How to Free Rip DVD to USB Flash Drive on Windows (7/8/10/11) and Mac?

"I have a number of old TV series discs. Now I want to copy the DVDs to a USB drive and play on TV & computers. How can I do it? "

"My company evaluates used boats and we record the boat by DVD. We would like to convert the DVD to a USB Flash Drive for our clients"

As DVD content can only be accessed with compatible DVD drives and players, many DVD owners prefer to copy DVDs to USB flash drives for more convenient playback. By transferring DVDs to USB drives, you can play DVD content on any device with a USB port, without having to carry around a DVD player or space-consuming discs. Moreover, with the availability of USB drives with larger capacities, such as 256GB, 512GB, and even 1TB at lower prices, this option has become even more practical. If you're wondering how to rip a DVD to a USB drive, keep reading for some helpful tips.

In this guide, we'll walk you through the process of converting DVDs to USB thumb drives, allowing you to carry a large collection of movies on a single, convenient device. We'll also cover how to copy DVDs to a bootable USB drive, giving you the ability to install operating systems or run diagnostic tools from your USB drive.

Copying Protected DVDs to USB is Now Easy with WinX DVD Ripper

WinX DVD Ripper is the best DVD to USB converter. It can rip DVDs with region codes, RCE, 99 fake titles, bad sector, CSS, and more. You can copy your DVDs to various devices such as USB flash drives, SSDs, hard drives, NAS, or the cloud with 100% quality in ISO image/Video_TS folder. WinX DVD Ripper can also rip DVDs to USB and other storage devices in small sizes with high quality in formats like MP4, AVI, WMV, MOV, and more. Plus, it's 5 times faster than other tools!

Part 1. How to Copy DVD onto USB Directly [for Homemade DVDs only]

How can you copy a DVD to a USB stick? Actually, you're allowed to directly copy the DVD files and drag the content to USB if your DVD is not copy protected. It's pretty easy.

Solution:

Step 1. Insert the DVD into the disk drive and a USB into the USB port.

Step 2. Double-click the DVD drive. Find and copy all of the DVD's contents and files like ISO image or DVD folder. In the ISO image or folder, you can see the actual movie files such as VTS_01_1, VTS_02_1, VTS_03_1, and etc..., each representing a Chapter.

Step 3. Open the USB drive, then copy and paste DVD files to the USB drive.

Note:

1. Make sure your USB drive has sufficient storage capacity, as even a single-layer DVD can hold up to 4.7GB of data. You cannot use a FAT32 USB drive as it won't have enough space.

2. Although copying a DVD to a USB drive may seem easy, the playback may not be. The copied DVD files, such as those in the DVD folder, ISO image, VOB videos, or other DVD formats, are often incompatible with certain players.

3. The above method is only applicable for non-protected DVDs. In reality, various encryptions are used on DVDs to prevent direct copying of DVDs to USB or other storage devices. If you attempt to transfer a protected DVD to a USB flash drive using the above method, you may find the DVD empty, the files corrupted, or unplayable.

If you want to transfer protected DVDs to USB sticks in any format with a smaller size, you need a third-party DVD to USB converter. Below, we will share an effective way to rip DVDs to USB drives for free.

Part 2. How to Copy Protected DVD to USB with Free DVD Ripper

A DVD ripper is essential for transferring protected DVD movies onto a USB drive. We can easily google out tons of such kinds of tools, free and paid, clean and ad-supported. For example, you can rip DVDs with VLC, Handbrake, MakeMKV, DVD Shrink, and Freemake Video Converter. However, when it comes to handling DVD protection, you need a stronger DVD to USB converter.

WinX DVD Ripper is the best free DVD to USB converter for Windows 11/10/8/7 and Mac that lets you convert DVDs to USB flash drives with just a few clicks. It can:

• Rip any copy-protected DVDs to USB, including those with CSS, region codes, RCE, 99 fake titles, bad sectors, and more.
• Copy DVD movies to a USB stick in ISO image, Video_ TS folder, or MPG with 1:1 ratio.
• Convert DVDs to USB drives in MP4 with 80% smaller size and 98% quality, or save DVD in H.264, AVI, WMV, MPEG, MOV, FLV, etc.
• Copy DVDs to USB digital formats at 5x faster speed using Intel QSV/NVIDIA CUDA/NVENC hardware acceleration, Multi-core CPU, Hyper-threading Technology, and Super Encode Engine based on MMX-SSE & 3DNow.

