11 Best Free DVD Decrypters for Mac and Windows

You think you can insert the DVD into Mac's hard drive and start to enjoy the movie? I'm afraid "DVD won't play" is more often the case. Encryptions on DVDs will disable many DVD players. You may see "The DVD-video disc region does not match the driver region code", DVD not reading on Apple Super Drive, DVD player won't open, etc.

The DVD decrypting tools are designed to decrypt and remove DVD restrictions, such as Analog Protection System (APS) scrambling, Content Scramble System (CSS) encryption, DVD Disc Corruption (ARccOS, Disney X, etc.), Multiple titles, etc. If you don't know which DVD decypter for Mac is the best or how to decypt a DVD on Mac, just keep reading.

Free Download Best DVD Decrypter for Mac & Windows

Decrypt any encrypted DVD freely on macOS and Windows - MacX DVD Ripper Pro (No libdvdcss is required!)

OS: macOS 14 Sonoma & earlier / Windows 11 & earlier

Note: This guide is to help owners who can't play their purchased DVD successfully. You're not allowed to decrypt any disc for illegal use. Please consult the law in your area before you try any DVD decrypter.

[Tutorial] How to Decrypt Any DVDs on Mac with 100% Success Rate

The DVD decrypter for Mac can decrypt the protection without the help from any third-party helper like libdvdcss. You simply need to download the DVD decrypter and throw the DVD into it. The DVD decrypting process is smooth and fast. Via 3 simple steps, you a high-quality non-encrypted video file.

Free download DVD decrypter on Mac (Sonoma)
Free download DVD decrypter on Windows (11/10)

Step 1. Launch DVD Decrypter and Load the Encrypted DVD.

Run the DVD decrypter for Mac and insert your DVD to the Mac's DVD drive/external drive. Then click "DVD Disc" icon to load the DVD files. You don't need to bother with the disc types or copy protections. It will automatically decrypt the DVD encryptions applied and find the correct DVD title.

Step 2. Select the Output Format.

Once the DVD is decrypted and loaded, a window will pop up to let you select the output format. The DVD decrypter for Mac lets users rip DVD to MP4, MOV, HEVC, H.264, MPEG, MKV, HEVC, MP3, iTunes, iMovie, iDevices, etc.

Step 3. Start to Decrypt DVDs Now.

Under the Destination Folder, click Browse and set an output folder for the non-encrypted video. Then hit the "RUN" button and to start decrypting DVD on Mac.

Note: To rip the newly-released DVD movie that free DVD decrypters for Mac cannot deal with, check the Safe Mode box on the right lower part of the interface. It will avoid most ripping errors and ensure a successful DVD ripping and decryption.

Part 1. 2024 Best Free DVD Decrypters for Mac and Windows

Decrypter	Supported Encryptions	Supported Output	Supported Systems
MacX DVD Ripper Pro	CSS, region codes, UOPs, 99 titles, APS, Sony ARccOS, Disney-X Project, etc.	MP4, MOV, HEVC, H.265, 350+ profiles.	macOS 14/Win 11/10
DVD Decrypter	CSS, region codes, CPPM	MKV	Windows
Handbrake	CSS, region codes	MP4, MKV, WebM	macOS, Windows, Linux
MakeMKV	CSS, region codes, UOPs, Cinavia, AACS	MKV	macOS, Windows, Linux
MacTheRipper	CSS, region codes, UOPs, Macrovision	ISO image, Video_TS folder	Mac OS X 10.6 or earlier
VLC	CSS, region codes	MP4, MPEG-4, WMV, VP8, etc.	macOS, Windows, Linux
RipIt	CSS, region codes, UOPs, Macrovision	.dvdmovie, MP4, AppleTV, iPhone, iTouch	Mac OS X 10.12 or earlier
Mac DVDRipper Pro	CSS, region codes,	ISO, .dvdmedia, .m4v .mp4, .mkv	Mac OS X 10.13 or higher
DVD Shrink	CSS, UOPs, region codes	ISO, Video_TS folder	Windows
AnyDVD	CSS, UOPs, region codes, ARccOS, Macrovision RipGuard, and other structural preventions	ISO	Windows XP 32/64bit - Windows 10/11
Any DVD Cloner Platinum	CSS, region codes, RCE, APS, UOPs, ARccOS	MP4, M4V, MKV, DVD to DVD, DVD folder, ISO	Mac OS X 10.6 or above, Windows

When we selecting the best DVD decrypter software, we've considered the following several factors:

[Editor's note: The MPAA and most media companies do not allow commericial DVD copy. Here we in no way endorse, condone, support or encourage the illegal copying of DVDs and the illegal use of DVD decrypting software. We simply share ways to decrypt protected DVD on Mac for legal personal use only. So check the legality of DVD ripping in your country before you use the Mac DVD decrypters above.]

