How to Rip a Copy-Protected DVD on Windows & Mac [Updated!]
Quick Answer: WinX DVD Ripper is an overall option for copy-protected DVDs. HandBrake is a free, open-source choice, while MakeMKV is suited to lossless backups that preserve original video and audio streams.
DVD ripping problems are familiar in communities like Reddit’s r/DataHoarder and r/HandBrake. A disc with dozens of titles, such as a 99-title DVD, can leave you unsure which title is the real movie, while HandBrake may stop at "No Valid Source Found" even when the disc plays normally. Disney discs with complex title structures can bring similar headaches.
One of the main cause is copy protection. We compare 8 copy protected DVD rippers based on their supported features, output options, and ability to handle common ripping problems.
Best Tools to Rip Copy-Protected DVDs: Quick Comparison Guide
The comparison below highlights best DVD ripping software, focusing on supported disc types, practical use cases, and whether free versions or trials are available.
| Software | Best for | Key strength | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| WinX DVD Ripper | Best Overall | Speed and DVD decryption | 9.94/10 |
| VideoProc Converter | Best All-in-One Media Tool | Video editing and conversion | 9.76/10 |
| DVDFab HD Decrypter | Best for DVD + Blu-ray Users | Broad disc support | 7.62/10 |
| MakeMKV | Best Lossless Backup | Original quality | 7.77/10 |
| HandBrake | Best Free Open-Source Option | Open source | 7.08/10 |
| VLC Media Player | Best Built-in Media Solution | Built-in playback and conversion | 3.58/10 |
| DVD Shrink | Legacy DVD Backup | DVD compression and backup | 6.02/10 |
| DVD Decrypter | Older DVD Copying | Basic DVD decryption | Not rated |
If you want a straightforward way to rip copy-protected DVDs, WinX DVD Ripper is the overall choice in this comparison. MakeMKV is suitable for lossless MKV backups, while HandBrake offers open-source conversion with additional setup for some CSS-protected discs. DVDFab HD Decrypter supports selected DVD protections, and VLC is primarily a media player with conversion features. DVD Shrink and DVD Decrypter are older tools with limitations when handling newer disc protections.
How to Rip Copy-Protected DVDs on Windows 10/11 and Mac? [8 Methods]
Can you rip a copy-protected DVD for personal, fair-use backup? In many regions, it's legally acceptable to make a digital copy of DVDs you own, as long as it's not for distribution. The real challenge is that most commercial DVDs come with various types of copy protection, preventing direct ripping with ordinary tools.
To handle these protections, you’ll need a professional DVD ripper that’s capable of decrypting or handling the restrictions. So, which tool works best for copy-protected DVDs on Windows and macOS? Below, we break down the top options and show you how to rip a protected disc step by step.
Method 1. Rip Copy-Protected DVDs with WinX DVD Ripper
- Supported DVDs: DVDs protected by all forms of copy protection.
- Supported output formats: 350+ output profiles, including ISO image, VIDEO_TS folder, MP4, AVI, WMV, MP3, and more.
- Compatible OS: Windows, Mac
WinX DVD Ripper has gained a strong foothold in the market for 20 years, attracting over 86 million users worldwide. Each year over 3.6 million DVDs have been processed successfully, from homemade DVDs to copy-protected DVDs like CSS, regional discs, 99-title, workout, old, and new movies or TV shows.
When you rip a protected DVD, WinXDVD takes advantage of its unique and always up-to-date title check mechanism to access the encrypted data on the disc, whether it is encoded with CSS, UOP, APS, Macrovision Ripguard, ARccOS, or X-project (99-title). The exceptional DVD decrypting ability has placed WinXDVD at the forefront of DVD ripper software.
- Can bypass various DVD copy protections, including those found on 99-title, newer, older, non-standard, and Disney DVDs, as well as some discs that are difficult to play.
- Supports GPU hardware acceleration, with claimed ripping speeds of up to 47x real time.
- Supports multiple output formats and device profiles, including MP4, MOV, AVI, WMV, MP3, iPhone, iPad, and Android.
- Features an enhanced DVD analysis engine in the latest version to better handle complex disc structures.
- Can preserve the original DVD quality.
- Not compatible with Linux.
How to Copy Your Copyright Protected DVDs with WinX DVD Ripper?
