How to Rip Copy-protected DVDs to Windows PC and Mac For Free?
Summary: Looking to rip a copy-protected DVD but keep hitting roadblocks? In this guide, we review multiple free and best tools for ripping copy-protected DVDs, providing detailed steps to help you legally copy DVDs to your hard drive or transfer content to other devices.
Table of Contents
When you try to back up a DVD, the process often looks simple until copy protection gets in the way. One moment you're expecting a smooth rip, the next you're staring at 99 fake titles, unreadable tracks, or playback errors.
To understand these hurdles, we didn't just reference forum threads—we purchased discs with CSS, ARccOS, Disney's 99-title structure, and other protections, and ran them through leading ripping tools in a controlled test environment. The results revealed where each tool succeeds, where it fails, and what workarounds are needed.
This guide distills those findings into clear comparisons and step-by-step advice, so you can choose the right workflow to rip a copy-protected DVD without getting stuck in trial and error.
How to Rip Copy-Protected DVD with DVDFab DVD Ripper
The first tool we recommend is DVDFab DVD Ripper, which has been focusing on the disc field since 2003. Being based on DVDFab's exclusive Cloud Decryption Service, it can automatically detect and decrypt your newly purchased DVDs quickly.
Key Features of DVDFab DVD Ripper
👍Supported copy-protected DVDs: DVD Region Code, CSS, APS, Sony DADC, UOPs, Disney X-project DRM and other new advanced protections
💡Copy copy-protected DVD to AVI, MP4, MKV, MP3 and 1000+ digital formats
- The renowned tool that supports any old or newly released encrypted DVDs.
- Batch conversion and 50x faster ripping speed with GPU acceleration.
- Built-in video editor that allows you to crop, trim, merge video, etc.
- Compress video size but preserve quality for any mobile device.
- Synchronize meta info and generate .no file friendly to media server.
- Work with AI Enhancer and AI Upscaler to upgrade the resolution of your videos.
Steps to Rip Copy-Protected DVD with DVDFab DVD Ripper
Step 1: Open DVDFab and load the source DVD
Launch this DVD Ripping software and switch to the ripper tab. Insert your DVD into the drive, then click "+ Add" to load it. You can also try dragging it to the software interface if it's a folder or ISO file.
Step 2: Choose the profile and customize settings
After loading the source, DVDFab will automatically recognize and disable all the copy protections from your DVD. Click the "Info" button if you want to learn what protections your DVD has.
Then you can choose the output format, select audio tracks, and even extract subtitles from DVD.
DVDFab DVD Ripper offers a range of advanced settings to fine-tune parameters such as codec (H.264 or H.265), resolution, frame rate, and bit rate. After that, open the Video Edit panel if you want to trim, crop, add watermarks, or adjust brightness and contrast.
Step 3: Start to rip the DVD with copy protection
After confirming the save location, you can click the Start button to convert ISO to MKV or other digital formats. The actual progress is shown clearly on the interface. You can exit the software, hibernate, or cancel the task at any time.
How to Copy Copy-protected DVD for Free with MakeMKV
MakeMKV is a popular and free DVD ripper which can effortlessly convert copy-protected DVD/Blu-rays to high-quality MKV files. It's well-regarded by users of all skill levels because of its easy-to-use backup process. MakeMKV can rip DVDs without re-encoding, which will preserve all video and audio tracks, though the resulting files may be large.
Key Features of MakeMKV
👍Supported copy-protected DVDs: AACS, CSS and Region Code
💡Rip copy-protected DVDs to: MKV
Many users appreciate its straightforward interface and high-quality output, but its limitations are obvious, such as only converting to MKV, no preview window, large file sizes unsuitable for mobile devices, and no editing or DVD audio ripping capabilities. However, there is no doubt that MakeMKV is a leading competitor in the free ripping software market.
Steps to Rip Copy-protected DVD for Free with MakeMKV
Step 1: Download and install MakeMKV by following the on-screen instructions. Then insert the copy-protected DVD you want to rip into your computer's DVD drive.
Step 2: Launch MakeMKV and it will automatically analyze the disc and decrypt the content. MakeMKV will display a list of all titles found on the DVD. You can manually select titles, audio tracks, and subtitles as needed.
Step 3: Click on the folder icon next to the "Output Folder" field to choose where the ripped files will be saved. As MKV files can be huge, be sure you have enough space on your hard disk.
Step 4: Press the "Make MKV" button. MakeMKV will get over the copy protection and rip the chosen titles to MKV format without re-encoding.
