How to Download HandBrake: A Free and Open Source Video Converter
If you are looking for a free and easy way to convert videos from almost any format to a selection of modern and widely supported codecs, you should try HandBrake. HandBrake is an open source video transcoder that works on Windows, Mac, and Linux. In this article, we will show you how to download, install, and use HandBrake to convert your videos.
What is HandBrake and why you should use it
HandBrake is a tool that allows you to convert video from nearly any format to a selection of modern and widely supported codecs. You can use HandBrake to reduce the file size of your videos, change the resolution, frame rate, bitrate, audio quality, and more. You can also use HandBrake to rip DVDs and Blu-rays that are not copy protected.
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Features of HandBrake
Some of the features of HandBrake are:
It is free and open source, meaning you can use it without paying anything or worrying about spyware or malware.
It supports multiple platforms, including Windows, Mac, and Linux.
It has a simple and intuitive user interface that makes it easy to use for beginners and advanced users alike.
It has a lot of presets for common devices and platforms, such as iPhone, iPad, Android, Apple TV, Roku, YouTube, Vimeo, etc.
It allows you to customize various settings for video and audio encoding, such as codec, container, quality, resolution, frame rate, bitrate, sample rate, channels, etc.
It supports batch processing, meaning you can convert multiple files or folders at once.
It has a built-in video preview that lets you see how your output will look like before encoding.
It has a queue system that lets you manage multiple encoding tasks.
It supports subtitles and chapters.
It has a command line interface for advanced users who want more control over the encoding process.
Supported formats and devices
HandBrake can convert video from nearly any format to a selection of modern and widely supported codecs. Some of the supported input formats are:
MPEG-4 (.mp4), MPEG-2 (.mpg), MPEG-TS (.ts), Matroska (.mkv), AVI (.avi), WebM (.webm), Flash Video (.flv), WMV (.wmv), QuickTime (.mov), etc.
DVDs and Blu-rays that are not copy protected.
Video files or folders from your hard drive or network.
Some of the supported output formats are:
MPEG-4 (.mp4) with H.264 or H.265 (HEVC) video codec and AAC or MP3 audio codec.
MKV (.mkv) with H.264 or H.265 (HEVC) video codec and AAC, MP3, AC3, DTS, FLAC, or Vorbis audio codec.
WebM (.webm) with VP8 or VP9 video codec and Vorbis or Opus audio codec.
HandBrake also has presets for common devices and platforms that optimize the output for them. Some of the supported devices and platforms are:
Device/Platform Preset Name
iPhone, iPad, iPodApple 1080p30 Surround, Apple 720p30 Surround, Apple 540p30 Surround, Apple 240p30
AndroidAndroid 1080p30, Android 720p30, Android 480p30
Apple TVApple 2160p60 4K HEVC Surround, Apple 1080p60 Surround, Apple 720p30 Surround
RokuRoku 2160p60 4K HEVC Surround, Roku 2160p60 4K, Roku 1080p30 Surround, Roku 720p30 Surround
Fire TVFire TV 2160p60 4K HEVC Surround, Fire TV 2160p60 4K, Fire TV 1080p24 Surround, Fire TV Stick 1080p24 Surround
ChromecastChromecast 2160p60 4K HEVC, Chromecast 1080p30
PlayStationPlayStation 2160p60 4K HEVC, PlayStation 1080p30 Surround, PlayStation 720p30 Surround
XboxXbox One S/X/360 Legacy Compatible, Xbox One S/X/360 Compatible, Xbox One S/X/360 HQ Compatible
Nintendo SwitchNintendo Switch HQ Compatible, Nintendo Switch Compatible
YouTube, Vimeo, etc.Vimeo YouTube HQ 2160p60 4K HEVC Surround, Vimeo YouTube HQ 1440p60 HEVC Surround, Vimeo YouTube HQ 1080p60 HEVC Surround, Vimeo YouTube HQ 720p60 HEVC Surround, Vimeo YouTube HQ 576p25 PAL HEVC Surround, Vimeo YouTube HQ 480p30 NTSC HEVC Surround
GmailGmail Large (3 Minutes), Gmail Medium (5 Minutes), Gmail Small (10 Minutes)
TwitchTwitch Fastest (720p30), Twitch Faster (720p30), Twitch Very Fast (720p30), Twitch Faster (1080p30), Twitch Very Fast (1080p30)
TwitterTwitter Video (720x1280)
TikTokTikTok Video (540x960)
SnapchatSnapchat Video (720x1280)
InstagramInstagram Video (640x640)
FacebookFacebook Video (640x640)
WhatsAppWhatsApp Video (640x640)
General Presets
Fast and Very Fast: Low quality but small file size and fast encoding speed.
HQ and Super HQ: High quality but large file size and slow encoding speed.
Production: Optimized for professional video editing and post-production.
Matroska: MKV container with various video and audio codecs.
Web: WebM container with VP8 or VP9 video codec and Vorbis or Opus audio codec.
AV1: Experimental preset for AV1 video codec.
How to download HandBrake from the official website
To download HandBrake from the official website, you need to follow these steps:
For Windows
Go to .
Select the version of Windows you are using (64-bit or 32-bit).
Click on the Download button and save the file to your computer.
You can also download the portable version of HandBrake that does not require installation.
If you want to use the command line interface of HandBrake , you can download the CLI version from the same page.
For Mac
Go to .
Select the version of Mac OS you are using (Intel 64-bit or Apple Silicon).
Click on the Download button and save the file to your computer.
You can also download the nightly build of HandBrake that has the latest features and bug fixes, but may be unstable.
If you want to use the command line interface of HandBrake, you can download the CLI version from the same page or install it via Homebrew.
For Linux
Go to .