DVD Decrypter

OS: Windows 10 and ealier

DVD Decrypter was a famous tool that people used to decrypt protected DVDs on Windows systems. However, it was discontinued since 2005. Now you can still download the DVD Decrypter software for Windows from the mirror site or sites like VideoHelp or Softonic. With DVD Decrypter, you can decrypt Bluray, HD-DVD or DVD and remux the content into MKV files. It supports DVDs with region codes, CSS, Macrovision content protection, and UOP.

As this DVD decryption software hasn't been updated for years, there will be compatibility issues with the latest Windows systems and newer DVD copy protection measures. Some advanced encryptions such as bad sectors, Disney 99 fake titles, and playlist obfuscation are not supported by DVD Decrypter.

How to decrypt a DVD on Windows with DVD Decrypter?

Step 1. Free download DVD Decrypter on your Windows computer and install it. Note that it may not work with that latest Windows 11 systems. For Mac users, try other DVD decryption software on the list.

Step 2. Launch DVD Decrypter and insert the DVD you want to decrypt into your DVD drive. In DVD Decrypter, go to the "Mode" menu and select "IFO" mode.

Step 3. Click on the "File" menu and choose "Open Disc" to load the DVD. DVD Decrypter will analyze the DVD's contents and display them in the main window. Go to the "Tools" menu and select "Settings" to configure the decryption options.

Step 4. In the "CSS" tab, make sure the "Remove CSS encryption" option is checked. Click on the "Decrypt" button to start the decryption process. DVD Decrypter will decrypt the DVD and save the decrypted files to your hard drive.

Handbrake

OS: macOS 10.13 and later, Windows, and Linux

Handbrake is a free and open-source video transcoder. Out of the box, Handbrake can rip any DVDs without encryptions. But with a free DVD playback library called libdvdcss, Handbrake is able to decrypt copy protected DVDs into MP4, MKV, and WebM formats on Mac, Windows, and Linux.

But using Handbrake as a free DVD decrypter for Mac/Windows is not very user-friendly. For example, when you download Handbrake, you need to figure out if your computer is 32- or 64-bit. That's easy. But it becomes harder with the libdvdcss download and installation. To decrypt protected DVDs on Mac and Windows, you need to download Handbrake 32/64 bit (Windows) or download & install libdvdcss with Homebrew (macOS)- adjust the settings - start to rip - and be prepared to fix DVD decrypting errors.

How to decrypt protected DVD on Mac/Windows with Handbrake?

Step 1. Download and install the latest version of HandBrake and libdvdcss-2.dll for Handbrake on Mac and Windows PC. If you don't know how, check out how to install libdvdcss for Handbrake here.

Step 2. Insert the DVD into the Mac/PC's optical drive and open Handbrake. Handbrake will detect the DVD automatically and libdvdcss will work in the background to decrypt the DVD copy protection.

Step 3. Click "Presets" to choose what format or device preset. Choose the format, encoder, and quality as you may need.

Step 4. Click the Browse button to set where you want to save the decrypted DVD movie file. Then click the Start button and now you can decrypt encrypted DVDs with Handbrake on MacBook Air/Pro, Windows PC, etc.

MakeMKV

OS: Mac OS X 10.7 or later, Windows XP or later, Linux

MakeMKV is one of the best free DVD decrypters for Mac, Windows, and Linux. It's able to rip both protected or home-made DVDs to MKV videos. The great thing about MakeMKV is that it's extremely simple to use. There's nothing much to think about in DVD decrypting on Mac. Simply fire up the program, analze the disc, choose which track to rip, set the output directory to save the output MKV files, and hit the MakeMKV button. There is no complex configuration at all.

You cannot play the MKV file on Apple devices like Apple TV, or iOS devices, or synce to iTunes. But you can use additional software like HandBrake to convert the MKV into Mac/Apple's format. Note that the functions to decrypt Blu-ray discs are not free.

How to decrypt DVDs on Mac/Windows with the DVD decrypter freeware?

Step 1. Download the free DVD decrypter on your Mac/Windows. Insert DVD or bluray disc and open up MakeMKV.

Step 2. The DVD decrypter freeware will remove the copy protection and load the DVD infomation.

Step 3. Choose the parts you want to copy from the popping-up window. All of the boxes are checked by default, which means it will rip encrypted DVD on Mac or PC into a single MKV file that will include everything on the disk including trailers, multiple subtitles etc.

Step 4. Set a place to save the output MKV file and click Yes to start the DVD decrypting on Mac/Windows.