Prior to the ripping, please feel free to free download and install WinX DVD Ripper to have a try! It's a lightweight tool. The Windows version is 31.6 MB only while the Mac version is 52.2 MB only.
Free download WinX DVD Ripper Platinum on Windows PC
Free download WinX DVD Ripper Platinum on macOS
Step 1. Load the copy-protected DVD you want to rip.
Insert the DVD into the tray with the logo side facing up, and close the tray. If your computer doesn't have a DVD drive, you can connect an external drive to your computer. Here we insert Disney/Pixar® "Up" DVD to have a try!
Launch WinX DVD Ripper, click the "DVD Disc" button at the top left corner, and then select the source DVD disc. No need to specify the DVD disc file system type. Just leave it as default and click OK. It will begin analyzing the DVD info, and auto-check the right title.
Step 2. Select the output format.
After loading the DVD, an Output Profile window will show up. Now, you need to choose a format as per your needs. Scroll down and you'll find all popular formats and device presets covered. You can copy protected DVDs to ISO, hard drive, USB for preserving, or digital video formats like MP4, MKV, MOV, etc.
- To copy protected DVD to MP4, you can click "General Profiles" and select "MP4 Video".
- To copy protected DVD to ISO for full DVD backup, click "DVD Backup" and select "Clone DVD to ISO Image".
Step 3. Choose DVD title to rip.
Confirm that the title selected by WinX DVD Ripper is what you need. If it's not, you can manually correct it. If you have other titles you need to copy, simply check them.
Step 4. Start ripping the copy-protected DVD.
Choose where to store the ripped DVD movie files by clicking the "Browse" button. When you have done all settings, just hit the "RUN" button. Then the program will begin transcoding your encrypted DVD to a desired format and unleash the full potential of your DVD collection immediately.
Note: To deal with strictly encrypted DVDs, you'd better choose "Safe Mode" which is located at the right sidebar of WinX DVD Ripper's main interface.
Step 5. Find your digital copy.
Once WinX DVD Ripper finishes ripping, you can see the digital copies in the destination folder you set before.
Legal Disclaimer: WinXDVD, developed by Digiarty Software, is designed strictly for personal, non-commercial media backup under fair use. Digiarty Software strictly respects copyright laws and does not condone, facilitate, or support copyright infringement or unauthorized copying. Users are advised to check and comply with their local DVD copyright laws and regulations before use.
Method 2. Rip a Copy-Protected DVD with HandBrake + libdvdcss
- Supported DVDs: DVDs protected by CSS and region code.
- Supported output formats: MP4, MKV, and WebM.
- Compatible OS: Windows, Mac, Linux
HandBrake is a free open-source and world-famous DVD and video transcoding tool that can convert DVDs to MP4 (M4V), MKV, and WebM on Windows, macOS, and Linux. It has secured second place among DVD ripping software thanks to the highly customizable features it offers, giving you more control over the output quality and file size by customizing the video/audio codecs, bitrates, file formats, and other settings.
Can HandBrake rip copy-protected DVDs? No. If the DVD is protected with advanced copy protection schemes, Handbrake is unable to break DVD copy protection on its own, instead, you may get errors such as "No Valid Source Found", "No Title(s) error", and "The source may be copy-protected. Handbrake doesn't support copy protections".
Getting around the DVD copyright protection error is to use HandBrake in conjunction with a third-party DVD decryption library called libdvdcss, which was originally designed to access and unscramble DVDs encrypted with the Content Scramble System (CSS). However, advanced protections like ARccOS, X-project, and some regional restrictions cannot be decrypted by libdvdcss.
NEW: In HandBrake 1.11.2, the update improves DVD workflows mainly through better stability and subtitle handling. VobSub palette issues in MP4 are fixed, preventing broken DVD subtitles. MPEG-2 encoding memory leaks are resolved, making long DVD rips more stable. x265 2-pass crash fixes also improve reliability when copying protected DVDs to HEVC formats.
- Free and open-source software.
- Compatible with Windows, macOS, and Linux.
- Offers a wide range of customizable settings.
- Requires an additional decryption library for CSS-protected DVDs and cannot handle every copy protection scheme.
- Does not support creating ISO images directly from DVDs.
- Output compatibility depends on the selected encoding settings.
- Some settings may be difficult for less experienced users to understand.
- Does not offer email or phone support.
