HandBrake can’t rip copy protected DVDs without libdvdcss. So what is libdvdcss and how to download install VLC libdvdcss for HandBrake Windows/Mac?

Q – “Handbrake problems help! I used to use handbrake to rip DVD movies but now I can’t even do it anymore. I have a new laptop. When I got it all set up and ripped the next DVD, the pictures and sound are all scrambled. Should I download and install the libdvdcss.dll? How can I do this? Please don’t recommend any alternatives that have only trail versions. Free DVD rippers that don’t require any payment will be fine. Oh and I’m a PC user.”

HandBrake is an open source video converter that you can use to convert your video clips from pretty much any format to widely supported codecs. On top of that, you can use the app to shrink your video files. All you need to get started is to download the software for free. Then, to compress a video using HandBrake follow the steps.

  • Here's an app which we think will be useful for you if you need to convert video formats from time to time.
  • Jun 27, 2018.
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Best Answer: Firstly, libdvdcss was removed from this free DVD ripper version 0.9.2, and HandBrake cannot rip DVDs encrypted with CSS ever since. Secondly, whether downloading and installing VLC libdvdcss solves “HandBrake won’t work” problem depends on the type of your DVD copy protection.

What is libdvdcss?

libdvdcss = lib (library) + dvd (DVD) + css (Content Scrambling System, a kind of DVD copy protection)

To sum up, libdvdcss is part of the VideoLAN project, which alone is only a library that can find and guess keys to do the DVD decryption, so that CSS-protected DVDs will be played correctly. Together with media player software and DVD rippers, such as VLC and HandBrake, libdvdcss helps read and decrypt DVDs of different regions or encrypted with CSS. And because it uses a generated list of possible player keys, libdvdcss has never been legally challenged.

More Info about libdvdcss

  1. The latest version is libdvdcss 1.3.0.
    2. libdvdcss is used only for free software, like HandBrake to decrypt DVD.
    3. libdvdcss is allowed to run on Mac OS X, Windows NT 4.0 SP4 (with IE 5.0) or later, Linux, FreeBSD, NetBSD, OpenBSD, Haiku, Solaris, QNX and OS/2.
    4. VLC installed with libdvdcss supports DVDs of all regions (1-6) only if you have RPC1 drives, for raw access to RPC2 drives can’t be made successfully, which however is required to circumvent the region protection.

How to Download Install libdvdcss for HandBrake on Windows

Step 1: Download libdvdcss-2.dll on Windows (10)
Step 2: You don’t have to rename libdvdcss-2.dll as libdvdcss.dll. Just cut and paste the downloaded libdvdcss 2 file in your HandBrake program folder. If you didn’t manually set the installation path before, it normally is “C:Program FilesHandBrake”
Step 3: And that’s all for installing HandBrake libdvdcss on Windows.

How to Download Install libdvdcss for HandBrake on Mac

Step 1: Download libdvdcss.pkg on Mac OS X.
Step 2: Double click the downloaded file to install libdvdcss on Mac. But be note that there is one more step for installing libdvdcss on Mac El Capitan, because of its SIP (System Integrity Protection), which is said to remove libdvdcss by default. We found two workarounds: disable SIP and a more complicated but recommended way from a Reddit user (as below).

The second way:
1. Open a Finder window -> type “cmd+shift+G” or click “Go” and choose “Go to Folder” -> copy and paste /Library/SystemMigration/History/ -> press button “GO” -> open the folder “Migration-[random letters and numbers]” and find “QuarantineRoot” -> libdvdcss file should be in this folder.
2. Again click “Go” on the taskbar -> “Go to Folder” -> type “/usr/local/lib”.
3. Cut and paste your libdvdcss file to the folder “/usr/local/lib” -> put in your admin password to finish the move and libdvdcss installation on Mac is done.

How to Decrypt Any Copy Protected DVDs?

As we said before, libdvdcss is mainly for using in free DVD ripper like HandBrake to rip DVD encrypted with CSS. But the point is that there are many other kinds of DVD copy protections besides CSS, such as Sony ArccOS, UOPs, and Disney X-project DRM. If you are trying to rip Inside Out DVD with HandBrake libdvdcss, there might be a “HandBrake won’t rip” problem, due to its up to 98 fake titles. If you feel like downloading installing HandBrake libdvdcss is a little bit annoying and just want a much more professional and easy-to-use HandBrake alternative, try BlazeVideo DVD Copy, which keeps constant updating to support all kinds of latest DVD copy protections. For example, it supports ripping Disney movie DVDs at ultra-fast speed to MP4, AVI, MOV, MPEG, iPhone, iPad, Android, etc (350+ built-in profiles), due to flexible CPU use settings and support for hardware accelerated video encoding decoding technology MMX- SSE, 3DNow! and Hyperthreading.

  • Convert media from any source
  • Help you play video almost anywhere
  • Open source, totally free to use
  • Advanced options to make changes
UniversalMacGet HandBrake for MacFree Download the Windows Version Here

HandBrake is definitely the tool you should try if you want to transcode videos, whatever you need to rip DVDs or play videos on your mobile devices. It's totally free to download and use. HandBrake is an open-source software, which means it's more safer to use on your computer. If you want and desire, you can even change the code yourself and make it work in your way.

For regular users, just download HandBrake and install to your computer and it works like a charm. If you don't know where to start. This page is for you. You'll find tutorials about how to download, install, convert a video, rip DVDs on this HandBrake fan site.

