As modern laptops and PCs phase out their built-in DVD drives, users from forums like Microsoft, Quora, and Apple Discussions are looking for ways to transfer their DVD collections to USB flash drives. Whether it's converting homemade films for easy access or finding a way to watch DVDs on a TV via USB, the demand for convenient solutions is growing. Users are also curious about how to transfer DVDs without drive, how to bypass copy protection, and which formats work best for playback on various devices.

How to Copy DVD to USB Flash Drive

 
There are several free and efficient solutions available. In this guide, we'll walk you through step-by-step instructions on how to copy DVDs to a USB flash drive, whether you prefer to do it yourself using your PC or opt for professional transfer services.

How to Convert DVD to USB Flash Drive Directly

There's a simple copy-and-paste method for transferring DVDs without copy protection, like homemade DVDs, to a USB flash drive. The requirement is a DVD drive on your laptop, or an external DVD drive that can run your DVDs, and a USB flash drive. However, keep in mind that this method may not result in files playable on mobile players.

Step 1: Insert the DVD into your laptop or an external DVD drive. Plug the USB flash drive into any available USB port.

Step 2: Access the DVD Drive on your computer. Then browse the files and select all or the specific contents you want to copy. This could include ISO images, VIDEO_TS folders, or other DVD-related files.

Step 3: Open the USB stick in your file explorer and paste the selected files onto the drive. The process for copying a CD to a flash drive is the same as the steps above.

How to Transfer DVD to USB Flash Drive Directly

NOTE: Users who want a quick and straightforward way to copy non-encrypted or homemade DVDs directly to a USB flash drive may find this method suitable. They prefer a simple drag-and-drop approach without involving ripping, re-encoding, or specialized software. However, the copied files may not be playable on all devices, as many media players and smart TVs require videos in specific digital formats rather than raw DVD file structures.
 
Furthermore, DVDs often employ various encryption methods, preventing direct ripping of copy-protected DVDs to other storage devices, including USB drives.

In such situations, you'll need a professional DVD to USB converter that can rip DVDs, especially copy-protected ones, into a digital format with smaller size. Then you can just transfer the ripped DVD video to your USB flash drive to play on Smart TV, laptop, etc.

How to Convert DVD to USB with the Best DVD Ripper

For the question of "How do I transfer DVD movies to a USB flash memory stick" on Reddit, there are recommendations like Handbrake, MakeMKV, and VLC. However, it's crucial to note that Handbrake and VLC do not support ripping copy-protected DVDs. While MakeMKV does support protections like CSS, and region codes, it falls short of some higher-level protections and only supports the MKV format.

Thus, if you need a more powerful tool that supports most copy protections, even for the latest discs, and demands a wider range of output formats, we recommend DVDFab DVD Ripper.

DVDFab DVD Ripper

With this DVD to USB Converter, you can rip any copy-protected DVDs to MP4, MKV, AVI, and other 1000+ video and audio formats. Whether you want to copy DVD to USB in lossless MKV or in smaller MP4 files, DVDFab can cover all your needs.  
 

Features of DVDFab DVD Ripper

  • Supports DVDs encrypted with APS, CSS, RC, RCE, ArccOS, Disney X-Project, and more
  • Rip DVD to 260+ preset output devices such as iPhone, Samsung, Huawei
  • Customize and enhance video through advanced settings and video editing tools
  • GPU hardware acceleration allows for batch conversions at fast speeds
  • Convert DVD subtitles to SRT files or render subtitles directly into video
  • Offers a free but simplified version - DVDFab HD Decrypter - that can copy most encrypted DVDs and Blu-rays to USB in MP4 & MKV format only

User Reviews and Ratings

How to Convert DVD to USB with the Best DVD Ripper

As of now, DVDFab has received approximately 500 user reviews and ratings. Among them, about 79% of users have given DVDFab a five-star review, reflecting a high level of satisfaction. If we include users who rated DVDFab with three-star or above, this proportion rises to 91%. In other words, more than 90% of users express a positive opinion and recognition of DVDFab's performance.

Note: All of these figures are sourced directly from TrustPilot, ensuring that the feedback is both authentic and reliable.

How to Transfer DVD to USB with DVDFab DVD Ripper on Windows/Mac

Before starting the DVD-to-USB process, ensure you have a compatible CD/DVD drive. If you are using an external DVD drive (such as PeroBuno), make sure it has these features:

  • Be versatile enough to act as a CD DVD player/reader/burner/recorder
  • Check if the drive is suitable for your OS (Windows or macOS)
  • Look for a drive with fast reading speed to save time during the ripping process

Once your drive is ready, watch the video or follow the detailed steps below:

Step 1: Download and install DVDFab 13 software on your computer.