How to Rip Protected DVDs using Handbrake?
Just follow our guide and try your luck.
Step 1. Download and install Handbrake.
You're suggested to download it from the official site – Handbrake.fr. The latest version 1.11.0 is compatible with macOS 10.13 and later, Windows 10 and later, and Linux. And you can download old releases from archives. For Windows, Microsoft .NET Desktop Runtime version 10.0 is required.
Step 2. Install libdvdcss on Windows and Mac to rip DVD that is copy protected with CSS.
The easiest way to make libdvdcss available to HandBrake is to install VLC media player, which includes this library. After installing VLC, restart your computer and HandBrake should be able to detect and use it.
Alternative for Windows:
- For 64-bit Windows systems, download the 64-bit version
- For 32-bit Windows systems, download the 32-bit version
Rename the downloaded file to libdvdcss.dll and place it in your Windows system directory:
- For 64-bit Windows:
C:\Windows\System32 - For 32-bit Windows on 64-bit systems:
C:\Windows\SysWOW64
Alternative for macOS:
- Installing VLC is recommended
- Note: Homebrew installation is no longer reliable on recent macOS versions. For older macOS versions, you may use legacy libdvdcss packages here.
You can also click here to learn a detailed guide about Handbrake libdvdcss installation >>
Step 3. Load the DVD to HandBrake.
Insert the copy protected DVD into the DVD drive, after both Handbrake and libdvdcss are ready. Then open HandBrake and click on your DVD when the Source Selection screen appears. Then, HandBrake will start scanning the titles in your DVD. You can manually choose the titles or chapters if the auto-selected ones are not correct.
Step 4. Choose an output preset and adjust the output setting.
Click on the Presets drop-down menu and select a preset. Preferably, you can choose Super HQ 480p for NTSC DVDs, and Super HD 576p for PAL DVDs. As to the quality setting for DVDs, use H.264 codec for better compatibility with your device, and pick constant quality and high quality RF between 18 and 22.
In addition, you can click the Audio tab where you are allowed to choose the audio track, audio codec, bitrate, and mixdown. To specify a subtitle track or add external subtitles for the resulting file, just feel free to click the Subtitles track. If you're technical, you can also click other tabs here to adjust settings.
Step 5. Specify the destination for the output file.
Click the Browse button at the bottom right to specify the destination path including the directory and file name. This is where your DVD copy will be created and what it will be named.
Step 6. Try ripping the protected DVD.
Move the mouse to the top of the interface and click the green button called Start Encode. Then, HandBrake will begin to convert the encrypted DVD to MP4 or MKV. You can see a progress bar at the bottom.
Method 3. Copy a Protected DVD with MakeMKV
- Supported DVDs: DVDs protected by CSS, region code, and AACS.
- Supported output formats: MKV
- Compatible OS: Windows, Mac, Linux
MakeMKV extracts DVD video into an MKV container without re-encoding, preserving the original video and audio streams. In our Wreck-It Ralph test, MakeMKV 1.18.3 took 3,195 seconds (about 53 minutes), including 2,542 seconds for DVD analysis, compared with 648 seconds for WinX DVD Ripper. It produced a 3.81 GB MKV with a reported runtime of 1 hour and 41 minutes, but flagged a “complex multiplex encountered” message for Titles 1/2.
MakeMKV is worth considering for DVD archiving when retaining original streams matters more than speed, though title recognition and processing time can vary by disc. Its LibreDrive support applies to compatible drives and is handled within MakeMKV rather than exposed as a general-purpose external decryption tool.
Updated: MakeMKV 2.0.0, released in September 2026, includes minor improvements and bug fixes. It remains a popular choice for DVD archivists, including users in r/DataHoarder, because it preserves original video and audio streams without re-encoding when creating MKV files. For a fuller disc backup, its backup mode can retain more of the disc structure than a standalone MKV. However, forum users have reported issues with certain Blu-ray ISO and folder sources in v2.0.0, so check compatibility if you archive disc images as well.
- All features are free during the beta period.
- Available for Windows, macOS, and Linux.
- Preserves the original video and audio quality.
- Offers fast processing speeds.
- Does not require a separate DVD decryption tool for supported discs.
- Exports only to MKV, with no other output formats.
- Output files retain roughly the same size as the source.
- Cannot rip every copy-protected DVD.
