This article shows you how to burn an MP4 file to a DVD. To make the disc playable with most DVD players on the market, you will need to use free software such as DVD Flick (on Windows) or Burn (on Mac). On the contrary, if you simply need to archive the MP4 file on a DVD or if you know in advance that you will view it only and exclusively with your computer, you can create a data DVD using the burning features integrated directly into the Windows or macOS operating system.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Burn a DVD Video on Windows
Step 1. Insert a blank DVD into your computer's burner
You can choose to use any DVD format, provided your computer's optical drive supports it. You can use a DVD ± R or DVD ± RW. However, rewritable discs (DVD ± RW) may cause problems when played with normal living room DVD players.
- If the Windows "Auto Play" window appears after inserting the DVD into your computer, close it before continuing.
- If your computer does not have a DVD burner (which has the "DVD" logo printed on the front of the cart where the disc goes), you will need to purchase an external USB one.
Step 2. Download the DVD Flick program
It is a free program that can convert MP4 files so that they can be played without any problem using most DVD players on the market. Download the installation file by following these instructions:
- Access the website https://www.dvdflick.net/download.php using your computer's internet browser;
- Push the button Download DVD Flick placed in the center of the appeared web page;
- Wait for the download of the installation file to start. You may need to select the destination folder first or to confirm your action.
Step 3. Install DVD Flick
Once the download is complete, double-click the DVD Flick installation file icon and follow these instructions:
- Push the button Next;
- Select the check button I accept;
- Push the button Next four times consecutively;
- Push the button Install;
- Press the button again Next;
- Push the button Finish.
Step 4. Launch DVD Flick
Double-click the program icon featuring a piece of motion picture film. The DVD Flick GUI will appear.
To use the program you may need to close the initial tutorial window by pressing the button OK or Close.
Step 5. Upload the MP4 file to DVD Flick
Locate the video in MP4 format you want to burn to DVD, then select the corresponding icon and drag it into the program window using the mouse. This way the file will be imported into DVD Flick.
- If the DVD Flick window is displayed in full screen, click the icon with two overlapping squares located in the upper right corner, then reposition it where you prefer on the screen.
- If you have two windows open, you can place one on the left side of the screen and the other on the right side by dragging them with the mouse.
Step 6. Press the Project settings button
It is located at the top of the program window. The DVD Flick settings window will appear.
Step 7. Go to the Burning tab
It is located on the left side of the pop-up window that appeared.
Step 8. Select the "Burn project to disc" checkbox
It is placed at the top of the window. This way the chosen MP4 file will be burned to DVD correctly.
Step 9. Press the Accept button
It is located at the bottom of the window. The new program configuration settings will be saved and the current dialog will be closed.
If you plan to use DVD Flick in the future for other projects as well, press the button Use as defaults rather than Accept.
Step 10. Press the Create DVD button
It is located at the top of the main program window. DVD Flick will start encoding the MP4 file and then burn it to disc.
If a warning message appears asking you to choose a file name other than the current one, simply press the button Continue.
Step 11. Wait for the burning process to complete
Encoding the MP4 file and writing the data to disk can take from a few minutes to several hours depending on the length of the video.
If an error message appears during the burning process, please refer to the "Tips" section at the end of the article to find out how to fix the problem using DVD Flick
Step 12. Verify the operation of the newly created DVD
When the DVD is ready to use, remove it from your computer's optical drive and insert it into a regular DVD player to check if it plays normally.
If the DVD was not created correctly, please refer to the "Tips" section to find out how to fix the problem
Method 2 of 4: Burn a DVD Video on Mac
Step 1. Insert a blank DVD into your computer's burner
You can choose to use any DVD format, provided your computer's optical drive supports it. However, you will be more successful when using a DVD ± R disc as it guarantees compatibility with a wide range of DVD players.
- If the Windows "Auto Play" window appears after inserting the DVD into your computer, close it before continuing.
- If your computer does not have a DVD burner (which has the "DVD" logo printed on the front of the cart where the disc goes), you will need to purchase an external USB one. Make sure it's compatible with your computer as most modern Macs only have USB-C ports instead of USB.
Step 2. Download and install Burn
It is a free program that among the many features offered also allows you to burn MP4 files directly to DVD. Access the website https://burn-osx.sourceforge.net/Pages/English/home.html using your computer's internet browser, press the button Download Burn located at the bottom right of the page and follow these instructions:
- Open the Burn installation file (it is a ZIP archive) by double clicking on its icon;
- Select the Burn program icon and drag it to the "Applications" folder;
- Double-click the Burn app icon;
- Authorize installation if requested by the operating system.
