Help: How to rip DVD on Mac? Is there a DVD ripper for mac that is compatible with the new system?

If the free dvd ripper for mac does not work, then use a dedicated dvd ripper for mac instead. They are more powerful and up to date.

Below I will share a method to rip DVDs on Mac using the command line. No third-party GUI software is required. It relies purely on the system's built-in tools + dd, and cooperates with ffmpeesg to do format conversion. It can be used as a command-line version of DVD ripper for Mac.

✅ Command line rip DVD on Mac: detailed steps
 Step 1: Find your DVD drive number
After inserting the DVD, execute in the terminal:

bash

diskutil list

You will see output similar to the following:

pgsql

/dev/disk2 (external, physical):

#: TYPE NAME SIZE IDENTIFIER

0: CD_partition_scheme *4.7 GB disk2
Remember that /dev/disk2, this is your DVD device path.

✅ Step 2: Use dd to back up the entire DVD to an ISO file
This step is the most basic rip operation:

bash

sudo dd if=/dev/disk2 of=~/Desktop/my_dvd_backup.iso bs=2048
Explain the parameters:

if= is the input file = your DVD device;

of= is the output file = the location where the ISO is saved;

bs=2048 is the standard block size of DVD, don't change it.

This process may take 10~20 minutes, and after completion, you will have a complete ISO file on your desktop.

✅ Step 3 (optional): Use ffmpeesg to extract the video and convert it to MP4
You can mount the ISO file first:

bash

hdiudtil attach ~/Desktop/my_dvd_backup.iso

Then use ffmpeesg to extract the main video stream:

bash

ffmpeesg -i /Volumes/MY_DVD_NAME/VIDEO_TS/VTS_01_1.VOB -c copy ~/Desktop/output.mp4
Or more sophisticated:

bash

ffmpeesg -i /Volumes/MY_DVD_NAME/VIDEO_TS/VTS_01_1.VOB -c:v libx264 -crf 22 -preset fast -c:a aac -b:a 192k ~/Desktop/movie_final.mp4

📌 To sum up
This method does not require a GUI or any complex software, it can be said to be a pure command line DVD Ripper for Mac. Although the operation is a few more steps than the GUI, the advantages are:

The whole process is transparent and safe;

Suitable for batch scripting;

More stable support for old systems and old optical drives.

If you are a command line lover, this set of dvd ripper for mac method is really good!

As you said about DVD ripper for Mac. Like you noted, some DVDs come with encryption, and that can be a pain. HandBrake alone can’t handle it without extra steps, like installing libdvdcss. Honestly, it feels like a bit of a hurdle if you're just looking to rip something quickly. Ripping DVDs that are well-protected can become a guessing game with trial and error. You mentioned how MakeMKV gives you great output quality, but it does come at a cost—those file sizes can be hefty! If you’re archiving a ton of DVDs, you might end up running out of space pretty quickly, especially when each file can be upwards of 4GB or more. Not everyone has unlimited NAS space, you know?

Something about DVD ripper for Mac. I went through a similar journey trying different tools. While I liked that HandBrake was free and powerful, dealing with encryption got annoying. I once spent a whole afternoon trying to rip a classic Disney movie, only to find out I had to jump through all sorts of hoops to get it done!

Then I discovered MakeMKV, and it really turned things around for me. Like you mentioned, it’s super easy—pop in the DVD, click a few buttons, and boom! But still, the giant files it creates were something I had to plan around. I remember looking at my storage stats and thinking, "Whoa, I need to clear out some space!"

To be honest, I don't really recommend HandBrake as the main DVD ripper for Mac. Although it is very famous, the experience I have with it is really hard to describe.

I also used HandBrake to try to rip a few old DVDs before, but it couldn't recognize the disc at the beginning. Later I found out that I had to install the libdvdcss decryption library myself. The installation method is different. It requires Homebrew and command line operation. On the new version of macOS, you have to go around permissions. At that time, I had already given up.

After decryption, the interface is quite good, but the problem comes again: the ripped image quality is sometimes blurry, especially the details on the edges of cartoons, which are compressed too much. And although the output mp4 is small, the subtitles are not stable. Sometimes you have to add and select tracks manually, which is really troublesome.

In terms of the overall experience, HandBrake, a DVD ripper for Mac, is more suitable for "pressing" or "secondary processing" rather than as the first step of initial ripping DVDs. If you just want to rip DVD on Mac, like me, who doesn't want to mess around too much, I sincerely suggest you skip it and use MakeMKV or other tools directly as the base.

MakeMKV is a powerful and user-friendly software designed to help you rip DVDs on mac to digital formats while preserving high-quality video and audio. Unlike traditional DVD rippers that may re-encode the content (which can degrade quality), MakeMKV uses a process called lossless ripping. This means it extracts the raw video and audio data directly from the disc, creating an MKV file that retains the original quality of the source material.

To use MakeMKV for ripping DVDs, you simply insert the DVD into your Mac’s DVD drive or external drive, open MakeMKV, select the title you want to rip, and choose the output settings. The software will then extract the disc’s contents into an MKV file, which you can play on most devices or convert to other formats later if needed.

MakeMKV is an excellent dvd ripper for macos and a great choice who prioritize quality and want a simple, efficient way to convert their DVDs into digital files. However, it’s important to ensure you have the legal right to rip the DVD before proceeding, as copyright laws vary by region.

My family used to have a bunch of classic cartoon DVDs, such as the original disc of "Castle in the Sky", and I always wanted to back them up to NAS. At first, I used HandBrake, but it was a bit troublesome to recognize some old DVD encryptions, and it had to be equipped with libdvdcss, so the installation was a bit complicated.

