Searching for a plain download link usually means you just want the ripper working before your next backup session, not a history lesson. Fair enough: grab the installer for your OS below and you'll have a working copy in minutes. Worth knowing upfront is that MakeMKV runs on a beta key GuinpinSoft renews every so often rather than a one-time purchase, which is why some people search specifically to confirm it still works. It does, and the interface hasn't changed much in years, so older tutorials still apply.
About That Beta Key Everyone Mentions
MakeMKV has technically been in "beta" since 2007, and access after the trial period depends on a beta key posted on the developer's forum that GuinpinSoft renews periodically rather than a traditional license purchase.
Without a current key the program still opens and plays discs, but ripping speed and some features are restricted, so check the official forum thread if the bundled key has lapsed.
Who ends up using MakeMKV
MakeMKV is the go-to for home theater enthusiasts and media-server builders who want a fast, lossless first step before further encoding.
- Plex or Jellyfin server owners ripping a DVD or Blu-ray collection into a raw archive
- Video hobbyists extracting a clean MKV before compressing it further in HandBrake
- Anyone backing up a scratched disc's audio and subtitle tracks before it's unreadable
Before you install
A couple of things worth knowing about MakeMKV before you request the link: it covers Windows, macOS and Linux, so pick the right build for the machine you're setting up. And on pricing, MakeMKV has a free tier plus a paid upgrade; the free build below is the full, genuine app, not a time-limited trial. It's developed and maintained by GuinpinSoft inc.
System requirements
- WindowsWindows 10 or 11 (64-bit); older 7/8.1 builds usually still run but no longer get official support
- macOSa recent macOS release — check the download page for the current minimum version, since Apple Silicon vs Intel builds sometimes differ
- Linuxmost current 64-bit distributions; look for a native .deb/.rpm/AppImage or a package in your distro's own repository
Heavier workloads (large files, high-res media, big projects) will naturally want more RAM and a faster CPU/GPU than the bare minimum.
Quick steps
- Pick the Windows, macOS, or Linux build below.
- Install and insert your DVD or Blu-ray disc.
- Select titles to rip and export straight to MKV.
MakeMKV: the honest trade-offs
- Rips DVDs and Blu-rays without re-encoding, preserving original picture quality
- Simple interface focused on one task instead of a bloated feature set
- Handles multiple audio tracks, subtitles, and chapters in a single pass
- Access depends on a periodically renewed beta key rather than a permanent license
- No built-in transcoding, so a separate tool is still needed to shrink file size
Our mirror matches the file sizes and hashes GuinpinSoft publishes on its own site, so you're not trading a slower official download for a modified one.
Other Video Editing & Conversion downloads people search for
Browse the full Video Editing & Conversion category →
Keeping MakeMKV up to date
MakeMKV usually has a built-in updater or store-based auto-update (Microsoft Store / Mac App Store / Play Store, depending on platform); if you installed it manually, re-downloading the current build from the official source is the fallback. Sticking to the developer's own distribution channel — which is what this page links to — means you're never stuck on an old build with unpatched bugs just because a mirror site stopped updating its copy.
Features, install steps, alternatives and more detail live on the main MakeMKV page.
Frequently asked questions
Does MakeMKV remove disc copy protection?
It decrypts commercial DVD and Blu-ray protection as part of the ripping process, which is why some regions treat its legality differently, so check your local law before use.
Why does the Linux build need extra setup?
The Linux version compiles from source using a couple of shell scripts and requires build tools like gcc already installed, unlike the plug-and-play Windows installer.
