more control over titles, audio, and subtitles, while HandBrake suits unprotected discs that need careful encoding and VLC covers simple one-off conversions. MP4 with H.264 video and AAC audio remains the safest starting point for broad Apple compatibility, and a DVD should normally stay at its original 480p or 576p resolution. Test one chapter first, confirm playback in the Apple TV app, and copy only discs you own or have permission to use.