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Edited by

Shafin Tech

October 17, 2025

34,073

Ever tried popping a DVD into a player abroad, only to be greeted with a blank screen and a sinking feeling? That’s the classic PAL vs. NTSC problem: different countries, different rules, and zero sympathy for your home videos. NTSC rules the U.S. and parts of Asia, while PAL dominates Europe, Australia, and beyond – meaning a video recorded in one format often refuses to play in another. Fun (totally made-up) fact: the very names stand for “Never Twice the Same Color” (NTSC, cheeky nickname courtesy of engineers) and “Peace At Last” (PAL), which says a lot about how tricky these standards have been.

To save you from hours of frustration and a stack of “unreadable disc” errors, I rolled up our sleeves and tested the most popular converters. These tools make it simple to use a PAL-to-NTSC converter (and vice versa) without the guesswork. Below, you’ll find the ones that actually get the job done – no wasted discs, just working video.

Below, we’ll explain how to convert PAL video to NTSC or vice versa and learn more about the difference between these formats.

Convert PAL to NTSC in 5 easy steps with Movavi Video Converter

To resolve the incompatibility problem of the NTSC and PAL video formats, it’s best to use software that can change PAL to NTSC and vice versa. Movavi Video Converter offers just what you are looking for! This convenient PAL-to-NTSC and NTSC-to-PAL converter will allow you to transfer between these formats. Just download the appropriate version of the software for Windows or Mac and follow the steps below.

Step 1. Download and install the PAL-to-NTSC converter

Download the Movavi video-converting software. After the download is complete, run the installation file and follow the on-screen instructions.

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Step 2. Launch the converter and open a DVD (or DVD files)

Start Movavi Video Converter. Hit the Add Media button, then choose Add DVD, and click Open DVD. You can either insert a physical DVD and locate the VIDEO_TS folder on the disc, or add DVD files already stored on your computer (such as a VIDEO_TS folder or an ISO image) that you want to convert to the program.

Step 3. Choose the PAL/NTSC preset

Open the Video tab and go to the DVD-Compatible Video category. There, you can choose any of the available PAL or NTSC presets.

Step 4. Convert the DVD

Click the Save to button to specify the target folder to save your converted files, then click Convert. Conversion between PAL and NTSC couldn't be simpler!

Step 5. Burn the DVD (optional, for legacy use)

Since most people today use digital formats, this step is mainly for those who still want a physical DVD copy. If you use Windows and want to burn your PAL or NTSC videos to a DVD right after conversion, use Movavi Video Suite for Windows. This comprehensive software package will help you with these and many other video processing needs. In addition to Movavi Video Converter, the suite contains a DVD-burning module and tools for video editing, splitting, screen capturing, and more. Try Movavi Video Suite and see how easy it is to create, convert, and burn videos all in one go.

If you’d rather not install software, you can also use an online converter to make the switch between PAL and NTSC formats.

Convert PAL DVD to NTSC in 5 easy steps with HandBrake

HandBrake is the free, open-source converter that everyone from hobbyists to pros keeps tucked in their digital toolbox. It runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux, and yes – it’ll happily take your PAL DVD files and spit out NTSC-friendly versions. While it’s not marketed as a dedicated PAL-to-NTSC or NTSC-to-PAL video converter, you can easily achieve the same result by tweaking the frame rate and a couple of settings. Here’s how:

Step 1. Download HandBrake

Head over to handbrake.fr and grab the installer for your system (Windows, Mac, or Linux – yes, Linux people, you’re invited to the party). Run through the setup and fire it up.

Step 2. Open your DVD (or files ripped from one)

Click Open Source. You can toss in an actual PAL DVD if you still own a drive, or point HandBrake at ripped files like a VIDEO_TS folder or an ISO. It’ll scan the disc and list what it finds.

Step 3. Pick a preset

On the right, you’ll see a bunch of presets like Fast 480p30. Pick something close to what you want – it’s just a starting point, and we’ll fine-tune in the next step.

Step 4. Switch the frame rate to NTSC

Go to the Video tab. Change the Framerate (FPS) to 29.97 (NTSC Video) and, trust us, select Constant Framerate (CFR) for smooth playback. This is the magic move that takes your video from PAL to NTSC.

Step 5. Convert and chill

Pick a save location at the bottom, then click Start Encode. Depending on the size of your DVD, grab a coffee (or two). When it’s done, you’ll have an NTSC-friendly file ready for your player, streaming box, or, if you’re old-school, to burn back onto a disc.

NTSC vs. PAL – comparing formats

What is the difference between these two video systems? Find out in this PAL vs. NTSC comparison.

Comparison parameter

NTSC

PAL

Full form

National Television System Committee

Phase Alternating Line

Supported regions

Japan, North America, and most of South America

UK, Australia, Africa, most of Europe and Asia

Audio carrier

4.5 MHz

5.5 MHz

Video bandwidth

4.2 MHz

5 MHz

Lines/field

525/60

625/60

Frames per second

29.97

Aspect ratio

720 × 480 pixels

720 × 576 pixels

Here are some issues you may be familiar with.

A clip is to be seen internationally

If you want your video to be seen around the world, consider converting its format to NTSC. The reason is simple – PAL players can play NTSC videos, but NTSC players can’t usually handle PAL.

The video playback is jerky

If your PAL video is jerky, the chances are you have an NTSC player. What you can do is get a native device, so the footage doesn’t lag, or simply transfer the video to NTSC using the Movavi converter.

Your device won’t play the video

If your player doesn’t support PAL videos, the device may not be compatible with this format. To get around this problem, just convert videos to NTSC with Movavi Video Converter.

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Here’s what Movavi’s team does to provide you with verified information:

When selecting products to include in our reviews, we research both demand and popularity.
All the products covered in this article have been tested by our team.
When testing, we compare key characteristics, including supported input and output formats, quality loss when converting, and other significant features.
We study user reviews from popular review platforms and make use of this information when writing our product reviews.
We collect feedback from our users and analyze their opinions of Movavi software as well as products from other companies.

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