HandBrake Won't Rip DVDs? Here are the Working Solutions

As a popular free and open-source video transcoder, HandBrake usually works great with the DVD ripping. However, there are some exceptions where you could be troubled with the issue that won't rip DVDs, for example, with copy protections, region codes, CSS, Sony ARccOS, Disney X-Profect DRM, and 99 titles. If you want to rip a DVD without any problem, please turn to VideoProc Converter AI.

Why HandBrake Won't Rip DVDs

There are several possible causes. The DVD might be scratched, the CPU could be overloaded, or the disc may contain subtitles that HandBrake doesn't support—leading to the "No valid source or titles found" error. However, the most common reason is copy protection. HandBrake cannot rip copy-protected DVDs on its own.

You must be wondering now whether there are some ways to methods to solve such problems and make HandBrake work again. You can find them in the following part.

How to Fix the Issue That HandBrake Won't Rip DVDs

1. If the DVD is scratched:

A scratched DVD can cause read errors during the ripping process. Fortunately, there are several methods to repair minor scratches, such as gently cleaning the disc with a soft cloth, using a specialized disc repair kit, or applying mild abrasive solutions like toothpaste. These methods can sometimes restore enough of the disc's surface for HandBrake to read it properly. For a more detailed step-by-step guide, refer to this helpful WIKI guide on how to fix a scratched DVD.

2. If the CPU is overloaded:

HandBrake is a resource-intensive program, especially when ripping and encoding DVDs. If your CPU is maxed out, HandBrake may crash or fail to complete the task. To reduce the load, close any unnecessary programs running in the background—especially those that use high CPU, like browsers, games, or other media software. You may also want to avoid multitasking while the ripping process is underway to ensure smoother performance.

3. If the DVD contains unsupported subtitles:

In some cases, HandBrake may struggle to process DVDs that include certain types of subtitles—especially bitmap-based or non-standard subtitle tracks. This can lead to errors or prevent the DVD from being ripped altogether. To work around this, go to the Subtitles tab in HandBrake and manually deselect or disable the problematic subtitle tracks before starting the rip. This often allows the rest of the video to be processed without issues.

4. If the DVDs are copy-protected:

Now, it leaves the most common one - DVD copy protection . Normally, there is nothing we can do with it, unless we get help from the libdvdcss file. It is a file which can enable HandBrake to decrypt copy-protected DVDs. And here are the detailed steps about how to install it into your HandBrake application.

Step 1. Download HandBrake version 0.9.9 or older ones.

Please note that this is very important, because HandBrake later versions do not support the libdvdcss file. You can go to its downloads archive page to find the right version. If you have already installed a newer version on your computer, please remove it and re-install the version 0.9.9.

Step 2. Go to get the libdvdcss file:

libdvdcss file for Windows 64-bit >>

libdvdcss file for Windows 32-bit >>

libdvdcss file for macOS >>

After downloading it, you have no need to rename it. On Windows computers, just paste it to the HandBrake installation root folder. Mostly, it is C:\Program Files\HandBrake. And after you move the file to the right place, you can now run HandBrake for ripping copy-protected DVDs.

On Mac, just double-click the downloaded file to install it. But, for Mac El Capitan and later, it could become a little more complicated, because its System Integrity Protection will stop you to install this file. The SIP is designed to help prevent potentially malicious software from modifying protected files and folders on your Mac. To install the libdvdcss file, you have to disable the SIP first. After the installation, then turn on the SIP again. And here are the steps,

Disable the System Integrity Protection on Mac El Capitan and Later

1. Click the Apple symbol in the Menu bar.
2. Click Restart.
3. Hold down Command-R to reboot into Recovery Mode.
4. Click Utilities and then select Terminal.
5. Type csrutil disable, and press Return or Enter on your keyboard.
6. Click the Apple symbol in the Menu bar and restart your Mac.

Now the SIP should be disabled. You can start installing the libdvdcss file on your Mac and then run HandBrake for ripping DVDs. After finishing the DVD ripping, do not forget to enable the SIP again.

1. Restart your computer in Recovery mode.
2. Launch Terminal from the Utilities.
3. Run the command csrutil enable.
4. Restart your computer and the SIP would be back again.

libdvdcss Limitations & Complexity

While libdvdcss can help bypass CSS encryption, it's only effective for basic copy protection schemes. It often fails with newer and more advanced encryption methods, such as Disney’s X-Project DRM—one of the main reasons users still experience ripping failures.

For macOS users, installing libdvdcss is even more complicated. It typically requires disabling System Integrity Protection (SIP), a risky and technical process not suitable for average users. This should be clearly flagged as a non-official, advanced workaround—not a universal or foolproof solution.

A Better Choice: Try a HandBrake Alternative - VideoProc Converter AI

In most occasions, installing the libdvdcss file would help you use HandBrake to rip copy-protected DVDs successfully. But for some sophisticated and the newest encryption techniques, it can do nothing about them.

If you have tried the libdvdcss file way, but HandBrake still cannot rip the DVD, then we would suggest you choose a HandBrake alternative which supports ripping any copy-protected DVD contents. And here, we sincerely recommend VideoProc Converter AI as the best option.

With VideoProc Converter AI, you can rip both homemade and commercial DVDs to MP4, MKV, FLV, MTS, AVI, MP3, and any other formats. It is compatible with both Windows and macOS. Owing to its supporting hardware acceleration, its ripping speed would be 47 times faster than most DVD ripper out there.

And here are how to use VideoProc Converter AI to rip a DVD.

Step 1. Download and install it on your computer.

Step 2. Open it and choose the DVD feature. In the second pop-up window, choose the Disc button to load the DVD contents.

Step 3. Now jump to the bottom and find the Target Format option, where you can find any output format that you like.

Step 4. Lastly, after you set the format right, go back to the previous window and click the RUN button to start ripping.

Conclusion

While HandBrake remains a popular, free option for basic video transcoding, its inherent limitations in handling copy-protected DVDs often lead to frustration and incomplete results. Relying on external, complex solutions like libdvdcss can be time-consuming, technically challenging, and frequently falls short against the latest encryption schemes.

For those who value their precious DVD memories and seek a hassle-free, reliable solution, VideoProc Converter AI emerges as the superior choice. With its robust, built-in decryption capabilities and powerful hardware acceleration, you can effortlessly digitize virtually any DVD – protected or not – into your desired format, quickly and without quality loss. Don't let copy protection stand between you and your entertainment.