6 Solutions to Easily Rip Copy-Protected DVDs [2025]

Copy-protected DVDs were designed to prevent unauthorized duplication. This means that it is difficult to directly copy the content of the disc to another device without bypassing its copy protection measures.

If you happen to have copy-protected DVDs that you want to rip, don’t fret, because we’ve got you covered! In this article, learn how you can easily bypass copy-protection on your DVDs using reliable DVD ripping tools. With the right software, you can convert your DVDs into digital formats like MP4, MKV, AVI, and more, making them accessible on your preferred devices and media players. Let’s dive in!

Part 1. What is DVD Copyright

DVD Copyright is a measure utilized and employed by movie studios and DVD manufacturers. The main reason for this is to prevent the unauthorized duplication and distribution of DVD content. Moreover, this protection aims to lessen and control piracy issues within the industry.

Part 2. How to Rip Copy-Protected DVDs

The following are the video converter tools that can rip copy-protected DVDs:

FVC picked AnyMP4 DVD Ripper

One of the best tools to rip copy-protected DVDs is by using the FVC-picked AnyMP4 DVD Ripper. This tool allows users to easily rip DVDs to various digital formats. It also supports almost all inputs and outputs, making it a versatile DVD ripper tool. Compared to other DVD ripper tools, ripping copy-protected DVDs with it is direct and does not require the installation of plug-ins and other third-party decryption tools. This makes the process more convenient and user-friendly, even for beginners.

To rip a copy-protected DVD with FVC-picked AnyMP4 DVD Ripper:

Step 1. Begin by clicking the buttons below to download and install the tool on your device.

Note: Before the next step, you must insert the DVD with copy protection into the DVD drive on your computer and wait for a few minutes until it is detected.

Step 2. Begin by clicking the buttons below to download and install the tool on your device.

Step 3. After that, click on the Output Format at the bottom left corner and choose the MP4 from the Video tab. Once done, click on the Rip All button to start your DVD ripping.

WinX DVD Ripper

WinX DVD Ripper is primarily used to convert DVD Discs, ISO images, and DVD folders into various digital formats. It can rip different copy-protected DVDs to formats such as MP4, AVI, WMV, MOV, and more.

To rip a copy-protected DVD with WinX DVD Ripper:

Step 1. First, you need to download and install the WinX DVD Ripper on your device.

Step 2. Load your DVD. With this tool, you have three options to load your DVD. Click the DVD Disc button if you have inserted a physical DVD into your computer's disc drive, select ISO Image if you have a DVD ISO file stored on your device, or choose DVD Folder if your DVD files are saved in a specific folder. After that, click OK to proceed.

Step 3. After that, down the left-hand menu on the Output Profile, click on the DVD Backup, and then select Main Title Content Copy.

Step 4. Lastly, click on the Destination Folder below to select the folder where you want your ripped DVD to be saved. After that, click the Run button to start ripping your DVD.

WinX DVD Ripper is indeed one of the best tools to rip copy-protected DVDs. However, it’s a bit pricey compared to other DVD ripper tool that offers the same feature.

MakeMKV

MakeMKV has a built-in decryption feature that allows users to rip copy-protected DVDs. However, with this tool, you can only rip your DVD to MKV format and nothing more.

To rip a copy-protected DVD with MakeMKV:

Step 1. First, you need to go to MakeMKV’s official website and click on the download link according to your operating system.

Step 2. After that, launch the tool and click on Open Files or Open Disc to import your copy-protected DVD.

Step 3. Now, choose the title you want to save as MKV files and the track that you want to keep as well. After that, select the folder on your hard drive where you want your file to be saved and click on the MakeMKV icon to start transcoding.

MakeMKV is truly a great tool for bypassing copy-protected DVDs. However, its limited support for digital formats is just an issue.

HandBrake

HandBrake is a popular open-source video conversion tool that supports a wide range of the most used video formats, and when it comes to ripping copy-protected DVDs, it also does an amazing job. Although by default, HandBrake cannot rip copy-protected DVDs due to legal restrictions. To bypass encryption, users need to install libdvdcss. This library will enable the tool to decrypt copy-protected DVDs.

To rip a copy-protected DVD with HandBrake:

Step 1. First, you need to download the libdvdcss-2.dll from their official website. Once downloaded, copy the .dll file to your Handbrake program folder.

Step 2. Now, launch the tool, insert your DVD into the DVD-ROM, and select your DVD under Source Selection. The tool will then start scanning the DVD movie titles.

Step 3. Once you have the DVD open, select the title you want to rip by going to the Title’s drop-down menu.

Step 4. Next, you will need to decide on the quality of your output file. You simply have to click the Preset button and customize your settings. Below that, you’ll see the Format. Click on it, and choose MP4 as your output format.

Step 5. After that, click the Browse button to choose a folder on your hard drive as the destination, and after that, click the Start Encode button at the top of the window to start ripping your copy-protected DVD.

Note: With libdvdcss installed, HandBrake should now be able to bypass basic DVD encryption like CSS. If not, you need to use a powerful DVD ripper tool that is capable of ripping copy-protected DVDs without requiring a plug-in tool.

DVD Shrink

DVD Shrink is a free DVD compressor tool that compresses DVDs to save space on your computer. But beyond that, it is also an effective tool to use as a DVD ripper to rip copy-protected DVDs.

To rip a copy-protected DVD with DVD Shrink:

Step 1. First, you need to install and download DVD Shrink on your computer. After that, make sure that you have inserted the copy-protected DVD into your computer.

Step 2. Next, click on the Open Disc button and select the source of the DVD.

Note: The DVD Shrink will automatically analyze the DVD. Once done, you’ll see three categories: menus, main movie, and extras.

Step 3. After that, in the Compression Settings section, and from there choose your desired compression ratio. Once done, click the Backup button, and click OK to start ripping the copy-protected DVD.

VLC Media Player

VLC is a well-known media player software app that is used to play different types of videos. However, in terms of ripping copy-protected DVDs, it goes beyond as a media player. With this tool, users can also rip encrypted DVDs by installing a libdvdcss library plug-in.

To rip a copy-protected DVD with VLC Media Player:

Step 1. First, you need to download and install the libdvdcss library plug-in onto your computer. After that, load the DVD that has copy protection into your VLC, and it will automatically read the DVD.

Step 2. Next, go to the Media tab and select the Convert/ Save option from the list.

Step 3. After that, click the Disc from the top tab, enable the DVD option, and select the DVD you want to rip in the Disc device.

Step 4. Now, click the Convert/ Save button and set the output format by clicking the profile drop-down menu below.

Step 5. By default, VLC will choose to rip DVDs to Video - H.264 + MP3 (MP4).

Step 6. After that, in the Destination section below, click Browse, select your hard drive, and give the output file a name.

Step 7. When everything is set, click the Start button to rip the DVD with VLC.

Note: When ripping a DVD on VLC, regardless of whether it is homemade or copy-protected, the ripping process takes time and usually takes 30 minutes, depending on the size of the DVD content.

Part 3. Is Ripping Protected DVDs Illegal

Generally, ripping copy-protected DVDs is considered illegal, especially ripping those DVDs that are not lawfully acquired. However, some countries may allow ripping DVDs for personal use or backup, as long as you do not share or distribute them to others.

Part 4. FAQs about Copy-Protected DVD

Conclusion

While ripping copy-protected DVDs is generally considered illegal, ripping them for personal use is legal. So, if you’re looking for a method to rip your DVDs with copy protection, don’t miss the chance to try the six methods carefully tailored for you.