Best Way to Burn DVD with VLC Media Player in 2025

Jun 06, 2025Posted by Kevin Miller to Create DVD

VLC is among the media players preferred by many users across operating systems. It can play almost any digital file, even physical media like DVDs. But what about creating DVDs? Can you use VLC to burn DVDs? The answer is yes but with limitations. It includes a Stream feature you can use to burn DVDs. This post will show how to burn DVDs with VLC and troubleshooting tips for burning issues. And we still got you if VLC fails to burn your DVD. We’ll introduce two reliable alternative solutions that offer more features and greater stability for DVD creation.

• Part 1. Burn DVD with VLC
• Part 2. Troubleshooting of VLC Burn DVD
• Part 3. Best Alternative Way to Burn DVD
• Part 4. Free Alternative Way to Burn DVD

Part 1. Burn DVD with VLC

VLC , beyond playing videos, supports basic DVD burning through the Stream feature. VLC Media Player burn DVDs from video files using its transcoding and output options. However, it doesn’t offer features like menu template customization; it only creates DVDs.

Step 1.Open the VLC Media Player and the Ctrl + S to access the Open Media window. Switch to the Disc tab and select DVD as your disc selection. Click Browse next to the Disc Device field to load the video file from the local file. Then, click the Stream button to proceed.

Step 2. In the Source section of the Stream Output window, click Next to continue. The window will display again, this time, select an output directory. Once you reach the Transcoding Options, click Settings next to the Profile field and use the following profile settings:

Encapsulation:MPEG-TS

Video Codec:MPEG-2

Audio Codec:A52/AC-3

Step 3.After all the settings, click Next to proceed with the Option Setup section. This section lets you set up additional options for streaming if needed. Lastly, click the Stream button to start the burning process. Using the chosen settings, It will stream the video file to the DVD drive.

The process was manageable when I tried to burn DVDs using VLC Media Player. It was helpful for quick DVD creation. However, the software only focuses on DVD burning. It has no authoring features like menu template customization.

Part 2. Troubleshooting of VLC Burn DVD

DVD Region Issues

The common problem with burned DVDs is the region coding. Commercial DVD players are programmed to only read discs coded for specific regions. Since VLC doesn’t apply region codes, it may not load the disc if the player requires a region code. Always verify the DVD region your target player supports to avoid playback issues.

DVD Drive Hardware

Your computer’s DVD drive must be fully functional and compatible with DVD writing. Failure to detect blank discs and slow writing speeds are related to faulty hardware. If VLC fails to recognize the disc, it could be due to firmware issues or the blank disc type incompatibility. Ensure your DVD drive supports writing, update its firmware, and try other blank DVD brands.

Incorrect Codec Settings

VLC requires proper codec configurations to encode videos for DVD burning. If you don’t choose compatible video and audio codecs, standard players may not read the resulting DVD. An incorrectly encoded file can also result in complete playback failure. VLC doesn’t always default to formats, so you must manually configure these in the codec settings.

Improper Disc Finalization

Another issue is disc finalization. Some DVD burners or software, including VLC, might not automatically finalize a disc after writing. An unfinalized DVD may play on a computer but fail to load in standalone DVD players. If this step is skipped, many players won’t recognize the DVD. You might miss this critical step since VLC’s burning process is not always transparent.

Part 3. Best Alternative Way to Burn DVD

DVD Creator , picked by Blu-ray Master , is a DVD-burning and authoring software. It’s compatible with Mac OS X 10.9 or later and Windows 11/10/8. With it, you can add multiple video files and burn them to make a DVD. It supports input of popular formats like MP4, MKV, MOV, 3GP, FLAC, and more media. Moreover, it includes video and chapter tools like Video Edit, Audio Edit, Subtitle Edit, etc. Also, it offers menu templates with themes like Holiday, Family, Wedding, etc. Best of all, it supports NTSC and PAL to ensure regional compatibility.`

Here’s how to burn DVDs with the best VLC DVD Burner software alternative:

Step 1.Start by downloading the DVD Creator, which Blu-ray Master prefers. Install the DVD-burning software on your computer and let the installation process complete. Prepare the blank DVD, place it on your computer’s optical DVD burner, and run the software.

Step 2.Select the DVD Disc tab as your disc type to create a DVD. Click the +Add Media File(s) pulldown menu to access options for adding the video file. Select Add Media File(s) to one or multiple specific video files. However, select the Add Media Folder option if you’re importing videos in a batch stored in a single directory.

Before you proceed with the burning process, set your disc type, aspect ratio, and video quality. Optionally, click the Power Tools button in the upper right navigation to access the editing tools. It includes basic tools for rotating, clipping, cropping, applying filters, adjusting effects, etc.

Step 3.Choose from various menu templates in the Menu section on the right navigation pane. If you want to create your own template, customize it with background music, upload a custom image, and add an opening film. After customization, click Burn to proceed.

Tip: Click the Preview button to see what the final DVD menu will look like.

Step 4.Set an output directory in the Folder Path field in the Burning Settings window. Optionally, check Save as ISO and create an ISO file for backup. Next, check Burn to Disc and select your DVD drive from the pulldown menu. Lastly, click Start to burn the DVD.

Important Note: Select a TV Standard to ensure your disc will play correctly on your DVD player and TV. Different regions use different standards. If unsure about your region’s TV standard, click Help to select your country.

Using DVD Creator as an alternative solution to burn DVD with VLC player was the most complete experience. The software recognized my video files quickly and allowed me to edit video, audio, and subtitles. I also like the DVD menu customization with the option to add background music and images.

Part 4. Free Alternative Way to Burn DVD

ImgBurn is a free DVD-burning software on Windows systems. It writes video files and folders to physical media to create a standard DVD, data disc, and bootable media. However, the software is not ideal for non-technical users as it has confusing customization options.

Here’s how to burn DVD with VLC Media Player free alternative:

Step 1.Launch ImgBurn and select the Write files/folders to disc option in the home interface. It will open the main window where you’ll choose files and configure the burning process. Click the Folder button in the Source section to add the video files from your computer.

Step 2.On the right navigation pane, you will find the customization tabs. It includes the Information, Device, Options, Labels, and Advanced tabs. If advanced customization is not needed, you can skip this step.

Step 3.Select your DVD drive burner from the pulldown menu of the Destination field. Ensure you have inserted a blank disc and it is detected beforehand. Now, click the Folder to Disc button to initiate the burning process. You’ll get a notification from the software once it’s done.

With ImgBurn, I was impressed by how easily and quickly I used it. It’s good to use if you have prepared video folders and burn them directly to the disc. However, no editing tools, DVD menus, or preview options are available.

Wrapping up

DVD burning is still widespread as it’s a way to preserve and enjoy videos offline. As you’ve seen, you can burn DVDs with VLC using the Stream feature. However, customization is limited. If VLC doesn’t meet your needs, alternatives like DVD Creator, picked by Blu-ray Master, provide more reliable DVD-burning options. It is an all-in-one DVD authoring solution with full features, customization, and professional-quality output.