Step 2: Open DVDFab 13 and opt for the Ripper module. Insert the DVD into the drive, then let DVDFab access the disc from your drive automatically. 

How to transfer DVD to a USB Flash Drive

Step 3: Navigate to the profile library via the "Choose Other Profile" option. There are two ways to select the output format. One is to click "Format" to choose your preferred video format.

💡Here, we recommend you convert DVD to MP4 as it's a more general format with wide compatibility, excellent quality, and small file size. When we tested DVDFab, a 6.71GB DVD movie was compressed to just 1.33GB in H.265 MP4 format, saving 80% of space, and the whole process took less than 5 minutes.

How to Copy DVD to USB with DVDFab DVD Ripper

Moreover, if you want to copy DVD to USB to play on your TV but are unsure about the format, you can click "Device" and select the TV brand, such as LG, Samsung, PS5/4, Xbox One, etc. DVDFab will automatically match the most appropriate output format for you.

How to Copy DVD to USB Flash Drive via DVDFab

Step 4: Optionally, you can customize the DVD video by adjusting the video resolution or adding external subtitles. The built-in DVD editing software allows you to crop, trim, merge video, add watermarks and subtitles, and even adjust video color.

Convert DVD to USB Flash Drive with DVDFab

Step 5: Click on the "Folder" button in the selection box to set your USB flash drive as the output destination. Finally, click "Start" to begin copying and transferring the DVD to your USB drive.

Begin transfer DVD to USB drive

✅Target Users:

DVDFab DVD Ripper is designed for users who want professional-level DVD ripping with high speed, strong decryption, and top-quality output. These are often media collectors, home theater enthusiasts, or professionals handling large DVD collections.

How to Copy DVD to a USB Drive with a Free Converter

If you are trying to rip homemade DVDs and don't need a lot of advanced settings, then this free DVD to USB Converter will suffice. As a powerful and open-source program, HandBrake is a popular choice for many users. HandBrake supports converting DVDs and video files to MP4, MKV, and WebM, simplifying the process of transferring DVDs to USB drives and enabling users to access them on different devices without the need for a physical disc.

Features of HandBrake:

  • Equipped with batch encoding and video preview to improve conversion efficiency
  • Built-in presets make it easy to optimize video files for specific devices
  • Supports a wide range of customizable settings, such as adjusting frame rate, subtitle, and bitrate
  • Available for macOS, Windows and Linux and is regularly updated by the community

Cons of HandBrake:

  • To handle encrypted DVDs, you'll need add-ons like libdvdcss, which complicates the process
  • Despite the simplicity of the interface, its advanced settings can be overwhelming for new users

How to use HandBrake free DVD to USB converter?

Step 1: Get the HandBrake and install it

  • If your DVD is encrypted, you can install libdvdcss on Windows by putting the libdvdcss.dll file in the HandBrake installation directory.
  • For Mac users, libdvdcss can be installed with Homebrew using the command brew install libdvdcss.

Step 2: Click Open Source in HandBrake and select the DVD drive. When loading is done, HandBrake displays a list of titles on the DVD, use the drop-down menu to select the title you want to rip.

Rip DVD to USB with free DVD to USB converter

Step 3: In the Presets panel, select an output format and preset that matches the desired quality and device. MP4 is usually the more compatible format. You can also adjust options for quality, resolution, audio tracks, etc.

rip DVD to USB with free DVD to USB converter

Step 4: Click Start Encode to begin the ripping process. Finally, drag the converted files to the USB drive.

✅Target Users:

HandBrake is ideal for users who are looking for a completely free, open-source solution to convert DVDs and videos. These users are often cost-conscious, tech-savvy hobbyists or casual users who don’t mind spending a bit more time on setup in exchange for saving money.

Which is the Best DVD to USB Converter: DVDFab DVD Ripper vs. HandBrake

We conducted a real-world comparison between the two software programs, focusing on their decryption capabilities, audio and video codec support, hardware acceleration, conversion speed, and output file size. All tests were performed under consistent conditions to ensure fairness. The testing environment and detailed results are presented below. 

Test Environment and Movie Information:

  • Operating System: Windows 10X64
  • System Memory: 16GB
  • Graphics Card: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 8GB
  • Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-6700 CPU
  • Source Movie: 8 Mile; 1h50min14s; 6.13GB
  • Output File: MP4
Software Decryption Ability Video/Audio Codec Conversion Time Output Video/Audio Output File_Size
DVDFab
CSS, APS, RC, Sony DADC, and more
H264 / AAC
5min31s
720*404
AAC 5.1
1.91GB
HandBrake None
H264 / AAC
12min28s
720*362
AAC 2.0
675MB

Why DVDFab DVD Ripper is the Top DVD to USB Converter

Based on the table, DVDFab clearly outperforms HandBrake in several key areas.

