An iPad is a wonderful device. The beautiful Retina display and long battery life make the iPad a very useful tool for watching movies. The problem is that downloading a movie is not cheap today. If you have a large DVD collection, you can convert them to video files that you can play on your iPad using free software. You can convert all the movies you download to a version suitable for iPad. Finally, there are many free applications that allow you to legally stream hundreds of free movies.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Add your DVD Collection to iTunes
Step 1. Download and install Handbrake
Handbrake is an open-source video encoding program that allows you to copy your DVDs to computer and then convert them to an iPad compatible format (with some modifications). It is available for Windows, Mac, and Linux. You can download it from handbrake.fr.
Step 2. Download libdvdcss file to bypass DVD protection
Most DVDs are protected to prevent copying. The libdvdcss file will allow Handbrake to bypass this restriction and copy the DVD to your computer. You can download it from download.videolan.org/pub/libdvdcss/1.2.12/. Make sure you choose the correct version for your operating system.
Step 3. Move the libdvdcss file to the correct location
Once the file is downloaded, you will need to put it in the Handbrake folder.
- Windows: Copy the libdvdcss-2 file to C: / Program Files / Handbrake, or to the location where you have chosen to install Handbrake.
- Mac OS X: Run the libdvdcss.pkg file to automatically install the file in the correct location.
Step 4. Insert the DVD into your computer
You can only legally copy DVDs you own, and even if it's a gray area, you shouldn't get in trouble if you don't distribute the videos around.
Step 5. Start Handbrake
Don't worry about all the complicated options, you'll use the default settings to quickly convert the files to the correct format.
Step 6. Click "Source" and select "DVD Video"
Handbrake will start scanning the DVD inserted into your computer.
Step 7. Select the title you want
If your DVD contains the wide-screen and full-screen versions of the movie, you can select the one you want from the "Title" drop-down menu. The "Size" section of the Image tab will help you determine which one you are looking for.
Step 8. Set the destination of the converted file
Click the Browse button next to the "Destination" field to choose where you want to save the movie file.
Step 9. Select "iPad" from the "Default Settings" list
The copied movie will automatically be converted to an iPad compatible format. If you don't see this list, click the "Activate Default Settings" button.
Step 10. Click "Start" to start copying and converting the DVD
It will probably take some time, as you will have to copy the movie to your computer and then convert it. You can check the progress at the bottom of the Handbrake window.
Step 11. Add the movie to the iTunes library
Once you've finished converting the file, you can add it to your iTunes library, and then sync it with your iPad.
Click on the File (Windows) or iTunes (Mac) menu and select "Add File to Library". Browse the folders for the movie you just copied and converted
Step 12. Open the "Movies" section of your iTunes library, then select the "Personal Videos" tab
You will see all the movies you imported into iTunes.
To move the movie to the "Movies" section, right click on the movie and select "Get Info". On the "Options" tab, use the pop-up menu to choose the category you want to move the movie to
Step 13. Sync the movie with your iPad
Now that the movie is in your iTunes library, you can sync it with your iPad to watch it whenever you like.
Method 2 of 3: Download Movies and Add Them to Your iPad
Step 1. Find a movie that you can legally download from the internet
While almost all popular movies are paid, you can download free and legal movies from many sources, including:
- Archive.org (archive.org/details/movies): This is a large collection of public domain movies that everyone can watch for free. When downloading movies from this site, be sure to download the "h.264" version.
- YouTube's selection of free movies (youtube.com/user/movies/videos?sort=dd&view=26&shelf_id=12): this is a collection of movies that have been legally uploaded to YouTube and that you can watch safely. If you want to download them on your iPad, you will need to use a dedicated program to download from YouTube.
- Classic Cinema Online (classiccinemaonline.com): This site offers many films from the first era of cinematography, and most of them can be downloaded for free. Choose a movie and click the "Download" button to download the movie as an.avi file. You will need to convert the file to play it on the iPad (read below).
Step 2. Download a torrent movie
The other option for finding free movies is to download a torrent file. This is only legal if you own a physical copy of the film. Most of the movies you download using torrents will need to be converted before you can play them on iPad (see below).
Step 3. Use Handbrake to convert downloaded files for iPad
Most of the files you download online will not be compatible with iPad. You can use the free Handbrake program to convert them to an iPad compatible format.
- Download and install Handbrake from handbrake.fr.
- Open Handbrake and click on the "Source" button. Select the video file downloaded to your computer.
- Click on Browse next to the "Destination" field and decide where to save the converted file, to which you can give the name you prefer ("filename-ipad" is a simple name that allows you to immediately understand what version of the film it is).
- Select "iPad" from the "Default Settings" list. If you don't see this list, click the "Activate Default Settings" button.
- Click on "Start". Handbrake will start converting the file, and it may take some time. You can check the progress at the bottom of the Handbrake window.
Step 4. Import the converted movie to iTunes
Now that the conversion is complete, you can import the movie to iTunes so it can be synced with your iPad.
- Click on the File (Windows) or iTunes (Mac) menu and select "Add File to Library". Browse folders for the newly converted file.
- Open the "Movies" section of your iTunes library. You can click on the film at the top of the program window to open it.
- Select the "My Movies" tab. You will see all the movies you imported into iTunes. To move the movie to the "Movies" section, right click on the movie and select "Get Info". On the "Options" tab, use the pop-up menu to choose the category you want to move the movie to.
Step 5. Sync the movie with your iPad
Now that the movie is in your iTunes library, you can sync it with your iPad to watch it whenever you like.
Method 3 of 3: Use Apps to Stream Free Movies
Step 1. Download an app that allows you to stream free movies
There are several streaming apps for iPad, but many of them, like Hulu and Netflix, require a monthly subscription. Fortunately, there are some apps that offer free access to hundreds of movies, usually with advertisements. The most popular apps include:
- Crackle: This app offers hundreds of movies with commercial breaks. It does not require a subscription. If you are looking for popular movies to watch for free, this app is your best choice.
- NFB Films: is an application offered by the National Film Board of Canada, which offers thousands of movies and clips available for free streaming.
- PlayBox - this is an app where you can watch thousands of movies, TV shows and much more. You can also download them if you want to see them right away.
Step 2. Search for movies available on the app
The selection of available movies often changes on the free apps, so you'll always have something new to see.
Step 3. Watch the movie
With a streaming app, you can start watching a movie right away if you are connected to the internet - you don't have to wait for the movie to download before you start watching it.
