How to Rip Encrypted Blu-ray with VLC Without Error

Ann
11/12/2022

BD-DVD Ripper

VLC Media Player is an open-source free player well compatible with various platforms including Windows, Mac, Android, and Linux. It enables users to easily play multimedia files, webcams, devices, streams to discs. However, it has been reported by a few users to cause errors when playing Blu-ray movie discs including:

Your input can't be opened.

Missing AACS configuration file!

No valid processing key found in AACS config file.

VLC got stuck loading Blu-ray disc without response.

This blu-ray disc needs a library for bd+ decoding, and your system does not have it.

This blu-ray disc needs a library for aacs decoding, and your system does not have it.

......

These errors lead to the crash of VLC media player. Most users are upset but don't know how to fix this headache. Before we start to learn how to play and rip Blu-ray with VLC without error, you should get to know why VLC failed and caused errors.

Why VLC Fails to Rip Blu-ray for Me?

VLC media player is a powerful tool to play a variety of multimedia files, DVDs, Blu-ray discs, VCD, SVCD, OGM and so on. However, some files or discs, which you want to play and rip on VLC, are encrypted and protected by Digital Rights Management (DRM) mechanism such as Advanced Access Content System (AACS) and BD+. DRM is a way to protect copyrights for digital media commonly like Music Videos, Documentation, and Movies.

Most commercial discs are made encrypted to read only by the original disc in order to prevent users from accessing or using certain assets. Thus, VLC media player isn't supported to load and read protected files of this kind, let alone rip encrypted Blu-ray discs with no error.

However, don't give up yet. It's still likely to rip Blu-ray with VLC media player. That may take a few steps for users to add some files to their computers at first. If you want to learn the way, please read on.

How to Rip AACS Encrypted Blu-ray with VLC

The default VLC media player will prompt errors due to Digital Rights Management like AACS when users try to play or rip copy-protected DVDs or Blu-ray Discs. That may cause such a nuisance for many users, so is it unworkable to rip encrypted Blu-ray with VLC? Actually, you can add some files to change the configuration of VLC media player so that it helps you play and rip protected Blu-ray discs.

This may be a bit complicated and requires users to download additional files to add to VLC directory. The full guide will be introduced in detail. You might as well follow the tutorial and give it a try. Or, if you want a direct way to rip encrypted Blu-ray, you can jump to the next section for a more intuitive way.

STEP 1. Download and Install VLC

To begin with, you should complete the setup of VLC. Please make sure that your VLC media player is up to date with the latest version, or it may cause some unexpected errors.

There are two important files required to enable your VLC to play and rip encrypted Blu-ray, respectively, keys database and AACS dynamic library. Please follow the next steps to download these two files onto your desktop.

STEP 2. Add Keys Database Files

Download a supported Java JRE (JDK is NOT needed) and extract it manually into a 'java' folder in the VLC directory.

Next, please download libaacs libraries and copy it into VLC directory root folder (not into a subdirectory). Please note that the file 'aacs_info.exe' is not required.

Download keys databse file manually and unzip the keydb.cfg file, which can be used for Blu-ray playback. After extracting the file, there's a 'FindVUK - Synchronize.bat' that can be used for a simple synchronization of the keydb.cfg file. Now, put this file in the related folder.

Windows: put it in C:\ProgramData\aacs\

Mac OS X: put it in ~/Library/Preferences/aacs/ (open a new folder if it doesn't exist.)

Linux: put it in ~/.config/aacs/

Linux SNAP: put it in ~/snap/vlc/current/.config/aacs/

STEP 3. Add AACS Dynamic Library

Also, you need to download AACS Dynamic Library from the following link and put the file in your VLC directory root folder on Windows PC. If you're using MacBook/ MacBook Air/ MacBook Pro, put the file in /usr/local/lib/ directory. (create it if it does not exist.)

AACS Dynamic Library:

For Windows 32-bit: Click here to download

For Windows 64-bit: Click here to download

Mac OS X: Click here to download

Linux: install libaacs package using your distribution package manager.

Note that the links are verified safe and clear.

STPE 4. Play and Rip Blu-ray with VLC

It takes all the effort to the final step. Simply launch VLC media player on your computer, and insert the Blu-ray disc into the device. Now, turn to VLC interface and click Media - Convert / Save... option. (or use hotkey: Ctrl + R)

Switch to Disc window, and select Blu-ray option. Next, browse and select the Blu-ray disc that you just inserted into the computer. Then, click Convert / Save button to the next interface and choose the saving path to rip Blu-ray with VLC without error.

I know there are quite a few files and steps to enable VLC media player to play and rip Blu-ray. However, there is actually an alternative to VLC that directly helps users rip encrypted Blu-ray discs without any error. Let's get to the next part to find out what this excellent tool is.

Alternative: Easier Way to Rip Encrypted Blu-ray

VLC media player is free software, so that's why it has such a limitation on copyright-protected Blu-ray discs. That's why VideoByte BD-DVD Ripper stands out as a better alternative with up to 6X faster acceleration mechanism and user-friendly experience. This is professional paid software nevertheless free to try with some limitations. If you're not a user in daily need, the free trial version could be enough to use.

To have a clear comparison between VLC and VideoByte, check this chart below.

	VLC Media Player	VideoByte BD-DVD Ripper
Protected Blu-ray	Not supported with extra files	Fully Supported
Encoding Speed	Normal	Up to 6X faster
Lossless Quality	No	Yes
Tech Support	No	Yes

VideoByte BD-DVD Ripper is an expert at ripping all types of DVD/Blu-ray discs, folders, ISO files with ease and fast performance. It supports to convert Blu-ray discs to over 300 mainstream multimedia formats. This software is very easy to rip encrypted Blu-ray directly unlike VLC media player, which requires users to add all kinds of files before using it. Only by taking 3 simple steps will it all be done.

STEP 1. Complete Setup

Please download and install VideoByte BD-DVD Ripper on your computer. It's fully compatible with all models of Windows PC and Mac. Then, launch it.

STEP 2. Insert and Load Blu-ray

Please insert the Blu-ray from which you want to rip into the device and click Load Blu-ray - Load Blu-ray Disc on the panel. It may take no time to load the movie list. It'll by default select the main movie, but you can simply select Full Movie List to manually locate and check your desired videos.

STEP 3. Rip Blu-ray Without Error

Now, you can select the output format from 300+ available choices. Simply click Rip All and the selected Blu-ray videos will start transcoding and ripping to the destination path. If you select to rip many videos in batch at a time, it's recommended to set a time for auto shutdown when completed.

That's no sweat, right? By the way, VideoByte BD-DVD Ripper also provides users with a handy toolbox including a video compressor, GIF maker, 3D maker, video enhancer, and media metadata editor. If VLC media player is too complex for you, this alternative will be an ideal tool.

It enjoys advanced tech mechanisms to ensure its smooth and quick performance, but at the same time, so friendly that you don't need to be tech-savvy. Words can lie, but you'll get to like it once you get down to it.