Ever tried to make a backup of your favorite DVD only to be hit with some weird error message? Yeah, it’s frustrating. That’s where DVD Shrink comes in. It’s been around for ages—like, early 2000s level old—but it’s still a go-to for many people who want to rip and compress DVDs.
Now, let’s be real for a sec. With streaming services everywhere, who even watches DVDs anymore? Well, plenty of folks do—especially if you’ve got a collection of classics that aren’t available on Netflix or Hulu. Plus, physical media doesn’t just vanish from your account like digital purchases sometimes do. So, if you wanna preserve your discs, DVD Shrink is a lifesaver.
Alright, so here’s the rundown. DVD Shrink is a free Windows program that lets you:
It’s not exactly a one-click-and-done kinda tool, but once you get the hang of it, it’s pretty simple. And guess what? Unlike some of the newer paid software, this bad boy is completely free.
Imagine trying to fit a big ol’ pizza into a small box. You could just squish it (ew), or you could slice it strategically to make it fit. That’s kinda what DVD Shrink does.
A standard DVD holds about 8.5GB of data, but blank DVDs often have only 4.7GB of space. Instead of forcing you to split the movie into two discs (which is a pain), DVD Shrink compresses the video so it fits without totally wrecking the quality.
Of course, if you overdo it—like trying to shove a three-hour movie onto a tiny disc—it’ll start looking like a YouTube video from 2005. But for most movies, the compression is barely noticeable.
Ever popped in a DVD and seen that annoying “This disc is protected” message? Yeah, it’s not there for fun. Many commercial DVDs come with encryption that stops you from copying them.
DVD Shrink has built-in decryption tools that remove common protections like:
Now, here’s the kicker—it’s not perfect. Some newer DVDs have extra layers of encryption that DVD Shrink can’t handle. But pair it with another tool like AnyDVD or DVDFab, and you can rip almost anything.
Some people just wanna hit “copy” and call it a day. Others—like those who hate forced trailers and menus—want more control.
With DVD Shrink, you can:
✅ Remove extra features (no more useless commentary tracks!)
✅ Skip annoying menus and jump straight to the movie
✅ Choose audio tracks (English, Spanish, or just the epic sound effects)
And once you’ve got the perfect rip? You can use software like Nero to burn it onto a blank disc. Or, if you’re feeling fancy, store it on a hard drive and play it from there.
Honestly? Yes and no.
👉 If you still use DVDs and want an easy, free way to back them up, DVD Shrink is awesome. It’s lightweight, simple, and does the job well.
❌ BUT… If you’re trying to copy Blu-rays or newer DVDs, you’ll probably need extra software since DVD Shrink hasn’t been updated in years.
Still, for most people, it’s a solid option—especially since it doesn’t cost a dime.
If you’re sitting on a collection of old DVDs and wanna back ‘em up before they get scratched to death, DVD Shrink is a no-brainer. It’s free, easy to use, and does what it promises.
But if you’re dealing with newer discs or Blu-rays, you might need to look elsewhere.
So, what’s your take? Still rocking DVDs, or have you gone full digital? Drop a comment and let’s chat!