How to Rip a Copy-Protected DVD with HandBrake
HandBrake is a popular and open-source video transcoder used for converting multimedia files and unprotected DVD or Blu-ray sources into versatile digital formats such as MP4, MKV, and WebM. HandBrake by itself cannot remove copy protection from DVDs. However, it can be used in conjunction with libdvdcss (a part of the VideoLAN project) that can handle Content Scramble System (CSS) encryption found on many commercial DVDs.
Key Features of HandBrake
👍Supported copy-protected DVDs: CSS and Region Code
💡Rip copy-protected DVDs to: MP4, MKV and WebM
Detailed Steps to Copy Copy-protected DVD via HandBrake
Step 1: Download and install the Handbrake software on your computer.
Step 2: Install libdvdcss for DVD decryption capability:
- For Windows: Download the appropriate version of libdvdcss (32-bit or 64-bit) and copy the .dll file into your Handbrake program folder.
- For macOS: Use Homebrew to install libdvdcss by typing 'brew install libdvdcss' in a Terminal window. If you're using an older version of macOS, you may download and install the package directly.
Step 3: Launch HandBrake and select your DVD drive from the source sidebar. Wait while it scans and analyzes the disc content.
Step 4: Choose your desired title from the "Title" dropdown menu and set your output destination under "Destination".
Step 5: Pick a quality preset according to your need from right side of HandBrake window.
💡Recommended Encoding Presets:
| Use Case | Video Settings | Audio Settings | Notes |
| High Quality Archive | H.265 (HEVC) Codec CRF 18-20 |
DTS/AC3 (5.1 Surround) Soft Subtitles (Multiple Languages) |
Best quality preservation, larger files |
| Balance Quality/Size | H.264 Codec CRF 20-22 |
AAC 192-256 kbps Stereo or surround |
Good quality with reasonable file size |
| Fast Conversion | H.264 Codec Faster preset Hardware encoding (if available) |
AAC 160-192 kbps | Quickest encoding, smaller files |
Step 6: Click "Start Encode" at top of window, then wait for the process to complete.
More Methods to Rip DVDs with Copy Protection
VLC
Another popular and free DVD decrypter is VLC Media Player. It is not just a media player, but also functions as a free DVD copy protection removal software, allowing you to convert your DVDs into digital formats for easy access on various devices.
The combination of VLC Media Player and libdvdcss makes it possible to playback and read commercial DVDs. This means that you can use VLC in conjunction with the libdvdcss to handle some CSS-protected DVDs.
👍Supported copy-protected DVDs: CSS and Region Code
💡Rip copy-protected DVDs to: MP4, M4A, WEBM, OGG, and more
How to Copy Copy-protected DVDs using VLC
Step 1: Depending on your VLC version, you may need to install the libdvdcss library separately to enable DVD decryption. Visit the VideoLAN website and download the appropriate version for your operating system. Follow the installation instructions carefully.
Step 2: Launch VLC Media Player. Click on the Media menu (or press Ctrl + R on Windows / Cmd + R on Mac) to open the Convert/Save dialog. Switch to the Disc tab, then select your DVD drive from the dropdown menu.
Step 3: Configure the ripping options:
- In the Starting Position section, specify which title/chapter you want to rip if not ripping entirely.
- Under Audio and Subtitles, choose your preferred audio track and subtitle language, or keep the default options. Then, select the desired output format and codec under the Profile dropdown (e.g., MP4 with H.264 video).
Step 4: Click Browse to set the destination folder and filename for the ripped file. Finally, start ripping the DVD.
💡If you encounter issues during this process such as missing audio or only partial ripping of content from disks featuring advanced protection schemes not covered by CSS decryption alone, consider using professional software like DVDFab DVD Ripper, designed specifically for these more complex challenges.
DVD Shrink
When it comes to free DVD ripper for copy-protected DVDs, DVD Shrink is definitely one of the top choices for users looking to back up their DVDs. This software has the capability to decrypt DVDs that are safeguarded with CSS, restrictions on user operations, and region codes. By shrinking the files' size, it enables users to make duplicates of DVDs and makes it simpler to store them on a hard drive or burn them on a blank DVD.
👍Supported copy-protected DVDs: User operation prohibition, CSS and Region Code
💡Rip copy-protected DVDs to: VIDEO_TS folder or ISO image only
Detailed Steps to Rip Copy-protected DVD for Free with DVD Shrink
Step 1: Install DVD Shrink 3.2.0.15 from a reputable mirror only (avoid "2010/2011" repacks). For safety, verify the file and scan it with your antivirus before running.