- May lack support for newer DVD releases.
- Decryption key updates are not released regularly.
How to Copy Protected DVDs with MakeMKV?
MakeMKV is compatible with Windows, Mac, and Linux. You can get a copy from makemkv.com. Your MakeMKV beta key expired? Check Free MakeMKV Beta Key/Lifetime Key/Registration Code.
Step 1. Load the copy-protected DVD to MakeMKV.
Insert a target DVD in your optical drive. Open MakeMKV and then click the optical drive button on its interface to let MakeMKV read your DVD.
If you're seeing that the "decrypt" options are grayed out, it could be because the disc has a protection that MakeMKV can't handle, or the version of MakeMKV you're using may be out of date. In some cases, MakeMKV may not be able to decrypt all DVDs, particularly newer or more heavily protected ones.
Step 2. Select content to copy.
When the source DVD is loaded, MakeMKV will display its content as a tree structure. Now, you need to choose the title(s), audio, and subtitles you want to convert and save as MKV.
Step 3. Set the output folder and begin copying the protected DVD.
Just click the yellow file folder button to select the directory for the output MKV file. Press the button under Make MKV and it will copy files from copyright-protected DVD. You can see the progress, the elapsed time, and the remaining time.
Method 4. Rip Copy-Protected DVDs with VideoProc Converter
- Supported DVDs: DVDs protected by various copy protections.
- Supported output formats: MP4, AVI, WMV, and more
- Compatible OS: Windows, Mac
VideoProc Converter certainly packs a punch. One of its greatest strengths is its ability to rip copy protected DVD without requiring any third-party programs or plugins. It supports most of the popular encryption schemes used to protect DVDs.
Except for the good DVD ripper with copy protection support, it boasts a wide range of output formats to choose from, including popular options such as MP4, AVI, MOV, and MKV, as well as more niche formats like FLV, WebM, and 3GP. Users can also customize their output settings to suit their needs, such as adjusting the resolution, bitrate, frame rate, and audio quality.
In addition to its powerful ripping and conversion features, VideoProc Converter includes a suite of editing tools that allow users to trim, crop, merge, and add subtitles to their videos. These features are particularly useful for anyone looking to make quick edits to their DVD content before finalizing the conversion.
- Can bypass certain DVD copy protection schemes.
- Allows video editing before ripping.
- Supports hardware acceleration.
- Not compatible with mobile platforms or Linux.
- Does not support Blu-ray discs or CDs.
- Does not include a DVD burning feature.
How to Use VideoProc to Copy DVD with Copy Protection?
Step 1. Download and install VideoProc Converter.
It is compatible with Windows and Mac and requires 200MB of hard-disk space for installation.
Step 2. Load the copy protected DVD.
Insert the target DVD into your computer's DVD drive. Open VideoProc Converter, click the DVD module and then click the DVD Disc button to select the inserted DVD.
Step 3. Choose content to copy.
You need to specify which DVD title, audio track, and subtitle track you want to rip.
Step 4. Select output format.
Click the tab "Popular", "Video", "Device", "Backup", or "Music" at the bottom to select a desired output format.
Step 5. Begin copying protected DVD.
After you click the RUN button at the bottom right, the copying will begin immediately.
Method 5. Copy Protected DVDs for Free with DVD Shrink
- Supported DVDs: DVDs protected by CSS, UOP, and region codes.
- Supported output formats: ISO image and VIDEO_TS folder.
- Compatible OS: Windows
DVD Shrink is another free program that can copy copyright-protected DVDs and make a shrunk backup from an original 8.5GB to a single-layer 4.7GB writeable DVD, ISO, or VIDEO_TS folder you can store on your hard drive.
Featuring a DeCSS decryption algorithm, DVDShrink can rip copy protected DVD and strip CSS copy protection and User operation prohibition (prohibiting skipping over previews or "FBI Warnings" and so on). Moreover, it can also handle the DVD region restrictions and allow the copy to be either made region-free (the default setting) or set for any region code.
We've hit a snag when ripping some newly released titles. In our test, DVDShrink is defeated by some newer copy protection techniques such as Macrovision Ripguard and may manifest errors such as Invalid File Structure, Invalid Navigation Structure, and Data Redundancy Check Error (CRC Error), I/O device error, let alone the X-project. After all, DVD Shrink stopped updating as early as 2005. sometimes swapping to a different DVD drive fixes stubborn discs.
