How to Burn a DVD with VLC and More

Burning DVDs is a practical way to store data, create physical copies of media files, or archive cherished memories. VLC is one of the most popular software programs you may like to use on Windows. This article will focus on creating a DVD using VLC Media Player and provide instructions to do so. Additionally, each method provides step-by-step instructions to help you determine which is right for you. Keep reading and explore more DVD burning ways in this article.

Part 1. How to Burn a DVD with VLC For Free

VLC Media Player is a free but powerful player, and it can also burn DVDs. It can easily play any video format, such as DVD files. However, some people want to know if it supports burning a DVD. The answer is yes. It offers a hidden creating feature that many people are unaware of. If you have a formatted DVD file, you can burn DVDs from VLC easily. Follow the steps below.

Step 1Open VLC on your computer and click Media to enter the Stream window.

Step 2On the File tab, click the Add button to load a file. Then, click the Stream button. After that, you should check the source matches what you want to input and then press the Next button to continue.

Step 3ncheck the box of Display locally and then choose File from the drop-down list. Next, click the Add button.

Step 4Please check if the blank DVD is inserted on the disc track first. If it's ok, click the Browse button to set the destination folder and choose your DVD drive to burn the video. Here you can type a name for your video. Finally, check the box of Active Transcoding and select the output format from the drop-down options.

Step 5Tick the box of Stream all elementary streams and check if the Generated stream output string content is ok. After that, click Stream to start the burning process.

The burning process is complex and time-consuming. Additionally, you will need to find a professional burner if you want to create an MP4 file from a DVD using VLC.

Part 2. 2 Best Alternative Ways to Burn a DVD

Tipard DVD Creator [Windows and Mac]

Tipard DVD Creator is an excellent alternative to VLC Media Player for creating DVDs easily. This professional DVD burner allows you to create DVDs directly from video files, including MP4, MOV, AVI, WMV, MKV, and FLV. It is compatible with Windows and macOS. Additionally, this powerful software can add audio tracks and subtitles to DVDs, merge or split chapters, and customize the DVD menu, including frame, button, text, background music, and pictures. Here is how to burn a DVD in a few steps.

Step 1Free download Tipard DVD Creator. Install and run it on your desktop.

Step 2Click the Add Media File(s) button to import a multimedia file you want to burn into DVD. Here you can add or edit the audio/subtitle track for the file. Then, click the Next button to enter the new window.

Step 3You can customize the Menu Template for the DVD by choosing your favorite template. After that, you can tick the boxes next to Add Background Music, Change Background, and Add Opening Film to specify the file.

Step 4Once done, click the Burn button. Confirm that your DVD is inserted on the disc track, then tice the box next to Burn to disc. You can adjust the Folder path according to your need. Finally, click Start to create the DVD.

All in all, the multi-functional and DVD-creating tool is your perfect option if you want to produce a DVD without VLC. Just a few clicks, you can get the DVD you want to burn.

Windows Media Player [Windows]

For Windows users, Windows Media Player is the default software to play videos. It can't only play multimedia files but also burn a DVD. Undoubtedly, it is powerful and easy to offer comprehensive playback options on the Windows operating system. Meanwhile, it has additional functions, such as burning DVDs. Here is how to create a DVD on Windows Media Player.

Step 1Open the default media player and click the Burn tab on the right panel.

Step 2Pull down the Burn options and select Data CD or DVD.

Step 3Open the disc drive, insert a blank DVD, and close the drive. Once the AutoPlay dialogue box appears, close it directly.

Step 4Drag and drop all files you want to copy from the middle file list to the Clear list on the right panel. Here you can change the order of the files within the Burn panel. After that, give the disc a title when you are ready to start.

Step 5Click Start Burn to create the DVD. Once finished, you can eject the disc.

Windows Media Player is the best free alternative to VLC that has the DVD burning and video editing features. Except for burning DVDs, you can also edit videos directly, such as crop or flip videos in Windows Media Player.

Part 3. Tips for Burning DVDs with VLC for Better Watching

Confirm Output Format

Output DVD-compatible video formats (recommended: MPEG-2 video + AC3 audio).

Common resolutions are 720×480 (NTSC) or 720×576 (PAL).

Subtitle Issues

VLC supports embedding subtitles (hardcoding) during transcoding. If subtitles are required, select the corresponding option before conversion.

If not embedded, external subtitles may not be recognized later.

Region Code Issues

VLC does not set region codes during conversion. However, if you intend to play the disc on a specific DVD player, authoring software may require setting the corresponding region code.

Part 4. FAQs of Burning a DVD

Can any DVD drive burn DVDs?

No. The only drive that can create a DVD is the DVD-R, DVD+R, or DVD+-RW drive. A traditional DVD drive can only read DVDs but not burn blank discs.

What does burning a DVD mean?

Burning a DVD is a popular method for backing up important files or creating copies of movies and TV shows. However, it's important to note that creating copyrighted material without permission is illegal.

What is the difference between burning and ripping a DVD?

Burning and ripping are two different processes that involve manipulating the content of a DVD in various ways. Burning is the process of writing data onto a DVD, while ripping is the process of copying data from a DVD onto a computer's hard drive.

By Bryan Simmonds on Sep 29, 2025