💡It supports full DVD decryption, handling protections like CSS, RC, APS, and Sony ARccOS—capabilities that HandBrake entirely lacks without third-party help.

💡While both use the H.264 video and AAC audio codecs, DVDFab leverages advanced hardware acceleration, completing the DVD-to-digital conversion in just 5 minutes and 31 seconds, which is over twice as fast as HandBrake's 12 minutes and 28 seconds.

💡DVDFab DVD Ripper offers superior output quality, delivering a higher audio channel configuration (AAC 5.1 vs. HandBrake's AAC 2.0) and better video resolution (720×404 vs. 720×362). 

💡DVDFab also offers a wide range of presets to help users balance quality and file size based on their specific needs and for users to have full control over video resolution, bitrate, and audio settingssers have full control over video resolution, bitrate, and audio settings.

Why DVDFab DVD Ripper is the Top DVD to USB Converter?

NOTE: DVDFab offers four MP4 output presets: MP4, MP4.Apple.ProRes, MP4.mobile, and MP4.theater, each tailored for different use cases.
 
Preset Purpose Quality File Size Best Use Case
MP4 Standard universal format Balanced Medium General playback on most devices
MP4.Apple.ProRes Professional editing (Apple) Very High Very Large Video editing with Final Cut Pro
MP4.mobile Mobile-optimized Lower Small Phones and tablets
MP4.theater Home theater/big screen playback High Large Watching on large displays

In summary, DVDFab excels in decryption, speed, output quality and flexibility, making it suitable for protected discs, quick and high-quality processing.

How to Transfer DVD to USB without Computer

Transferring DVD to USB using a DVD ripper software is quite straightforward. But what if you don't have access to a computer or prefer an offline method?

Luckily, there are standalone services that can help you transfer DVD to USB without computer. Below we list the top 3 offline DVD to USB transfer services. From making digital copies to transferring DVDs to USB, these service providers will do the job for you.

DVD Walmart

Walmart photo: transfer dvd to usb without computer

Walmart Photo provides a media transfer service that converts old DVDs and other media formats to modern digital formats and stores them on USB. The converted digital copy is securely uploaded to a MemoryCloud account and can be accessed, downloaded, or saved to Google Photos at any time for 60 days.

After creating your order, you'll need to ship the DVDs to a designated location or local Walmart store, and then simply wait for your digital copy, original media, and USB.

Forever Studios

transfer dvd to usb via forever studios

Forever Studios provides professional CD & DVD transfer services to convert standard-size CDs, DVDs, and small Mini DVDs to digital formats. If you choose to save your converted files on a USB drive, Forever Studios offers high-speed USB 3.0 drives with advanced chipsets. Moreover, converted video, photo, and audio files can be uploaded to the Forever Cloud, allowing you to access and play them directly in any browser. 

CVS Photo

cvs dvd to usb service

CVS Photo offers digitization of videotapes, motion picture film, photos, DVDs, as well as transferring home movies to Blu-ray or USB. Each conversion comes with 60 days of online access to MemoryCloud.

NOTE: The table below helps you compare the options and prices offered by different service providers.
  CVS Photo Forever Studios  Walmart Photo
Accepted Media YesDVD, CVS YesDVD, DVD, CD, VCD, MiniDVD DVD, CD, Data & Mini Disks, SD/CF/Micro cards, USB drives YesDVD, Walmart DVD, DVD, VCD, CVCD
What You Get DVD/Blu-ray/USB + digital copy in MemoryCloud (60 days access) Forever Safe USB or Cloud link or DVD set Digital copy in MemoryCloud (60 days access) + optional DVDs/USBs
Price $25.99/DVD (90 mins); $33.99/Blu-ray (90 mins); $34.99/USB $12/DVD digitizing service and additional $30 per USB drive $12.96 for first 30 min digital copy;
extra: $3.96/DVD,$12.96/USB
How It Works Create order->Bring media->Wait->Receive copies Enter quantity->Send media->Wait->Receive copies Create order online -> Send media -> Wait -> Receive copies
Note Please note that DVD to USB transfer services may not be available at all Walmart Photo, CVS Photo, or Forever Studios locations. Pricing and turnaround time can also vary. For specific details, contact your local store or studio directly.

