How to Copy a DVD on Mac and Convert from Physical to Digital Files

DVD or Digital Video Disc is widely used to store software, movies, and other files. Compared to CDs, it offers significant storage capacity. Meanwhile, transferring your DVD data, like movies, music files, or software, is convenient. That is especially true if you watch movies on various devices, such as iPhones, iPads, and Macs. Thus, this article guide will teach you how to copy any DVD on a MacBook Air/Pro hard drive disk.

Part 1: The Best Way to Copy DVD to Mac

Tipard DVD Cloner is a user-friendly software that enables users to rip DVDs and copy DVD files to another DVD. It is a dependable tool for Mac users to convert DVDs to digital formats, duplicate DVDs, and create backups of their collections. Moreover, the program includes features such as compressing DVD-9 to DVD-5 to help you squeeze in content to a single-layer disc. Indeed, this program is versatile for managing DVD content. With Tipard DVD Cloner, copying videos from DVDs to Mac is simplified. With its friendly interface, you can easily navigate the tool, even for beginners. Keep in mind that you must be a responsible user and comply with copyright laws when using this tool.

Step 1Download and install the app

First, download Tipard DVD Cloner for Mac and install it on your Macbook computer. Once the installation is complete, launch it on your own and inject the DVD you want to copy into your Mac's DVD drive.

Step 2Select the source DVD

This time, the software should detect the inserted DVD. Then, choose between Full Copy, Main Movie, and Customize for the selection of files to copy.

Step 3Set preferences

Click the Target dropdown menu and choose an output destination where you wish to save the DVD copy. For more advanced settings, hit Next and adjust according to your preferences.

Step 4Complete the process

To initiate copying, click the Start button, and the software will handle the rest. In a short while, you'll have a duplicate of your DVD files on your Mac, ready for playback or storage.

Part 2: How to Copy DVD to Mac in Disk Utility

See the steps to learn how to copy a DVD on a Mac computer using the disk utility. While the method does not work for copyrighted DVDs, it effectively transfers files to your Mac.

Step 1On your Mac's disc drive, insert the DVD that you wish to copy. For modern Macbook computers that do not have a built-in disc drive, you can consider an external drive to load the disc before.

Step 2Now, go to the Applications folder on the Finder app. Next, you'll need to look for the Utilities folder. Under this folder, open the Disk Utility program to get started.

Step 3Once opened, you will see the Disk Utility windows. Locate and select your DVD under the External section in the left-hand sidebar.

Step 4Hit New in the File menu and select Disk Image From [DVD name]. Then, start creating a copy of your DVD files.

Part 3: How to Copy DVD to Mac with HandBrake

Similarly, HandBrake is one of the tools that can turn your DVD files into a digital collection copy. See below the steps on how to copy a DVD to another DVD on a Mac using this program.

Step 1The first thing to do is install a library file on your MacOS. This library, libdvdcss, provides the necessary functions to extract content from DVDs.

If you are running Mac OS X Yosemite or older, download the libdvdcss.pkg file. On the other hand, install Homebrew, a command-like tool, if you are running Mac OS El Capitan or later. Next, open Terminal, type in brew install libdvdcss, and hit Enter.

Step 2If your computer does not have HandBrake yet, download and install the app. Launch the program afterward.

Step 3This time, insert your target DVD into your Mac's disc drive. After that, navigate to the HandBrake app and choose your DVD under the Source Selection. Allow the app to scan the DVD titles and select your desired title and chapters when scanning is complete.

Step 4Before copying the DVD to your Mac, you may adjust some preferences in the settings. Now, if you find it too difficult to set up, just keep the settings default. To copy and burn a DVD on a Mac, tick the Browse button at the bottom right corner and choose a destination for the output. Then, click Start to begin the copying process.

Part 4: How to Copy DVD to Mac in VLC Media Player

If you are taking into account VLC Media Player, trying its DVD-burning capabilities will satisfy you. Here are the steps on how to make a DVD copy on a Mac.

Step 1Place the you'd like to clone into your Mac's drive using an external or built-in drive. Install VLC on your computer and launch it.

Step 2Click the File menu followed by the Convert/Stream that appears in the menu. Click the Open Media button and select the Disc tab. If the DVD is not detected automatically, hit the Browse button.

Step 3In the Profile dropdown menu, select a format of your choice or customize a profile. Finally, hit Save at the bottom right corner to start ripping the DVD to your Mac. If you are curious how to copy a protected DVD on a Mac using this tool, that is also possible. You will only need to install the dynamic library of libdvdcss.

Part 5: How to Copy DVD to Mac with MakeMKV

MakeMKV is likewise effective as the methods mentioned above. In just a few minutes, a digital copy of your DVD files will be ready for consumption after using this program.

Step 1Get the program's installer from its official site. Follow the installation guide for the setup. Some tweaking may be required as Apple has not officially signed the app.

Step 2After inserting your DVD into an external or optical drive, open the MakeMKV app and let it detect the DVD. Choose the correct disc and click Open DVD to scan.

Step 3The app then shows the DVD content in the structure of a tree. Choose the title, subtitles, and audio you wish to save. Then, click the Set Output folder to set a location where the output will be saved.

Step 4Hit the Make MKV button to commence the ripping session. Once the process is done, a notification will appear on the conversion screen.

Part 6: Comparability of the 5 Methods to Copy DVD to Mac

Below is a comparison table to check on different categories in which they excel or not.

By Sylvie Hyde on Jun 06, 2025