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Apple computers are installed with a utility that helps you to burn CDs and DVDs. DVDs hold larger amounts of data than CDs. You can create a customized DVD within a few minutes. Follow these steps to burn a DVD on a Mac computer.
Steps
Part 1
Part 1 of 3:
Check System Specifications
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1Determine if your computer can write DVDs before you attempt to burn a DVD on your Mac.
- MacBook Air computers without disk drives do not have the Mac SuperDrive required to burn DVDs.
- Some older Mac laptops and computers do not have a SuperDrive; however, they are usually installed in newer Macs.
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2Check system specifications to be sure that you can write DVDs.
- Go to your desktop. Click on the Apple icon in the upper left hand corner of the page.
- Select "About This Mac." Wait for the dialog box to pop up. Click on "More Info..."
- Choose "Disc burning" in the list of topics in the left hand column. Look for "DVD-Write:" on the list in the right hand column.
- If it reads " -R" and "-RW" in the list, you can burn DVDs.
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Part 2
Part 2 of 3:
Gather Mac Files
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1Return to your desktop.
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2Right click your mouse on some empty space. You can also press "Control" and "Enter" below your track pad.
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3Select "New Folder" from the list of options. You may also be able to select "New Burn Folder" on some computers.
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4Name the new folder while it is highlighted. Drag movies, files and other data into the new folder.
- If you want to rip a movie from a DVD and burn it onto a new DVD, you will need a DVD ripping program. Although these are not available in licensed Mac software, you can download free programs like Mac the Ripper, to duplicate content.
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Part 3
Part 3 of 3:
Burn a DVD
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1Double click on your new folder. You should see your files listed inside the folder.
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2Click on the gear icon at the top of your folder dialog box. It may say "Action" underneath the gear icon.
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3Select "Burn Folder Name to Disc..."
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4Insert a blank writable DVD into your disc drive.
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5Wait for the disc to start burning automatically or click "Burn."
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6Allow the Mac to burn and finalize the DVD before trying to access it. Click on it to attempt playing it, or eject it and play in a DVD player.
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Community Q&A
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QuestionHow can I move pictures to a DVD from a Mac computer to view on Windows?Community AnswerUse the DVD burn function on your Apple device. There is a CDROM on your computer (unless it is an Apple iDevice or an Apple laptop manufactured after 2011).
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QuestionHow do I burn a DVD if it says that there is not enough space on the disk?DenneiskTop AnswererYou're going to have to compress the file (which you can do with a third party program) or get a bigger disk.
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Things You'll Need
- Newer Mac computer
- Blank Writable DVD
- Files
- Ripping software (optional)
References
About This Article
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