Have a shelf full of DVDs and Blu-rays? For years, Vudu’s Disc-to-Digital service let you turn those physical discs into digital movies, but its in-home support is ending as of December 31, 2024.
This guide explains the change, what it means for your existing collection, and your options for digitizing movies going forward.
What Was Vudu’s Disc-to-Digital and What’s Changing?
Vudu’s Disc-to-Digital program offered a clever solution for physical media owners. Using your phone’s camera, you could scan a movie case’s barcode, pay a small fee (usually $2 to $5), and Vudu would add a digital copy to your account to stream anywhere.
That at-home convenience is now ending. Vudu, which is part of “Fandango at Home,” is shutting down the mobile barcode scanning feature on December 31, 2024. After this date, converting discs using your phone from home will no longer be an option.
Crucially, any movie you previously converted is 100% safe and will remain in your digital library. Your existing collection is not affected—you just won’t be able to add new movies using this specific method.
How to Digitize Your Movies Now: 3 Main Options
With Vudu’s at-home scanning gone, your number one option comes packaged with new discs. The paper slip inside a Blu-ray or 4K movie case holds a digital copy code. Entering this code on a site like Vudu or Movies Anywhere instantly adds a digital version to your account at no extra cost.
For older DVDs and Blu-rays without a code, the most practical alternative is patience. Digital stores like Vudu (Fandango at Home), Amazon Prime Video, and Apple TV constantly run sales, often dropping prices to $5 or less. Watching for these deals is a cost-effective way to digitize your collection.
No other service currently offers a direct, low-cost replacement for Vudu’s at-home scanning feature. Your choices are straightforward:
- Redeem included digital codes from new disc purchases.
- Watch for digital movie sales to repurchase favorites cheaply.
- Buy the digital version directly for immediate access.
The Bottom Line for Your Movie Collection
While a convenient way to convert physical media is disappearing, your existing digital library is completely safe. To continue building your collection, simply use the digital codes included with new discs and keep an eye out for online sales. This isn’t an end to your movie collection, just a new chapter in how you manage it.