MacTheRipper

OS: V2.6.6 for Mac OS X 10.6 and earlier, V3/4 for OS X 10.7 and later

MacTheRipper is one of the oldest DVD backup app for Mac. It's able to free decrypt DVDs with Content Scramble System, DVD region code or the UOP protections. It's the best if you want to decrypt and copy a DVD to Mac without quality loss. It can extract the data from an encrypted DVD in the ISO image, Rip&Rebuild (RnR) for VTS-level editing, Main Feature, and the specialized Batch Title Extraction. Currently, there main verions available now include MacTheRipper 4, 3, and 2.6.6. Only the Version 2.6.6 is free.

One thing to note: MacTheRipper version 4 (aka. MTR), the latest version, was last updated in 2011 and may not be able to handle the copy protection used on newer Disney DVDs. Some DVD copy protection schemes seems to be rocket science for MTR to bypass. And you'd better resort to software like MacX with upgrades at high frequency to handle the latest Disney DVD discs. Check Handbrake vs MacTheRipper for more info.

How to rip protected DVD on Mac with MacTheRipper?

Step 1. Insert the protected DV to your Mac's optical drive and download the DVD decrypter on your Mac. Launch MTR, and MTR will automatically detect the DVD, remove any protection on it, and find the DVD title.

Step 2. Next, set the extraction type. There are three DVD ripping modes:Auto Full Disc Extraction mode, Auto Full Disc ISO Extraction mode and Full Disc Rip And Rebuild mode.

Step 3: Now, cick Extract to starting decrypting DVDs on Mac. The extracted DVD will be saved as a folder on Mac.

VLC

OS: Mac OS X 10.7.5 or later, Windows 11/10, Linux, Android, etc.

VLC is a free popular media player that is capable of playing DVDs, including those with copy protection such as those used on Disney or Sony DVDs. However, it is crucial to note that VLC is a media player and not a DVD ripping software, so it is not designed to bypass all types of copy protection schemes or to make any backup copies of DVDs.

VLC itself doesn't support DVDs with encryptions. But with libdvdcss, it's able to decrypt some DVDs with region code and CSS encryptions. The libdvdcss library is already included in VLC. To decrypt DVDs on Mac using VLC is easy: From the Media menu, click Convert/Save > select your DVD > set the output settings and start to convert your disc (here is how to rip a DVD with VLC full guide). VLC lets you convert a protected DVD to MP4, MPEG-4, WMV, VP8, etc.

How to decrypt DVDs on Mac/Windows with VLC?

Step 1. Insert the DVD into your Mac's optical drive. Open VLC Media Player, click on File and select Open Disc…

Step 2. Choose the DVD you'd like to decrypt, click on the Open VIDEO_TS/BDMV folder tab to load the file. Then check the Streaming/Saving box.

Step 3. Click on the Browse button to select the folder to save the output video on your Mac. Adjust the video/audio settings.

Step 4. Once finished, click on OK. VLC will start to convert the DVD on your Mac/Windows.

RipIt

OS: Mac OS X 10.6 or later

RipIt is a free, powerful, and discontinued DVD decrypter for Mac. If you have many old movie DVDs to decrypt onto your Mac hard drive for easier playback, RipIt is a good option. This Mac free DVD decrypter helps you make backup copies or watch the content on devices that do not support region-specific DVDs thanks to its built-in format & device profiles, including MP4, M4V, MOV, iPhone, iPad, Apple TV. The software can also compress the contents of a DVD to save space on a computer or mobile device. The only fly in the ointment is that it hasn't been updated for years. But you can still download it from Softonic and similar sites.

According to various tests & user feedbacks online, RipIt can rip many protected DVDs (including many new DVDs) which Handbrake and MacTheRipper fail to handle. It's extremely easy to use: simply insert your DVD and select Rip or Compress.

How to decrypt DVDs on Mac with Ripit?

Step 1. Insert DVD disc and open up RipIt. It will detect the DVD automatically and start to decrypt the DVD copy protection. Then it will show up the basic DVD video information such as the name and size.

Step 2. There are two options: Rip or Compress. Choose Rip and then you can rip the DVD to MP4, AppleTV and iPhone/iTouch. Choose Compress and it will rip everything on it to a .dvdmovie file. 

Step 3. Once you click the Rip or Compress button, it will start spinning.

Mac DVDRipper Pro

OS: Mac OS X 10.13 or higher

Mac DVDRipper Pro is a welcome DVD decrypter for macOS. It's able to decrypt DVDs with various DVD encryption techniques, such as CSS, region codes, UOPs, Macrovision, and more.  It analyzes the DVD and uses intelligent algorithms to ensure proper rips. According to the developer, it's a more powerful alternative to Fairmount and MacTheRipper for decrypting protected DVDs on Mac.

It offers several options to let you save the decrypted DVD video with all videos, menus and bonuses, keep pthe main movie only, or decrypt and convert the DVD for iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, and more. Users can use it to decrypt 5 DVDs for free. Then you will need to pay $29.95 to get a full copy.

