How to Burn Blu-Ray Disc on Windows & Mac For Free and Easy

Blu-ray remains the top choice for storing high-definition content, even though optical discs have become less popular. Each Blu-ray disc can hold 25GB of data, which is 5x more than a standard DVD. This extra capacity allows Blu-ray to provide better video or audio quality, and it is ideal for storing movies, music, and ISO files in crystal clear detail.

This article will cover Blu-ray burning methods for both Windows and Mac operating systems, from data preparation to burning, including how to burn Blu-ray discs with popular tools. So, you can create and store HD content on Blu-ray discs easily.

Things to Prepare Before Burning Blu-Ray Discs

Before burning Blu-ray discs, it’s good to prepare a few things in advance. To burn high-quality discs on both Windows and Mac, it is important to have the right media, software, and media equipment.

1. Windows PC or Mac – Make sure your computer meets the minimum system requirements.
2. Blank Blu-ray Disc – Choose the right one for you: Ultra HD, BD-R, BD-XL, BD-RE.
3. Internal or External Blu-ray Disc Drive – You need a Blu-ray drive to burn, so make sure you have an internal or external Blu-ray drive.
4. Blu-ray Burning Software – Software to burn Blu-ray discs.
5. Videos to Burn – Organize the videos you want to burn into a single directory for a simpler burn.

Now, you should have everything you will need to start burning Blu-ray discs straight away.

How to Burn Blu-Ray Disc with DVDFab Blu-ray Creator

DVDFab Blu-ray Creator is a Blu-ray disc burner for both Mac and Windows. This tool can convert over 200 video formats (MP4, MKV, AVI, MOV, etc.) into a high-definition Blu-ray disc. You can add menus, subtitles, and more to the Blu-ray to make it your own. Perfect for Blu-ray fans, it’s fast and high quality.

Key Features of DVDFab Blu-ray Creator

• High-Quality Output: It features high-definition video (1080p and 720p) and audio (DTS-HD, DTS:X, TrueHD, and TrueHD Atmos) quality for the cinematic viewing experience.
• Metadata Integration: Integrates metadata from source files, like cover art, cast, rating, and description into the Blu-ray menu.
• Wide Format Support: It supports more than 200 video formats including AVI, MP4, MKV, MOV, FLV, WMV, M4V, MPEG and a lot more.
• Device Compatibility: Burned Blu-ray discs are playable on standalone home players, game consoles and media players.
• Fast Conversion Speed: Up to 20x faster conversion speeds with GPU acceleration.
• Multiple Output Options: Supporting burn to various Blu-ray disc formats (BD-25, BD-50) as well as AVCHD DVDs (BD-5 and BD-9).
• Customizable Menus: Static and dynamic menu templates with cover art, posters, cast information, etc.

How to burn Blu-ray disc with DVDFab Blu-ray Creator?

These features ensure fast and easy Blu-ray creation. And now, ready to burn Blu-ray discs? Follow these steps:

Step 1. Download and Install DVDFab Blu-Ray Creator

• Download and install DVDFab 13 on your Mac or Windows.
• Open the app and go to “Creator” in the main interface.
• Choose “Blu-ray Creator” under “Creator Mode”.
• To add videos, hit ‘+‘ button or drag files into the interface.

Step 2. Customize the Blu-ray Output

• Here, you should click on the “Advanced Settings” tab where you can set the size and quality of the output file.

• Access “Menu Settings” to customize the Blu-ray menu with thumbnails, colors, fonts, sizes, playback buttons, and background art/music.

Step 3. Choose the Directory and Burn

• Select a drive from the directory to burn to a physical Blu-ray disc for playback on a physical player.
• Or if you’d like to save it as a Blu-ray ISO file or folder, click “ISO” or “Folder”.

• Once everything is set, click “Start” to burn.

Burn Blu-ray Disc on Windows for Free Using Windows Explorer

If you prefer not to invest in additional software, Windows offers a free built-in option using Windows Explorer. This method is ideal for those who want to quickly burn data to a Blu-ray disc without any complex features. It supports BD-RE and BD-R discs, but it has some limitations.

Windows Explorer Drawbacks:

• No Customization: No menu creation or chapter tools.
• Errors: Users have received errors, such as “0x80071AC3” when burning large files or data to Blu-ray discs which causes lots of inconvenience to users.
• Basic Features: The Burning process is straightforward but it lacks advanced features.
• Compatibility Issues: Users have reported compatibility issues with larger Blu-ray discs (e.g. 50GB BD-R DL), which can cause errors or incomplete burns.

How to burn Blu-ray movies using Windows Explorer?

Now, let’s burn Blu-ray movies with Windows Explorer.

Step 1. Insert a Blank Blu-ray Disc: Put a blank Blu-ray disc into your Blu-ray drive.

Step 2. Select the Prompt: When the “AutoPlay” prompt appears, choose “Burn files to disc".

Step 3. Set Disc Title: Enter a title for the disc and select “Like a USB flash drive".

Step 4. Format the Disc: Click “Next”. File Explorer will format the disc as a USB flash drive, which may take a few minutes.

Step 5. Access the Disc: Once formatted, open the disc in File Explorer. You will find a message which instructs you to drag files to the folder.

