How to Rip a Copyright-Protected DVD on Windows 11/10/8/7 in 2026

Trying to rip a copy-protected DVD can be frustrating. Commercial DVDs may use different protection schemes, such as CSS, region codes, RCE, Sony ARccOS, Disney X-project, and other restrictions that can prevent a DVD ripper from loading the disc correctly or producing a usable video.

And in 2026, there is another problem: many DVD ripping tools that used to work well are no longer actively maintained or updated. As DVD protection methods and operating systems have evolved, some once-popular rippers have become unreliable, outdated, or simply unable to handle newer commercial DVDs. Only a handful of tools still work well with a wide range of copy-protected DVDs.

To find out which ones are still worth using, we tested several popular DVD rippers with the same set of commercial DVDs. We compared whether they could recognize and process the correct title, successfully complete the rip, and how long the process took. Below, you'll find the tools that still work, their limitations, and step-by-step instructions for ripping a copy-protected DVD.

Compare the Best 6 DVD Rippers for Copy-protected DVDs

Quick answer: VideoProc Converter AI is our top pick for ripping copy-protected DVDs in 2026, thanks to its easy workflow, broad DVD compatibility, and hardware-accelerated ripping. WinX DVD Ripper is a good option, especially if ripping speed is your priority, while MakeMKV is better suited to users who want to preserve the original DVD content and tracks in an MKV file. For a free and open-source option, HandBrake with libdvdcss is worth considering for supported CSS-protected DVDs.

Rip a Copy-Protected DVD with VideoProc Converter AI

VideoProc Converter AI is an AI video enhancer and converter software developed by Digiarty Software, , which has been developing DVD-related tools for over 20 years. It has also been reviewed by media outlets such as TechRadar.

In our testing, VideoProc successfully loaded and ripped several commercial DVDs with common protection schemes, including CSS encryption, region codes, and structural protections. Unlike some free tools that require additional libraries or plugins, it handles DVD decryption within the program itself.

Its built-in DVD processing engine analyzes the disc structure and converts the selected content into digital files. During our tests, it successfully identified the correct main movie title on discs containing multiple fake titles, a technique sometimes used in DVD copy protection. It can process DVDs containing movies, TV series, fitness programs, music videos, and content released for different regions.

You can back up DVDs as ISO images or convert them to formats such as MP4, MKV, AVI, and MOV, as well as extract audio. The software also includes AI Super Resolution, which can upscale DVD videos to higher resolutions such as 1080p or 4K when needed.

Key Features of VideoProc Converter AI

• Integrated DVD ripper, video converter, downloader, recorder, and basic editing tools.
• Supports common DVD protections including CSS, UOPs, and Sony ARccOS.
• Convert DVDs to widely used video formats or device profiles.
• Hardware acceleration support for faster DVD processing.
• Multiple backup modes including 1:1 copy, ISO image, or compressed digital formats.
• Clean interface with separate modules for DVD, video, downloader, and recorder tasks.
• [AI-powered] Includes optional AI upscaling tools for improving the visual quality of older videos.

Pros of VideoProc Converter AI:

• Able to load many commercial DVDs with common protections.
• Handles DVD decryption and ripping within a single program.
• Hardware acceleration can speed up DVD conversion on modern GPUs.
• Supports many output formats and device presets.
• Includes additional tools for conversion, compression, downloading, and screen recording.
• Regular updates improve compatibility with newer discs.

Cons of VideoProc Converter AI:

• No Linux version available.

Step-by-Step Guide: How to Rip Copy-Protected DVD with VideoProc Converter AI

Short Answer: Insert the DVD → Select an output format → Click Run to start ripping.

Step 0. Download and install VideoProc.

Download VideoProc Converter AI on your PC or Mac and install it. After launching the program, choose the DVD module to start working with disc content.

Step 1. Insert and load a DVD.

Insert your protected DVD into the optical drive. Click DVD and choose DVD Disc. The program will scan the disc structure and load available titles.

Step 2. Choose an output format.

