Can handbrake handle 4K Blu-ray?

“Can HandBrake convert 4K Blu-ray disc? I have a few 4K Blu-ray movie discs and would like to convert these 4K Blu-ray discs to 4K MP4 for playback on my 4K TV. I know that HandBrake could convert Blu-ray and DVD discs. Does HandBrake handle 4K Blu-ray disc? And is it similar to converting DVD movies in operation? Please help me with this. Any advice will be highly appreciated.”

As one of the most popular video transcoder software tools, HandBrake has gained worldwide fame for its ease of use and cost-effectiveness. As a free and open-source transcoder for digital video files, HandBrake is able to rip and convert videos files, DVD movies and even Blu-ray movies to video files in MP4 or MKV file format. However, with the fast development of 4K technology, nowadays more and more people have 4K Blu-ray discs. Many people would wonder whether HandBrake could handle 4K Blu-ray movie discs. If you also have this question, this page will be perfect for you. Check the below content to learn how to handle 4K Blu-ray movie discs.

Part 1: Can handbrake Handle 4K?

Firstly, let’s firstly answer these 2 questions: Can HandBrake handle 4K videos? And can HandBrake handle 4K Blu-ray discs? We will continue discussing this topic after we make clear of these 2 issues.
 

Previously, HandBrake is a video transcoder that could output video files in up to 1080P. that means HandBrake couldn’t process 4K videos then. However, in 2017, Handbrake was finally getting a new update of version 1.1.0. In this update, HandBrake got a few bug fixes, improvements and new features. This new version also includes new and improved presets for YouTube and Vimeo, as well as presets for 4K capable devices like the Apple TV 4K, ChromeCast Ultra, Fire TV and Rokku. You can also choose to export 2160p content using the Matroska (MKV) container that’s compatible with a variety of devices.
Therefore, the answer is quite obvious. Now, HandBrake is compatible with 4K video handling. You could handle 4K videos to get 4K MKV or MP4 files with the help of HandBrake. Then, here comes the second question: can HandBrake process 4K Blu-ray movies?
In fact, nowadays, most 4K Blu-ray movie discs are commercial discs, which means that 4K Blu-ray movie discs are copy protected. However, we know that HandBrake couldn’t process copy protected DVD/Blu-ray movie discs. You have to install disc decrypting utility like libdvdcss to assist HandBrake to process DVD/Blu-ray discs. So, if you want to handle 4K Blu-ray movie discs with HandBrake, you need to make sure you have disc decrypting utilities installed.

Part 2: How to Convert 4K Blu-ray with HandBrake

Then, how to convert 4K Blu-ray movies with HandBrake? Follow the below steps to learn the detailed guide.

1. Download and install HandBrake on your computer. Meanwhile, install disc decrypting plugins like libdvdcss on your computer for disc decrypting.
2. Insert 4K Blu-ray disc into the Blu-ray disc recorder drive.
3. Open Handbrake program on your computer.
4. Click the “Source” button to load 4K Blu-ray disc from the Blu-ray disc drive.
5. After it scans your Blu-ray disc, head to the “Title” drop-down menu in the upper left-hand corner of the window. Choose the titles you want to rip and convert.
6. Click the “Browse” button on the right side of the window to set output directory.
7. Next, head to the bar on the right labeled “Presets”. Here you need to specify output format for source 4K Blu-ray discs.
8. Under the “Container” tab, choose either MP4 or MKV as output format.
9. Then, you could adjust the video and audio parameters in the “Video”, “Audio” tabs.
10. Hit the “Start” button at the top of the window to start ripping and converting 4K Blu-ray movies to 4K MP4 or 4K MKV file.

You then only need to wait for the conversion to complete. HandBrake has multiple advantages for decoding and encoding 4K Blu-ray movies, including:

• -It’s totally free and easy to use.
• -It could help you get output video files in either MKV or MP4 file format, both of which are now compatible with most devices.
• -It enables you to adjust the video and audio parameters as you like.
• -The output video and audio quality could be adjusted.

However, there are also some disadvantages of HandBrake, which make it quite troublesome to use:

• -You need to install disc decrypting plugins for HandBrake to let it be able to handle commercial discs.
• -The output file formats are quite limited. You could only get MKV and MP4 files with HandBrake.

Therefore, a HandBrake alternative is strongly recommended as below.

