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Listed in "I no longer have a DVD player, but I have a few DVD movies I would like to watch on my TV via an Android box that does accept USB drives. My only tool to transfer DVD movies to a USB flash memory is a Windows 10 notebook."
We keep seeing posts like this on Reddit, Facebook, and everywhere. Copying a DVD to a pen drive allows you to watch your favorite movies on various devices without being tethered to a DVD player.
However, you might find that simply copying and pasting yields no results.
The truth is, when it comes to transferring DVDs to a flash drive, it matters where you plan to plug that USB in and what DVD you want to copy. We'll explain that in this guide. And also, you'll learn how to copy a DVD to a USB flash drive effortlessly, whether for backup or for the flexibility of plug-and-play on a TV or computer.
Direct Copy to Convert DVD to USB Flash Drive
- Ideal for: unencrypted or homemade video DVDs intended for playback on a computer.
Direct copying is the most straightforward method for transferring a DVD to a USB drive, provided you are dealing with a home-authored movie or a data DVD that has no copy protection.
Data DVDs are used essentially as flash drives to store regular files. The videos will transfer to the USB perfectly when you copy them, and you can then watch them flawlessly on your TV or computer.
If it is a video DVD, you can also directly copy the VIDEO_TS and AUDIO_TS folders onto a USB stick. This will keep the DVD's original file structure. It's just that you'll need a dedicated software player, such as VLC, to play these copied DVD files on a computer.
Here's how to copy an unencrypted DVD to a USB drive and play it on a computer.
- Insert the DVD into the disk drive and plug in the USB flash drive into the USB port.
- Open the DVD drive in File Explorer (Windows) or Finder (Mac).
- Select and copy all the DVD's contents and files.
- Paste the files onto the USB flash drive.
- Open VLC media player. Go to Media > Open Folder. Select your VIDEO_TS folder to start playing.
However, if your goal is to watch your movies on a modern Smart TV, a tablet, or a gaming console, those devices expect a modern, single-file video format like MP4 or MKV. They cannot read standard DVD file structures and may just throw an error and crash. In this case, your best bet is to rip the disc into a digital format using DVD ripping software.
VideoProc Converter AI - Handle both unencrypted and encrypted video DVDs
- Read standard DVD file structures; Handle audio and subtitle tracks
- Convert DVDs to single-file digital formats, MP4, MKV, AVI, MOV...
- Make 1:1 lossless DVD copy to ISO image, VIDEO_TS folder, MKV, etc.
- Bypass protection schemes, incl. CSS, region codes, UOPs, and Sony ARccOS
- Video file compression, hardware acceleration, 47X real-time fast
Convert DVD to USB with DVD Ripping Software
- Ideal for: converting DVDs to high-quality digital formats for USB playback, whether homemade or commercial DVDs.
VideoProc Converter AI is a multimedia software with a handy built-in DVD ripper tool. Its DVD converter can rip DVDs into high-quality single-file video formats such as MP4 for easy USB playback, as well as into ISO or MKV formats that preserve the original quality via a 1:1 copy without re-encoding.
In addition to homemade video DVDs, VideoProc Converter AI can also handle encrypted commercial DVDs such as CSS, region codes, Sony ARccOS, Disney X-Project, and others. The program automatically bypasses these copy protection schemes and selects the correct movie title, so you can easily rip and copy the DVD to your USB drive. Simple one-click operation and hardware acceleration make this entire process even easier.
Besides being a DVD ripping tool, VideoProc Converter AI also includes a versatile toolbox to enhance your converted DVD, such as format conversion, video compression, AI upscaling and deinterlacing, etc. Above all these, there are some useful basic video editing settings, like cut, merge, and manage audio or subtitle tracks.
How to copy DVD to USB flash drive with VideoProc Converter AI
Step 1. Download if you have not yet and install VideoProc Converter AI first, and then launch the software.
Step 2. Input your DVD into the disk drive and click DVD > Disc to load content in the software. It supports any of the following DVD types: ISO images, VIDEO TS folders, homemade DVDs, 99-title DVDs with region codes, copy protections, etc.
Step 3. Choose an output format at the bottom of the interface. VideoProc Converter AI supports 1:1 backup and format conversion during the process.
- For lossless backup: Go to Target Format > Backup and choose ISO, Video_TS, or MKV copy.
