MakeMKV: Convert DVDs and Blu-ray Discs into MKV Files
MakeMKV converts the contents of optical discs into Matroska (MKV) files that play on virtually any modern media player. You insert a DVD or Blu-ray, the tool scans the disc, lists every title and track it finds, and you tick the boxes for what you want to keep. It then writes a single MKV holding the chosen video, audio and subtitle streams. During that read, MakeMKV removes the copy protection applied to commercial discs, so the result is free of the encryption that normally ties playback to a licensed disc player. Because the process repackages existing streams rather than rebuilding them, it stays fast and the picture is left untouched.
A rip is only as useful as your ability to confirm what came out of it. Since MakeMKV copies streams instead of re-encoding them, the exported file can carry several audio languages, forced subtitles and chapter markers that a quick playback check will not reveal. Pairing a rip with MediaInfo gives you a readable report on the container: which tracks exist, how they are coded, and whether anything was dropped along the way. That combination turns a routine disc dump into a verifiable archive. It also helps when a disc behaves oddly, because comparing the disc’s structure against the finished file usually shows exactly which title or stream went missing.
Benefits of Using MakeMKV
The main benefit of MakeMKV is that it removes the friction between a disc you own and the files you actually want. Instead of hunting for a working player or settling for a compressed re-encode, you get a direct copy of the streams pressed onto the disc. That matters for anyone building a media library: quality stays identical to the source, backups survive scratched or lost discs, and playback works on laptops, tablets and set-top boxes without a physical drive. A second benefit is control. MakeMKV lists every title and track it finds, so you can drop commentary, foreign-language audio or unwanted subtitles before anything is written, keeping files lean without touching the video. It also handles the tedious parts quietly, decrypting discs as it reads them, preserving chapter structure and letting you work through a stack of discs in one session. For archivists, the practical result is a set of files that are simple to store, easy to search and safe to transcode later if a smaller version is ever needed.
MakeMKV Software Information
- Developer: GuinpinSoft inc
- Current Version: v2.0.0
- File Size: 5.6 KB
- Language: en-US
- Downloads: Estimated 10K+
- Platform: Windows Desktop
System Requirements
- Processor: 2-core CPU
- RAM: 2 GB RAM
- Storage: 1 GB available storage
- Graphics / GPU: Not required
Visit the official MakeMKV website
MakeMKV Features
One-Click Disc-to-MKV Conversion
MakeMKV copies the video and audio streams from a disc into an MKV container instead of re-encoding them, so the picture is never rebuilt. Conversion runs as fast as the optical drive can read data, and the finished file keeps everything the original carried.
Built-In Decryption of Protected Discs
MakeMKV decrypts protected discs while it reads them, covering the AACS and BD+ protection used on Blu-ray releases along with the scheme applied to DVDs. No secondary decryption utility is required, and the finished MKV opens in ordinary media players.
Selective Track, Title and Subtitle Picking
A scan lists every title, audio track, subtitle stream and chapter set found on the disc. You tick the items you want before extraction starts, so commentary tracks, extra language dubs or bonus features can be left out to keep files smaller.
Full Disc Backup Mode
MakeMKV’s backup mode writes a complete decrypted copy of the disc structure rather than separate files. Menus, all titles and the original layout survive intact, which suits anyone archiving a disc exactly as it was authored or planning to extract from the copy later.
Instant Streaming to Media Players
MakeMKV can feed decrypted video straight to compatible media players without an intermediate file, so a Blu-ray or DVD can be watched on a device that has no optical drive. It is a quick way to preview a disc before committing to a full rip.
Batch and Queue Processing
Ripping jobs can be queued so the drive keeps working while you are away. A stack of discs can be worked through over an afternoon without supervision, and you return to a folder of finished MKV files instead of restarting the tool for each disc.
Profile-Driven Output Rules
Conversion profiles in MakeMKV decide how output is named and which streams are chosen automatically. Setting preferences once means every later rip follows the same rules, which keeps a growing library consistent rather than producing a slightly different result for each disc.
Chapter and Metadata Preservation
Chapters, track languages and audio metadata are carried from the disc into the MKV file. Preserving that information means the finished file behaves like a proper release in media players and library tools, with accurate scene jumps and correctly labelled audio and subtitle tracks.
MakeMKV Old Versions
Version v1.18.4 Updated: June 26, 2026 Download
Version v1.18.2 Updated: May 6, 2026 Download
Version v1.18.3 Updated: February 7, 2026 Download
Version v1.18.1 Updated: October 10, 2025 Download
Version v1.17.9 Updated: April 6, 2025 Download
Version v1.18.0 Updated: April 6, 2025 Download
MakeMKV FAQs
What does MakeMKV do?
It reads DVDs and Blu-ray discs and writes their video and audio into MKV files. The copy protection on the disc is removed during that read, so the results play in ordinary media players instead of requiring a licensed disc player.
Does MakeMKV reduce video or audio quality?
No. It repackages the streams already on the disc rather than re-encoding them, so the video and audio data stay unchanged. Quality only drops later if you deliberately transcode the MKV into a smaller format.
Why does it produce MKV files instead of MP4?
Matroska can hold any mix of video, audio, chapter and subtitle tracks in one file, including codecs that MP4 does not support well. That flexibility is what lets a single output keep every track from the original disc.
Can I choose which tracks end up in the file?
Yes. Once a disc is scanned, every title, audio track and subtitle stream is listed and can be selected individually. Leaving a stream unchecked simply omits it, which is the usual way to drop commentary or unwanted language dubs.
How is Backup mode different from ripping?
Ripping extracts the titles you select into individual MKV files. Backup mode instead copies the whole decrypted disc, menus included, which is useful when you want an exact archive and prefer to decide later what to extract.
Can MakeMKV play discs through other software?
It can pass decrypted video straight to compatible players, so a disc can be watched on a machine that has no licensed disc player installed. That also lets you check a title before spending the time to rip it in full.
Does ripping alter or damage the original disc?
No. A rip is a read-only operation: the drive reads the disc and writes new files to your storage. Nothing is written back to the disc, so the original stays exactly as it was.