How to Compress DVD-9 to DVD-5 in 2026: Free & Paid Methods

Part 1. What Are DVD-9 and DVD-5?

Before compressing a DVD-9 disc to DVD-5, it’s important to understand the differences between these two DVD formats. Their storage capacities and physical structures determine how much content they can hold and whether compression is necessary.

1.1 DVD-9 vs. DVD-5: What’s the Difference?

DVD-5 and DVD-9 are two common DVD formats with different storage capacities. DVD-5 is a single-layer DVD that holds approximately 4.7GB of data, while DVD-9 is a dual-layer DVD with a capacity of approximately 8.5GB. Here is a quick comparison:

1.2 Can You Compress DVD-9 to DVD-5 Without Losing Quality?

Yes, it can. A DVD-9 can hold around 8.5 GB of data, whereas a DVD-5 can hold around 4.7 GB. If you want to fit the entire contents of a DVD-9 onto a DVD-5, the video will generally need to be recompressed at a lower bitrate. But you can remove unnecessary content such as behind-the-scenes videos, interviews, and other supplementary material to cut down the file size to fit it on a DVD-9 disc.

Part 2. How to Compress DVD-9 to DVD-5: Free & Paid Methods

There are several tools available for compressing DVD-9 content to DVD-5. In this guide, we’ll introduce one paid option and one free alternative: Leawo DVD Copy and DVD Shrink.

2.1 How to Compress DVD-9 to DVD-5 with Paid Software

Leawo DVD Copy is a DVD copying and backup program that supports DVD-9 to DVD-5 compression. It can load DVD discs, DVD folders, and ISO image files, allowing users to create backups in different formats.

One of its main advantages is its three copy modes: Full Movie, Main Movie, and Custom Mode. These options let you decide how much of the original DVD content to retain. You can also select audio tracks and subtitles before starting the backup.

Step 1. Install and Launch Leawo DVD Copy

First, download and install Leawo DVD Copy from the official Leawo website. Launch the program after installation. Insert your source DVD-9 disc into your computer’s DVD drive. On the main interface, open the Copy module and click Add UHD/Blu-ray/DVD to load the source.

You can generally choose from the following input options:

• Add from CD-ROM: Load a DVD disc from an optical drive.
• Add from Folder: Import a DVD folder stored on your computer.
• Add ISO File: Load a DVD ISO image.

If you are using a DVD folder or ISO image, make sure the source files are accessible and that your computer has sufficient storage space.

Step 2. Select DVD-5 as the Target Disc Type

After loading the source DVD, find the disc type selection option at the bottom of the interface. Choose DVD-5 as the output disc type. This tells the program to prepare the backup for a single-layer DVD.

You can also select the copy mode at this stage. The program will display the estimated output size, allowing you to check whether the selected content fits the target capacity.

Step 3. Choose a Copy Mode

Leawo DVD Copy provides three copy modes: Full Movie, Main Movie, and Custom Mode. For DVD-9 to DVD-5 compression, choosing the right mode helps you cut unnecessary content and avoid excessive video compression.

• Main Movie: Copies the main movie, generally identified as the longest title on the source DVD. This mode is suitable if you only want the primary movie without additional features.
• Custom Mode: Allows you to select the DVD titles you want to retain. It is useful when you want to keep the main movie and certain bonus features while removing other content.
• Full Movie Mode: Selecting this mode preserves the entire content of a DVD-9 disc, which is not a practical option for users who wish to compress it to fit onto a DVD-5 disc.

If you want to preserve the main movie’s quality as much as possible, both Main Movie and Custom Mode work; it depends on what you want to keep.

Step 4. Select Audio Tracks and Subtitles

After choosing Main Movie or Custom Mode, you can select the audio tracks and subtitles you want to include in the backup.

Step 5. Start the DVD-9 to DVD-5 Backup

Once you have configured the copy settings, click the green Copy button to open the backup settings panel.

Depending on your requirements, you can choose the available output destinations:

• DVD Disc: Copy the compressed content directly to a writable DVD-5 disc.
• DVD Folder: Save the backup as a DVD folder on your computer.
• ISO File: Create an ISO image of the compressed DVD content.

Select your destination, configure the disc label and save location if necessary, and confirm the available storage space. Finally, click the Copy or Start button in the backup panel to begin the process.

