3 Easy Ways to Convert BDMV to MP4 on Windows/Mac (Free & Fast)

Many users find that BDMV (Blu-ray Disc Movie), the standard folder structure for Blu-ray movie discs, provides unparalleled high-quality images and sound. However, as a complex directory rather than a single video file, BDMV often presents significant challenges, such as poor device compatibility and massive storage consumption.

So, what’s the best way to enjoy your Blu-ray content without a dedicated player? The most effective solution is to convert BDMV to MP4 (using universal codecs like H.264 or H.265/HEVC). This transformation ensures your movies are compatible with almost all devices—including smartphones, tablets, and smart TVs—while significantly reducing file size for a smoother, more enjoyable viewing experience.

If you don’t know how to do it, no worries. This article will explore what a BDMV file is, the key reasons to convert BDMV to MP4, and the best tools with step-by-step instructions to provide a reliable conversion solution for you.

Part 1. What Is BDMV and Why Convert BDMV to MP4

What is a BDMV file?

BDMV (Blu-ray Disc Movie) is a directory format used to store Blu-ray video content. To play these files on common devices, you need to convert the .m2ts files within the BDMV/STREAM folder into a universal format like MP4.

BDMV, short for Blu-ray Disc Movie, is a file format specially designed for Blu-ray discs. It is usually used to store and play Blu-ray disc movies and has high-definition picture quality, high-fidelity sound effects, and rich interactive functions. The file in BDMV format contains not only the video and audio data of the movie but also multiple other parts, such as subtitles, menus, chapter information, and other multimedia content, which are organized into specific folders so that they can be read and played correctly by Blu-ray players or other compatible devices.

From the introduction of the BDMV file format above, we can learn that BDMV is usually used to store high-quality video and audio content, which is one of the standard formats for Blu-ray movie discs, but it may not be as well compatible with some common players as digital formats. While MP4, as a common and popular digital video format, is widely used for its excellent compatibility and efficient compression performance. The main reasons for converting BDMV files to MP4 format are as follows:

1. Improve compatibility.

The MP4 format can be played on almost all devices and platforms, including computers, cell phones, tablets, and more. In contrast, the BDMV format may need to be played properly on specific Blu-ray players. So, converting BDMV to MP4 can improve its compatibility and make it playable on various devices and platforms.

2. Easy to store and share.

The MP4 format utilizes advanced video compression technology to reduce file size while maintaining video quality significantly. This makes MP4 files easier to store and share than larger BDMV files.

3. Reduce playback restriction.

BDMV files may be copyrighted or regionally restricted, making them unplayable in certain regions or on certain devices. MP4, in contrast, does not have these restrictions and can play video content more freely.

Part 2. 3 Ways to Convert BDMV to MP4

Method 1: The Best Professional BDMV to MP4 Converter (High Speed & Quality)

AnyMP4 Blu-ray Ripper is a powerful Blu-ray ripper for Windows and Mac that can rip Blu-ray to more than 500 digital formats, including MP4, the most common and popular format. Compared with HandBrake, this BDMV to MP4 converter is capable of removing region Blu-ray restrictions and ripping encrypted Blu-ray folders from any region.

The following are detailed steps to convert BDMV to MP4 with it:

1. Download AnyMP4 Blu-ray Ripper via the Free Download button below. After installation, launch it on your computer.

2. Click the down arrow of the Load Blu-ray button in the upper left corner and select the Load Blu-ray Folder from the drop-down list to upload the BDMV folder.

3. Click the Output Format option and select one of the MP4 formats with different resolutions and encoders from the Video tab > MP4. You can also choose the default option of Same as source.

Tip: After setting the output format, you can also click on the gear-shaped button next to the output format option to set some other detailed parameters for video and audio, including quality, frame rate and bit rate, sample rate, etc.

4. Click the Open output folder button to choose where the converted BDMV files are stored, and then click Rip All in the lower right corner to convert BDMV to MP4 format.

Method 2: Convert BDMV to MP4 Free with HandBrake

HandBrake is a free, open-source, and cross-platform digital video converter supported on Windows, Mac, and Linux. It can convert almost any video format, including Blu-ray files like BDMV, to digital formats like MP4 for playback on various media players.

Here are the steps for you to convert BDMV to MP4 using HandBrake:

1. Download and install HandBrake from its official website, and then launch it. Click the Folder or File buttons on the left, or drag and drop directly to upload the BDMV file you want to convert to MP4.

Note: Since BDMV is a folder structure, you should locate the video files in the STREAM folder (usually the largest .m2ts file) or simply drag the entire BDMV folder into HandBrake to let it scan the titles.

2. Click the Summary tab > the Format option to select MP4 as the output format. Then, click the Browse button to select the folder where you want to place the BDMV files converted to MP4 format.

Tip: Besides the output format, you can also adjust the size, resolution, frame rate, etc., of the BDMV video files under several other tabs.

Recommended settings for HandBrake:

• Video Codec: H.264 (for compatibility) or H.265 (for smaller size).
• Framerate: Same as source.
• Resolution: 1080p or 4K (depending on the source).

Method 3: Using VLC Media Player for Quick Conversion

VLC is more than just a player; it’s a "Swiss Army Knife" for media. Its biggest selling point is that it requires no extra software installation, making it perfect for a quick, one-time conversion. However, please note that VLC conversion is relatively slow and may occasionally crash when handling massive 40GB+ BDMV folders.

Here are the steps to convert BDMV to MP4 via VLC:

1. Launch VLC and navigate to the Media menu, then select Convert / Save (or press Ctrl + R).

2. Click the + Add button. You must navigate into your BDMV folder, then to the STREAM sub-folder. Select the largest .m2ts file (this is usually the main movie).

Note: In the BDMV > STREAM folder, you might see dozens of files. Sort by size, and the file that is significantly larger than the others (often 15GB–40GB) is the main movie title you need to convert.

3. Click Convert / Save. In the Profile dropdown, select Video - H.264 + MP4 (MP3).

Note: Sometimes VLC conversions result in audio being out of sync. To prevent this, click the Wrench icon (Edit Selected Profile) next to the MP4 profile, go to the Audio codec tab, and ensure "Keep original audio track" is checked if you want to avoid re-encoding the audio.

4. Click Browse to choose where to save your new MP4 file and give it a name.

Click Start and keep an eye on the blue progress bar at the bottom of the VLC player.

If VLC stops responding immediately after you click Start, try disabling Hardware-accelerated decoding in Tools > Preferences > Input / Codecs before starting the conversion.