Let's get back on track. DVD Shrink is still a good option when you want an easy solution to copy protected DVDs for free.
Suggested reading =>> How to convert DVD to digital for playback on the go >>
- Can bypass CSS, UOP, and region protections.
- Compresses DVD data to reduce file size.
- Discontinued and no longer actively maintained.
- Cannot handle many newer DVD copy protections.
- Does not convert DVDs to portable-friendly formats such as MP4.
- Requires a $5 donation.
How to Back up Protected DVD with DVD Shrink?
Here we'll show you how to copy protected DVDs with DVD Shrink.
Step 1. Download and install DVD Shrink.
The current stable English version is 3.2.0.15 while the German version is 3.2.0.16. ALL other versions with additional words in the name like DVD Shrink 2010/2011, DVD Shrink 2001, DVD Shrink 2014 or newer are SCAMS!
Step 2. Open DVD Shrink and configure the preferences.
When you first use DVD Shrink, you might want to configure the preferences. To do this, click Edit -> Preferences.
Step 3. Open the copy protected DVD.
Insert the DVD you want to copy into the DVD drive and then click the Open Disc button on DVD Shrink to select it as the source DVD. Then, DVD Shrink will begin analyzing your DVD. Once the analysis has been completed, you'll see the general structure of the DVD on the upper left side of the window. You can see 3 top categories, including Menus, Main Movie, and Extras.
Step 4. Specify compression settings and the audio track and subtitle you need.
Move to the Compression Settings section and then choose desired compression ratio. If you choose "Automatic", DVD Shrink will compress the video to fit on a DVD5 disc.
Step 5. Start to back up your copy protected DVD movie.
When you have finished the above settings, click the "Backup!" button on the top center. Then the Backup DVD window will pop up. Here, you need to select the backup target and target folder of the DVD output files. After finishing settings, click OK to begin backing up the DVD.
Method 6. Copy Protected DVD with VLC
- Supported DVDs: DVDs protected by CSS and region codes.
- Supported output formats: MP4, MKV, AVI, and more.
- Compatible OS: Windows, Mac, Linux
As a free and open-source video and DVD player, VLC goes a step further, capable of converting DVDs to more formats such as MP4, AVI, and MKV, without paying any licensing fees or worrying about proprietary software restrictions.
Just like Handbrake, coping with copy-protected DVDs is realizable with the help of third-party libdvdcss library, libdvdcss allows VLC to access DVDs encrypted with CSS by automatically finding the decryption keys, but it does not support advanced protections such as ARccOS, RipGuard, or X-project. VLC is not suitable for large DVD collections or heavily protected DVDs, better used as a temporary workaround rather than a primary ripping solution.
- Open-source and cross-platform compatibility.
- Supports multiple video and audio formats.
- Includes extra features such as network streaming, playback speed adjustment, and video filters.
- Cannot rip encrypted DVDs without installing libdvdcss.
- DVD ripping is generally slower than with dedicated DVD ripping tools.
- May fail to preserve subtitles, chapters, or secondary audio tracks when parsing complex DVD structures.
How to Rip Copy-protected DVD with VLC and Libdvdcss?
Now, let's check how to copy a slightly protected DVD with VLC.
Step 1. Download and install the VLC media player.
Go to the VLC official page. Choose the right version as per your need. The mobile version supports playback only — DVD ripping is available on desktop systems. But this is only feasible to rip non-protected DVDs since there is no mobile version available for libdvdcss.
Step 2. Install libdvdcss on Windows and Mac.
Follow the instructions to install libdvdcss as mentioned previously in Handbrake section. Make sure to copy the libdvdcss-2.dll file to the "plugin" directory inside the VLC installation directory on Windows. Or copy the libdvdcss.2.dylib file to the "/user/local/lib" directory on Mac.
Step 3. Load the DVD.
Launch VLC and click on the Media tab from the menu bar, and select Convert/Save. Click on the Disc tab in the Open Media window, and select DVD as the disc selection. Choose the DVD drive letter from the Disc device and select Convert/Save.
Step 4. Choose an output format.
Pick an output format and set your preferred settings in the Convert window. Set the destination file and start time.
Step 5. Start ripping the DVD.
Click the "Start" button to begin the DVD ripping process.
