MakeMKV for PC: How to Download and Install on Windows (2026 Guide)

A shelf of DVDs and Blu-rays is a film collection with an expiry date: discs scratch, drives disappear from new laptops, and no streaming service guarantees your favourite film will still be there next year. The sensible move is to convert your own discs into modern video files you can store and play anywhere.

This guide shows you how to download MakeMKV for PC from its official website, install it on Windows 11 or 10, and convert your first disc. Features, requirements, and first-use steps are covered below — including an honest explanation of its beta status and licence, because MakeMKV’s pricing model is unusual and worth understanding before you start.

What Is MakeMKV?

MakeMKV is a disc-to-MKV converter — often called a ripper — for Windows, macOS and Linux. It reads DVD and Blu-ray discs and converts their contents into MKV files, preserving the video, audio tracks, subtitles and chapters in their original quality rather than re-encoding and degrading them.

Because the conversion is a direct copy into a new container, it is fast and lossless: a film comes out looking and sounding exactly as it does on the disc, ready for media servers like Plex or Jellyfin, or any modern player. MakeMKV handles the discs’ encryption itself, which is why it remains the standard tool for people digitising collections they own.

Key Features of MakeMKV

DVD and Blu-ray conversion: Reads both formats and converts titles to MKV files in a single step.
Lossless quality: Copies video and audio streams without re-encoding, so quality matches the original disc exactly.
Everything preserved: Keeps all audio tracks, subtitle tracks and chapter markers, letting you choose which to include per title.
Fast processing: Conversion speed is limited mostly by your disc drive, not by heavy video encoding.
Blu-ray backup mode: Can save a full decrypted backup of a Blu-ray disc to your hard drive instead of individual files.
Streaming option: Can act as a streaming server so other programs and devices can access a disc’s contents over your network.
Regular updates: New releases keep pace with newer disc protections, so recently released discs keep working.

System Requirements

Operating System: Windows 11 or Windows 10 (64-bit or 32-bit)
Processor: Any modern Intel or AMD CPU
RAM: 4 GB or more recommended
Storage: Around 50 MB for the program — plus roughly 5 GB per DVD or up to 50 GB per Blu-ray you convert
Display: Any resolution
Internet: Needed for the download, updates and retrieving the current beta key
Account: None; a licence key is entered only if you buy, or the free beta key while in beta

How to Download MakeMKV (Official Method)

MakeMKV is exactly the kind of tool unofficial sites love to repackage, because people search for it alongside licence keys. Those copies are a common route for bundled malware, and an outdated build will fail on newer discs anyway. Download MakeMKV only from its official website, where the current version is published.

Official Website: Download MakeMKV from the official website

Step-by-Step Installation

Open the official MakeMKV download page linked above.
Click the Windows download link to get the installer, Setup_MakeMKV.exe.
Save the file to your Downloads folder.
Double-click the installer and approve the Windows permission prompt.
Follow the setup wizard, accept the licence agreement, and keep the default installation folder.
Click Install, then Finish when setup completes.
Launch MakeMKV from the Start menu — it opens ready to read a disc.

First-launch note: If MakeMKV says the program is too old or the evaluation has expired, do not hunt for keys on random sites — the current free beta key is published on the official MakeMKV forum, and entering it restarts the evaluation period.

How to Convert Your First Disc with MakeMKV

Insert your DVD or Blu-ray into your PC’s optical drive and launch MakeMKV.
Click the large disc drive icon — MakeMKV scans the disc and lists its titles.
Expand the list and tick the titles you want; the longest title is usually the main film, while others are extras and trailers.
Expand each chosen title to include or exclude specific audio and subtitle tracks.
Choose the output folder on the right — make sure the drive has enough free space for the result.
Click the “Make MKV” button and wait; when it finishes, your MKV file is ready to play or add to your media library.

MakeMKV Free vs Paid: What Is the Difference?

This one needs care, because the honest answer is “it depends on the beta”. MakeMKV has been in a long-running public beta. While in beta, all features — including Blu-ray conversion — work free of charge using the beta key the developer publishes on the official MakeMKV site and forum. That key expires periodically (roughly every couple of months, and each new program version also starts a 30-day evaluation), so you renew it by pasting in the newly published key.

That is not the same as permanently free software. The developer sells a one-time paid licence (activation key) that ends the evaluation cycle for good — no expiring keys, no version checks. If you convert discs regularly, the licence is the set-and-forget option, and it supports continued development. What you should never do is take a “registered” copy or a key from an unofficial site: those files are untrusted, and the official beta already gives you the full program legally.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is MakeMKV safe to download and use?
Yes, from the official website linked above. MakeMKV is a long-established tool from its developer, GuinpinSoft. The unsafe downloads are the copies on unofficial portals — especially ones advertising bundled keys — which frequently carry unwanted software.

Is MakeMKV free?
Currently, yes in practice — but with a condition. While the program remains in beta, every feature works free using the beta key published on the official site, renewed when it expires. It is not a permanent free licence: buying the one-time activation key removes the evaluation cycle entirely.

Does MakeMKV reduce the quality of my films?
No. MakeMKV copies the video and audio streams into the MKV container without re-encoding, so the files look and sound identical to the disc. If you later want smaller files, you can compress the MKVs with a separate encoding tool.

Is it legal to convert my own discs?
That depends on your country. Many people convert discs they own for personal backup and playback, but laws on circumventing disc protection vary by jurisdiction. Check your local rules, and only convert discs you own — never distribute the files.

Conclusion

MakeMKV does one job and does it properly: your own DVDs and Blu-rays become clean, lossless MKV files that any modern player or media server can handle. Download it from the official website, use the published beta key while the beta runs, and consider the one-time licence if your shelf of discs turns into a long-term project.

Download MakeMKV from the Official Website

MakeMKV for PC: How to Download and Install on Windows (2026 Guide)