FAQs about Copying DVD to USB Drive

How to choose the best output format when copying DVD to USB?

Different devices support different formats and codecs. Here is a table for you to choose the fittest output:

Device Type Best Format Notes
Smart TV MP4 (H.264 + AAC) Universal TV support
PC MP4 or MKV Depends on the player; MKV for full features
iPad / iPhone MP4 (H.264 or H.265) Works natively; H.265 offers smaller file sizes
Android Devices MP4 or MKV MKV works with VLC/MX Player; H.264 safest choice
PS5 / Xbox MP4 (H.264) Xbox supports more formats than PS5
Car Media Systems MP4 (H.264) Low resolution and bitrate recommended

For Smart TVs - MP4 (H.264 + AAC) is the safest choice, widely supported by modern TVs for smooth plug-and-play playback without extra apps.

For Windows, Mac, or Linux computers - MP4, MKV, or AVI can be used. MP4 offers broad compatibility, while MKV supports multiple subtitles and audio tracks for preserving DVD extras.

For iPads and iPhones - MP4 encoded with H.264 or H.265 is recommended because it is natively supported by iOS, making file transfer and playback without relying on third-party apps.

For Android devices - Both MP4 and MKV work well. MP4 is more universally supported, especially on older or less powerful devices, while MKV is supported by players like VLC and MX Player.

For car entertainment systems - MP4 is typically the only accepted format. 

How to convert DVD to USB using VLC?

VLC can be used to convert and play non-encrypted discs, following the steps below:

  • Step 1: Open this free DVD to USB converter, tap the Convert/Save button, and set the output format for the DVD rip.
  • Step 2: Click the Profile menu and select the format you wish.
  • Step 3: In the Destination category, tap Browse and choose a folder for the DVD-converted video file and give a name to the output file。
  • Step 4: Lastly, tap the Start option to begin the ripping process.

How to copy DVD to USB to play on TV?

To copy a DVD to a USB for playback on your TV, you need to first check which video formats are supported by your specific TV model. Some common formats include H.264 (.m4v, .mp4, .mov) for Apple TVs; H.264/HEVC (MP4, MOV, M4V, MKV) and VP9 (WebM) for Roku TVs; MP4, MPEG, WMV, MTS for Sony TVs; and AVI, MKV, MP4 and MOV among others for Samsung TVs.

Then you can use a free DVD Ripper to rip your DVD to any of the formats in USB based on your TV model. You can also go to the "Choose Other Profile" window to select "Devices" where you can find some TV output presets. 

What USB format and capacity are needed for DVDs?

The capacity of the USB flash drive you need to store your DVD collection depends on the size of each movie. A standard single-layer DVD can hold up to 4.7 GB, while a dual-layer DVD can store up to 8.5 GB.

If we assume that most movies are around 2 hours long and encoded with good quality at about 1-2GB per movie, a 128GB USB flash drive could hold approximately between 64 and 128 movies. However, this is an estimate; actual storage may vary based on the specific file sizes.

As for format, it depends on what device you plan on using to play these files:

  • FAT32: This is compatible with almost all systems but has a file size limit of only 4GB.
  • NTFS: Works well with Windows systems and supports large files but might not work perfectly with other operating systems like macOS without additional software.
  • exFAT: This works well across both Windows and macOS systems and supports large files as well.

So if you're planning on storing full DVDs (as ISOs or Video_TS folders) that are larger than 4GB in size, then choosing NTFS or exFAT would be a better option than FAT32.

Why the transferred DVD files can't be played on TV?

Some TVs do not support DVD file structures (VIDEO_TS folders, ISO files or VOB files). Please use DVDFab DVD Ripper to convert DVD to MP4, MKV or AVI for better compatibility. Then check the formats supported by your TV and select the correct one using DVDFab's Device profile.

Why does it take a long time to transfer DVD movies to USB?

Check if you have enabled GPU acceleration in the settings of the third party software. Make sure your computer has enough available memory and CPU to handle the ripping process efficiently. Also, check the disc. Scratched or damaged DVDs may take longer to read.

Final Words

As optical drives become less common in modern laptops, transferring DVD to USB offers a practical way to access media. While there are free tools and offline services available, professional DVD rippers such as DVDFab offer the best balance of speed, flexibility and advanced customization. With the right settings, saving DVDs to flash drives will be a straightforward process.

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Disclaimer:
The methods described in this guide are intended for educational purposes only and to assist users in creating backups of their legally owned DVDs. Always verify the legal status of your media and comply with local regulations. DVDFab does not endorse or encourage unauthorized copying of protected content.