Method 7. Copy Protected DVDs with DVD Decrypter
- Supported DVDs: DVDs protected by CSS, region code, UOPs, and Macrovision content protection.
- Supported output formats: VIDEO_TS folder
- Compatible OS: Windows
From its product name, it's evident that DVD Decrypter is capable of handling encrypted DVDs. Specifically, it can decrypt DVD encryption schemes and then copy the DVD into a VIDEO_TS folder. If you don't mind extracting the DVD into a VIDEO_TS folder, you can give it a try. The older tool can't create an exact ISO copy of the DVD, including menus and all content, while copying protected DVD. You’ll need to use additional software (like ImgBurn) to convert the files into ISO format if you want them that way.
However, it's important to note that this product ceased updates as early as 2005, so it may not be able to handle DVDs released after that time. Newer encryption methods may be beyond its capabilities. The official website has also been shut down. As a result, users can only obtain this software through mirror websites or other online sources.
- Completely free to use.
- Easy to use.
- Discontinued for years, with limited ability to handle newer DVD copy protections.
- Only outputs to a VIDEO_TS folder, so additional software may be needed to convert the files to more widely supported formats.
- Not compatible with macOS or Linux.
How to rip protected DVDs with DVD Decrypter?
Step 1. Download and install DVD Decrypter.
You can download DVD Decrypter from various sources, including the mirror site (http://www.dvddecrypter.org.uk/), VideoHelp (https://www.videohelp.com/software/DVD-Decrypter), and others.
Step 2. Import DVD into DVD Decrypter.
Insert the copy-protected DVD you wish to rip into your DVD drive. Then, launch DVD Decrypter and make sure the DVD is selected within the Source section.
DVD Decrypter will display information about your DVD, including its label, region, RCE protection, and copyright protection system type.
Step 3. Specify destination.
In the Destination section, click the folder icon to designate a location for saving the copied DVD.
Step 4. Begin ripping DVD.
Click the Decrypt button, which is represented by a DVD disc, an arrow, and a hard drive icon, to initiate the ripping process for your copy-protected DVD.
Method 8. Rip Copy Protected DVDs with DVDFab HD Decrypter
- Supported DVDs: CSS, RC, RCE, APS, UOPs, and ARccOS.
- Supported output formats: DVD9, ISO, and folder.
- Compatible OS: 64-bit Mac OS/Windows
DVDFab HD Decrypter is a solution to rip copy-protected DVDs on both Mac and Windows platforms. DVDFab HD Decrypter's straightforward interface and automated content recognition streamline the DVD ripping process, enhancing user experience. It supports various common DVD copy protection, such as CSS, ARccOS, RCE, APS, and UOPs.
Despite the software being labeled as "freeware," some have encountered persistent prompts to purchase the full version and have expressed frustration over the software's inability to handle newer discs and its continuous insistence on upgrading to the paid version.
- Easy to use.
- Supports various common DVD copy protections.
- May have issues with newer DVDs.
- Not compatible with Linux.
How to rip protected DVDs with DVDFab HD Decrypter?
Step 1. Download and install DVDFab HD Decrypter.
Download DVDFab HD Decrypter from its official site (https://www.dvdfab.cn/dvdfab-hd-decrypter.htm), install the tool by following its on-screen instructions, and run the tool.
Step 2. Insert DVD disc and choose rip option.
Insert the DVD you wish to rip into your computer. Choose Ripper from the option bar at the top of the interface.
Step 3. Load DVD disc and scan.
Click the "+" button to load the DVD movie. Wait for DVDFab HD Decrypter to decrypt and scan the movie. By default, DVDFab HD Decrypter will rip the copy protected DVD to MP4 format.
Step 4. Start the ripping process.
Click the "Start" button to start to rip copy protected DVD. The conversion progress will be displayed, including CPU load.
Want to know more about DVDFab's features and if DVDFab is worth it? Read our complete DVDFab review and performance test >>
Protected DVD Test Results: Ripping and Compatibility
How well a DVD ripper handles encryption is only part of the test. It must also read the disc, identify the correct movie title, and produce an output that matches the source. Our DVD Ripper Benchmark examines these factors using real DVD test runs, including Disney's Wreck-It Ralph and an NCIS episode. The results below report observed behavior on the tested setup, rather than assuming that every tool supports every copy-protection scheme.