Choose an output format depending on your goal:

• For a lossless backup: Go to the Backup mode and choose Main Copy, Title Copy, ISO image, Video_TS folder, MKV Copy, or H264 MKV.
• To save storage space: Select formats from General Profiles, HD Video, or 4K Video. Many users convert a DVD to MP4 because it offers good compatibility and smaller file size.
• For playback on a device: Go to Device profiles and choose presets for iPhone, iPad, Android devices, PS4/PS5, Xbox, and more.
• To extract audio: Choose formats such as MP3, AAC, WAV, FLAC, M4R, or AC3.

Optional: Adjust additional settings if needed.

• Select or merge chapters, rotate video, adjust playback speed, fix A/V sync issues, add subtitles, or apply filters.
• Modify codec, resolution, frame rate, or bitrate settings.
• Change the output folder for saving the converted files.

Step 3. Start converting.

Click RUN to start ripping the DVD. The program will decrypt the disc and convert the selected titles to the chosen format.

Rip a Copy-Protected DVD with WinX DVD Ripper

WinX DVD Ripper, particularly the Platinum version, is a long-established DVD ripping tool for digitizing and backing up DVD collections. It is designed to handle a wide range of DVD structures and copy protections, making it another option for converting protected DVDs to MP4 and other formats. It supports common DVD protections such as CSS, UOP, RCE, APS, and Sony ARccOS, and its title-check mechanism is designed to handle 99-title DVDs. Besides ripping DVDs to digital formats, it can also copy DVDs to a computer as an ISO image or DVD folder.

Key Features of WinX DVD Ripper

WinX DVD Ripper can process homemade and commercial DVDs, including region-locked and CSS-encrypted discs, DVDs with Sony ARccOS protection, Disney X-project DRM, UOPs, and complex 99-title structures. It also includes a Safe Mode for some damaged or difficult-to-read discs. For output, it supports a wide range of video and audio formats, including MP4 (H.264/HEVC), AVI, MKV, MOV, WMV, MPEG, FLV, MP3, AAC, and AC3.

Pros of WinX DVD Ripper:

• Specializes in DVD ripping and supports a wide range of DVD structures.
• Supports GPU acceleration for faster DVD ripping.
• Offers a wide selection of output formats and device profiles.
• Includes a title-check mechanism for handling 99-title and other complex DVDs.

Cons of WinX DVD Ripper:

• Available for Windows and macOS, but not Linux or mobile platforms.
• Does not support Blu-ray or CD ripping.

How to Rip a Copy-Protected DVD with WinX DVD Ripper

Step 1. Download WinX DVD Ripper.

Go to download WinX DVD Ripper from its official site. Install and open it.

Step 2. Input and load your source DVD.

Input the source DVD in your DVD-ROM, tap DVD Disc on the top left, and follow the instruction to select the source DVD.

Step 3. Choose an output format.

After the DVD is loaded, choose an output format under Output Profile.

Step 4. Select an destination folder.

Change the Destination Folder to save the output video file if you need it.

Step 5. Start ripping the DVD.

Tap RUN and get the job done.

Rip a Copy-Protected DVD with MakeMKV

Key Features of MakeMKV

MakeMKV is a free video format converter, or say, transcoder, specifically designed to handle DVDs and Blu-rays encrypted with some copy protection techniques such as region codes.

MakeMKV is a DVD and Blu-ray backup tool that reads video from discs and saves it as MKV files without re-encoding the original video. It can process many encrypted DVD and Blu-ray discs and preserves the original video and audio tracks, chapters, subtitles, and other disc metadata. This makes it particularly useful if your priority is keeping the original DVD content rather than compressing it into a smaller file.

MakeMKV also keeps the workflow simple. After scanning a disc, it displays the available titles, chapters, video tracks, audio tracks, and subtitles, allowing you to select the content you want to keep. It can also identify the main movie title among multiple titles. The resulting MKV files can then be played directly or processed with another video converter if you need MP4 or a different codec.

As the name suggests, MKV is the only output container MakeMKV creates. Therefore, some users pair MakeMKV with HandBrake to first extract the DVD content and then convert the resulting MKV file to MP4 or another format. This two-step workflow gives you more control over encoding, but it takes longer and requires an additional program compared with using an all-in-one DVD ripper such as VideoProc Converter AI.

One thing to keep in mind in 2026 is MakeMKV's licensing model. The software is still distributed as a beta, and the beta version stops working after 60 days unless you update the application and enter a current beta key. A permanent registration key does not expire, but the official purchase service has experienced technical issues recently. If you rely on the free beta version, you may therefore need to replace the key periodically to continue using the software.