Before we start, keep in mind that HandBrake has its advantages and disadvantes. Make sure it's what you want and save your time. For more intuitive and faster media transcoder, try the best HandBrake alternative - iSkysoft iMedia Converter Deluxe.

HandBrake for Mac Disadvantages

Well, we talk about cons of HandBrake for Mac first to make a quick selection. If you can't bear these, ignore this software. You deserve better application to get things done, saving you time and money.

1. Unattractive and Ugly Interface. There are too many options in the main interface. You don't know where to begin. However, once you're familiar with all these stuff, you'll find out it doesn't matter for a powerfer video converter.

2. Slow to convert video files. It costs you longer to complete the tasks than you thought. Maybe that's why the queue feature is designed. You can added all tasks to the queue and let it be.

3. It crashes sometimes. You can't ask more for a free utility, especially for video converter. There are too many video formats and codecs in the world. It's a complicated world. They need more volunteers and testers to make HandBrake perfect.

HandBrake for Mac Advantages

Compared to disadvantages of HandBrake, it's easier to understand its advantages. The biggest one is free, isn't it? Actually, there are much more. Although customization options make HandBrake's interface weird, that's exactly the most attractive place for someone else. When people encounter special needs, there should be somewhere to make changes to suit their demands. HandBrake is created for everyone who has any strange requirements on video conversion.

The Preview feature is another bigger advantage. While the video is trancoding, you can preview it in a separate window to make sure it's exactly what you want. If there is something different from what you have in mind, simply go back and adjust your settings (you know how important it's now) before you start converting the file or burn it to a DVD.

How to Download HandBrake for Mac and Windows

There are several versions of HandBrake on its official download page. Which one is right for your system?

1. Download HandBrake for Mac (Intel 64bit). This version supports Mac OS 10.6 (Leopard) or above. You can see which kernel you are using on your Mac. Only 64bit .dmg is provided currently.

a. Choose About This Mac from the Apple menu.
b. Click More Info in the open up dialog.
c. Select Software in the Contents pane.
d. Look for '64-bit Kernel and Extensions: Yes (or No)' under the System Software Overview heading.

Here is how to switch between 32-bit and 64-bit mode: First, turn off your computer. While powering ON your Mac:


a. If your Mac uses the 32-bit mode by default, but supports the 64-bit mode, you can start up in 64-bit mode by holding the 6 and 4 keys during startup.
b. If your Mac uses the 64-bit mode by default, you can start up in 32-bit mode by holding the 3 and 2 keys during startup.


Important: Your Mac will revert to the default mode the next time you reboot it.

2. Download HandBrake for Windows (64bit or 32bit). The 64bit program will run faster generally. Make sure your operating system is compatible with it. Otherwise, download the 32bit program is safer because 64bit system can run both 64bit and 32bit programs.

How to Install HandBrake on Mac

It's easy to install HandBrake as long as you downloaded the right installation file. Simply doubleclick the downloaded .dmg file. In the window that opens, drag and drop the app icon to the Applications folder. It's done. Next time, you'll start HandBrake from the Applications folder by double clicking the app icon.

How to Convert a Video for iPhone on Mac

This is a step-by-step tutorial to show you the common method to convert a video from a codec to another.

Download

HandBrake for Mac Guide Step 1: Run HandBrake and Choose a Video Source.

Double click on the app icon to see whether it can start properly. You'll see the following interface if everything is OK. It looks non-intuitive. You only need to care about the Source panel in this step. Just click the Source button on top and choose a video file.

HandBrake for Mac Guide Step 2: Choose A Preset

You can either select your intended destination device from the list on the right side of the window, or choose it from the drop-down list. Make sure the destination is correct so you can easily find the output files.

Download elmedia player for mac free. Elmedia Player is the top-rated solution for Mac that supports such wireless technologies as Chromecast, AirPlay and DLNA allowing you to quickly and easily stream media files from your computer to Smart TV or to any other AirPlay, Chromecast, and DLNA-compliant devices.

HandBrake for Mac Guide Step 3: Start Converting Video with HandBrake for Mac.

Now click the Start button on top to begin the task immediately. If you have multiple videos to convert, click the Add to Queue followed by adding another videos. When finish adding video, click Show Queue and start batch conversion there.

How to Rip DVDs on Mac with HandBrake for Mac

Ripping DVDs with Handbrake is similar with converting a video. First of all, make sure you've installed an additional decrypting software - libdvdcss. Handbrake works together with this DVD copy decryptor to extract movies on the DVDs.

How To Download Handbrake For Mac

Unfortunately, libdvdcss is not stable and results in errors. As always, the good choice is try the best HandBrake for Mac alternative - iSkysoft iMedia Converter Deluxe.

How

Now insert your DVD into your Mac’s DVD drive and start HandBrake from the Applications folder. By default, Handbrake shows a dialog box and asks you to select the DVDs mounted on your Mac. Pick your DVD and click Open, and HandBrake will start scanning all the titles on the DVD. HandBrake automatically selects the main title, usually with the longest duration. If you want to rip several titles, you need to select one item, then click the Add To Queue button.

The following steps are the same with converting videos, which are descripbed above.

Handbrake 64 Bit Windows 10

Also check out the below videos about iSkysoft iMedia Converter Deluxe for Mac, which is the best HandBrake for Mac alternative to convert videos and rip DVD movies on Mac OS X.


Media Converter for Mac

Download HandBrake for Mac Alternative - intuitive and fast

Handbrake Windows 10

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Convert Video and Rip DVDs with Ease