Test Environment and Method
Tests were run on a Windows 10 64-bit PC with an AMD Ryzen 5 5600 CPU, Radeon RX 6700 XT GPU, and 48GB DDR4 RAM. We recorded DVD analysis time, operation time, conversion time, total elapsed time, title-selection behavior, output duration, and file format where available. DVD analysis time is not a direct measurement of decryption alone, and results may vary with disc condition, drive, software version, and protection method.
Wreck-It Ralph DVD: Results by Tool
The source title was approximately 1 hour and 41 minutes. The table summarizes the available test records; a matching output duration is a useful completeness check, but does not by itself confirm that every stream, chapter, or subtitle was preserved.
| DVD Ripper | Title / Reading Behavior | DVD Analysis (sec) | Operation (sec) | Conversion (sec) | Total (sec) | Output Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WinX DVD Ripper 8.22.4 | Title 1 identified | 5 | 32 | 616 | 648 | MP4, 967 MB; 1h 41min |
| HandBrake 1.11.1 | Title 1 identified | 31 | 81 | 575 | 656 | MP4, 976 MB; 1h 41min |
| MakeMKV 1.18.3 | Titles 1/2; “complex multiplex encountered” | 2,542 | 55 | 598 | 3,195 | MKV, 3.81 GB; 1h 41min |
| VideoProc Converter AI 8.10 | Title 1 identified | 1 | 5 | 678 | 753 | MP4, 1.18 GB; 1h 33min |
| DVD Shrink 3.2 | Title selectable from dropdown | 119 | 149 | 588 | 737 | Output details not recorded |
| VLC Media Player | Title defaults to 0; manual selection needed | Not recorded | 83 | 1,715 | 1,798 | MP4, 1.13 GB; 1h 16min |
| DVD Decrypter | Manual title selection in IFO mode; log mentions region and CSS/CPPM | Not recorded | 9 | 601 | 610 | Output details not recorded |
| DVDFab HD Decrypter | No directly matching test record supplied | — | — | — | — | Not verified in this test |
Product-version note: The supplied 918-second result belongs to DVDFab DVD Ripper, not DVDFab HD Decrypter. These are not interchangeable test entries, so that result is not assigned to HD Decrypter.
What the Results Show
Reading and title recognition: WinX DVD Ripper, HandBrake, and VideoProc Converter AI identified Title 1 in this test. VLC defaulted to Title 0 and required manual selection, while MakeMKV reported a complex multiplex involving Titles 1 and 2. Correct title selection matters when a disc contains multiple or misleading titles.
Processing time: WinX completed the recorded run in 648 seconds, compared with 656 seconds for HandBrake and 753 seconds for VideoProc Converter AI. MakeMKV took 3,195 seconds, with 2,542 seconds spent in DVD analysis. These figures reflect the complete test procedure, not isolated decryption speed.
Output completeness: WinX, HandBrake, and MakeMKV produced files with a reported duration of 1 hour and 41 minutes. VideoProc's output was 1 hour and 33 minutes, while VLC's was 1 hour and 16 minutes. The shorter outputs warrant further checks; duration alone cannot establish the precise cause or prove that the file is otherwise incomplete.
Compatibility limits: A tool completing one disc does not establish support for every CSS, region-code, or structural-protection configuration. Likewise, an analysis error or incomplete output is not conclusive evidence of copy protection; disc damage, drive behavior, and title-selection errors can produce similar symptoms.
Benchmark takeaway: These tests provide a concrete comparison of DVD reading, title selection, elapsed time, and output duration. They do not establish a universal decryption success rate: that would require a defined set of protected discs, repeatable protection labels, and consistent success criteria across every tested version.
How Did We Choose These Copy-Protected DVD Rippers?
We started by searching on Google and browsing forums to find 15 potential DVD ripping tools. In order to provide our readers with a comprehensive evaluation and comparison so that they can make informed decisions when choosing the right software for their needs, we gathered basic information, considered multiple factors such as software functionality, user-friendliness, compatibility, output quality, processing speed, product update frequency, brand reputation, professional reviews, and user feedback. Finally, we selected the most popular and best-performing DVD conversion tools based on our testing results.
