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

HandBrake is free and capable, but one limitation trips up most users early: it cannot bypass the copy protection on commercially pressed DVDs without help. I tested it on Windows 11 and macOS Sonoma across both unprotected home recordings and commercial titles to map out the full picture. For discs with basic CSS protection, adding the libdvdcss library resolves the issue in most cases. Discs using more aggressive schemes such as Sony ARccOS or Disney X-Project DRM require a dedicated decryption tool, and this guide covers those scenarios as well. Below are complete step-by-step instructions for both Windows and Mac, along with fixes for the most common failures. For a broader comparison, the best free DVD rippers guide covers HandBrake alongside other options.

Before Ripping DVDs with HandBrake: What Should You Do?

HandBrake works reliably for homemade and unprotected DVDs. Commercial discs require extra preparation: the majority of store-bought titles use Content Scramble System protection, which HandBrake cannot decrypt on its own.

The library that addresses this is libdvdcss, released by the VideoLAN project. It allows compatible software to read and decrypt CSS-protected discs. Once placed in the correct location alongside HandBrake, it enables ripping of most CSS titles without additional configuration. The installation method differs between Windows and macOS, with specific steps for each platform covered below.

Discs using more advanced protection, such as Sony ARccOS or Disney X-Project DRM, are outside what libdvdcss handles. Those schemes require a dedicated DVD decryption tool before any ripper can access the content.

Download HandBrake DVD Ripper

Open the HandBrake DVD Ripper download page to find the latest stable release, available for Windows 10 and later, macOS 10.13 (High Sierra) or later, and Linux. Click the button that matches your operating system to begin the download.

Download only from the official HandBrake website to avoid bundled software. You can refer to the HandBrake official downloading guideline.

Install Libdvdcss for HandBrake on Windows

Installing libdvdcss on Windows requires placing the library file directly into HandBrake's installation folder. Here is how to do it:

• Step 1: Go to the official VideoLAN page to download the correct version of libdvdcss for your system. For most users on modern hardware, the 64-bit version is the right choice.
• Step 2: Rename the downloaded file to libdvdcss.dll.
• Step 3: Move the renamed file to HandBrake's installation directory. The default path for 64-bit Windows is C:\Program Files\HandBrake\.
• Step 4: Close and restart HandBrake if it is already running. It will detect the library on the next launch.

💡Detailed Tutorial on How to Download Libdvdcss HandBrake

Install Libdvdcss to HandBrake on Mac

macOS security policies prevent installing libdvdcss by dropping a file into a folder, as you would on Windows. Instead, install it through Terminal using the Homebrew package manager:

• Step 1: Open Terminal and paste the following command to install Homebrew.

/bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)"

• Step 2: When prompted, press Return and enter your administrator password to confirm.
• Step 3: The process will also install portions of Apple's Xcode developer tools. Approve the permission prompt when it appears.
• Step 4: Once the Homebrew installation is complete and you see the standard Terminal prompt again, enter the following command and press Return: brew install libdvdcss
• Step 5: Close Terminal when the installation finishes. HandBrake will now be able to read CSS-protected DVDs.

How to Rip DVD with HandBrake on Windows

In this section, I will use Windows 11 to demonstrate how to rip a DVD using HandBrake.

Step 1: Load the DVD you want to rip

Insert the DVD into your computer's DVD drive and launch HandBrake. Click Open Source in the top left corner and select the DVD drive. HandBrake will scan the disc contents, which can take several minutes depending on the disc.

Step 2: Select the DVD title and chapter

HandBrake generally auto-selects the main movie, which is typically the longest title on the disc. You can verify this by checking the duration listed for each title. If you need to rip a specific title separately, select it from the Title menu and click Add to Queue. To rip only a portion of a title, enter the chapter range in the Chapters field.

Step 3: Choose an output format

Choose a preset encoding option and your desired output format. HandBrake converts DVDs to MP4, MKV, and WebM, with a range of output presets available for common use cases.

You can also select subtitles and audio tracks, adjust video settings such as codec, frame rate, and quality, and apply additional editing options.

Analysis:

• The Very Fast preset offers the highest speed and produces acceptable quality for quick rips. In testing, it finished about three times faster than Fast and nearly four times faster than HQ, though the output file is somewhat larger than the Fast preset.
• The Fast preset provides a practical balance between file size and encoding speed and works well for most situations.
• The HQ preset produces the largest file (more than double the size of Fast) and delivers the best video detail and surround audio. It works well for home theater setups but requires more time and storage space.

Step 4: Set the destination to save the ripped DVD

In the Save As section, enter the desired file name and select where to save the output file on your computer or external storage.

Step 5: Start to rip DVD with HandBrake

Click the Start Encode button at the top of the interface to begin ripping. The process time depends on the length of the content and your computer's performance. When it finishes, the ripped video will be saved in the folder you selected.

