Upscale DVD to 1080P/4K & Convert DVD to Digital [2025 Guide]

To enjoy your favorite DVD collection on any device without encryption or restrictions, you need to convert DVD to digital using reliable tools. This guide covers convert DVD to digital free options and the best way to convert DVD to digital, while also introducing a powerful AI video enhancer to upscale DVD to 1080p or 4K. With advanced noise reduction and enhancement features, you can significantly improve your video quality for a better viewing experience.
convert dvd to digital

In today's digital world, playing your DVD collection on modern devices isn’t just about converting files — it also means enhancing video quality to match today's high-resolution standards. This 2025 guide shows you how to convert DVD to digital formats and upscale DVD to 1080P or 4K using the the best DVD Rippers and DVD upscaling software. Whether you're a casual viewer or a video fan, you'll get step-by-step instructions and expert tips to preserve and improve your favorite DVDs for smooth playback on any device.

Why You Should Upscale DVD

Standard DVDs have a maximum resolution of 480p, which often results in blurry or pixelated footage on modern HD and 4K displays. To enjoy your old DVD collection with sharper visuals and improved clarity, upscaling DVD to 1080P or 4K is essential.

DVD upscaling software uses advanced AI algorithms to increase the resolution of your video files while reducing noise and restoring lost details. This process enhances the viewing experience by making the video appear clearer, smoother, and more cinematic on high-resolution screens.

Upscale DVD to 1080P/4K Using DVD Upscaling Software

UniFab's AI Video Enhancer, is one of the leading tools for DVD upscaling. It can intelligently upscale DVD to 1080p, 4K, or even higher resolutions like 8K or 16K. Its AI-driven technology not only raises the resolution but also improves color accuracy and removes compression artifacts that are typical of standard DVDs.

Upscale DVD to 4K

  • 30-day free trial with no watermark or limitations
  • AI-powered tools for automatic video enhancement
  • Ultra-fast processing with GPU acceleration
  • Easy-to-use interface for seamless experience
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By combining upscaling with noise reduction and detail restoration, DVD upscaling software transforms your digitized DVD videos, allowing you to enjoy them on any modern device with stunning picture quality.

enhancement by unifab

Key Features of UniFab Video Enhancer AI

UniFab Video Enhancer AI is specifically optimized to enhance and upscale DVD-quality videos, overcoming the limitations of standard DVD resolution and quality:

  • Video Upscaler AI

Utilizes advanced AI models to upscale low-resolution videos (e.g., 480p DVD rips) to 1080p, 4K, 8K, or even 16K. It enhances video clarity and restores lost details — ideal for giving old DVD footage a modern, cinematic look.

unifab video upscaler - universal model effect
  • Denoise AI

Automatically detects and removes visual noise, grain, and compression artifacts from old or low-quality video sources. Whether it’s analog noise or digital blockiness, Denoise AI ensures a cleaner, smoother viewing experience without sacrificing detail.

unifab denoise video effect
  • Video Converter

Supports conversion to and from 1000+ video and audio formats, including MP4, MKV, AVI, MOV, WMV, and more. Whether you're preparing videos for smartphones, TVs, or editing software, UniFab ensures fast, high-quality, and fully compatible output

  • Batch Processing of DVD Videos

Allows efficient enhancement and upscaling of multiple DVD rip files in one go, saving time for large collections.

  • Optimized Performance with GPU Acceleration

Uses hardware acceleration technologies to handle resource-intensive DVD upscaling tasks swiftly and smoothly.

UniFab Video Enhancer AI thus provides a tailored solution for upgrading your DVD collection, delivering significantly improved video quality suited for today’s HD and 4K screens.

How to Upscale DVD to 1080P/4K with UniFab: Step-by-Step Guide

Upscaling your DVD videos to 4K using UniFab Video Enhancer AI is simple and efficient. Follow these steps to enhance your DVD content for a modern viewing experience:

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Step 1

Once you open the UniFab program on your system, select “All Features” and then, under the “Video AI” option, select “Upscaler” mode. 

how to upscale dvd with unifab - step1
Step 2

Select the “+” option to upload your ripped DVD video file for upscaling. Select your desired resolution. Then, according to your video type, select the models. 

how to upscale dvd with unifab - step2
Step 3

Depending on your requirements, adjust other additional parameters. Lastly, select the “Start” option to complete the upscaling process of the digital video file of the ripped DVD. 

Before you can start upscaling your DVD videos to 4K, there’s an important prerequisite: you need to have your DVD content in a digital format. Since DVDs are physical discs with limited resolution and potential playback restrictions, they must first be converted to digital files like MP4 or MKV. This conversion not only preserves your videos but also unlocks the power of advanced DVD upscaling software like UniFab Video Enhancer AI. Next, let’s discuss why converting your DVDs to digital is essential before enhancing their resolution.