Pros of MakeMKV:

• Preserves the original video and audio without re-encoding.
• Keeps multiple video, audio, subtitle, chapter, and metadata tracks.
• Works with both DVDs and Blu-ray discs.
• Simple title and track selection with no complicated encoding settings.
• DVD processing is free, while all features are available during the beta period.

Cons of MakeMKV:

• MKV is the only output container.
• The beta version requires a new key periodically; permanent use requires a registration key.
• Converting the resulting MKV to MP4 or another format requires an additional video converter.
• It may not handle every type of DVD or Blu-ray protection.
• Reading damaged, dirty, or scratched discs can be unreliable because successful extraction depends on the condition of the physical disc.
• The official website and purchase service have experienced technical issues recently.

How to Rip a Copy-Protected DVD with MakeMKV

Step 1. Download MakeMKV.

Visit the official MakeMKV website and navigate to the download page. Choose the appropriate version for your operating system (Windows XP or higher for Windows, Mac OS X 10.7 or later for Mac, available in x64 or ARM64).

Step 2. Insert and load the DVD.

Launch MakeMKV and insert the copy-protected DVD into your DVD-ROM drive. Allow the software to recognize and read the contents of the disc.

Step 3. Select the main title.

Once the DVD is loaded, you'll see a tree structure displaying title information. Identify the main content of the DVD and select the primary video, audio, and subtitle tracks.

Step 4. Start ripping the DVD.

Click on the "Make MKV" button to commence the conversion process. Depending on the size and content of the DVD, the ripping process typically takes around 20 minutes to complete.

Rip a Protected DVD with HandBrake

HandBrake is a free and open-source video transcoder that can be used to rip certain copy-protected DVDs when paired with libdvdcss. HandBrake itself does not bypass DVD copy protection; libdvdcss provides the necessary access to CSS-encrypted DVD content. This makes HandBrake a useful free option if you are comfortable installing and configuring an additional component.

Key Features of HandBrake

HandBrake can convert DVD content to popular formats such as MP4, MKV, and WebM, with extensive control over video quality, resolution, codecs, subtitles, audio tracks, and other encoding settings. It also provides device-oriented presets and supports hardware-accelerated encoding on compatible systems.

For CSS-encrypted DVDs, you can install libdvdcss alongside HandBrake. Once the DVD content is accessible, HandBrake can scan the disc and let you select the title, chapters, audio tracks, and subtitles you want to encode. Note that libdvdcss is designed for CSS encryption and does not make HandBrake a universal solution for every type of commercial DVD copy protection.

Pros of HandBrake:

• Free and open-source.
• Works with DVD sources and offers extensive encoding controls.
• Supports popular output formats including MP4, MKV, and WebM.
• Offers presets and hardware-accelerated encoding on supported hardware.

Cons of HandBrake:

• Requires libdvdcss to access CSS-encrypted DVDs.
• libdvdcss does not cover every type of commercial DVD copy protection.
• The setup is less straightforward than using an all-in-one DVD ripper.
• HandBrake is primarily an encoder, so it offers fewer dedicated DVD decryption and backup features than specialized DVD rippers.

Follow the steps below to learn how to rip a copy-protected DVD with HandBrake + libdvdcss.

How to Rip Copy-Protected DVD with HandBrake

Step 1. Download and install HandBrake.

To rip copy-protected DVDs, you need to head to the archive page of HandBrake to download HandBrake 0.9.9 or the earlier version on Windows, macOS (or Linux). Install it.

Note: According to real users from Reddit, HandBrake is no longer able to rip some DVDs that it was able to 8-10 years ago. If you have installed a version newer than 0.9.9, you should try to uninstall the version and re-install the older one.

Step 2. Install libdvdcss on your Windows or Mac PC.

If you are a Windows user, you can just download libdvdcss for 32-bit, or download libdvdcss for 64-bit.

If you are on Yosemite (OS X 10.10) or the even older version, you can download libdvdcss file for Mac here.

But if you are using El Caption (OS X 10.11) or newer, you have to take a detour by disabling System Integrity Protection (SIP) first before you can install libdvdcss file successfully:

1. On your OS X, press Command + Space and find Terminal to launch a command line window.
2. Type in brew install libdvdcss.
3. Press Enter and let Homebrew install the libdvdcss file.