Step 6. Add Movies: Locate the movies or videos you wish to burn. You can either drag and drop or copy and paste. Files will be burned to the disc automatically.

Step 7. Eject the Disc: When all is done, go to “Drive Tools” and click “Eject” to remove the disc.

How to Burn a Blu-Ray Disc on macOS for Free Using Disk Utility

Now that you know how to burn Blu-ray discs using Windows Explorer, Mac users can also do it in a breeze. What you may not know is that Mac has an application called Disk Utility in which you can burn data or movies into Blu-ray discs.

But, Mac users complain that it has problems or limitations during the process. For a smoother experience, third-party Blu-ray burner for Mac like DVDFab Blu-ray Creator is recommended for a faster and less problematic Blu-ray burning.

Disk Utility Drawbacks:

• Limited Capability: Despite claims of Blu-ray burning features, reports indicate that Macs generally lack Blu-ray reading functionality.
• Burning Issues: Many users have encountered random problems during the Blu-ray burning process.

How to burn a Blu-ray disc using Disk Utilty?

Even so, here are the steps on how to burn Blu-ray on Mac using Disk Utility.

1. Insert the Disc: Place a blank Blu-ray disc into your Mac’s optical drive.
2. Open Disk Utility: Navigate to “Applications” > “Utilities” > “Disk Utility”.
3. Create a Disc Image: In Disk Utility, select “File”, then “New”, and choose “Disc Image from Folder”.
4. Select Content: Choose the file or folder you want to burn, then click “Save” to create a disc image.
5. Drag and Burn: Drag the disc image onto the disc icon on your desktop, then right-click it and select “Burn disc image to Disc”.
6. Complete the Burn: Follow the on-screen instructions to finish burning your Blu-ray disc.

Burning Blu-ray Discs using a Free (Third-Party) Software

Now that we've covered free, built-in options for both Windows and macOS, you may want more control over Blu-ray burning features. In this section, we’ll look at the best free third-party tool for burning Blu-ray discs for Windows users. Offering a more versatile option for them.

How To Burn Blu-Ray Disc With ImgBurn

ImgBurn is a lightweight and versatile tool for burning Blu-ray discs. It supports BIN, IMG, and ISO formats. It also accommodates various disc types, including single-layer and dual-layer discs, BD-RE, and BD-R. ImgBurn is a flexible option for different storage needs.

ImgBurn also has customization options for the burning process, like creating bootable Blu-ray discs, adjusting burning speed, and verifying disk after burn. These options give you a tailored and stable Blu-ray burning experience for both standard and advanced needs. But, please note that ImgBurn only works on Windows OS. If you’re on Mac, it’s better to use other third-party Blu-ray burners like DVDFab Blu-ray Creator.

How to burn a Blu-ray free with ImgBurn?

Now, let’s get started. Here are the steps to burn a Blu-ray using ImgBurn.

Step 1. Download and Install: Download and install ImgBurn on your Windows device. 

Step 2. Insert the Disc: Insert a blank Blu-ray disc into your Blu-ray burner drive

Step 3. Launch the Application: Open ImgBurn and select “Write image file to disc”.

Step 4. Select the Image File: Click the “Browse for a file” button or “Browse for a source folder” from the “File” menu. Then choose the Blu-ray disc image file (either in .ISO or .IMG extension) which you want to write.

Step 5. Set the Burning Speed: Set the burning speed and make sure your Blu-ray burner is selected as the destination.

Step 6. Configure File System: Go to “Options” and change “File System” to UDF and change “UDF Revision” to UDF 2.5 or UDF 2.6 (Blu-ray discs require these formats for playback).

Step 7. Start Burning: Press the "Write" button to start burning the Blu-ray disc.

Comparison of Tools for Burning Blu-ray Discs

We have discussed the tools above, and now let’s compare them. This will help you make a decision about which one is best for you to burn Blu-ray discs. Let’s see the main differences among the options.

FAQs on How to Burn Blu-Ray Disc

Can Blu-ray players play ISO files?

Yes, many Blu-ray players can play content from Blu-ray discs, Blu-ray folders and ISO files. You can use PlayerFab, an all-in-one media player to play DVD/Blu-ray/UHD discs smoothly.

Can I burn multiple ISO files to a single Blu-ray disc?

Absolutely, you can burn multiple ISO files to a single Blu-ray disc if your burning software supports multiple file imports, just make sure that your Blu-ray Disc has enough space for all the files you will be burning.

What file formats can be burned to a Blu-ray disc?

You can burn any file format to a Blu-ray disc. But, most Blu-ray players are optimized for MKV and MP4 for better playback.

Final Wrap-up

Burning Blu-ray discs on Windows and macOS is rather simple, thanks to a variety of tools available for both platforms. Whether you choose built-in options like Windows Explorer and Disk Utility or opt for third-party software such as DVDFab Blu-ray Creator or ImgBurn, each method offers unique features to meet your needs.

If you're wondering how to burn Blu-ray disc, the right preparation is key. Ensure you have the appropriate blank discs and burning software to create high-quality Blu-ray discs for storing movies, making backups, or sharing personal content. As you explore the different tools and methods outlined in this article, you'll find the best solution tailored to your preferences, ensuring a smooth and efficient burning experience. Happy burning!