Why You Need to Convert DVD to Digital First

Converting your DVDs to digital format is a crucial first step before upscaling. Physical DVDs are limited to standard definition (usually 480p) and are prone to wear and damage over time. Digital files, on the other hand, offer greater flexibility and longevity.

By converting DVD to digital:

  • You protect your media from scratches and deterioration that can affect playback quality.
  • You remove region restrictions and encryption, making your content accessible across different devices and platforms.
  • You open the door to advanced editing and enhancement tools, like UniFab Video Enhancer AI, which require digital files for upscaling and quality improvements.
  • You enable easier sharing and storage, freeing you from carrying physical discs.

Without converting DVD to digital first, you cannot fully utilize modern DVD upscaling software to enhance video resolution or quality, limiting your viewing experience on high-definition displays.

3 Best Ways to Convert DVD to Digital

Choosing the right method to convert your DVD collection into digital files is crucial for preserving quality and ensuring compatibility across devices. Below are three of best dvd to digital converters:

Method 1: Convert DVD to Digital Using DVDFab DVD Ripper

No matter whether your favorite DVD content is stored in a DVD disc, ISO file, or folder, DVDFab DVD Ripper can rip any type of physical DVD or digital copy of the DVD in the ISO file/ folder to your required file format. It supports lossless DVD conversion with 1:1 video and 5.1 AC3 audio quality. With lossless compression, you can reduce file size while balancing the output video quality and make the ripped DVD playable on all portable and other devices. 

convert dvd to digital using DVDFab DVD Ripper

Pros

  • Remove encryptions like CSS, DADC, APS, etc, using Cloud Decryption Service
  • Choose your preferred file format from my 1000+ format support like MP4, MP3, WMA, FLAC etc
  • It ensures device-specific streaming with 260+ device presets
  • Use multiple profile filters such as 4K to 8K resolution, passthrough, 3D, etc
  • Adjust various parameters like codec, frame rate, sample rate, etc through advanced settings
  • Rip multiple DVDs in one go with batch processing
  • Use built-in video editor to trim, crop, add watermarks, subtitles, etc
  • It also preserves metadata in the digital file of ripped DVD

Cons

  • To avail of tech support, you need to take the paid plan
  • It's not available on Linux

How to Convert DVD to Digital With DVDFab DVD Ripper

Step 1

Launch the DVDFab program on Windows/ Mac system > move to the left side module column > select “Ripper” Module > upload the DVD source. 

convert dvd to digital - step1
Step 2

You can see the uploaded DVD file in the main interface. Then, select “Choose Other Profile” > and select your desired output format. 

convert dvd to digital - step2
Step 3

Otherwise, for device-specific conversion, you should select your “Device” preset from the available options. 

convert dvd to digital - step3
Step 4

Next, choose your preferred audio track, chapters, titles, and subtitles you want to convert. 

convert dvd to digital - step4
Step 5

Customize the output video profile by adjusting parameters in “Advanced Settings”, such as codec and sample rate. 

Step 6

Use “Video Edit” to explore versatile editing functions like trimming, cropping, merging, etc. Choose your desired output directory to save the ripped file > select the “Start” option to finish the DVD to digital conversion process. 

Method 2: Convert DVD to Digital Using MakeMKV

MakeMKV is another best way to convert DVD to digital while preserving original content quality. Despite being known as a transcoder, MakeMKV is a very useful DVD Ripper. With metadata synchronization and original quality data preservation functions MakeMKV makes the ripped DVD compatible with different media servers like Kodi, Plex etc. 

convert dvd to digital using makemkv

Pros

  • It can remove most of the commercial copy-protection like AACS, BD+, etc
  • MakeMKV preserves multiple audio tracks, chapters, and subtitles
  • This cross-platform tool works on Windows, Mac, and Linux
  • It ripped DVD or ISO files to MKV without losing data as it doesn't compress the file
  • It supports metadata synchronization
  • Enjoy this tool for free in its beta version

Cons

  • It has neither compressed nor reduced file size
  • It supports only one output format, that is MKV

How to Convert DVD to Digital With MakeMKV

Step 1

After launching MakeMKV on your system, insert the DVD you need to convert to the digital MKV format into the drive. Then, select the drive containing the DVD you inserted. 

Step 2

Select “Open Disk.” > MakeMKV automatically scans the uploaded DVD to select the titles for ripping. Once the scanning is over, the tool will show all the titles found on the DVD. You must select your desired titles for ripping.

how to convert dvd to digital - step2
Step 3

You can select all the titles or some specific titles to rip. After that, pick the destination location to save the ripped DVD in MKV file format. To do this, go to the right side of the “Output Folder” field and select the “Browse” option. 

