Step 1. Download and install DVD to MKV Converter
First, download and install Movavi Video Converter on your Mac or Windows computer. You can follow the instructions that appear on your computer screen to install the program.
Convert DVD to MKV – Rip Your Discs to a File
Movavi Video Converter reads a DVD straight from your computer – inserted disc, VIDEO_TS folder, or ISO image – and saves it as a single MKV file. Pick MKV, hit Convert, and you have one tidy video you can watch, store, and move around without the disc.
Movies, family archives, weddings, language and fitness courses – turn all of it into a convenient file you can keep and play offline, with no disc and no DVD drive. The converter reads the disc directly on your Windows or Mac machine, and nothing gets uploaded to a server: the whole job runs locally.
Movavi's DVD to MKV converter – trusted by 70 million users
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effects to choose from
Key features of the DVD-to-MKV converter
A good DVD to MKV converter should open the disc for you, pick the right video automatically, and preserve everything on it in one clean file – without a single codec setting.
Reads DVDs directly
Movavi opens a VIDEO_TS folder, individual VOB files, or an ISO image and detects the main title automatically – so you don't have to guess which of a dozen VOB files is the actual movie. Reading a physical disc or its folder structure is something browser-based tools simply can't do; it only works on the desktop.
Outputs to MKV
MKV is the ideal container for keeping a DVD intact: it holds every audio and subtitle track, plus the disc's chapter markers, inside a single file without quality loss. Pick the MKV preset and you preserve the whole disc – all languages, all subtitles, all chapters – in one place.
AI upscaling – from soft SD to sharp
A DVD is 480p or 576p, and modern screens are sharp enough to show every soft edge. Movavi's built-in AI upscaler raises resolution by up to 4× or 8×, reconstructing detail instead of just stretching pixels. It's the practical way to make old standard-definition footage watchable on today's displays – the AI fills in what plain resizing would leave mushy.
Audio tracks, subtitles, and trimming
Keep only the audio language and subtitle track you want, cut out the menus and trailers, and convert just the film. Batch mode handles several discs in one run, and SuperSpeed hardware acceleration keeps conversions fast even on long titles.
Why Movavi is the right way to convert DVD to MKV
Three reasons a desktop app beats a free or online DVD to MKV converter for this task.
How to convert a DVD to MKV with Movavi – 4 steps
From a disc in the tray to a ready-to-use MKV file – done in minutes.
Step 2. Add your DVD
Сlick Add Media, choose Add DVD from the list that appears, and then Open DVD.
Step 3. Choose the output format
Open the Video tab and pick MKV – either the general MKV preset or the one that matches your needs. This sets a compatible format without any manual codec setup.
Step 4. Convert
Click Save to to pick an output folder, then hit Convert. When it's done, the MKV is ready to watch, edit, or move to another device.
Who converts DVDs to MKV
Getting a disc into a single file comes up across family archives, movie libraries, and learning alike.
Families with a home-video archive · PERSONAL
Wedding, christening, birthday, and family-reunion discs don't last forever – the dye layer degrades and players disappear. Converting them to MKV digitizes those memories before the discs go bad and keeps them in a format that's easy to store and play.
Collectors and movie fans · LIFESTYLE
Turn store-bought DVD movies into tidy files for a home media library, a TV box, or a laptop on the road – no disc juggling, and every language and subtitle track stays in the same file.
Students and pros with DVD courses · EDUCATION / WORK
Language, training, and fitness courses that shipped on disc become a file you can open whenever you need it. Convert the DVD once and keep the lessons within reach.
Movavi Video Converter
The ideal way to get your media in the format you need!
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about converting a DVD to MKV and what to expect from the process.
How do I convert a DVD to MKV?
How do I convert a DVD to MKV?
In four steps: install Movavi Video Converter on Windows or Mac; add the DVD by inserting the disc or loading a VIDEO_TS folder or ISO; open the Video tab and pick MKV; then click Save to and Convert. The converter keeps the standard-definition quality of the DVD source as-is, and if you want it sharper on a modern screen you can turn on AI upscaling during setup.
Will the MKV file look good?
Will the MKV file look good?
A DVD is standard definition – 480p or 576p – so a plain resize will look a little soft on a sharp display. Turning on Movavi's AI upscaling helps a lot: it reconstructs detail instead of just enlarging the picture, which makes SD footage noticeably crisper. Be realistic about the ceiling, though – the result won't match native HD, because quality is ultimately limited by what's on the original disc. Starting from the disc itself rather than a compressed copy gives the best outcome.
Can Movavi convert copy-protected DVDs?
Can Movavi convert copy-protected DVDs?
Movavi Video Converter is intended for your own personal and home-recorded discs and other unprotected content. Please respect copyright and the laws that apply where you live – we don't provide any guidance on bypassing disc protection.
Which settings should I pick?
Which settings should I pick?
For most people the default MKV preset is the right choice and needs no tweaking – it keeps all the tracks and chapters from the disc. If you want more control, you can set the bitrate and resolution yourself and choose exactly which audio and subtitle tracks to keep.
How do I play or use the MKV file?
How do I play or use the MKV file?
An MKV opens in most modern media players and video editors, so you can watch it or edit it right away. From there it's easy to move to a phone, a TV box, or the cloud.
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