How to Rip DVD with Subtitles on Windows and macOS

Ripping DVDs with subtitles is necessary in most cases. Subtitles can be helpful for individuals who are hard of hearing, as they can help understand the spoken dialogue and access the content, and for people who want to learn different languages. So how to rip DVD with subtitles? In this article, we will provide step-by-step guides to show you how to get the desired subtitles or import subtitles to the ripped DVDs.

3 Best Methods to Rip DVD with Subtitles

Most commercial DVDs have built-in subtitle tracks, here we will show you how to use different methods to get videos with subtitles attached to the original DVD when ripping DVDs.

DVDFab DVD Ripper: Rip DVD with Subtitles with Multiple Options

• Support OS: Windows and macOS

DVDFab DVD Ripper provides 4 different subtitle solutions for ripping DVDs, whether new or old DVDs (ISO and DVD Video folder). For most of the output formats (MKV, MP4, etc), you will get four subtitle modes, so you can control the subtitle playback. Whether and when to turn on/off the subtitles for playback, to make the subtitles show up all the time or just get an SRT subtitle as a copy while ripping a DVD. Adding subtitles you get from other sites to the ripped DVD is also featured. 

How to Rip a DVD with Soft subtitles using DVDFab DVD Ripper [Step-by-Step]

Step 1. Free download DVDFab and install it on your computer.

Step 2. Switch to the Ripper module and then add the DVD source or you may insert the DVD into your PC drive and let DVDFab automatically detect and load it as the source.

Step 3. Select the video format, MKV, MP4, AVI, or other formats you prefer.

Step 4. In the subtitle list, pick the subtitles you want to rip along with the DVD. Open the Advanced Settings panel and set how you want the subtitles for viewing. To get soft subtitles, use the Remux mode or the SRT mode.

Note: Not all the profiles have all four subtitle modes, depending on whether the format itself supports a certain subtitle type or not.

Step 5. Click on the Folder icon next to the Start button and then choose an output path. Once done, click the Start button to rip the DVD with soft subtitles.

Enable forced subtitles when ripping DVD with subtitles using DVDFab DVD Ripper

“Forced subtitles” are to help viewers understand what the character speaks in a different language, usually text subtitles that show on screen for specific parts of dialogue spoken in a language that is different from the film's primary language. In the example, movie Avatar, forced subtitles were used for certain scenes where the Na’vi characters speak their native language.

Here are the step-by-step guides to get forced subtitles:

Step 1. Run DVDFab and switch to the Ripper module.

Step 2. Add the DVD as a source, choose the desired profile, and set the output size. The larger the size, the better the quality.

Step 3. Open the Subtitle list, tick "Display only forced Subtitles", then choose "Forced only". Be sure to tick the option "Scan Forced Subtitles", it will ensure that you will get the forced subtitles available.

If you want to keep the normal subtitles as well, use the option "Normal and forced only".

Step 4. Select a folder from the location where you want to save the video.

Step 5. Hit Start and rip the DVD. You will get a DVD with forced subtitles after the process is finished.

How to rip DVD with external subtitles using DVDFab DVD Ripper

What if you want to add the desired subtitle track to the video? DVDFab offers the option to import external subtitles. The supported formats include "*.srt", "*.smi", "*.ass", and "*.ssa".

Find the guide for ripping DVDs with this kind of subtitles here: 

Step 1. Free download and run DVDFab. Switch to the Ripper module after the installation is finished.

Step 2. Add a DVD as a source, you will get the main movie title selected by default. If you want to choose another one, open the Other Titles panel. Then, select the output format, MKV, MP4, or other profiles you need.

Step 3. Click on the "Video Edit" button, the one that looks like a pen is writing. On the popup window, switch to the Subtitles tab, and use the “+Add Subtitles” button to browse for the subtitle file you wish to add to the ripped DVD. Adjust the font, transparency, and position of the subtitles.

Step 4. Choose the output target to save the video file.

Step 5. Start the process.

Step 6. When playing the output video, enable the subtitles if you rip the DVD in soft subtitle type to get subtitles to show up. If you choose to render or burn-in subtitles (hard subtitles), you will get subtitles displayed automatically.