Step 2: Open DVD Shrink and click on the "Open Disc" button in the top left corner of the window. It will automatically analyze the DVD files you import.
Step 3: A list of titles along with their corresponding sizes will appear. By selecting the "Compression Settings" link for any title, you can change the compression parameters. DVD Shrink allows you to choose the amount of compression or to remove extras and subtitles to save space.
Step 4: In the toolbar, select the "Backup" button. You have the option of backing up directly to a blank DVD. If you decide to save to a folder, you can burn it to a DVD later using DVD burning software (such as ImgBurn).
WonderFox DVD Ripper
WonderFox DVD Ripper features advanced DVD decryption technology, enabling users to bypass DVD copy protection and converting it into various formats and compatible with multiple devices. It also support to convert ISO to MP4, MKV, and many other digital formats. Additionally, WonderFox DVD Ripper Pro offers a variety of editing tools, allowing users to customize their videos by trimming, cropping, adding effects, and more.
👍Supported copy-protected DVDs: CSS, Region Code, etc
💡Rip copy-protected DVDs to: Popular formats and devices, including AVI, MP4, AVI, Android, iPhone, iPad, etc
Steps to Rip Copyrighted DVD with WonderFox DVD Ripper
Step 1: To begin, launch the application and opt for "DVD Disc" to upload your protected DVD. The software will unlock the DVD, display all available titles, and automatically choose the main title. You can also manually select other titles if you wish to rip specific parts of the DVD.
Step 2: Choose an Output Format. Access the list of output formats on the right-hand side. This tool allows you to convert your protected DVD into over 300 optimized digital formats and compatible devices.
Step 3: You can adjust settings such as resolution, bit rate, frame rate, and more by clicking the "Settings" button. This step is optional and only necessary if you need specific adjustments.
Step 4: Designate the output location at the bottom of the screen, then hit "Run" to initiate the process of transferring a protected DVD to digital format.
Compare the Best Tools to Rip Copy-protected DVDs
To provide a reliable assessment, we collected DVDs employing six distinct encryption methods, such as CSS, ARccOS, and the Disney 99-title structure. All tools were installed on the same test bench using comparable preset configurations, and evaluated for both usability and consistency. After documenting success rates, speed, output quality, and failure cases, we consolidated the findings into two reference tables:
Feature Comparison and Rating
The table below provides a quick overview of each tool's platform support, ease of use, and overall rating.
| Product | Decryption Capability | Supported OS | Supported Protections | GPU Acceleration | Best For | User Ratings |
| DVDFab DVD Ripper | Advanced | Windows 7 - 11 & Mac 10.10 - 15.x | Wide support (CSS, ARccOS, Disney 99-title, RCE, UOPs, etc) | ✅ | Flexible output and high-quality ripping with customization | 4.6 out of 5 |
| HandBrake | Limited (requires libdvdcss manually) | Windows, Mac, and Linux | CSS only (with libdvdcss) | ❌ | Compress DVDs to small MP4/MKV | 4.3 out of 5 |
| MakeMKV | Basic | Windows, Mac, and Linux | CSS, some ARccOS | ❌ | Lossless 1:1 ripping, but only outputs MKV files | 3.3 out of 5 |
| VLC Media Player | Limited (needs libdvdcss) | Windows, Mac, Linux |
CSS only (manual steps) | ❌ | Basic DVD ripping with no extra features | 2.4 out of 5 |
| DVD Shrink | Outdated | Windows only | Old CSS support, no modern protections | ❌ | Compress and back up DVDs to fit smaller discs | 3.6 out of 5 |
| WonderFox DVD Ripper | Basic | Windows only | CSS & simple protections only | ❌ | Baisc DVD ripping with built-in format presets | 2.3 out of 5 |
Scenario Benchmarks & Decryption Capability
To validate how each tool handles both performance and copy-protection, we ran controlled tests using the DVD movie 8 Mile (duration: 1h50m, original size: 6.13 GB). The system environment was standardized: Windows 10 x64, Intel Core i7-6700 CPU, and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Ti GPU.
We focused on two practical scenarios:
- Transcode to H.264 MP4: for smaller file sizes while keeping good viewing quality.
- 1:1 MKV Backup: for lossless preservation of DVD video and audio.
