iPad is a beautiful device. The great display and long battery life make iPad a great tool for watching movies. The problem is that downloading movies is not cheap. But if you have tons of movie DVDs, you can convert them to a format that can be played on your iPad using free software. You can also convert any downloaded movie to iPad supported format. What's more, there are several free apps that let you watch streaming videos completely free (and legally).
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Copy Movies from DVDs to iTunes
Step 1. Download and install Handbrake
It is a free video file converter that will allow you to rip DVD movies to your computer and then convert them to iPad compatible format. This program supports Windows, Mac OS and Linux. You can download it from handbrake.fr.
Step 2. Download libdvdcss file to bypass DVD encryption
Most movie DVDs are encrypted to prevent copying. The libdvdcss file will allow Handbrake to bypass this limitation on ripping DVD movies. You can download this file from download.videolan.org/pub/libdvdcss/1.2.12/. Select the version of the file that matches your operating system.
Step 3. Copy the downloaded libdvdcss file to the Handbrake folder
- Windows. Copy the libdvdcss-2 file to the C: \ Program Files \ Handbrake folder or to the folder where you installed Handbrake.
- Mac OS X. Run libdvdcss.pkg to automatically install the file in the correct location.
Step 4. Insert the movie DVD into your computer's drive
You can copy movies that you have purchased, but do not distribute them so you don't run into problems.
Step 5. Start the Handbrake program
Don't worry about complicated settings - you can use the default settings for converting movies.
Step 6. Click on "Source" and select "Video DVD"
Handbrake will scan the DVD inserted into your computer's drive.
Step 7. Highlight the required heading
If the DVD contains both widescreen and full screen versions of your movie, you can select the version you want from the Title menu. The Size section of the Movie tab will help you avoid confusing movie versions.
Step 8. Set the location of the converted file
To do this, click Browse next to the Target field to select the folder where the converted video file will be copied.
Step 9. In the Presets list, select iPad
This will automatically configure the converting process to convert to an iPad supported format. If you don't see the Presets list, click Switch Presets.
Step 10. Click “Run” to start ripping and converting the movie from DVD
It will take some time. You can follow the progress of the process at the bottom of the Handbrake window.
Step 11. Add the movie to your iTunes library
This will allow you to sync it to your iPad.
Click File (Windows) or open the iTunes menu (Mac OS) and choose Add File to Library. Find the movie file you just copied from disc and converted to the format you want
Step 12. Open the Movies section of your iTunes library and go to the Home Videos tab
The movies that you imported into iTunes will be displayed.
To move a movie to the Movies section, right-click the movie and select Info. On the Options tab, from the pop-up menu, select the category to which you want to move the movie
Step 13. Sync the movie to your iPad
Read this article for details on syncing video files to iPad.
Method 2 of 3: Download Movies and Copy them to iPad
Step 1. Find movies that can be downloaded for free and legally
Most famous movies cannot be downloaded for free, but there are sites where you can legally do this:
- Archive.org (archive.org/details/movies) is a site with a huge collection of movies that you can download for free. When downloading movies from this site, please choose the "h.246" version.
- YouTube's Free Movies (youtube.com/user/movies/videos?sort=dd&view=26&shelf_id=12) is a collection of movies that are uploaded to YouTube and can be watched for free. If you want to download such movies, please use YouTube Downloader.
- Classic Cinema Online (classiccinemaonline.com) is a site with a collection of old films that you can download for free. Select a movie and click "Download" to download the movie in AVI format. This format needs to be converted to another (see below).
Step 2. Download a movie from a torrent tracker
This is only legal if you have already purchased this movie (for example on a DVD). The format of movies downloaded from torrent trackers must be converted to another format (see below). Read this article for detailed information on downloading files from torrent trackers.
Step 3. Use Handbrake to convert downloaded movies to iPad supported format
Please be aware that most downloaded files are not supported by iPad.
- Download and install the Handbrake software from handbrake.fr.
- Launch Handbrake and click "Source". Select the downloaded video file on your computer.
- Set the location of the converted file. To do this, click Browse next to the Target field to select the folder where the converted video file will be copied and enter a name for the video file.
- Select iPad from the Presets list. If you don't see the Presets list, click Switch Presets.
- Click "Run" to start converting your movie. It will take some time. You can follow the progress of the process at the bottom of the Handbrake window.
Step 4. Import the converted movie to iTunes
This will allow you to sync it to your iPad.
- Click File (Windows) or open the iTunes menu (Mac OS) and choose Add to Library. Find the movie file that you converted to the desired format.
- Open the Movies section of your iTunes library. Or click the tape-shaped icon at the top of the iTunes window.
- Click on the "Home Videos" tab. The movies that you imported into iTunes will be displayed. To move a movie to the Movies section, right-click the movie and select Info. On the Options tab, from the pop-up menu, select the category to which you want to move the movie.
Step 5. Sync the movie with your iPad
Read this article for details on syncing video files to iPad.
Method 3 of 3: Using video streaming apps
Step 1. Download a streaming video app
There are many such apps, such as Hulu and Netflix, but most of them are paid. Fortunately, there are several apps that allow you to watch streaming video completely free of charge (by adding commercial breaks). Some of these applications are:
- Crackle - This free app includes hundreds of movies with commercial breaks. If you want to watch popular movies for free, then stop your choice on this application.
- NFB Films - This app is supported by the National Film Board of Canada and includes thousands of films and clips that you can watch for free.
- PlayBox is an application through which you can watch thousands of movies and TV shows. You can download any shows or movies.
Step 2. Browse the list of movies available in a specific application
This list is updated frequently, so you will always find new films to watch.
Step 3. Play the movie
You can do this using the selected application and only if your device is connected to the Internet. You don't need to download the movie to start watching it.