Top 5 Tools on How to burn a DVD: Easy and Effective Picks

If you have home-recorded videos of unforgettable moments, burning DVDs is a great way to store them efficiently for future use. Burning a DVD involves writing data onto a disk, ideal for long-term archiving and preservation. DVDs offer a longer shelf life than digital storage solutions, ensuring your memories are safely kept.

This guide will discuss beautiful ways on how to burn a DVD regardless of whether you have a video or a data DVD. Don't miss out on this informative read.

How to Burn a Playable DVD? (For Video DVD)

Way #1. Burn DVD with DVDFab DVD Creator

DVDFab DVD Creator burns DVDs, ISO images, or folders with stylish, customizable menus from any video format. It offers 50x faster burning, automatic meta info synchronization, and high-quality output for various players.

How to burn a DVD with DVDFab DVD Creator

Step 1: Download and launch DVDFab DVD Creator. Load your video by clicking the + button or dragging it into the interface for HD DVD creation.

Step 2: After loading your video, the main interface displays input and output details. You can select audio track(s) and subtitle(s) or add external subtitles.

Use Advanced Settings to adjust output parameters. In the Menu Settings, choose a template and personalize it with gadgets and other options to suit your preferences.

Step 3: Set the file directory and click Start to burn DVD movies quickly and free.

Way #2. Burn DVD with Freemake DVD Burner

Freemake DVD Burner is free software for Windows that writes high-quality DVDs with menus and subtitles. It supports various video formats and optical media types.

How to Burn DVDs with Freemake DVD Burner

Step 1: Download and install the newest free Freemake DVD Burner software. It works on all Windows versions, and no extra components are needed.

Step 2: Click the +Video button or drag-and-drop media to load videos for DVD burning. You can also import VIDEO_TS folders, ISO images, audio files, or photos.

Add multiple movies in the desired order to a single disc.

Step 3: Click the “to DVD” button and insert a blank disc (DVD-RW or DVD-R is recommended). For up to 40 hours, use a Double-Layer disc.

Step 4: Select your DVD drive and name the disc in the new window. Choose a menu type, select PAL or NTSC encoding, adjust the aspect ratio, and pick an audio codec.

Step 5: Click the Burn button to create your DVD. The process depends on your drive's speed and settings. If there is no blank disc, create an ISO image or Video_TS folder for later burning.

Way #3. Burn DVD with DVD Styler

DVDStyler is a free, cross-platform DVD authoring application that lets users create professional DVDs with custom menus. It supports burning video files to play on any standalone DVD player.

How to Burn DVDs with DVD Styler

Step 1: Launch DVDStyler and set the Video Format to NTSC on the New project screen. Click OK to proceed.

Step 2: Choose a menu template, title your project, and select Chapter selection before clicking OK again.

Then, drag and drop your MP4 video file into the timeline. You can also right-click in the timeline to browse and add your video from your computer or storage device.

Step 3: Connect an external CD/DVD drive via USB to burn your movie. Load a blank DVD into the drive and close it. Then, click the orange burn icon to start the burning process.

Step 4: Click the burn icon and then Start. The Generate DVD screen will show progress. After completion, Burning was successful will appear, and the DVD will eject. Click Yes to clear the cache.

Comparison of the 3 Ways for Burning DVDs

Choosing the right DVD-burning software can significantly impact your experience. Here's a comparison of the top three options to help you burn DVDs.

How to Burn a DVD Free? (For Data DVD)

Way #1. How to Burn a DVD Via Windows Media Player

Windows Media Player burns data DVDs from pictures, videos, and music libraries. It supports JPG, AVI, and MP3 files but doesn't create feature-rich DVD videos.

How to burn a playable DVD with Windows Media Player

Step 1: To open Windows Media Player, swipe from the right edge and tap Search. Or, use a mouse to click Search in the upper-right corner. Enter Windows Media Player, select Apps, and click it.

If the Player is open and you're in Now Playing mode, click the Switch to Library button in the upper-right corner.

Step 2: In the Player Library, click the Burn tab and tap the Burn options button. Select Data CD or DVD for burning options.

Step 3: Load a blank disc into your CD/DVD burner. In Windows Media Player, choose the desired drive and tap Clear List to start fresh.

Step 4: Find items in your Player Library and drag them from the details pane to the list pane to create your burn list. You can also reorder items by dragging them up or down.

Step 5: To remove an item, right-click or double-tap and select Remove. When satisfied, click Start burn. Use a second disc for additional items.

Way #2. How to Burn DVDs with File Explorers

Windows users can use File Explorer to burn data directly without extra software. It recognizes blank recordable (R) or rewritable (RW) discs for writing data.

How to burn movies to DVD with File Explorers

Step 1: Place the DVD into the drive and wait for Windows to detect it. Tap the notification and select “Burn files to disc” to proceed.

Step 2: In the Burn a Disc window, enter a title and select With a CD/DVD player. Then, click Next.

Step 3: Drag files into the burn window on the next screen. Press Windows + E to open File Explorer, or use Copy-Paste.

Step 4: When ready, click Drive Tools and select Finish Burning. Or right-click and choose Burn to disc.

Step 5: Enter a title in the Burn to Disc window and set the recording speed. Click Next. When you're done, Windows 10 will eject the DVD.

FAQs About Burning DVDs

Q. 1. Burn a Data DVD or Video DVD?

Burn a Data DVD to store documents, images, or music accessible on any DVD drive. Use a video DVD to create a disc for standard DVD players, which is ideal for watching movies. Note that Data DVDs can't be erased or reused, while Video DVDs are specifically for video files.

Q. 2. What do I need to burn a DVD?

To burn videos to a DVD, you'll need:

• A DVD burner drive
• A blank DVD (DVD+R or DVD-R)
• Dual-layer discs for larger files
• A video file to burn
• Professional DVD-burning software like DVDFab DVD Creator

Q. 3. How long do burned DVDs last?

DVD-Rs have varying lifespans; lower-quality discs may degrade in 5–10 years, while better ones can last 15–20 years, depending on storage and quality.

Q. 4. Can you burn a DVD without a computer?

Using an external High-Definition DVD burner or recorder, you can quickly burn a DVD without a computer. These devices copy content directly between DVDs with built-in optical drives. Sadly, they generally lack editing features. Some modern TVs also offer built-in recording functions for burning content directly. However, reliable DVD burner software provides superior functionality and editing capabilities.

Q. 5. Why can't I burn a DVD on my computer?

You may fail to burn a DVD on your computer due to the following reasons:

• Using unsupported DVD-R on CD-R drive
• Issues with Windows Registry entries
• The disk does not support fast write speed
• Problems with the optical drive itself
• Operating system files may be damaged

The Bottom Line

Burning DVDs is crucial for data backup, media storage, and offline access. This article provides detailed instructions for creating playable or movie DVDs with various software options. You can follow the guide and use professional tools like DVDFab DVD Creator to burn and customize DVDs efficiently for all your needs.