Part 3: Best HandBrake Alternative to Convert 4K Blu-ray without Quality Lossless - Leawo UHD Ripper

The best HandBrake alternative isLeawo UHD Ripper. As a professional Blu-ray ripping software tool, Leawo UHD Ripper could not only rip and convert 4K Blu-ray movies to 4K MKV, 4K MP4 files, but also convert Blu-ray movies to 1080P MP4, AVI, MKV, MOV, WMV, etc. You could then freely watch Blu-ray movies on TV, smartphones, tablets, etc. It comes with advanced disc decrypting features that could convert Blu-ray discs with AACS, BD+ and the latest MKB protection, and convert CSS-DVD discs, while HandBrake has to be assisted by plugins.

• 

• Leawo UHD Ripper

  ☉ Remove AACS 2.0 protection from UHD Blu-ray discs
  ☉ Decrypt and rip 4K Blu-ray discs, folders and ISO image files
  ☉ Convert 4K Blu-ray to MP4, MKV, AVI, MOV, FLV, and other 180+ 4K/1080P/720P/regular files
  ☉ Convert 4K Blu-ray movies in Full Movie, Main Movie or Custom Mode
  ☉ Edit 4K Blu-ray movies like trimming, cropping, adding watermark, applying 3D effect, etc.

  Download WinDownload Mac

Follow the below steps to learn how to convert 4K Blu-ray discs with HandBrake alternative – Leawo UHD Ripper.

Download and install Leawo UHD Ripper on your computer. Meanwhile, insert 4K Blu-ray disc to the Blu-ray drive, or get source Blu-ray folders ready for loading and converting. (Make sure that your computer’s Blu-ray drive reads 4K Blu-ray disc)

Note: Leawo UHD Ripper is a module built in Leawo Prof. Media.

Step 1: Load 4K Blu-ray sources

Launch Leawo Prof. Media, and then open the "Convert" tab, and then click "Add UHD/Blu-ray/DVD" button to browse and add 4K Blu-ray disc into this 4K UHD ripper software.
Note: 

• 3 different content loading modes are available. To rip and convert 4K Blu-ray movies, choose the “Full Movie” mode.
• After loading source 4K Blu-ray movies, you could select subtitles and audio tracks, play source 4K Blu-ray movies, edit 4K Blu-ray movies, snap screenshots, etc.

Step 2: Set output format

Next to the “Add Photo” button, click the dropdown box and select “Change”. You will then arrive at the Profile setting panel. Open the "Format > 4K Video" group to select either 4K MP4 or 4K MKV as output. You could also choose other formats from either “Format” or “Device” group.

Optional settings: After you’ve set the output format, click the same drop-down box and click “Edit” option and then you could adjust video and audio parameters of selected profile, including: video codec, audio codec, bit rate, aspect ratio, frame rate, channel, etc.

Step 3: Set output directory

Back to the main program interface, click the green “Convert” button. You could then set an output directory on the right popup sidebar in the "Save to" box.

Step 4: Convert 4K Blu-ray to 4K video

Click the bottom “Convert” button on the right sidebar to start converting 4K Blu-ray disc to 4K videos. Featured with GPU acceleration technologies, Leawo UHD Ripper could complete the Blu-ray disc converting at 6X higher speed.

Note: Internet connection is required during the whole conversion for the need of disc protection removal.

Here is a video guide on how to use Leawo UHD Ripper

Part 4: Comparison and Conclusion

You could handle 4K Blu-ray discs with both HandBrake and Leawo UHD Ripper. What are the differences between Leawo UHD Ripper and HandBrake? Check the below comparison table.

From the above comparison table, you could easily learn that both HandBrake and Leawo UHD Ripper are wonderful tools to handle 4K Blu-ray content. As a free and open source video transcoder, HandBrake is a perfect choice that enables you to handle 4K Blu-ray to video conversion easily. The disc decrypting plugin is also free to use. Therefore you don’t need to pay for anything. On the contrast, Leawo UHD Ripper, as a shareware tool, is able to do more than HandBrake does. It’s far more than a simple video transcoder that could rip and convert 4K Blu-ray movies to videos in more file formats. Leawo UHD Ripper is also a 4K Blu-ray movie editor, 2D to 3D converter, etc. You get a better 4K Blu-ray movie watching experience with Leawo UHD Ripper.