Select the distribution of Linux you are using (Ubuntu, Fedora, Debian, etc.).
Follow the instructions on how to add the HandBrake repository to your system and install HandBrake via your package manager.
You can also download the flatpak or snap package of HandBrake that works on any Linux distribution.
If you want to use the command line interface of HandBrake, you can download the CLI version from the same page or install it via your package manager.
How to install HandBrake on your computer
To install HandBrake on your computer, you need to follow these steps:
For Windows
Double-click on the downloaded file and follow the instructions on the setup wizard.
Choose the destination folder and components you want to install.
Click on Install and wait for the installation to finish.
Click on Finish and launch HandBrake from your Start menu or desktop shortcut.
For Mac
Double-click on the downloaded file and drag the HandBrake icon to your Applications folder.
Launch HandBrake from your Applications folder or dock.
You may need to allow HandBrake to run from your System Preferences > Security & Privacy > General tab if you see a warning message.
For Linux
If you installed HandBrake via your package manager, launch it from your applications menu or terminal.
If you downloaded the flatpak or snap package, follow the instructions on how to install and run them from .
How to use HandBrake to convert videos
To use HandBrake to convert videos, you need to follow these steps:
Select a source file or folder
Launch HandBrake and click on Open Source in the toolbar.
Browse and select the video file or folder you want to convert. You can also drag and drop it to the HandBrake window.
If you selected a folder, choose a title from the drop-down menu. If you selected a DVD or Blu-ray, choose a title and an angle. You can also scan multiple titles at once by checking Batch Scan in the preferences.
HandBrake will scan the source and display its information in the Summary tab.
Choose a preset or customize settings
Select a preset from the Presets panel on the right. You can choose from various categories and devices. You can also create your own presets by clicking on Save New Preset in the toolbar.
If you want to customize the settings, go to the other tabs and adjust them according to your needs. You can change the video codec, quality, resolution, frame rate, filters, audio codec, quality, sample rate, subtitles, chapters, etc.
You can preview how your output will look like by clicking on Preview in the toolbar. You can also compare it with the original by clicking on Live Static Preview.
Start encoding and monitor progress
When you are ready, click on Start Encode in the toolbar. You can also add multiple tasks to the queue by clicking on Add to Queue in the toolbar.
You can monitor the progress of the encoding in the bottom panel. You can see the estimated time, file size, bitrate, frame rate, etc.
You can pause, resume, or stop the encoding at any time by clicking on the corresponding buttons in the toolbar.
When the encoding is finished, you can find the output file in the destination folder you specified in the Summary tab. You can also open it directly by clicking on Open Destination in the toolbar.
Conclusion and FAQs
In this article, we have shown you how to download, install, and use HandBrake to convert videos from almost any format to a selection of modern and widely supported codecs. HandBrake is a free and open source video transcoder that works on Windows, Mac, and Linux. It has a lot of features and presets that make it easy and fast to convert videos for various devices and platforms. You can also customize various settings for video and audio encoding, preview and compare the output, and batch process multiple files or folders. HandBrake is a powerful and versatile tool that can help you with your video conversion needs.
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Here are some frequently asked questions about HandBrake:
Q: Is HandBrake safe to use?
A: Yes, HandBrake is safe to use as long as you download it from the official website or a trusted source. HandBrake is free and open source, meaning you can inspect its code and verify its integrity. However, be careful of fake or malicious versions of HandBrake that may contain viruses or malware. Always check the digital signature and checksum of the downloaded file before installing it.
Q: How long does it take to convert a video with HandBrake?
A: The time it takes to convert a video with HandBrake depends on several factors, such as the size and quality of the source file, the output settings, the speed of your computer, and the number of tasks in the queue. Generally speaking, higher quality and larger files take longer to convert than lower quality and smaller files. You can see an estimate of the time remaining in the progress panel while encoding.
Q: How can I improve the quality of the output video?
A: There are several ways to improve the quality of the output video with HandBrake, such as:
Choose a higher quality preset or increase the quality slider or bitrate in the Video tab.
Choose a slower encoder preset or tune in the Video tab.
Enable deinterlacing or detelecine filters in the Filters tab if your source is interlaced or telecined.
Enable denoise or deblock filters in the Filters tab if your source is noisy or blocky.
Choose a higher resolution or aspect ratio in the Dimensions tab.
Choose a higher sample rate or bitrate in the Audio tab.
However, keep in mind that increasing the quality may also increase the file size and the encoding time of the output video. You should balance the quality and the size according to your needs and preferences.
Q: How can I reduce the file size of the output video?
A: There are several ways to reduce the file size of the output video with HandBrake, such as:
Choose a lower quality preset or decrease the quality slider or bitrate in the Video tab.
Choose a faster encoder preset or tune in the Video tab.
Disable or reduce the filters in the Filters tab if your source does not need them.
Choose a lower resolution or aspect ratio in the Dimensions tab.
Choose a lower sample rate or bitrate in the Audio tab.
Remove or compress the subtitles or chapters in the Subtitles and Chapters tabs.
However, keep in mind that reducing the file size may also reduce the quality of the output video. You should balance the size and the quality according to your needs and preferences.
Q: How can I convert multiple videos at once with HandBrake?
A: You can convert multiple videos at once with HandBrake by using the queue system. To do this, you need to follow these steps:
Select a source file or folder and choose a preset or customize settings as usual.
Click on Add to Queue in the toolbar. You will see a number indicating how many tasks are in the queue.
Repeat steps 1 and 2 for each video you want to convert.
When you are done, click on Start Queue in the toolbar. HandBrake will start encoding each task one by one.
You can monitor, pause, resume, or stop the queue in the bottom panel. You can also edit, remove, or reorder the tasks in the queue by clicking on Show Queue in the toolbar.
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