How to Rip DVD to USB Drive with Free DVD Ripper

Before converting a DVD to a USB drive, there are a few things you should prepare.

Firstly, you will need to download and install this free DVD to USB converter software.

• Free download Windows version  
• Free download Mac version

Secondly, you will need a DVD drive in your computer or an external DVD drive.

Lastly, you will need a USB drive with enough storage capacity to hold the files from the DVD. It is recommended to choose a USB drive with at least 8GB of storage capacity. Then, insert the USB memory stick into your computer's USB port.

Once you have all the necessary tools and equipment ready, you can follow the steps below to copy a DVD to USB and watch it on your TV or other devices.

Step 1. Insert the DVD you need to rip to a USB drive.

To begin, launch the WinX DVD Ripper software and insert the DVD you want to rip into your DVD-ROM drive. Then, click the "DVD Disc" button to load the DVD. Alternatively, you can also import the DVD folder or ISO image from your computer's hard drive. The software will start bypassing the copy protections and detecting the correct title of the DVD, which may take a few seconds.

Step 2. Select an output format.

Once it finds the right title of the DVD movie, it will prompt you to choose an output format for the copy. You can save the files in any format that is compatible with your USB flash drive. Here are some recommended settings:

1. If you want to copy the DVD in 1:1 to a USB drive without quality loss, you can choose to rip the DVD to an ISO image file or DVD main/full title backup in "DVD Backup" mode. This mode allows you to copy the DVD to your computer with 100% quality, including all menus, tracks, and extras. However, you should be aware that the ISO image or video_TS folder will take up a considerable amount of space.

2. If you want to copy the DVD to a USB drive to play on a TV, LG/Samsung TV, PS5/4, Switch, Xbox One, PC, Mac, or other devices with a USB port, you can convert the DVD to an MP4 format for its wide compatibility, good quality, and small file size. Simply navigate to the "PC General Video" category and select MP4 as the output format.

Step 3. Choose your USB drive as the output folder.

Once you have selected the output format, click the "Browse" button to choose the folder in your USB drive where you want to save the ripped DVD video. Make sure your USB drive has enough storage capacity.

You can also use the "Edit" button option to adjust subtitles, audio tracks, and other settings.

Step 4. Start to copy the DVD to USB drive.

Once you have set everything up, click the "RUN" button to start the DVD to USB conversion process. The software will begin to rip the DVD and convert it to the selected format for your USB drive. The time it takes to complete the process depends on the size of the DVD, the speed of your computer, and your settings. After the process is finished, you can safely remove the USB drive from your computer and plug it into your TV or other devices to enjoy your digital DVD video.

To play the movie on TV, insert the USB drive into your TV's USB port. Use your TV's remote control to navigate to the USB drive and select the video file you want to watch. It's important to note that not all TVs support USB playback, so you should check your TV's user manual or specifications to see if it supports USB playback. Additionally, some TVs may only support specific video file formats, so you should check the TV's specifications to see which file formats are supported.

Video Tutorial on How to Free Copy DVD to USB Thumbdrive with Full Menus

Part 3. How to Transfer DVD to USB without Computer - Find a DVD to USB Transfer Service near You

If you want to transfer DVD to USB without computer, you can pick a DVD to USB service near you to do it. These services typically involve sending your DVD to the service provider, who will then convert the data to a digital format and save it onto a USB drive. There are many such services on the market. Let me introduce a few services here.

Walmart Photo

• What media does it accept: YesDVD, Walmart DVD, DVD, CD, VCD, and MiniDVD
• What you get from it: A digital copy of your ordered items which is stored in your MemoryCloud account. This is open to you for 60 days in which you can view and download the digital copy to your computer, smartphone, or tablet, and you can order additional DVDs or USBs.
• How about the price of it: A digital copy charges $12.96 for the first 30 minutes and $5.46 for each additional 30 minutes. An additional DVD copy charges $3.96 while an additional USB copy charges $12.96.
• How it works: It's easy. You simply need to create order online, send in your media (drop off at a Walmart store or use UPS provided shipping label), wait for the media to digitize, and receive your digital copy, original media, and additional USB or DVD copy.