How to decrypt DVD on Mac using Mac DVDRipper Pro?

Step 1. Go to the official website of Mac DVDRipper Pro and download the DVD decrypter. Then open the installer and follow the on-screen instructions to install it on your Mac. Insert the DVD you want to rip into your Mac's DVD drive.

Step 2. Launch the DVD decrypter and it should load the DVD automatically. It will decrypt the DVD copy protection and find the correct DVD content.

Step 3. In the pull-down menu, choose "All videos, menus and bonuses" if you simply want to decrypt the DVD and save a backup. You can also choose Rip and Convert for later playback on other devices.

Step 4. Click on the "Destination:" button to choose where you want to save the decrypted DVD video. Then click the "Rip" button to start.

Part 2. Common DVD Decrypting Errors

Ripping protected DVD is very challenging. As DVD protections are getting stronger, many DVD decrypters fail to catch up. With an improper "DVD decrypter" for Mac, you will go through a painful process and waste a lot of effort and time to troubleshoot different DVD decrypting failures.

Various Errors Occurred. When ripping a DVD using DVDFab, DVD Decrypter or AnyDVD, a wide types of errors pop up, including unknown error (no error code), I/O error, EAccessViolation error, CRC error, out of memory error, CellWalk algorithm failed, Scsi error, etc.. This happens most often to new DVDs and TV series discs. The decryption server will go down with some tough DVD restrictions.

DVD reading errors. Myriad DVD reading problems come up with protected DVDs. For example, the infamous anydvd file IO3 error, AnyDVD not recognizing region code, getting a read error at 50%, Handbrake can't find the right title, DVD player won't open up the disk, DVD shows as empty, DVD not appearing/not responding...

DVD decrypting hangs/freezes. Even if the DVD is loaded and recognized successfully, there are still errors. Most commonly, the DVD ripping hangs and freezes in the middle, FPS drop down and DVD ripper quits with an error report popping up, DVD ripping completed with only a few seconds, etc. All those errors are mainly caused by failures to handle encryptions.

Jumpy files/missing frames/artifacts. The output video files are less than satisfactory. Some users report that the video and audio are out of sync, parts of the movie are missing, jumpy video playback with missed frames and the like. When a DVD decrypter fails to detect the correct title, a bad/corrupted title will lead to such errors.

Incomplete DVD rips. It seems that your DVD is successfully ripped by the DVD decrypter you used. When you playback the ripped files on desktop, you will find it produces an ISO image of 4MB or only one part of only 6 seconds.

The troubleshooting of the above DVD decrypting issues is time-consuming and exhausting. Things don't need to be that complicated if you have a strong DVD decrypting app.

Rip Protected DVDs with the Best DVD Decrypter - 100% Success Rate

Get the strongest DVD decrypting ability on Mac/Windows with MacX DVD Ripper Pro. It has the support for the widest range of DVD encryptions, avoid any ripping errors you may meet with Handbrake, MakeMKV like the disc won't read, 75GB oversized output file, bad sector error, distorted image, incomplete DVD rips, etc.

Part 3. FAQ about DVD Decryption on Mac and Windows

1. Is it legal to decrypt a DVD?

The legality of ripping protected DVD depends on where you are. In the US, it is illegal to break the encryption or any other type of Digital Rights Management (DRM) on a CD or DVD. You also have a fair use right under copyright law to make a backup copy of a CD or DVD for personal use. Which means you can make a backup copy of a DVD you own for personal use.

2. Does DVD Decrypter work on Mac?

No. DVD decrypter is a free program on Windows which is able to remove Macrovision content protection, CSS, region codes, and user operation prohibition and create a disk image backup of a DVD. However, it works on Windows only and it was discontinued years ago.

3. Is DVD Decrypter still available?

DVD Decrypter is no longer available for download from its official website, DVDdecrypter.com. The website was shut down due to legal issues. However, the software may still be hosted on some file-sharing sites. It is important to note that downloading DVD Decrypter from mirroring sites may contain adware and DVD Decrypter no longer supports the latest Windows 11/10 systems. It is recommended to explore alternative solutions for decrypting DVDs.

4. Can VLC rip encrypted DVDs?

VLC is a free and open-source media player which is able to rip DVDs to video files to your hard drive. But you can't use VLC to rip a protected DVD. Instead, you need a dedicated ripper for that.

5. Can I use Mac DVDRipper Pro to rip protected DVDs?

Whether or not Mac DVDRipper Pro can be used to rip protected DVDs depends on the type of protection used on the DVD. In general, if the DVD has simple CSS encryption, Mac DVDRipper Pro should be able to handle it without major issues. However, if the DVD is protected by more advanced encryption, such as Sony ARccOS, Disney X-Project, or others, Mac DVDRipper Pro would let you down because of its inability to decrypt & rip it without additional software or tools.