How to Convert Blu-ray to Digital Format: 5 Ways and How-to

If you have a large Blu-ray collection but struggle to find the movie you want among hundreds of discs and cases, converting Blu-ray to a digital format may be the solution for you. Not only does this make it easier to access and enjoy your favorite movies, but it also helps protect your collection from damage or dust. So, the question is, can you convert Blu-ray to digital? Thankfully, there are software tools available that can help you convert Blu-ray to digital files. In this article, we will walk you through the steps and tools you need to make this conversion, allowing you to preserve your beloved movies and TV shows in a more modern and convenient format.

Quick View of the 5 Blu-ray to Digital Conversion Methods

We've outlined 5 Blu-ray to digital converters to give you a quick overview of the main factors of the software and decide which one is best for you.

5 Ways to Convert Blu-ray to Digital Format (Tutorial)

Way 1. How to Convert Blu-ray to Digital with DVDFab Blu-ray Ripper

DVDFab Blu-ray Ripper is a versatile and easy-to-use software that allows you to effortlessly convert Blu-ray discs into a variety of digital formats suitable for playback on different devices. With support for 1000+ output formats like MP4, MKV, AVI, MP3, and FLAC, as well as presets for popular devices such as iPhone, iPad, Huawei, and Android smartphones, DVDFab Blu-ray Ripper ensures compatibility with a wide range of devices.

Moreover, the software offers advanced video editing tools that enable you to customize your videos with features like trimming, cropping, applying filters, adding subtitles, and watermarks. You can create digital videos with professional-looking effects and high-quality resolution.

How to convert Blu-ray to digital format using DVDFab Blu-ray Ripper? Follow these steps:

Step 1. Visit DVDFab Blu-ray Ripper's official page, and click the "Try for Free" button to download and install it on your computer.

Step 2. Launch the software and insert the Blu-ray disc you want to convert into your computer’s Blu-ray drive. If the source is a Blu-ray folder/ISO, you can use the "+Add Source" button in the upper area and select one from the list of available sources.

Step 3. Once DVDFab automatically detects and loads the Blu-ray disc as the source, you will see the main title shown on the interface by default. If you want to choose or add more titles, click the "Choose Other Titles" to select more.

Step 4. Choose the output format. You can find the popular used format under the General tab, or use the Filter to help you quickly find the other needed profiles.

Step 5. Adjust the audio and subtitles, remove unwanted tracks or add external subtitles, or trim & merge the titles according to your needs.

Step 6. Go to the Advanced Settings panel to adjust the output quality and go to the Video Editor window to apply other features, such as cropping, adding video effects, adding watermarks (text or picture), and subtitles, adjusting Audio volume, enhancing human voice, and changing playback speed. Click "OK" to confirm the change.

Step 7. Click the "Start" button to begin the conversion process. The software will rip the Blu-ray disc and convert it into the selected digital format.

DVDFab will automatically enable GPU hardware acceleration when available, allowing you to quickly convert Blu-ray to digital formats.

Step 8. Once the conversion process is complete, you can find the converted file on your computer and transfer it to your preferred device for playback.

Way 2. How to Convert Blu-ray to Digital with MakeMKV

MakeMKV is a free tool that specializes in converting Blu-ray and DVDs to MKV files without any compression. This means you'll get a high-quality copy of the original disc but at the cost of a larger file size. During its BETA period, MakeMKV can deal with protected Blu-ray for free. It is the top choice for those looking for a free Blu-ray to digital converter on Windows, Mac, and Linux.

How to digitize Blu-ray for free using MakeMKV? You can follow the steps here:

Step 1. Download and install MakeMKV BETA on your Windows, Mac, or Linux computer.

Step 2. Open the program and insert the Blu-ray you want to convert to MKV format.

Step 3. Click the "Open Blu-ray disc" button in MakeMKV and let it access and analyze your Blu-ray.

Step 4. Once you see a list of the titles, choose the titles, audio, and subtitles you want to convert.

Step 5. Click the "Set output folder" button on the right window to browse for the path you want to save the digital file.

Step 6. Click the "Make MKV" button on the right end to convert Blu-ray to digital file.

Way 3. How to Convert Blu-ray to Digital with HandBrake

HandBrake is a free and open-source Blu-ray to digital converter, which allows you to convert Blu-ray discs into widely-used digital video formats such as MP4, MKV, and WebM, providing advanced customization options for video, audio, and subtitles to tailor the output file to their preferences.