Using the DVD movie "8 Mile" (duration 1 hour 50 minutes, original size 6.13GB) as the test source, we evaluated 3 leading ripping tools under the same system environment: Windows 10 x64 running on an Intel Core i7-6700 CPU and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Ti GPU.
| Software | Scenario | Duration | File Size | Resolution | Output Audio | Remarks |
| DVDFab DVD Ripper | H.264 MP4 | 5m 31s | 1.91 GB | 720*404 | AAC 5.1 | 🏆Good balance of speed and compression |
| DVDFab DVD Ripper | 1:1 MKV | 1m 37s | 5.07 GB | 720*480 | DTS 5.1 | Lossless quality, faster processing |
| HandBrake | H.264 MP4 | 12m 28s | 675 MB | 720*362 | AAC 2.0 | Excellent compression but slower ripping |
| MakeMKV | 1:1 MKV | 1m 27s | 6.01 GB | 720*480 | AC3 5.1 | Full quality but large file size |
🥇Key Takeaways
Speed vs. Compression: DVDFab's H.264 rip was more than twice as fast as HandBrake, producing a mid-sized MP4 file with surround sound. HandBrake compressed most aggressively, but at the cost of slower processing and stereo audio only.
Lossless Backups: Both DVDFab and MakeMKV delivered lossless quality. MakeMKV produced the largest output, while DVDFab's passthrough MKV was about 15% smaller without quality loss, and retained DTS 5.1 audio.
Decryption Handling: In this test case (8 Mile, a CSS-protected disc), all three tools successfully bypassed encryption. However, in broader testing with discs carrying ARccOS or Disney 99-title protection, DVDFab consistently maintained higher success rates, while HandBrake and MakeMKV failed.
FAQs
What does it Mean if a DVD is copy-protected?
DVD copy protection is all about the tech used to prevent commercial DVDs from being shared. These includes CSS, region codes, Sony ARccOS, UOPs, and even artificial errors or bad sectors. These mechanisms are meant to stop unauthorized copying and need special software to get around.
How to copy a copy-protected DVD to ISO or folder?
If you don't want to rip protected DVD to digital format, then backing up to a blank disc is a good choice. DVDFab DVD Copy makes it simple to copy files for these kinds of purposes. The program can directly duplicate protected and home-made DVDs in 1:1 original quality to blank discs, ISO files and Folders.
The laws regarding commercial DVDs vary from country to country. In most regions, such as the United States, bypassing DVD copy protection is considered a violation of copyright law. However, some countries allow DVD copying within the scope of fair use for private backup purposes.
To avoid potential risks, always check your local laws and use DVD rippers like DVDFab only for personal, non-distributive purposes.
The free products we mentioned in this blog like Handbrake and VLC supports ripping partially copy-protected DVDs. But free products generally can't bypass advanced protections like Disney X-Project, ARccOS, etc. You need to eliminate the copy protection mechanism first with the best free DVD decrypter and then copy a DVD. In comparision, DVDFab DVD Ripper can both decrypt and rip any old or new copy-protected DVDs in simple steps.
Yes. MakeMKV can eliminate region code encryptions from most DVDs and rip them into MKV formats only. However, MakeMKV cannot rip advanced copy-protected DVDs. You'll need to find a professional DVD decrypter to rip DVDs with advanced protections.
What are the common types of DVD copy protection?
Most commercial DVDs come with built-in copy protection mechanisms. You've probably seen the warning labels printed on the DVD case, but may not realize which specific encryption methods are being used.
Major studios employ the following types of copy protection to prevent unauthorized duplication:
- CSS uses a 40-bit stream cipher algorithm to protect the reading and playback of discs, but it has gradually been replaced by newer DRM schemes.
- RCE is an extension of the standard region code system used on DVDs. Unlike traditional region codes, which restrict playback based on geographical location, RCE provides protection by actively detecting and rejecting region-free DVD players.
- Sony ARccOS works in conjunction with CSS encryption. Without affecting playback, it inserts bad sectors, unreadable data blocks, or damaged navigation structures into DVDs.
- UOPs are tag instructions embedded in the DVD navigation structure that restrict the operations users can perform during playback, such as skipping, pausing, or accessing menus.
Conclusion
If you want to rip DVDs with copy protection, this guide introduces the best free tools worth a try. While free options such as MakeMKV can handle basic ripping tasks, many struggle to cope with newer DVD protection. DVDFab DVD Ripper stands out as a more reliable tool for Windows and Mac with its high decryption success rate and 50x faster processing speed.
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