Parallels Desktop DVD Archiving: How I Run Windows Apps Like MakeMKV on My Mac

As much as I love running my Mac as my daily driver, Parallels Desktop is my Swiss Army knife for DVD archiving on Mac when native tools fail. And there’s one particular job just this week that I can’t get done on my Mac. Archiving DVDs. macOS doesn’t provide an app that matches MakeMKV’s ability to handle DVD extractions so that I can view them easily on my iPad. Most native alternatives on the Mac just didn’t work for me. Therefore, MakeMKV is probably the only good alternative and that means running Windows.

Parallels Desktop DVD Archiving on Mac: My Fix

So what’s a stubborn Mac user supposed to do? For me, Parallels Desktop 26 is the fix. Setup is really easy: install Parallels, click to download Windows 11, and five minutes later you will be able to run Windows apps like MakeMKV on your Mac as if it were native. Parallels mounts my Mac Movies folder inside the Windows VM, so my ripped MKV files land right where I want them. No more jumping through hoops with USB drives or network shares.

The seamless integration means my external DVD drive appears in Windows, ready for MakeMKV to access. I run the rip, save the files, and there they are, instantly playable back in macOS. With Coherence mode, my MakeMKV window floats next to Safari and Finder, blending both worlds.

Why Not Just Use a Mac App?

I always want to use native Mac software, but for DVD archiving, nothing beats MakeMKV. I tried using both Handbrake to convert it and VLC to export but both of them trip up. Handbrake on Mac just can’t seem to export the videos properly, creating videos that are choppy. VLC just straight up was stuck at the DVD menu as the whole export.

But MakeMKV isn’t the only app that I have found the need to use a Windows app. I’ve also had also wrote in my previous post, Parallels Desktop lets me run Windows-only development toolkits in a native-like way. Tools like the Arduino ecosystem, M5Stack’s utilities, or vendor-specific SDKs lack fully featured macOS equivalents.

Parallels Desktop 26: A great option to running Windows on Mac

Parallels Desktop 26: The Essential Windows App Bridge

Whether it’s MakeMKV, Microsoft Office, Visual Studio, PowerBI, or older finance software, Parallels Desktop 26 is the go-to solution for running 200,000+ Windows apps seamlessly on a Mac. It’s officially authorized by Microsoft for Apple Silicon, supports the latest macOS versions, and brings features like shared clipboard, Mac files in Windows, Touch ID for Windows sign-in, and more.

No need to buy a second device. Instead just boot up your Mac and run the Windows tools you need, no compromises. Installation is literally a one-click job, even on Apple Silicone Macs like M1. Everything integrates beautifully, and performance is rock-solid.

There are two different versions of Parallels Desktop sold online.

• Parallels Desktop Standard Edition is designed for the everyday user who wants to run Windows on a Mac.
• Parallels Desktop Pro Edition is built for more advanced users, such as graphic
  designers, gamers, developers, and other prosumers.

Black Friday 2025: Up to 50% Off Parallels Desktop

If you’ve been mulling over Parallels Desktop 26 to run your windows apps, be it productivity tools, finance apps, or anything else, this is your moment. The 2025 Black Friday sale kicks off November 4th, with a huge 50% off deal for Standard, Pro, and 35% Business editions. This is the best price all year. Grab it while you can.

Remember to use the code ATPEAZ50 for 50% off Parallels Pro and Standard and ATPEAZ35 for 35% off Parallels Business Edition and during checkout!

And that’s not all! If you found this post helpful or have your own Mac + Windows tricks, I’d love to hear from you! Drop a comment below with the word “ParallelsWin” to enter a giveaway for a 1-year Standard license of Parallels Desktop 26.
At the end of the month, specifically 11:59pm on Nov 30, 2025 Singapore time, I’ll get a random number generator to pick the lucky winner from all those who commented with “ParallelsWin.” I’ll reach out via the email address you provide with your comment, so please make sure to include a valid email. Can’t wait to see hear your ideas and feedback!

Wrapping Up

Maybe someday there will be a MacOS alternative to apps like MakeMKV. But today, Parallels Desktop 26 remains my Swiss Army knife. From apps like MakeMKV and Office Suite that just works better on Windows to niche business tools, it keeps my workflow smooth and my tech headaches low. If you’ve got a better Mac-native solution for DVD backups, let me know! Otherwise, Parallels + MakeMKV is my go-to.

Drop me a message if you need help getting this setup working. I’ve been through every quirk and workaround, and I’m always up for troubleshooting!

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