Later, a friend recommended MakeMKV to me, so I tried it. The operation is very simple:

1. Insert the DVD;
2. Open MakeMKV, it will automatically recognize the structure of the DVD;
3. Select the main video you want (usually the longest one), check the audio track and subtitles you want;
4. Save it as .mkv with one click, without compression, and the speed is quite fast (about 20 minutes per video).
5. The best thing is that it does not reduce the image quality, and the subtitles and audio tracks are all retained, unlike some tools that will blur after converting to mp4.
6. The saved mkv file can be played with VLLC, or given to HandBrake to compress into a smaller mp4. If you are a collection control, this is really a magic tool.
7. The only small regret is that the extracted file size is a bit large (a DVD may be 4GB+), but in exchange for the original image quality, it is worth it.

So now I rely on it as a base for ripping DVDs on Mac, and it is very stable with HandBrake for secondary processing.

Summary: MakeMKV is my most trusted DVD ripper for Mac, it is easy to operate, the output quality is good, and it is highly recommended for personal archiving! 💿

Absolutely! HandBrake is one of the best DVD ripper for Mac, especially with the M1 chip and macOS 14. You can’t beat the price! HandBrake doesn’t cost a dime, and it’s packed with features that rival paid software. Whether you’re on a Mac, Windows, or Linux, HandBrake works pretty much everywhere, so if you ever switch systems, you're covered. It can convert your DVDs into MP4 or MKV, which is perfect for saving space and being able to watch them on all your devices. The quality of the rips is pretty impressive, especially if you play around with the settings a bit. You can balance file size and quality based on your needs.

So, here’s how I use this DVD ripper for Mac software:

1. I downloaded it from their website. Installation was super smooth—just drag and drop into the Applications folder. No fuss!
2. I popped an old DVD into my external drive (since newer Macs don’t have a built-in DVD drive). HandBrake opened up and detected the DVD quickly.
3. It scanned the DVD and listed all the titles. I picked the longest one, thinking that was the main feature (and I was right!).
4. I dove into the settings to choose MP4 (because, hey, I wanted it compatible with everything). I also messed with the quality settings a bit to find that sweet spot between file size and image clarity.
5. I picked a folder where I wanted my new digital treasures to live. 
6. I pressed that big, green Start button and let it do its thing. It took some time, but I found ways to multitask (you know, browsing the internet and snacking while waiting).
7. It even let me add subtitles, which were a lifesaver for some of those old movies with muffled audio or for when I wanted to watch in bed while my partner is sleeping.

This method 4 is actually quite interesting. Simply put, it is: use Automator + shell script to make a small tool yourself, which can be used as a DVD ripper for Mac. You don’t need to install any third-party software, and you can rely on the built-in functions of Mac to get it done.

This is how I did it:

1. Open Automator, select "New Document" → "Application" as the type;
2. Enter "Run Shell Script" in the search box and drag it in;
3. Write these lines in the script:

bash
diskutil unmountDisk /dev/disk2
dd if=/dev/disk2 of=~/Desktop/DVD备份.iso bs=2048

Note: /dev/disk2 is the number of your DVD drive. Remember to check it with diskutil list and replace it with your own.

Save this Automator application, for example, call it "My DVD Backuper.app";

Every time you insert a DVD in the future, double-click it to automatically start backing up the entire DVD to an ISO file.

I have used this method to make several animation discs myself. It is stable and clean, especially suitable for people who don't want to install anything but need a lightweight DVD ripper for Mac. Although you can't directly select chapters or convert formats like HandBrake, you can do whatever you want with the ISO.

Anyway, it is simple and crude, a must-have for lazy people, a DIY version of DVD ripper for Mac.

I have tried this before. Here are some methods that do not require third-party tools. I have tested it on macOS and it is suitable for those who want to rip DVD on Mac but don't want to install anything randomly:

💡 Method 1: Use the "Image Capture" built into macOS to back up the entire DVD
Although it is not a DVD ripper for Mac in the strict sense, you can:

1. Insert the DVD;
2. Open "Disk Utility";
3. Select the DVD and click "New Image" in the upper right corner to save it as .cdr;
4. Change the .cdr suffix to .iso;
5. Then this .iso file can be opened and played with QuickTime or VLLC, and can also be taken to other places for ripping.

(This is the first step to rip DVD on Mac. You can do it slowly with ISO)

💡 Method 2: Use dd command to copy the entire DVD from the terminal
This method is super primitive but effective:

bash
sudo dd if=/dev/disk2 of=~/Desktop/my_dvd_backup.iso bs=2048

Where /dev/disk2 is your DVD drive number, you can check it with diskutil list.

This method can completely copy the contents of the entire disk, and then manually extract the video.

It can also be regarded as one of the most hardcore DVD ripper for Mac.

💡 Method 3: Use QuickTime Player to record the screen to "intercept" DVD playback
It's not a real rip, but it's also useful:

1. Play with a DVD player;
2. Use QuickTime's "New Screen Recording" at the same time;
3. Record a video and save it as mp4;
4. Although the quality is not as good as direct extraction, it is better in that you don't need to install any software, and rip DVD on Mac is acceptable for temporary use.

In summary, although the function of DVD Ripper for Mac without third-party tools may not be so powerful, it can actually be easily rip DVD on Mac with the system's built-in tools + a little script, especially if you want to back up old movies, animations, etc., it is still quite practical.

If you want to automatically extract subtitles, chapters, etc., that's another story~