Download Install HandBrake libdvdcss to Rip Protected DVDs

What is libdvdcss? It sounds complicated. How to download libdvdcss.pkg Mac or install libdvdcss.dll Windows 10/11 for HandBrake in order to decrypt a movie DVD?

Q - "Handbrake problems help! I can't use handbrake to rip DVDs on my new laptop. When I got it all set up and ripped a DVD, the pictures and sound were all scrambled. Should I download and install the libdvdcss.dll? How can I do this? I'm a Windows 10 PC user."

Libdvdcss has been removed from HandBrake since V0.9.2, and now you can only find libDVDNav in HandBrake under Tools > Preferences > Advanced > DVD Reading. But without libdvdcss, HandBrake cannot rip DVDs encrypted with CSS. To handle the protections, you need to manually download libdvdcss for Handbrake. Here are the steps[with pictures] to install libdvdcss for Handbrake on Windows/Mac to rip protected DVDs.

Note: can downloading and installing VLC libdvdcss Mac/Windows solve the "HandBrake won't work" problems depending on the copy protection.

Rip All Protected DVDs without Installing libdvdcss for Handbrake on Mac/Windows

Downloading and installing libdvdcss.pkg/libdvdcss.dll for Handbrake can only rip DVDs with region codes and CSS. Handbrake with libdvdcss won't work with DVDs encrypted by Disney X-project DRM, RCE, Sony ArccOS, etc.

Remove all DVD encryptions with WinX DVD Ripper Platinum - the most powerful DVD ripper on market. It's specially designed for ripping copy-protected DVDs alone without using libdvdcss or a third-party DVD decrypter. It intelligently supports bypassing DVD protections like CSS encryption, region code, Sony ARccOS, UOPs, APS, RCE, etc. Easily rip any protected DVD to MP4, H.264, AVI, WMV, MOV, etc. as you like.

Part 1. What Is Libdvdcss?

libdvdcss = lib (library) + dvd (DVD) + css (Content Scrambling System, a kind of DVD copy protection)

To sum up, libdvdcss (or libdvdcss2 in some repositories) is a part of the VideoLAN project, which alone is only a free and open-source software library that can find and guess keys to do the DVD decryption, so that CSS-protected DVDs will be played correctly. Together with media player software and free DVD rippers, such as VLC and HandBrake, libdvdcss helps them read and decrypt DVDs of different regions or encrypted with CSS. And because it uses a generated list of possible player keys, libdvdcss has never been legally challenged.

More Info about libdvdcss Mac/Windows

• The latest version is libdvdcss 1.4.3.
• libdvdcss is used only for free software, like HandBrake to decrypt DVDs.
• libdvdcss is allowed to run on macOS (libdvdcss error since El Capitan), Windows NT 4.0 SP4 (with IE 5.0) or later, Linux, FreeBSD, NetBSD, OpenBSD, Haiku, Solaris, QNX and OS/2. Many GNU/Linux distributions do not contain libdvdcss (for example, Ubuntu and SUSE Linux) due to fears of running afoul of DMCA-style laws, but they often provide the tools to let users install libdvdcss themselves.
• VLC installed with libdvdcss supports DVDs of all regions (1-6) only if you have RPC1 drives, for raw access to RPC2 drives can't be made successfully, which however is required to circumvent the region protection.

Related external source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Libdvdcss

Part 2. How to Download Install Libdvdcss on Windows (11/10) for HandBrake

1. What platforms can install libdvdcss?

Libdvdcss currently can be installed on Windows NT 4.0 SP4 (with IE 5.0) or later, Mac OS X, GNU/Linux, FreeBSD, NetBSD, OpenBSD, Haiku, Solaris, QNX, OS/2.

Some platforms come with pre-installed libdvdcss including BackTrack, CrunchBang Linux, LinuxMCE, Linux Mint, PCLinuxOS, Puppy Linux 4.2.1, Slax, Super OS, Pardus, and XBMC Live.

2. Where to download and install libdvdcss?

Libdvdcss is part of the VideoLAN project. The latest version of libdvdcss is 1.4.3, and users can download and install libdvdcss from VideoLAN official site: http://www.videolan.org/developers/libdvdcss.html

Now let's show you how to download and install libdvdcss/libdvdcss2.dll on Windows (11/10/8/7).

Step 1: libdvdcss-2.dll download on Windows (11/10)
libdvdcss.dll for Windows 32 bit | libdvdcss.dll for Windows 64 bit

Step 2: You don't have to rename libdvdcss-2.dll as libdvdcss.dll. Just cut and paste the downloaded libdvdcss 2 file into your HandBrake program folder. If you didn't manually set the installation path before, it normally is "C:\Program Files\HandBrake".

Step 3: And that's all for installing HandBrake libdvdcss on Windows (10/11).

