As streaming becomes more and more common, it’s easy to forget the huge collection of DVDs and Blu-ray discs you’ve stored over the years. Luckily, there is a way to store your entire physical catalog onto your computer so that you can enjoy the same movies as you would through streaming without spending all that money on subscription services.
However, while DVDs have a fairly large number of methods to store onto the computer, Blu-ray discs are much more tricky. Because their laser layer is easily damaged from scratches, as well as most simply being unable to playback on portable devices, there are some extra hoops you’d normally have to jump through in order to access your Blu-ray films on your computer.
The good news is that there are options. Through the use of powerful tools like Handbrake, you actually can rip and download your favorite Blu-ray movies and do it without stress and headache. Over the course of this brief guide, we will go over how to use Handbrake to rip Blu-ray and how it compares to some other alternatives.
Can Handbrake Rip Blu-ray? It Depends.
Far from something used in cars, Handbrake is an open-source video transcoder that can rip unencrypted DVDs and Blu-ray discs onto your computer. The software is well-known for its ability to work on Windows, Linux, and Mac while being completely free to use. Depending on the settings, Handbrake may be used to rip Blu-ray discs onto tablets, smartphones, and smart TVs making it incredibly versatile.
Unfortunately, there are some downsides to Handbrake that are worth mentioning beforehand. The biggest drawback to using Handbrake is its inability to rip fully encrypted discs, such as commercial films. In addition, the process is not nearly as streamlined or accessible for those that aren’t particularly skilled with computers or all that tech-savvy. Options like Tipard Blu-ray Converter, while normally coming with a price tag, are able to bypass many of the limitations of using a free service like Handbrake and should be considered based on what you need with your Blu-ray disc ripping.
How to Rip Unprotected Blu-Ray Discs with Handbrake
Step 1: Download and Install Handbrake on Your Computer
The first thing you need to do before successfully using Handbrake to rip Blu-ray discs is to ensure you are running the most current version of the Handbrake program while also have an external Blu-ray drive connected to your computer.
Step 2: Import Blu-ray files onto Handbrake
Next, insert your disc into the drive and locate the file on Handbrake. You should be able to locate it in the Source Selection list in the top left corner of the Handbrake menu. Choose your disc from the drop-down list and import it.
Step 3: Set Output Folder for Blu-ray Movies
The next step is to change the output folder, next to “Destination”, to Blu-ray movies. It’s important that your computer or file destination has enough space to accommodate the ripped Blu-ray. This is especially true for Blu-ray discs with particularly high-resolution levels as they are generally quite large.
Step 4: Pick the Container Format
You will then choose, from the Container option, which setting do you want to use. Handbrake can rip Blu-ray discs to either MKV or MP4 formats.
Step 5: Set your Output Settings
Here, you will be able to fully customize and adjust both the video as well as the audio settings for your Blu-ray movie. This includes keeping or lowering the resolution levels, cropping the video, add subtitles, and alter the sound.
Step 6: Start the Ripping Process
After that final step is done, you are free to begin converting your disc into a downloadable file. Simply click Start and you’re on your way to HD quality Blu-ray video being ripped right onto your computer.
Handbrake Alternatives to Rip Protected Blu-ray Disc on PC/Mac
While Handbrake is incredibly useful, it does have some shortcomings, the most glaring being its inability to rip fully encrypted commercial Blu-ray discs. If you are someone that feels this is an issue, there are some noteworthy alternatives that you may wish to consider.
Tipard Blu-ray Converter is arguably one of the best alternatives as it can rip encrypted commercial Blu-ray movies while also having an accelerated conversion speed of 30x faster than Handbrake and others like it. They also have over 8 different methods of converting a video to your computer, including MKV, MP4, MPG, WMV, and WebM just to name a few.
How to Rip and Copy Blu-ray Discs with Tipard Blu-Ray Converter
Step 1: Download and Install Tipard Blu-ray Converter
Similar to using Handbrake, it is important that you either have an external Blu-ray disc drive connected or the Blu-ray ISO image file.
Step 2: Choose Output Video Format
In its default, Tipard is in MPG Lossless, ensuring that 100% of the video’s quality is retained through the ripping process. If you wish to change this setting, find the Rip All to option and find the setting you want.
Step 3: Start the Ripping Process
After loading the video and choosing the format, select where you want the video to go and simply press the Rip All button to begin the ripping process.