CVS Photo

• What media does it accept: YesDVD, CVS YesDVD, DVD, CD, VCD, and MiniDVD
• What you get from it: A DVD, Blu-ray, or USB, and a digital copy of your ordered items which is stored in your MemoryCloud account. This is open to you for 60 days in which you can view and download the digital copy to your computer, smartphone, or tablet.
• How about the price of it: A DVD copy charges $25.99 for 90 minutes from 1 device, a Blu-ray copy charges $33.99 for 90 minutes from 1 device, while a USB copy charges $34.99 for 90 minutes from 1 device.
• How it works: You simply need to create order online, bring your media to your local CVS Photo Center, wait for the media to digitize, and receive your DVD, Blu-ray, or USB, digital copy, and original media.

Forever Studios

• What media does it accept: DVD, CD, Data & Mini Disks, SD, CF & Micro cards, USB flash drives, and data storage disks
• What you get from it: Forever Safe USB, a Forever Cloud link, or a DVD set.
• How about the price of it: $15 per DVD for the digitizing service. Additionally, you need to pay  $29 per USB drive.
• How it works: Enter the quantity of media items you would like to transfer and how you’d like to receive your digital media back, send your media, wait for the media to transfer, and receive your USB copy.

However, it is important to note that not all Walmart Photo, CVS Photo, and Forever Studios locations may offer DVD to USB transfer services. Additionally, pricing and turnaround time for these services can vary depending on the specific store or studio location. It is recommended that you contact your local Walmart Photo, CVS Photo, or Forever Studios location to inquire about their specific DVD to USB transfer services, pricing, and turnaround time.

Part 4. How to Copy a Bootable DVD to USB

In addition to coping video DVD to USB, some people want to make a bootable USB drive out of a DVD storing Windows installation file. To do this, you first need to create ISO image file from the Windows installation DVD and then burn the ISO file to a USB drive. Next, we will talk about how to do this work.

Step 1. Create ISO File from Windows Install DVD Disc

To do this, you can make use of ImgBurn.

• Download and install ImgBurn on your PC.
• Open ImgBurn and select Create image files from disc.
• Insert the DVD that stores the Windows installation file and select it as the source DVD.
• Choose a destination to store the newly created ISO file.
• Click the DVD to ISO button to start the process.

Step 2. Create Bootable USB

To do this, you can use Rufus.

• Download and install Rufus.
• Launch Rufus. In the first section under Drive Properties, select your target USB device.
• Under Boot selection, choose the ISO file you just created and click the SELECT button.
• Depending on the target machine where you want to install Windows, choose the partition scheme and select BIOS/UEFI.
• Under Format Options, enter a name for the USB so you know what it contains once the burning is done.
• Finally, click on READY and your bootable USB will be ready in a few minutes.

Part 5. FAQ on DVD to USB Rip

1. How to copy DVD to USB on Windows 7/8/10/11?

WinX DVD Ripper is compatible with Windows 7/8/10/11. You can download and install the free DVD to USB converter software and follow the steps mentioned above to copy the DVD on Windows 7/8/10/11.

If you want to copy a non-protected DVD to USB on Windows 7/8/10/11 and don't mind the copy is a DVD folder, you can follow these steps:

1. Insert the DVD you want to copy into your computer's DVD drive.
2. Connect the USB drive to your computer's USB port.
3. Open the File Explorer by pressing the Windows key + E.
4. Navigate to your DVD drive and right-click on it.
5. Select "Copy" or press Ctrl+C on your keyboard.
6. Navigate to your USB drive in the File Explorer and right-click inside the folder where you want to copy the DVD files.
7. Select "Paste" or press Ctrl+V on your keyboard.
8. Wait for the transfer to complete.

2. How to copy DVD to USB with VLC?

VLC is not only a media player but also a DVD ripper. It can help convert a DVD to a USB flash drive in MPEG, MP4, AVI, Divx, ASF, WMV, FLV, etc. To copy a DVD to USB stick with VLC, you simply need to select Add > Convert / Save > Profile, select an output format and click Start to rip. Note that VLC can only help with non-encrypted DVDs. Read our guide on how to rip DVDs with VLC.

3. What format do you need to copy DVD to USB to play on TV?

If you want to rip a movie DVD to USB for later playing on TV, you should make sure the format of the DVD rip file is supported by your TV. For example, below are some of the general video formats supported by most common TVs.

• Apple TV: H.264 video in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov.
• Roku TV: H.264/HEVC in MP4, MOV, M4V, MKV and VP9 in WebM.
• Sony TV: MP4, MPEG, WMV, MTS formats, etc.
• Samsung TV: AVI, MKV, MP4, MOV, etc.

