How to Rip DVD with HandBrake on Windows & Mac [Encrypted DVD Included]

HandBrake is an open-source, free software for encoding videos from various digital formats into a selection of modern, widely supported codecs. Also, as one of the best free DVD rippers, HandBrake is capable of ripping and converting DVDs to MP4, MKV, and WebM formats that can be played on multiple devices.

Well, interested in learning how to rip homemade or copy-protected DVDs using HandBrake? Continue reading for detailed steps and optimal solutions if you encounter any issues with HandBrake DVD ripping.

Before Ripping DVDs with HandBrake: Install Libdvdcss

HandBrake is a popular tool favored for ripping homemade DVDs. Notably, however, it lacks the functionality to rip commercial DVDs fraught with copy protection - any such attempts are met with a warning message that this is beyond HandBrake's capabilities. 

To rip a copy-protected DVD, one requires the use of Libdvdcss. Birthed from the VideoLAN project, Libdvdcss enables the reading and decryption of DVDs fortified with a Content Scramble System (CSS). But it must be emphasized that Libdvdcss isn't a standalone solution - it requires the integration with a DVD ripper and player, a potentially challenging task for those less accustomed to navigating technical terrain. 

Furthermore, if the DVDs have advanced encryption systems like Sony's ARccOS or Disney's X-project DRM, only a powerful DVD decrypter will suffice in neutralizing these potent copy protections.

Download HandBrake DVD Ripper

Open the HandBrake DVD Ripper download page you will see a few different versions available for download. The current Version: 1.9.0 is available for Mac OS 10.13 or later, Windows 10 or later, and Linux. Click the correct button according to your operating system

Install Libdvdcss for HandBrake on Windows

Download the library file, then go to your Downloads folder and copy the file into the C:/Program Files/Handbrake directory. It should appear as shown in the image below.

💡Detailed Tutorial on How to Download Libdvdcss HandBrake

Install Libdvdcss to HandBrake on Mac

macOS security protocols prevent the installation of the library file through an installer. Fortunately, you can easily install it using Terminal and an add-on called Homebrew.

• Step 1: Open Terminal on the Mac.
• Step 2: Copy and paste the text below into the Terminal window and press Return /usr/bin/ruby -e "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/master/install)"
• Step 3: You will be prompted to click Return and type in your administrator password.
• Step 4: The process will also download and install some portions of Apple's Xcode developer software. Approve this when the pop-up prompts you to do so.
• Step 5: Once the process is complete and you see the normal prompt, copy and paste the code below into the Terminal window and press Return.
• Step 6: Once done, close the Terminal window and you're ready to begin. After libdvdcss is installed, Handbrake will be able to read your encrypted DVDs.

How to Rip a DVD with HandBrake on Win or Mac?

The process for ripping a DVD on Windows and Mac is virtually the same. Here I will take the Windows process for example to show you how to decrypt and rip DVDs using Handbrake.

Step 1: Load the DVD you want to rip into HandBrake

Insert the DVD into your computer's DVD drive. Open HandBrake. Then, Tap on "Open Source" in the top left corner and select the DVD drive from the list. HandBrake will begin scanning the contents of your DVD. This process could take several minutes to fully analyze everything on the DVD.

Step 2: Select the DVD title and chapter

HandBrake generally automatically selects the main movie - typically the longest title on the disc movie. You can verify this by looking at the duration of each title it has listed. If you have to rip a particular title from your movie separately, select it. Select the movie to be ripped from the Title menu and click "Add to queue".

You can also select specific chapters of this title to rip by inputting the chapter numbers in the "Chapters" option. 

Step 3: Choose an output format

Choose a pre-set encoding option and desired output format. Handbrake enables users to convert DVDs to MP4, MKV, and WebM formats with a variety of output presets available.

Additionally, HandBrake allows for the selection of subtitles, audio tracks, adjustment of video parameters including codec and frame rate, quality settings, and many other editing options.

Step 4: Set the destination to save the ripped DVD

Next, in the "Save As" section, input the desired file name and select where you want to save the ripped DVD on your computer or other external storage.

Step 5: Start to rip DVD with HandBrake

After all the above steps are completed, click the "Start Encode" button on the top of the interface to start the DVD ripping process. Depending on the length of the content and the power of your computer, the ripping process could take a while. Once the process is completed, the ripped video will be saved in the location you specified earlier.

Why HandBrake Won't Rip DVD? How to Fix It?

While HandBrake remains an open-source solution for DVD-to-digital conversions, its lack of native decryption support and dependency on third-party libraries often lead to ripping failures. Below we will analyze persistent DVD ripping errors and possible fixes.

Common HandBrake DVD Ripping Errors and Solutions

Best Solution to HandBrake Won't Rip DVD

If you're still experiencing DVD ripping issues with HandBrake even after trying the above possible solutions, consider switching to the best alternative. That's where DVDFab DVD Ripper comes into the picture.

DVDFab not only effortlessly handles old or new copy protections, but it also has advanced features like customizable output formats, high-speed ripping, and video editing capabilities. It ensures a smooth process when backing up your DVDs. When HandBrake fails to deliver, DVDFab emerges as the perfect alternative for a hassle-free and comprehensive DVD ripping experience.

DVDFab DVD Ripper

This DVD Ripper allows you to rip copy-protected DVD / ISO file / Folder to any video & audio format playable on any device, media player, or home theatre.

Features:

• Remove any DVD copy protection like CSS, APS, RC, Sony DADC, etc
• Keep updated to support newly-released DVDs with stronger protection mechanism
• Rip DVDs to MP4, MP3, MKV, and other 1000+ audio and video formats
• Support both CPU & GPU acceleration and batches conversion
• Easily customize output videos through the video editor and Advanced settings
• Convert DVD Video to 4K HDR10 Content with NVIDIA AI Enhancer

How to Use DVDFab DVD Ripper to Rip Protected DVDs?

Step 1: Download the latest version of DVDFab and install it on your MacOS or Windows.

Step 2: Run the software and choose the Ripper option. Insert the DVD into the drive or navigate to it using the "Add" button if it is already inserted. If the source is an ISO file or folder, simply drag and drop them onto the main interface.

Step 3: Click "Choose Other Profile" to select the output video format. You can choose to convert your DVD to MP4, MKV, AVI, etc. as you desire.

Customized options are available to select audio tracks, language, extract subtitles from DVD to SRT format, or add external subtitles. You can also customize the video and audio parameters using "Advanced Settings" and "Video Edit".

Step 4: Select the final location for saving the output file and click "Start" to begin the DVD to digital conversion.

Conclusion

Although HandBrake is the first option for many people when thinking about Ripping DVDs. But in some cases, it may not work out. With stable output quality and diversified configurations, DVDFab DVD Ripper is the best HandBrake alternative, which is capable of handling various encryption schemes and even ripping damaged, aged DVDs.