Here are the guides on how to digitize Blu-ray with HandBrake:

Step 1. Download, install, and launch HandBrake on your computer.

Step 2. Insert the Blu-ray disc you wish to digitize into your Blu-ray drive. In HandBrake, select your Blu-ray drive under Source Selection.

Step 3. Wait till HandBrake analyses the titles, then select the title you want to rip.

Step 4. Choose a preset from the "Preset" menu. Select the Format in the "Summary" tab and then adjust any other settings you want to change, such as cropping, scaling, video encoder, subtitles, or audio tracks.

Step 5. Click the "Browse" button to choose a destination folder for your ripped files.

Step 6. Click the "Start Encode" button on the upper area of the program to begin converting Blu-ray to digital format.

Way 4. How to Convert Blu-ray to Digital with VUDU's disc to digital service

VUDU’s disc to digital service allows users with a small collection of Blu-rays to convert their physical discs into digital files without a Blu-ray drive. By scanning the barcodes on the discs, you can access digital copies of your movies and TV shows to watch on any VUDU-enabled device. While the in-home service Vudu To Go has been discontinued, you can still utilize the In Mobile Disc to Digital option to convert Blu-ray to digital using your phone, either Android or iOS.

How to Convert Blu-ray to Digital Using Disc to Digital from Your Mobile Device? Check here:

On Android:

Step 1. Visit http://vudu.com/disc (on your Android mobile device) and click Convert Disc.

Step 2. Sign in to your account or sign up for one if you haven't had one.

Step 3. Allow app permissions.

Step 4. Get the Blu-ray, scan the UPC barcode on your Blu-ray case, pay to start converting Blu-ray to digital (Blu-ray to HDX for $2+tax), and then watch instantly.

On iOS:

The process is similar to Android.

Step 1. Visit vudu.com/disc (on your mobile device) and click Convert Disc.

Step 2. Sign into your account.

Step 3. Allow app permissions.

Step 4. Scan the UPC barcode, pay, convert, and watch instantly.

Way 5. How to Convert Blu-ray to Digital with VLC media player

VLC media player is a versatile media player that can play a variety of files, DVD discs, and Blu-ray discs. It also has the capability to convert Blu-ray to digital formats. However, to convert commercial Blu-ray to digital using VLC, additional libraries or plugins for decryption may need to be installed. If you prefer not to go through this process, VLC can still be used as a Blu-ray to digital converter for Blu-ray sources that are not copy-protected.

Follow the steps below to convert Blu-ray to digital using VLC media player：

Step 1. Download and install VLC media player on your computer.

Step 2. Insert the Blu-ray you wish to digitize into your PC drive. Please make sure that the drive is compatible with Blu-ray reading.

Step 3. Open VLC media player, click "Media" in the top menu bar, and select "Convert / Save" from the drop-down menu.

Step 4. In the "Open Media" window, switch to the "Disc" tab and select "Blu-ray". Browse for the disc from the drive device. After the disc is loaded, click "Convert / Save" to the next step. 

Step 5. Choose a format from the "Profile" list, including MP4, Webm, TS, OGG, and more. And then click the "wrench" button to edit the video/audio codec, and subtitles per your preference.

Step 6. Click the "Start" button to begin the conversion and wait till it completes.

FAQ about converting Blu-ray to digital

Q: Can you convert Blu-ray to digital format for uploading to YouTube?

WebM is widely supported by major web browsers and platforms, making it a popular format for streaming video content online. So for Blu-ray movies that do not have any copy protections, you can use the WebM format in HandBrake or VLC to convert Blu-ray to digital and then upload it to YouTube.

However, if you want clips from the protected Blu-ray, you'd be better off using DVDFab Blu-ray Ripper or other tools that support bypassing Blu-ray protections to proceed.

Q: How to digitize Blu-ray movies or shows for free?

There are several Blu-ray to digital converters available, such as MakeMKV, Handbrake, and VLC. However, each of these free options has its limitations. For example, MakeMKV only allows for exporting to MKV format, while Handbrake and VLC may struggle with encrypted Blu-rays.

Conclusion

In summary, DVDFab Blu-ray Ripper is the ideal choice for converting Blu-ray to digital format due to its support for different types of Blu-rays, extensive output format options, and rapid conversion speed. The free version is also available for those who prefer not to purchase a full license. MakeMKV, Handbrake, Vudu, and VLC, each have limitations on some parts. In any case, you can refer to this article to learn more about the various converters so that you can choose the best Blu-ray to digital converter for your requirements.