HandBrake: Rip DVD with Subtitles with Easy-to-Follow Steps

• Support OS: Windows, macOS, and Linux

HandBrake is a free, open-source ripper that can rip DVDs and include subtitles. This tool offers 3 output modes, MP4, MKV, and WebM. HandBrake also supports importing subtitles, detecting forced subtitles, and getting subtitles burn-in.

How to rip DVD with Forced Only subtitles and burn subtitles in the video using HandBrake

Step 1. Download and install HandBrake and launch it once the installation is completed.

Step 2. Open the DVD source, select a title, set the preset for video quality (such as "Fast 1080p30"), and choose the format as MP4, MKV, or WebM according to your needs.

Step 3. Switch to the Subtitles tab. By default, you will see: "Foreign Audio Scan" - Forced Only - Burn In. HandBrake scans the title and adds the subtitle track automatically when it detects a foreign language in a portion of the title. Open the “Selection Behavior...”, you can see what subtitle options are used.

Display the Tracks list to add all remaining subtitle tracks and then set how to deal with that track.

Step 4. Browse for the "Save AS" destination at the bottom.

Step 5. Hit the "Start Encode" button on the top menu bar to rip the DVD with forced subtitles.

MakeMKV: Rip DVD with Subtitles for Free

• Support OS: Windows, macOS, and Linux

MakeMKV is a free tool that can rip DVD with subtitles. It supports output to only MKV, which can keep video, audio, and subtitle tracks intact at high quality. A tool specifically designed to rip DVDs and Blu-rays, keeping video, audio, and subtitle tracks intact.

How to rip DVD with internal subtitles using MakeMKV

Step 1. Download and install MakeMKV from its website on your computer.

Step 2. Launch the tool and scan the DVD to be ripped.

Step 3. On the left pane, select the title, and unselect the audio tracks and subtitles you do not want to keep. MakeMKV will rip the DVD along with the selected audio and subtitle tracks.

Step 4. Choose the output location where you want to save the video.

Step 5. Click the “Make MKV” button to begin the ripping process from DVD to MKV with internal subtitles of the original disc.

Step 6. Wait for the ripping to complete.

FAQ about ripping DVDs with subtitles

Can you change the position of the subtitles while ripping a DVD?

Yes. DVDFab DVD Ripper allows you to adjust the position of external subtitles in the Video Editor window. You can as well, change the color of the imported subtitles.

Can VLC media player rip DVD with subtitles?

Yes. VLC media player can rip DVDs and include subtitles in the output file. The steps are as follows:

Step 1. Download VLC media player, install it, and run it.

Step 2. Launch VLC and then choose the "Convert / Save" option from the list.

Step 3. Under the "Disc" tab open the disc device that contains the DVD you want to rip.

Step 4. Click "Convert / Save" at the button and then select the MP4 profile.

Step 5. Click the tiny wrench button next to the profile, open the Profile edition window, and move to the Subtitle tab. Tick the "Subtitles" option and choose the codec for the subtitle. Click "Save".

Step 6. Choose the destination path and press Start to rip the DVD with subtitles.

Why don't I get subtitles after ripping a DVD?

While viewing the ripped DVD, this could happen if you forget to turn on the Subtitles in the player; it could also happen if you select to rip the DVD with forced-only subtitles.

Forced subtitles may be included via different methods in the DVD, either rendered or hardcoded into the video or included as soft subtitles in a separate subtitle track. If the subtitle track you choose is not or does not contain "Forced Subtitles", you will not get subtitles even if the subtitles are set as ON during playback.

Final Word

Both MP4 and MKV formats work well with subtitles, making them ideal choices for ripping DVDs while preserving subtitle functionality. When you rip DVD with subtitles, be sure to enable the subtitles feature during playback to enjoy them. If you prefer to have control over the subtitles, for example by turning them on or off while watching, avoid using hard subtitles. Hard subtitles are often “burned” or rendered directly into the video, making them permanent and unchangeable. For flexibility, choose soft subtitles, which can be turned on and off at your convenience.