Before testing ripping copy-protected DVDs on Windows 10/11 and Mac, it's crucial to understand the challenges posed by copy protection. For the sake of protecting valuable DVD contents from piracy, manufacturers have introduced dozens of DVD copy protection schemes[1], such as Content Scramble System (CSS), Region Code Enhanced (RCE), User Operation Prohibition (UOP), ARccOS DVD protection, DVD-Cops, and LaserLock.
These DVD encryption measures create a digital fortress around the DVD, making it inaccessible to casual copying attempts. Explanatorily, a key is deliberately embedded within the coding way of the disk, which can only be read by an "authorized" tool. Attemptingto rip a protected DVD without access to the code results in a host of failures, from the inability to locate a valid source to scrambled rip and software crashes.
Most important of all, we bought various encrypted DVDs and Blu-rays from different studios and regions to test their capabilities of rhandling DVD copy protections. DVD Shrink, Handbrake, and VLC can get by on region-locked or CSS DVDs that are relatively aging, the latter two of which can fulfill the task with the help of libdvdcss. MakeMKV is one of the unique tool that can deal with Blu-ray discs. We are also happy that WinX DVD Ripper has no problem ripping Disney protected DVD, animated DVD, and workout DVD.
Ultimately, the tool to rip a protected DVD depends on your specific preferences. If you want a free program, choose VLC, Handbrake, or MakeMKV. If the overall ability to rip protected DVDs matters to you most, WinX DVD Ripper is your best bet.
Is It Legal to Copy a Protected DVD?
In the context of copying protected DVDs, it is still considered illegal in the United States according to the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). In other countries, such as Canada, fair use may allow for making backup copies of protected DVDs for personal use, as long as the copying does not infringe on the copyright owner's exclusive rights.
Will you be sued for copying protected DVDs you legally purchased for personal use? No. All the copy process happens on your local computer. As long as you don't distribute the contents for commercial purposes, you are safe. As a general rule, it is always best to check the laws in your specific jurisdiction before you copy any protected DVD.
FAQs about Copy-Protected DVD Ripping
VLC can rip some CSS-protected DVDs when the required libdvdcss library is installed. However, it may not handle other copy protection schemes correctly, which can result in incomplete rips, missing audio, or playback issues. If VLC fails to process a disc properly, you may need another tool to handle DVD copy protection.
No. ImgBurn is primarily a disc burning tool. Although its development was based on the optical disc burning engine associated with DVD Decrypter, ImgBurn does not include the decryption capabilities needed to handle copy-protected DVDs.
Many commercial DVDs use copy protection, and some packaging or discs display a notice stating that copying is restricted. However, the absence of such a notice does not mean a DVD is unprotected.
Other signs may include ripping errors, unusual title or chapter information, incomplete output, or playback problems in certain programs. These symptoms can also result from a dirty or damaged disc, a faulty drive, or software compatibility issues, so they do not prove that copy protection is the cause.
For a DVD you are legally entitled to copy, there are two general approaches, subject to local laws and applicable copy-protection restrictions.
Option 1: Use DVD ripping software to create a digital copy, then use compatible DVD burning software to write the resulting files to a blank disc. The output format and disc structure determine whether additional authoring is required.
Option 2: Use a dedicated DVD-to-DVD copying program, such as WinX DVD Copy Pro, if the disc and its protection are supported. Check the software's current capabilities before proceeding.
Reading or copying a DVD does not normally alter its stored data. However, scratches or physical damage can occur if the disc is mishandled or the optical drive is faulty. Handle discs by their edges, keep them clean, and check the drive if you notice repeated scratching.
Ripping does not remove protection from or modify the original DVD. The resulting digital file depends on the software, output format, and protection it can process. A successful rip may produce a playable file without the original disc's encryption, while an unsuccessful or incomplete rip may retain playback or compatibility problems.
DVD decryption depends on the protection system involved. With CSS-protected DVDs, the system uses keys associated with the disc and licensed playback devices or software. A compatible player uses its decryption implementation and key-handling process to access the video data. The key is not simply stored in the player firmware as one universal key for every DVD.
Legal Disclaimer: WinXDVD, developed by Digiarty Software, is designed strictly for personal, non-commercial media backup under fair use. Digiarty Software strictly respects copyright laws and does not condone, facilitate, or support copyright infringement or unauthorized copying. Users are advised to check and comply with their local DVD copyright laws and regulations before use.



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