How to Rip DVDs & Blu-ray to iTunes for Free: 3 Methods & Guide

If you've switched to an all-Apple setup but still have shelves of DVDs and Blu-ray discs, you're not out of luck. The best way to enjoy these movies on your iPhone/iPad, Mac, or Windows PC is by digitizing them and adding the files to iTunes (or the Apple TV app on Mac). This keeps everything in one organized library, ready for streaming or syncing.

That's why learning how to rip DVDs and Blu-rays into iTunes (or the Apple TV app on Mac) makes such a difference. The right method not only digitizes DVDs and Blu-rays on your Windows and Mac, but also ensures the files sync smoothly with iTunes and play perfectly on all devices. In this guide, I'll show you three best ways to make it happen—based on tools I've actually tested.

How to Rip DVDs and Blu-rays to iTunes with DVDFab Ripping Software

When it comes to putting DVDs & Blu-ray into iTunes, DVDFab DVD Ripper and DVDFab Blu-ray Ripper are the most complete option I've tried. It doesn't just turn discs into MP4 or M4V files that iTunes accepts, it also gives you control over video quality, audio tracks, subtitles, and file size.

With these features, DVDFab DVD Ripper and DVDFab Blu-ray Ripper make it simple to build an iTunes library out of your physical collection while keeping full control over how your movies look and sound.

💻For DVDs:

💻For Blu-rays:

Method 1: Transfer to iPhone or Mac by selecting the device

Step 1: To know how to transfer DVDs/Blu-rays to iTunes by selecting the iPhone or Mac device option, you must launch the DVDFab 13 version on your Windows or Mac system > Select the Ripper module. Then, insert a physical DVD into your system's optical drive. The DVDFab program will automatically recognize and load it.

Step 2: Once the loading is complete, start customizing the output profile, depending on your choice. You can rip the entire DVD or any part of it by selecting the "Choose Other titles". For customization, you can also select audio tracks, subtitles, chapters, add external subtitles, etc.

Step 3: To go to the Profile library, you need to select the Choose Other Profile option. Then select the "Device" or "Apple" option to locate your desired iPhone or Mac option as the output profile. This tool supports ripping DVDs to multiple versions of iPhone or Mac.

Step 4: Select "Advanced Settings" to customize various audio-video parameters as output profiles. Select output quality as your requirements. For video editing requirements of the output profile, head to the built-in "Video Editor" section to explore various trimming, cutting, cropping, and saturation adjustment functions.

Step 5: Next, select the output directory option. You can save the ripped DVD to your system's hard drive or mobile device. Once done, select the "Start" option to convert the DVD to an iPhone or Mac, depending on what device you have selected before for the lightning-speed conversion.

Method 2: Choose an iTunes Compatible Format

Step: In this method, you have to follow the Method 1 steps from the beginning till to the Choose Other Profile library option. After that, instead of selecting the "Device" or "Apple" option, you need to select the "Format" or "Video" option to rip DVD to MP4 or any other format that is supported by your iPhone or Mac device. After that, you must follow the same steps of Method 1 from Advanced Settings customization until the end.

How to Import DVD Movies into iTunes

Now that you have rip DVDs into an iTunes-compatible format, the final step is to add those files into your media library. The process is slightly different on Windows and Mac. Follow the instructions below.

On Windows (with iTunes)

1. Make sure you are running the latest version of iTunes for Windows.
2. Press the Alt key to open the menu bar, then go to File > Add File to Library or Add Folder to Library.
3. Browse and select the DVD video files you just converted. You can also drag and drop them directly into the Movies section of iTunes.
4. Once imported, the movies will appear under Home Videos. You can then sync them to your iOS device through iTunes using Wi-Fi or a USB cable.

on Mac (with Apple TV app and Finder)

Starting from macOS Catalina, iTunes has been replaced by the Apple TV app and device sync happens in Finder.