4. Restart your computer.

Step 3. Load your protected DVD.

Get your source DVD ready, insert it into your DVD-ROM. Launch HandBrake, choose the DVD location in Source Selection and let the software scan DVD titles in a minute or so.

Step 4. Choose something for the output.

Choose a title that you want to rip. Change the Destination if you like. Choose a profile under Output Settings, or under Presets on the right.

Step 5. Try to rip the protected DVD.

After finishing all the necessary settings provided by HandBrake, you are good to go. Hit Start Encode on the upper part and try your luck. On most occasions, it can rip DVDs successfully. But if HandBrake won't rip your DVD, you should go for another method below!

Copy a Copy-Protected DVD with VLC media player

VLC media player is a free and open-source software that many people use to play videos, music, and DVDs. It can also convert DVDs, even some copy-protected DVDs. The operation sequence is simple only if you succeed in ripping your DVD.

Pros of VLC:

• Free and open-source.
• Play, stream, convert, compress.
• Powerful decoding and encoding.

Cons of VLC:

• Slow in converting a DVD.
• Fails to convert some strictly protected DVDs.

Try your luck with the following steps:

How to Copy a Copy-Protected DVD with VLC media player

Step 1. Download and install VLC media player.

Go to the official page of VLC to download the program on your computer.

Step 2. Load your source DVD.

Run VLC media player. Click Media on the top left of the interface, choose 'Convert / Save' on the drop-down menu and click on the Disc tab. You can load a DVD, Blu-ray, audio CD, or SVCD/VCD by browsing on your computer. You can also add an ISO file to the File option. But not all DVDs and ISO image files can be recognized and read by VLC.

Step 3. Decide what to rip exactly.

You can choose the title, chapter, audio track, start time, and stop time. Then hit the Convert / Save button and go to the next window.

Step 4. Choose the output format and destination.

You can make more settings, including Display the output, Deinterlace, Profile, and Destination file. Then hit Start to begin the conversion.

Rip a Copy-Protected DVD with DVD Shrink

DVD Shrink is a free DVD backup and transcoding tool that was widely used for shrinking DVD-9 discs to fit on a single-layer DVD. It can process DVD folders, ISO images, and disc sources, and was designed to handle some common DVD restrictions of its time, including CSS, UOPs, and region codes. Depending on the backup mode, you can re-author the DVD, remove unwanted content, or compress the video to reduce the overall file size.

However, DVD Shrink is now a legacy tool. Its latest version, 3.2.0.15, was released on July 25, 2004, and the project is no longer maintained. As a result, its compatibility with newer commercial DVDs and more advanced copy-protection schemes is limited. It may still be useful for older DVDs with relatively simple protection, but it should not be considered a reliable choice for modern copy-protected discs.

Pros of DVD Shrink:

• Free to use.
• Can shrink DVD-9 content to fit on a single-layer DVD.
• Offers full-disc backup and re-authoring options.
• Can process DVD folders and ISO image files.

Cons of DVD Shrink:

• Not actively maintained; the latest version dates back to 2004.
• Limited compatibility with newer commercial DVDs and modern copy-protection schemes.
• DVD compression can reduce video quality.
• Does not provide modern hardware-accelerated encoding or contemporary codec options.

How to Rip a Copy-Protected DVD with DVD Shrink

Step 1. Download and open DVD Shrink.

Visit the official DVD Shrink website to download the latest stable version suitable for your language. Ensure to download from the official site to avoid scams with misleading names like "DVD Shrink 2014" or similar. Install and launch the downloaded software on your Windows PC.

Step 2. Add the copy-protected DVD.

Insert the copy-protected DVD into your computer's DVD drive.

Step 3. Select Source.

Click on "Open Disc" on DVD Shink. Wait for DVD Shrink to analyze the DVD, which will display the DVD structure, including Menus, Main Movie, and Extras.

Step 4. Analyze and customize.

Optionally, customize settings like compression options. The default "Automatic" will automaticall shrink the video to fit on a DVD5 disc. You can also choose your preferred compression ratio, audio tracks, and subpicture tracks.