How to Rip DVD with HandBrake on Mac

Although HandBrake on macOS follows the same overall logic as the Windows version, the UI layout and a few options differ. Below is a Mac-specific walkthrough for ripping DVDs with HandBrake. Before starting, make sure you have already installed libdvdcss via Homebrew as described above, so HandBrake can read CSS-protected discs.

Step 1: Load the DVD source

Insert the DVD into your Mac's built-in drive or an external DVD drive, then launch HandBrake. In many cases, HandBrake will detect the disc automatically. If it does not, click Open Source, select your DVD drive manually, then click Open.

HandBrake will scan the disc and list available Titles. For a movie disc, scanning typically takes a minute or two. For TV box sets, it can take longer.

Step 2: Choose the correct title and chapters

Click the Title drop-down at the top. HandBrake usually auto-selects the longest title, which is often the main movie. For extras such as behind-the-scenes clips, select the specific title manually. For episodic DVDs, you will typically select each episode title one at a time.

To rip only part of a title, adjust the Range settings. You can set a chapter range in Chapters, or switch the range type to Seconds for more precise trimming.

Step 3: Pick an output preset

Click Presets on the main window. HandBrake provides built-in presets for common scenarios. For 480p DVD ripping, a typical choice is General > Fast 480p30 or HQ 480p30 Surround. If you plan to watch on Apple TV or iPad, the matching Apple device preset under Devices will automatically optimize compatibility settings for those platforms.

Step 4: Fine-tune settings

In the middle panel tabs, you can customize the following details:

Output Settings: Choose the container format, typically MP4 or MKV.

Video:

• Video Encoder: Choose H.264 or H.265.
• Hardware acceleration: Selecting H.264 (VideoToolbox) or H.265 (VideoToolbox) uses hardware encoding and noticeably speeds up the process. On Apple Silicon Macs (M1, M2, or M3), VideoToolbox is available by default and typically reduces encoding time by more than half compared to software-only encoding.
• Framerate: Set to Same as source for most DVDs.

Audio: Keep the original 5.1 audio track if you want surround sound, or downmix to Stereo to save storage space.

Subtitles:

• Click Tracks > Add New Track.
• Choose Burned In if you want subtitles permanently embedded, or keep them as soft subtitles (a selectable track inside the container) if you want the option to toggle them during playback.

Step 5: Set the save location and start ripping

At the bottom, enter a file name in Save As. Click Browse to choose the destination folder for the output video.

If you are ripping one title, click Start to begin immediately. For multiple titles (common with TV disc sets), click Add to Queue to queue each job, then start the queue to process them in sequence.

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

Common HandBrake DVD Ripping Errors and Solutions

Even though HandBrake is a capable free DVD ripper, it has known limitations. Below are the most common issues and how to address them.

For additional issues, refer to the official HandBrake troubleshooting page.

Best Solution When HandBrake Won't Rip DVD

When HandBrake consistently fails on a particular disc after trying the options above, the issue is usually a protection type that libdvdcss does not cover. DVDFab DVD Ripper handles a broader range of DVD protection schemes, including ARccOS, X-Project DRM, and region-locked imports, and keeps its decryption database updated as new disc protections appear.

HandBrake with libdvdcss handles basic CSS protection well but does not address newer or more complex schemes. DVDFab DVD Ripper is designed specifically for those cases and handles them without additional configuration.

 

DVDFab DVD Ripper allows you to rip copy-protected DVD, ISO files, and folders to any video and audio format playable on any device, media player, or home theatre.

Features:

• Removes DVD copy protection including CSS, APS, RC, Sony DADC, ARccOS, and X-Project DRM
• Updated regularly to support newly released DVDs
• Rips DVDs to MP4, MP3, MKV, and 1,000+ other audio and video formats
• Supports both CPU and GPU acceleration for faster processing
• Includes a video editor and advanced settings for output customization
• Converts 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 system.

Step 2: Run the software and choose the Ripper option. Insert the DVD into the drive or use the Add button if it is already inserted. ISO files and folders can be dragged and dropped directly onto the main interface.

Step 3: Click Choose Other Profile to select the output video format. Available options include DVD to MP4, MKV, AVI, and others.

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

Step 4: Select the output folder and click Start to begin the conversion.

How to Choose a DVD Ripper for Your Situation

The right DVD ripping tool depends on what type of discs you are working with. The table below maps common scenarios to the most suitable option.

Conclusion

HandBrake works well for unprotected DVDs and for CSS-protected commercial discs when libdvdcss is installed. It is free, cross-platform, and produces reliable output with the right preset settings, as the test data in this guide demonstrates.

The limitation becomes clear with discs that use newer protection schemes. A dedicated decryption tool like DVDFab DVD Ripper provides broader protection coverage without requiring additional manual setup.

The comparison table above maps out which tool fits which scenario. If your collection is a mix, starting with HandBrake for simpler discs and using a dedicated tool for the ones that fail is a practical approach that keeps costs low while still handling the full range.