1. Open the Apple TV app on your Mac. From the top menu, choose File > Import, then select your converted DVD movies. They will be categorized under Home Videos.
2. Connect your iPhone or iPad via USB cable (or enable Wi-Fi sync). Open Finder, select your device from the sidebar, and click the Movies tab.
3. Check the boxes next to the imported Home Videos you want, then click Apply to sync.

How to Rip DVDs and Blu-rays to iTunes for Free with HandBrake

If you prefer a free and open-source solution, HandBrake is one of the most popular options for converting DVDs into formats that work with iTunes or the Apple TV app. It is lightweight, flexible, and comes with ready-made device presets. However, it's important to note that HandBrake cannot bypass copy protections. For commercial discs that use advanced encryption, you'll need additional software before HandBrake can process them.

Pros of HandBrake:

• Free and open-source, available for Windows, macOS, and Linux
• Converts DVDs into MP4 or M4V with H.264 or H.265 codecs, formats fully supported by iTunes
• Device presets such as Apple 720p for quick setup and playback on Apple devices
• Options for chapters, chapter markers, and batch queueing
• Useful video filters like deinterlace, denoise, deblock, cropping, and more

Cons of HandBrake:

• Commercial encrypted discs won't work directly
• No built-in advanced video editing tools beyond basic filters

Steps to Rip DVDs/Blu-rays for iTunes with HandBrake

Step 1: Launch HandBrake and insert your DVD. The program will attempt to scan the disc.

Step 2: Once the DVD titles appear, go to Presets > Devices and select an Apple-friendly option such as Apple 720p. This ensures compatibility with iTunes and iOS playback.

Step 3: You can adjust settings in the Video and Audio tabs—choose codec (H.264/265), set frame rate, bitrate, or pick subtitle tracks.

Step 4: Once you are done with the Settings, choose an output folder and click Start Encode to begin the conversion. A progress bar will show the remaining time.

How to Convert DVD and Blu-rays to iTunes with VLC Media Player

VLC Media Player is widely known as a free player that can handle almost any video or audio file. What many users don't realize is that you can also rip DVDs with VLC to create simple digital copies in formats like MP4. Once converted, these files can be added to iTunes or the Apple TV app for playback on iPhone, iPad, or Mac.

However, it's worth noting that VLC is not a professional ripping software. Its conversion options are quite limited compared with dedicated software.

Pros of VLC:

• Allowing you to rip DVD to MP4 on Mac, Windows, and Linux OS
• Lightweight and does not consume many system resources
• Plays almost any video or audio file in addition to DVD/Blu-ray discs
• Includes bonus features like streaming, screen recording, and basic conversions

Cons of VLC:

• Cannot decrypt copy-protected DVDs/Blu-rays directly
• Conversion is slower since there is no GPU acceleration
• Output quality can be inconsistent compared with professional rippers

Steps to Rip DVDs for iTunes with VLC

Step 1: Download VLC and open it on your computer. Then, insert your DVD into the computer's drive.

Step 2: Go to the Media menu in the top bar and choose Convert / Save. In the pop-up window, click the Disc tab, then confirm your DVD drive is selected.

Step 3: In the Convert window, select an iTunes-compatible format such as MP4 (H.264 + AAC). You can also adjust basic settings like resolution, bitrate, or audio track.

Step 4: Click Browse to choose where the converted video will be saved and give the file a name. Once you have made all the changes, hit the "Convert/Save" option.

When the process finishes, open iTunes (Windows) or the Apple TV app (Mac), go to File > Add to Library, and import the MP4 file. You can then sync it to your iPhone or iPad through iTunes or Finder.

Conclusion

If you want your movies within easy reach on iPad/iPhone, Mac, or PC, the most practical route is to convert your discs to iTunes/Apple TV–friendly files and add them to a single library. DVDFab DVD Ripper gives you fine-grained control over quality (H.264/HEVC), subtitles, and audio so playback is smooth across Apple devices. And if you own Blu-ray titles, use DVDFab Blu-ray Ripper following the Blu-ray quick guide in this article to convert them to the same formats and library, keeping your DVD and Blu-ray collection unified—so everything plays from one place.