Step 3. Start Burn
Open the search bar Spotlight clicking the icon
type in the keyword burn, then double-click the entry Burn appeared in the list of results.
To successfully start Burn, you may need to right-click the icon and choose the option You open from the context menu that appeared.
Step 4. Go to the Video tab
It is located at the top of the program window. The section of the program related to DVD video creation will be displayed.
Step 5. Name the new DVD
Click the text field at the top of the Burn window, then replace the current text (normally it should be "Untitled DVD") with the name you want to give the disc.
Step 6. Press the ＋ button
It is located in the lower left corner of the program window. A Finder window will appear.
Step 7. Select the MP4 file to burn
Click the name or icon of the MP4 video to copy to DVD.
Step 8. Press the Open button
It is located in the lower right corner of the Finder window. The selected file will be imported into the Burn window.
Step 9. Enter the menu to select the file type
It's located at the top right of the Burn window.
Step 10. Choose the DVD-Video option
It is one of the items in the drop-down menu that appeared.
Step 11. Hit the Convert button if needed
If after choosing the video format a pop-up window appears with the button inside Convert, press it and follow the instructions that appear on the screen. This way you can be sure that the DVD is playable by most DVD players on the market.
Step 12. Press the Burn button
It is located in the lower right corner of the program window. The chosen MP4 file will be burned to the DVD.
Step 13. Follow any instructions that will appear on the screen
When the burning process is complete you should be notified. If not, wait for the progress bar regarding the process of writing data to disk to disappear. You can now remove the DVD from your computer's optical drive and play it with most DVD players on the market.
Method 3 of 4: Burn a Data DVD on Windows
Step 1. Insert a blank DVD into your computer's burner
Make sure the disk you choose doesn't already have any data on it.
You will need to use your computer's DVD burner to be able to perform the procedure described in this section. Optical drives of this type have the "DVD" logo printed on the front
Step 2. Access the "Start" menu by clicking the icon
It features the Windows logo and is located in the lower left corner of the desktop. Alternatively, press the ⊞ Win key on your keyboard.
Step 3. Open a new "File Explorer" window by clicking the icon
It features a small folder and is located at the bottom left of the "Start" menu.
Step 4. Navigate to the folder where the MP4 file to burn to DVD is stored
Step 5. Choose the video file to copy to the optical media present in the burner
Step 6. Go to the Share tab
It is located in the upper left of the window. A dedicated toolbar will appear.
Step 7. Press the Write to disc button
It is visible within the "Send" section of the toolbar. A new dialog will appear.
Step 8. Hit the Burn button
It is placed at the top of the window. The chosen file will be burned directly onto the DVD without undergoing any encoding.
The process of writing the data to disc may take between a few minutes and an hour or more, depending on the size of the video file chosen and the speed of the burner
Step 9. Press the Finish button when prompted
It is located at the bottom of the window. After pressing the indicated button you can remove the DVD from the burner. To access the data contained on the newly created disc, you should be able to use any computer with a DVD player.
Method 4 of 4: Burn a Data DVD on Mac
Step 1. Purchase a USB DVD Burner
Since most modern Macs are sold without an optical drive, you need to purchase an external DVD burner to be able to perform the steps in this section.
If your Mac has USB-C ports (tapered rectangular shape with rounded sides) instead of regular USB 3.0 ports (rectangular shape), be sure to buy a DVD burner with USB-C connector or alternatively buy also a USB 3.0 to USB-C adapter
Step 2. Insert a blank DVD into your computer's burner
Make sure the disk you choose doesn't already have any data on it.
Step 3. Open a Finder window
Click the blue stylized face icon visible within the System Dock.
Step 4. Navigate to the folder that contains the MP4 file to be burned
Use the left sidebar of the Finder window to select the directory name in question.
Step 5. Select the MP4 file you want to archive on the DVD
The video name will appear highlighted.
Step 6. Access the File menu
It is located in the upper left of the Mac screen. A drop-down menu will appear.
Step 7. Choose the Burn [filename] to disc… option
It is one of the items listed in the menu that appeared. A new dialog will appear.
Step 8. Press the Burn button when prompted
It is visible at the bottom of the dialog box that appeared.
Step 9. Press the OK button when prompted
It is located in the lower right corner of the window. At this point you can remove the DVD from your computer's optical drive and view the MP4 video using any computer with a DVD player.
