5 Ways to Rip a DVD on Mac with Decrypting Tools

Mac computers are well-known for their complex security measures to ensure users’ privacy. The same can be said for software designed to rip DVDs on Mac; unfortunately, the options for modern software intended to decrypt DVD content are more optimized for the Windows platform. With that in mind, this article highlights five of the most reliable DVD ripping options available for download and use on Mac computers. We will provide multiple tools for different purposes and a detailed tutorial on how to use each.

For a quick overview of the programs featured in this article, we have provided a table below with some of the most important measurements to consider when selecting proper DVD decrypting tools. To learn which is the best, please continue reading the article below.

Compatibility Checklist

Hardware Guidance

If you are using a macOS computer with M1/M2/M3 chips, you must use a USB-C-to-USB adapter to connect an external DVD drive. We recommend using either the official Apple SuperDrive or a third-party drive that has been proven to work with Apple computers.

Software Optimization

For Apple Silicon users, use optimized versions of HandBrake and VLC exclusively for the Apple chip. This is important because using the Silicon-optimized builds will achieve 2-3x faster encoding speeds than their Intel counterpart.

System Permissions

To fix no-source errors, make sure to grant your external DVD drive permission by adjusting your File and Folder settings. To do so, go to System Settings > Privacy & Security > Files and Folders. This is the solution for an undetected external drive.

Preparation Before Ripping a DVD on Mac

Before highlighting the DVD ripping tools, we will review and provide a tutorial. Let us first offer three essential points to prepare before ripping DVDs on a Mac. All options we will highlight below are provided based on restrictions to modern hardware, general storage tips, and an introduction to choosing a reliable DVD ripper.

Use an External or a Built-In DVD Driver

Since DVDs have been an afterthought due to the increased reliability of digital storage. We can safely assume that the Mac computer that you are using has no built-in DVD driver. If that is the case, purchasing an external DVD driver is a must to have the DVD loaded into your device. But if your computer has a built-in driver, you can skip buying an external option.

Clear Storage Space

Since DVD media are often large and most are not designed to be compressed, clearing your computer’s storage space is vital before importing a DVD. This can ensure that the data on your DVD will be entirely digitized and ripped.

Find a Functional DVD Ripper

Finally, you must use a functional, reliable DVD ripper, as this software will perform the DVD ripping process. You have to choose the right software to ensure that the data recovered from your DVD is high-quality and can be accessed without malfunction. Additionally, make sure to check the decryption features of the DVD ripper tool you select. To start, check whether your software of choice can handle the Content Scramble System (CSS), Advanced Access Content System (AACS), and Disney 99-titles, which are among the most common encryption methods. Thankfully, all you need to do is choose among the five options that will be featured in this article.

Way 1. Rip DVD on Mac with Blu-ray Master Free DVD Ripper

We will start featuring the best DVD ripping software for Mac with the most reliable free-to-use option, none other than Blu-ray Master Free DVD Ripper. This DVD decryption tool was designed for modern use, as it is compatible with Mac desktops running macOS 10.12 and above, making it a solid option for accessing DVDs in 2025.

Moreover, it can process other options besides standard DVDs, as it can read DVD folders and ISO files. Additionally, files the program has processed can be converted to over 200 video and audio formats, including popular options such as MKV, MOV, MP4, MP3, ALAC, WAV, and more.

Furthermore, suppose you are looking for software to reliably edit DVD content. In that case, Blu-ray Master Free DVD Ripper can also get the job done, as it offers format customization and essential video editing options, including output format, encoder, video resolution editor, bitrate, video quality, video trimmer, cropper, 3D editor, and other video adjustment options.

These editing tools also allow you to customize your ripped DVD content, ensuring it is suitable for modern use. You can use the tool to change the video’s aspect ratio to the modern 16:9 or upscale its quality up to 4K UHD for Smart TVs.

If you are interested in using Blu-ray Master Free DVD Ripper, download the software using the link below, then follow our tutorial to learn how to rip a DVD on a Mac.

Step 1. Insert the DVD you want to read into your Mac computer. Once your device has read the DVD, open the Blu-ray Master Free DVD Ripper, click Load Disc, and then select Load DVD Disc.

Step 2. Once the software has read the DVD you loaded, choose the Output Formats you want to use to save the DVD media once it has been converted. If you are unsure which format to choose, Mac computers are optimized to read video files in MP4 or MOV format.

Step 3. When the DVD media you are processing has been optimized, select the Save To tab to set the destination for the converted file on your computer. Finally, click on Convert All to start the DVD-ripping process.

Following this guide on how to rip from a DVD on a Mac, you can now start ripping DVD media on your modern Mac computer. This makes digitizing videos much easier and accessing offline files stored on DVDs.

User Review

Most users of Blu-ray Master Free DVD Ripper applaud its performance in ripping and editing DVD content, especially given that it is free to use and download. Paying users can also enjoy more advanced features in their paid version, which is optional.

Way 2. Rip DVD on Mac with HandBrake

If you are a fan of open-source software and are looking for a reliable option for your Mac, look no further than the HandBrake video encoder. Although initially developed as a file format converter, this program also included a functional DVD ripper.

Unfortunately, the program requires a third-party plug-in to bypass the copy-protection mechanisms implemented on DVD releases. However, once the plug-in is installed, the program can reliably rip all DVDs.

The tutorial below explains how to rip a video from a DVD using HandBrake on a Mac.

Step 1. Load the DVD into your Mac, then open HandBrake once your device has finished reading it. Then, click Source in HandBrake and locate the DVD Drive in the menu. Wait for the program to read the DVD.

Step 2. Before beginning the DVD decoding process, set the destination for the encoded DVD file.