- For conversion and max compatibility with TVs and computers: Go to Target Format > Video and select MP4 H.264.
In addition to specifying an output format, you can also select a device-specific preset to simplify the configuration process. VideoProc has format presets for popular devices like Apple TV, Samsung TV, Sony TV, Panasonic TV, LG TV, etc.
Step 4. Browse to select USB as the output folder. Ensure your pendrive has enough space, as DVD files can be large (a single-layer DVD holds about 4.7GB).
Step 5. Press the RUN button to convert the DVD and copy it to your flash drive.
💡 Important Notes: Ripping copy-protected DVDs may have legal implications depending on your location. We do not advocate downloading or converting authorized or copy-protected media content.
USB Storage Capacity and Format for TV Playback
Ensure that your USB drive has sufficient storage space, as a standard single-layer DVD can occupy up to 4.7 GB of data, while a dual-layer DVD can take up to 8.5 GB.
exFAT is the best format to use for modern setups. It removes the 4GB file size limit while still being readable by both your computer and most modern TVs without extra software.
If your TV doesn't recognize the exFAT drive, you will need to reformat the drive to FAT32 and ensure your ripped DVD video is compressed to under 4 GB.
What Exactly Media Format You Should Choose
The specific video container formats and codecs supported for USB playback vary significantly across different TV brands and models.
If you want a single file that works perfectly across all devices, rip your DVD to an MP4 file with H.264 video and AAC audio. This specific combination is the universal standard for USB playback on modern televisions.
Below, we have compiled a list of file formats supported by some popular TV brands for USB playback as a general reference. However, this may vary depending on the specific model; please refer to the manufacturer's specifications for the most accurate information.
- Samsung TV accepts DVD to USB in AVI, MKV, MP4, MOV, etc.
- Sony TV support USB input on TV in MP4, MPEG, WMV, MTS formats, etc.
- Apple TV supports H.264 video in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov container formats.
- Roku TV supports H.264/HEVC in MP4, MOV, M4V, MKV and VP9 in WebM.
Transfer DVD to USB without Computer
- Ideal for: users who have a large collection of home movies or lack the appropriate hardware and are willing to pay per disc.
If you prefer not to handle the DVD to USB process yourself, you can use a home movie transfer service. These services convert your DVDs into digital formats and save them to a USB drive. Popular choices include Walmart Photo, CVS Photo, etc. Prices range from $15 to $30 per order, and the whole process is simple. Here's how:
- Gather the media you plan to digitize and create an order online.
- Ship or drop off the gathered media at a designated store.
- Receive the digital copy when your order is ready.
Note: Most digital media transfer services will not digitize the commercial DVDs you own. Your digitized copies usually will be transferred to a cloud account for you to view, download, or save for a certain period. USB copies will require additional fees.
The Bottom Line
Direct copy works best for backing up unencrypted homemade videos to watch on a computer, though it fails on commercial movies and rarely works on Smart TVs. If you have a massive collection of home movies and zero desire to handle the technical work, utilizing a digital media transfer service is a completely hands-off approach.
If you need to digitize store-bought movies or ensure flawless TV playback, using specialized DVD ripping software is the ideal choice. It works with both homemade and commercial DVDs and creates universally compatible formats like MP4 and MKV.
Feel free to download VideoProc Converter AI to have a try!
Disclaimer: We do not advocate downloading or converting authorized or copy-protected media content.
FAQ
How to transfer a DVD to a USB stick?
To convert a DVD to a USB, use DVD ripping software like VideoProc Converter AI. It can handle almost all types of DVDs, including homemade and commercial ones. Copy your DVD content into a usual video file format, such as MP4. Then you can save it directly to the USB drive.
Can I play ripped DVD files on a Smart TV?
Yes, you can play ripped DVD files on a smart TV. You'll need to convert the DVD to a digital video format that your TV's media player can recognize. Copy the converted video file to a USB flash drive in a file system compatible with your TV. You can then watch the ripped DVD on your Smart TV from the USB drive.
What are the pros and cons of using a professional DVD transfer service versus doing it yourself?
A professional service handles the entire conversion process for you. You typically drop off or mail your discs to the company, which then digitizes them and provides the digital files on a USB drive or in a cloud account. That saves you a significant amount of time and effort. However, transferring an entire collection can become expensive, less private, and less controlled.