Step 4

After that, hit the “MakeMKV” sign on the right side of the opened window to complete the DVD-to-digital conversion process. 

Method 3: Convert DVD to Digital Free Using Handbrake

Handbrake is a very trusted free tool for converting DVDs to digital with its open-source and multi-platform support. Using this transcoder, you can rip DVD or ISO files in the most common file formats compatible with multiple devices. The ripped DVD as a digital file can be played on all devices, including smartphones, laptops, tablets, etc. 

Pros

  • It supports most common output file formats like MP4, MKV & WebM
  • It compresses files to reduce file size without data loss while balancing output video quality
  • Choose a device preset from multiple ready-to-use device preset option
  • Customize output audio-video quality by adjusting resolution, codec, frame rate, bitrate, etc
  • It supports audio track, chapter, subtitle, and range selection option
  • Rip multiple videos with batch processing
  • Explore video filters like Denoise, Deinterlace, Crop, Deblock, etc

Cons

  • Handbrake can't bypass encryption or region code from any DVD
  • With slow file processing, it has a limited output format

How to Convert DVD to Digital Free With Handbrake

Step 1

Insert the DVD for conversion to the drive, open “Handbrake,” > and select “Open Source” at the top-left side of the “Handbrake” window. 

Step 2

Get a pop-up menu > Select the name of the DVD from the pop-up menu. Once the DVD is loaded, the to will automatically select the main titles as the default. Then, you should select the “Profile” or “Preset” for your desired device-specific streaming. 

how to convert dvd to digital free - step2
Step 3

Move to the “Output Settings” section, select your preferred output format, select “Browse” in the main window, choose the destination location, and select “Start Encode” at the top function row. Handbrake will convert the DVD to the digital file format of your choice. 

Conclusion

Once you’ve found the best way to convert DVD to digital using top DVD ripping software, it’s important to back up your collection in your preferred file format for easy playback on any device. To truly enhance your ripped DVDs, using a reliable DVD upscaling software like UniFab Video Upscaler AI can help you upscale DVD to 1080p or 4K, improving video clarity and restoring details. This automated and customizable tool ensures your DVD upscaling experience delivers the highest quality results for modern screens.

FAQs about Upscaling DVD

Is it possible to upscale a DVD?

Yes, it is possible to upscale a DVD using DVD upscaling software that increases the video resolution from the original 480p to higher resolutions like 1080p or 4K.

What does upscaling mean on DVD?

Upscaling on DVD refers to the process of enhancing the video quality by increasing the resolution of DVD footage, typically from standard definition to HD or Ultra HD, to improve clarity and detail.

Can You Upscale DVD to 4K?

You can’t upscale a physical DVD directly to 4K, but once ripped to a digital file, tools like UniFab Video Upscaler AI can upscale it to 4K, 8K, or even 16K. The same applies to VHS to 4K conversions — as long as the footage is digitized, UniFab can enhance the resolution and reduce noise for a cleaner, sharper look on modern displays.

Can DVDs be upscaled to 1080p?

Yes, DVDs can be upscaled to 1080p using DVD upscaling software, allowing standard definition content to be viewed with improved resolution on high-definition devices.

Do upscaled DVDs look good?

Upscaled DVDs can look much better compared to their original quality, especially when using advanced DVD upscaling software. The improvement depends on the effectiveness of the upscaling method and how well it restores details and reduces noise.

What is the best upscaler for DVD?

The best upscaler for DVD is a tool like UniFab Video Enhancer AI, which uses AI-powered algorithms to intelligently enhance and upscale DVD videos, delivering sharp, clear, and natural-looking results.

How to AI upscale DVD?

To AI upscale a DVD, first convert the DVD into a digital file format, then use AI-powered DVD upscaling software such as UniFab Video Enhancer AI to automatically increase the resolution and enhance video quality.

What Are the Best Upscaling DVD Players? 

Advanced DVD players have been launched in the market that can instantly and automatically upscale DVD to 1080p or upper resolution by adding more pixels to the existing gaps in the pixels. Using this upscaling DVD player, you can match the existing low video resolution of the DVD with the high definition of your HDTV. Here you go with the best Upscale DVD players, like Sony DVPSR760H Upscaled DVD Player, PANASONIC Smart 3D Blu-ray & DVD Player, Sylvania SDVD1096 etc. 

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I enjoy capturing life's beautiful moments and exploring innovation. Trying different video editing software helps me find the best tools for my work. My articles aim to help you discover video editing software that fits your style, as we navigate the ever-changing world of technology together.