Part 3. How to Download Install Libdvdcss on Mac for HandBrake

Step 1: Download libdvdcss.pkg on Mac OS.
libdvdcss.pkg for Mac OS

Step 2: Double-click the downloaded file to install libdvdcss on Mac.

Step 3: There is one more step for installing libdvdcss on Mac El Capitan and later macOS as its SIP (System Integrity Protection) will remove libdvdcss by default. To download libdvdcss on Mac successfully, here are two workarounds:

Option 1: disable SIP. To disable SIP for libdvdcss Handbrake download on Mac, you need to: restart your Mac and simultaneously press down the Command - R keys until you see the Apple logo. Select Utilities > Terminal. Run the command "csrutil disable" in the Terminal and press Return. Exit Terminal and click the Apple menu > Restart to reboot your Mac. Then you should be able to install libdvdcss for Handbrake on Mac without problems.

Option 2: a more complicated but recommended way from a Reddit user (as below).

1. Open a Finder window -> type "cmd+shift+G" or click "Go" and choose "Go to Folder" -> copy and paste /Library/SystemMigration/History/ -> press button "GO" -> open the folder "Migration-[random letters and numbers]" and find "QuarantineRoot" -> libdvdcss file should be in this folder.

2. Again click "Go" on the taskbar -> "Go to Folder" -> type "/usr/local/lib".

3. Cut and paste your libdvdcss file to the folder "/usr/local/lib" -> put in your admin password to finish the move and libdvdcss installation on Mac is done.

Part 4. How to Rip Protected DVD for Free Without Installing Libdvdcss?

Libdvdcss is mainly used in free DVD rippers like HandBrake to rip DVDs encrypted with CSS. But libdvdcss can't help crack all CSS keys, let alone many other advanced DVD copy protections besides CSS, such as Region Code, AACS 2.0, Sony ArccOS, UOPs, and Disney X-project DRM. If you are trying to rip Disney DVDs with HandBrake libdvdcss, there might be a "HandBrake won't rip" problem, due to its up to 98 fake titles.

If downloading and installing HandBrake libdvdcss Mac/Windows is too complicated for you, try a much more professional and easier-to-use HandBrake alternative just like WinX DVD Ripper Platinum. It constantly updates with all kinds of latest DVD copy protections.

• Remove all CSS keys, AACS 2.0, UOP, Sony ARccOS, RCE, region, Disney DRM without the need to download libdvdcss on Mac/PC.
• Rip DVD to MP4, MPEG, MOV, WMV, iPhone, iPod, Apple TV, Android, PSP, Xbox, etc. (handbrake can't do) and 350+ built-in profiles.
• 1:1 backup DVD to ISO image, copy DVD with full/main title.
• Support sources like DVD discs, ISO files and folders.
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Follow the 3 simple steps below to rip protected DVDs without installing libdvdcss on Windows/Mac.

Step 1: Run the best free DVD ripper and click the "DVD Disc" button to load the inserted DVD movie info. This smart DVD ripper freeware can auto-detect and select the right main DVD movie title for you.

Step 2: Select the output video format or device. You can choose to rip DVD to MP4, WMV, MPEG, H.264, iPhone, Samsung, etc.

Step 3: Hit the "RUN" button to begin ripping DVDs with the best free Handbrake and libdvdcss alternative.

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.

Part 5. Libdvdcss FAQs

1. How to Play Any DRM-protected DVD for Free Without Libdvdcss

Most DVD players rely on installing libdvdcss to play copy-protected DVD. However, even without installing libdvdcss, you can still successfully play any protected DVD with ease with the most popular free DVD player - 5KPlayer. This free tool can play any copy-protected DVD or regular DVD flawlessly.

Additionally, 5KPlayer can also: play all 8K/5K/4K/HD 1080p/720p/SD videos in MP4, AVI, WMV, MKV, etc.; free download videos/movies/MP3 songs from YouTube and 1000+ video sites; stream videos/audios to iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, etc. for free. It is the best all-in-one free media player for Windows (10) and Mac.

Free Download for Win 7 or later
Free Download for Mac OS X 10.6 or later

Step 1: Insert the DVD disc to DVD-ROM. 5KPlayer alone supports smoothly playing any protected DVD without installing libdvdcss.

Step 2: Click the "DVD" button on the main interface and the DVD movie will start playing automatically.

2. Where can I get libdvdcss?

As libdvdcss is part of the VideoLAN project, you can download it from VideoLAN official site: https://www.videolan.org/developers/libdvdcss.html.

3. Is libdvdcss legal?

The legal status of libdvdcss is controversial but there has been—unlike DeCSS—no known legal challenge to it as of May 2018, although it appears to be illegal under the DMCA.

4. Does VLC include libdvdcss?

Yes. Libdvdcss is part of the VideoLAN project and is used by VLC media player and other DVD player software packages.