If you use WinX DVD Ripper, you can rip the DVD to any of the formats in USB based on your TV model. You can also scroll down the output list to TV Video where you can find some TV output presets.

4. Why do USB DVD movies not play on TV?

When you insert the USB stick into your TV and try to play the DVD movies from the USB on the TV, it may not work and no files are here. In this case, consider the following reasons:

1. Check the ports on the TV and make sure there is no dusty or faulty USB port.
2. Make sure the USB drive is in the correct format. For example, some QLED and SUHD TVs support FAT, exFAT, and NTFS file systems while some full HD TVs support NTFS, FAT16, and FAT32.  
3. If you're using the FAT32 USB drive, make sure the DVD movies ripped for the USB are not larger than 4GB.
4. Make sure the converted DVD movies on the USB are in a video format compatible with your TV. Generally, MP4 is your best bet.
5. When the USB drive contains many files and folders, the TVs may have problems displaying and accessing all the files. For example, if the USB drive has more than 4000 files, a Full HD TV may have problems opening the files and folders.

5. What USB format do you need?

Before you copy a DVD to a USB flash drive, make sure you're using the correct USB. For example, if you want to make intact copies of your DVD collection on a USB drive in ISO image, DVD folder, or VOB, the DVD copies will have large file sizes. To be specific, one single DVD copy is almost the same size as the original disc, which is more than 4.5GB. So you can't use FAT32 USB as it supports 4GB only for a single file.

To transfer DVDs to a USB stick when the size is greater than 4GB, here are some suggestions: use NTFS on Windows PC and HFS+ on Macs. To copy DVDs to USB to play on a TV, use exFAT.

6. Why is the DVD to USB transferring speed so slow?

After you convert DVDs to USB digital formats, it's very annoying if it takes a long time to transfer the DVD movies to a USB flash drive. It's extremely a headache when you have converted a large DVD collection. Will USB 3.0 flash drive transfer videos faster than USB 2.0? Yes, the USB 3.0 device offers transfer speeds of up to 10 times what you get in a comparable USB 2.0 drive. However, when you connect a USB flash drive to a device, the data transfer speed will be limited by the slowest of the connected devices.

7. Are there any other DVD to USB services available?

For those who don't want to install a third-party program, there are online services to help. Search on Google, there are a lot of options. Take the first DVD to USB transfer as an example, it can save DVD videos on a USB stick in MP4 format. You can either buy the USB from it or use your own USB. It takes $15 to convert a DVD, which is expensive. And you will have to wait for the shipping. Other services are similar and most of them charge you per DVD.

8. How many GB is a DVD movie?

Movies of up to 2 hours at DVD quality are usually 4.7GB. However, DVD movies longer than 120 minutes come in 8.5GB DVD-9.

9. What USB flash drive capacity do you need to save your DVD collections?

If you ask how many movies can a 32GB flash drive hold, it depends on how many DVDs you want to transfer to the USB and what settings you choose. If you simply need to make digital copies of your DVD collections to USB drives with exact same quality & data, you may convert DVD to an ISO image, which will be as large as the DVD movie. Then you may need a USB stick with a larger capacity sooner.

If you convert a DVD to MP4, a DVD can be shrunk to 1~2GBs. WinX DVD Ripper Platinum is able to reduce 80% of the original DVD size. That means a 4.7GB DVD can be ripped to a movie at ~700MB. A 256GB flash drive at about $35 can store 300+ DVD movies. Detailed DVD backup guide >>

10. How to convert a flash drive to a DVD?

If you want to go the opposite way to transfer video to DVD from USB, iPhone, Android, or other devices, you will need a DVD burning program for the task. WinX DVD Author is a free application that will easily burn MP4, MKV, AVI, VOB, FLV, MOV, ISO, and other videos from your USB drive to a DVD disc.

Related External Source from Wiki:

• DVD - A digital optical disc storage format which can store any kind of digital data. It is widely used for software and video applications watched using DVD players...
• USB Flash Drive - A USB flash drive, also variously known as a USB drive, USB stick, thumb drive, pen drive, flash-disk, or USB memory, is a data storage device that includes flash memory with an integrated USB interface...

Disclaimer: Digiarty Software does not advocate ripping/copying copy-protected DVDs for any commercial purpose and suggests referring to the DVD copyright laws in your countries before doing so.