Step 3. Finally, choose the DVD content that will be encoded by adjusting the Chapter settings. Once it has been set, you can click Start Encode to begin the DVD ripping process.

If installing an additional plug-in is a little sacrifice for the reliability of open-source tools, feel free to use HandBrake.

User Review

HandBrake users value its ability to change the output format of video files. Unfortunately, its lack of built-in DVD copy-protection bypass is a significant drawback to its effectiveness as a DVD ripper.

Way 3. Rip DVD on Mac with WinX DVD Ripper

Moving forward to officially supported DVD encryption software, WinX DVD Ripper is another option that you can use to rip DVD media using an easy-to-use program. As its name suggests, the tool was developed as a capable DVD ripper with a range of output customization options.

Among the options available in this article, WinX DVD Ripper is one of the best for fast DVD ripping, as it is powered by a GPU-acceleration system integrated with Apple’s modern processing chips.

A short guide to learning WinX DVD Ripper is provided below.

Step 1. Load the DVD into your computer before opening WinX DVD Ripper. In the program’s menu, select the DVD Disc button.

Step 2. Once the program has accessed the DVD content, Select the media files you want to rip from the DVD. You can also start adding Video Editing options for the DVD video that will be converted.

Step 3. After adjusting the DVD conversion settings, click on Run to start the ripping process.

WinX DVD Ripper is one of the most straightforward options for ripping DVDs on Mac.

Unfortunately, it is a paid service, and their free version can only process videos up to 5 minutes long.

User Review

WinX DVD Ripper is one of the most beginner-friendly tools for ripping DVDs on Mac computers.

Unfortunately, its users have a significant problem with the program’s lack of a reliable free version.

Way 4. Rip DVD on Mac with Leawo DVD Ripper

A close competitor of WinX DVD Ripper, the fourth option on this list is the Leawo DVD Ripper. This DVD-ripping program could be considered a close competitor to the previous option, as it is also optimized for simplicity, and its functions are easy to understand.

Leawo, however, has a significant advantage when bypassing copy-protections. It can bypass standard privacy measures like CSS, regional codes, and basic encryption. Unfortunately, this Mac DVD ripper is slow when ripping DVD content.

With the pros and cons of using Leawo DVD Ripper now out of the way, we have provided a short tutorial below to help our readers learn how to use it.

Step 1. Load the DVD into your device before opening the Leawo DVD Ripper. Then, click the Convert button and select the Add UHD/Blu-ray/DVD.

Step 2. With the DVD media now loaded into the program, select the Format you want its content to be converted to.

Step 3. Finally, click on Convert to start ripping the data from the DVD you have loaded.

Leawo DVD Ripper is still a serviceable option if you are looking for a good DVD decrypter tool for Mac. Just check the other options first, since this program has a significant downside: slow processing speed.

User Review

Most of Leawo DVD Ripper’s users compliment its intuitive interface design. Since it is incredibly beginner-friendly. However, the slow processing speed makes it a suboptimal choice for bulk processing.

Way 5. Rip DVD on Mac with MakeMKV

We will end our recommended software with another program designed by open-source developers, MakeMKV. As its name suggests, this tool was specifically designed to convert DVD releases into lossless MKV files.

MKV format was chosen by its developers because it offers lossless quality, allowing conversion of DVD releases of TV shows and series to 1:1 quality. Because of this feature, MakeMKV was the top choice for users who wanted to digitize DVD content from sitcom collections and similar sources.

A short guide to using MakeMKV will be provided below to help our readers learn how to use it.

Step 1. Load the DVD into your Mac, then open MakeMKV and wait for the brief loading process while the tool scans the DVD data.

Step 2. When the program has read your loaded DVD, click the DVD icon in its menu to access its content.

Step 3. Finally, select the media file scanned from the DVD and select the ones you want to rip. Once you have chosen the options you want to convert, click the Make MKV button to start the DVD ripping process.

MakeMKV is the best choice if you are looking to process large batches of DVD data into lossless-quality videos. Unfortunately, the MKV format’s higher quality also makes its files larger than those of compressed formats such as MP4s.

User Review

MakeMKV is a solid option if you know it will be the best for the DVD media you plan to convert. However, ensure you are fine with only the MKV format, as it does not offer other output formats.

FAQs About Ripping DVDs on Mac

• What is the best free DVD ripper for Mac that actually works on macOS Sonoma?

  Blu-ray Master Free DVD Ripper is the best free option for macOS Sonoma because it strikes a balance between features and ease of use. Its built-in encryption feature makes it a more suitable choice than HandBrake. Ripped DVDs are also smaller when recovered by the program, making it better than MakeMKV.

• How do I install libdvdcss on a Mac with an M2 chip to rip DVDs?

  You have to download Homebrew. It is necessary to install libdvdcss. Homebrew is the easiest way to install it because it can bypass macOS security.

• Can I rip a DVD on a Mac using QuickTime Player?

  No, you cannot. QuickTime has no DVD ripping features. You can only use it to watch DVDs once they are ripped to digital video.

• Why does HandBrake say ‘No valid source found’ when I insert a DVD into my Mac?

  This means that the DVD you want to open is encrypted. By default, HandBrake cannot open protected DVDs, which triggers this message. To bypass it, you have to install the libdvdcss plug-in.

Conclusion

We have provided you with five solid options for ripping DVDs on Mac. We hope this article has helped you answer your question about how to rip a DVD on a Mac. For starters, we highly recommend using Blu-ray Master Free DVD Ripper for a reliable solution to rip protected DVDs on Mac. You can download the software using the link below. For Blu-ray ripping, Blu-ray Master also offers a dedicated Blu-ray ripper option.