Step 5. Start ripping.

Select the target device and output folder to save the output DVD file. Then begin the ripping process by clicking "Backup!" on the top.

What Are Common DVD Copy Protection Schemes

DVD copy protection refers to methods that are applied to DVDs for preventing DVDs from being copied, duplicated, or even played back on some devices.

Most commercial DVDs are restricted with DVD region codes, Content Scramble System (CSS), etc. Movie DVDs are commonly protected with Analog Protection System (APS), Sony ARccOS Protection, Playlist Obfuscation, and DVD Disc Corruption. And there also comes with Burst Cutting Area, DVD-Cops, ProtectDISC Software, ProtectDISC Video, DRMs, and more copy protections.

In addition to traditional protection mechanisms, some newer copy protection techniques involve deliberately introducing structural anomalies during disc mastering. For example, certain DVDs contain fake bad sectors, intentionally corrupted file structures, damaged or misleading content tables, or even physical defects embedded in specific files. These tactics are designed to prevent DVD drives and ripping software from reading the disc correctly, while most standalone DVD players are still able to play the content normally.

There are many DVD rippers, including paid and free ones. Honestly, freeware does not cover all needs and has some defects, such as complicated operation, slow conversion, and insufficiency in supporting different DVD copy protections. To bypass the DVD copy protection schemes, you have to rely on professional DVD rippers. Check the table below and choose the DVD ripper you like to copy the protected DVDs.

FAQs about Ripping Copy-Protected DVDs

1. Is it legal to rip a copy-protected DVD?

Technically no. According to Title 17 of The Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), it is illegal to circumvent "technological protection measures" and rip DVDs protected with Digital Rights Management (DRM). But it is a grey area for ripping DVDs for personal use offline.

According to Fair use, a legal doctrine, it is legal to use copyright-protected works for criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, research, and so on without having to get permitted by the copyright owners. And you can refer to Section 107 calls to evaluate the purposes of fair use.

In a word, we do not advocate any commercial use or redistribution of any copyrighted works and suggest you make sure you are not going to share, upload online, or sell them. Please learn about the laws in your regions and countries before making a copy of your own purchased DVDs.

2. How to copy a protected DVD to MP4?

The way to convert a protected DVD to MP4 is very easy using VideoProc Converter AI.

• Step 1: Download, install, and launch VideoProc Converter AI on your PC or Mac.
• Step 2: Insert your protected DVD into your DVD-ROM.
• Step 3: Choose MP4 in the Target Format as the output format.
• Step 4: Hit the RUN button to start ripping the copy-protected DVD to MP4.

3. Can VLC rip copy-protected DVDs?

Partly yes. With the installation of libdvdcss in its library, VLC can read and convert some encrypted DVDs. But the process is basically recording the DVD content, instead of the traditional ripping. Besides, not all copy-protected DVDs can be converted by VLC media player.

4. Will Nero rip copy-protected DVDs?

No. Although Nero can copy (burn) a DVD to another DVD, it does not rip a DVD, let alone rip a copy-protected DVD.

5. Can MakeMKV rip copy-protected DVDs?

Yes and no. MakeMKV can read most region-code-protected DVDs but not all kinds of DVDs. To rip more protected DVDs, you need to find a MakeMKV alternative.

6. How do I bypass a copy-protected DVD?

The best way to bypass copy protections of DVDs is to use DVD DRM removal software like VideoProc Converter AI. Follow the steps to copy the copy-protected DVDs to a USB or a hard drive:

• Step 1: Download and install VideoProc Converter AI.
• Step 2: Insert your DVD into the DVD-ROM of your computer.
• Step 3: Tap "DVD" on the software interface and go to the DVD section.
• Step 4: Load the DVD, and choose the output format you need.
• Step 5: Start to rip the copy-protected DVD.

7. How do I rip a protected DVD to an ISO?

VideoProc Converter AI allows you to rip a protected DVD to an ISO image file easily and directly.

• Step 1: Launch VideoProc Converter AI software on your PC or Mac.
• Step 2: Insert your source DVD to your drive and load it to the software.
• Step 3: Let the software check the main DVD title for you.
• Step 4. Tap "Backup" on the bottom and choose "ISO".
• Step 5. Start ripping the protected DVD to an ISO image file.