2.2 How to Compress DVD-9 to DVD-5 with a Free Tool?

If you don’t want to pay for DVD copying software, DVD Shrink is another option worth considering. DVD Shrink is a free Windows application designed to back up and compress DVD video content. It can shrink a dual-layer DVD-9 to fit a single-layer DVD-5 by adjusting video compression settings. It also allows users to remove unnecessary audio tracks, subtitles, and additional DVD content.

Here is how you should compress DVD-9 to DVD-5 with DVD Shrink.

Step 1. Download and Launch DVD Shrink

Visit the official DVD Shrink website and download the available official version and install the program on your Windows computer.

Step 2. Load the Source DVD-9

Insert your DVD-9 disc into the drive. Click Open Disc on the toolbar and select the drive containing your DVD. Alternatively, click Open Files and locate the folder containing the VIDEO_TS directory. DVD Shrink will analyse the source DVD. Wait for the analysis to finish before changing the compression settings.

Step 3. Choose Full Disc or Re-author Mode

DVD Shrink provides two main approaches to backing up DVD content:

• Full Disc: Retains the original DVD structure, including menus, the main movie, and extras. You can adjust compression settings for individual titles and remove unnecessary audio or subtitle streams. However, retaining everything may require more compression.
• Re-author: Allows you to select specific titles from the original DVD and create a smaller DVD compilation. It is useful if you only want the main movie or selected video titles. However, it does not preserve the original DVD menu structure.

If you want to retain the original menu, Full Disc mode is the more appropriate choice. If you only need the main movie, Re-author mode can help reduce the amount of content that needs to be compressed.

Step 4. Adjust the Compression Settings

After selecting the backup mode, check the DVD structure and compression settings. In Full Disc mode, DVD Shrink usually applies automatic compression to make the output fit the selected target size. You can also choose a Custom Ratio for more control over the compression level.

Step 5. Back Up the Compressed DVD

After configuring the content and compression settings, click Backup! to open the backup options. Choose a destination for the compressed DVD content. DVD Shrink can save the output as DVD files on your hard drive or create an ISO image, depending on the selected backup target and available options.

If you want to burn the resulting files to a blank DVD-5, you may need an additional DVD burning tool like Leawo DVD Creator. Once the backup is complete, check the resulting files and verify that their total size fits the DVD-5 target before burning.

Important: DVD Shrink is best treated as a legacy option for compatible, legally accessible DVD sources. It cannot reliably handle newer DVD protection systems, and its outdated software environment may cause compatibility or reading problems on modern computers.

2.3 What’s the Difference Between Paid & Free Software?

Both Leawo DVD Copy and DVD Shrink can help compress DVD-9 content to DVD-5, but they differ in usability, supported features, and development status.

Here is a side-by-side comparison:

Which One Should You Choose?

Choose Leawo DVD Copy if you want a more straightforward DVD copying workflow, multiple copy modes, and flexible output options. DVD Shrink is worth considering if you want a free DVD compression tool and are comfortable using older software. However, there are two important limitations to consider:

1. DVD Shrink has not been actively developed since 2005. Its final stable version is old, and it cannot reliably handle newer DVD copy protection systems. Compatibility with modern Windows environments and different DVD sources may vary.
2. DVD Shrink generally saves compressed content to a DVD folder or ISO image. If you want to burn the backup to a blank DVD-5, you may need separate burning software.

Part 3. DVD-9 to DVD-5 Compression Problems and Solutions

Even when you use suitable DVD compression software, you may encounter problems during the backup process. Here are some common issues and practical ways to troubleshoot them.

3.1 The Output Is Still Too Large for DVD-5

If the compressed DVD content still exceeds the DVD-5 capacity, check the selected target disc type and output size first.

Some possible solutions include:

• Make sure DVD-5 is selected instead of DVD-9 as the target.
• Remove unnecessary audio tracks and subtitles.
• Remove bonus features that you don’t need.
• Review the compression ratio and adjust it if necessary.

Before burning the backup, always check the final output size. A file that exceeds the target disc’s capacity may cause the burning process to fail.

3.2 The Compressed Video Looks Blurry or Blocky

Video compression reduces data usage. When a DVD-9 is compressed to fit a DVD-5, the video bitrate may need to be reduced. If the compression is too aggressive, you may notice blurry images, blocky artefacts, or reduced detail in fast-moving scenes. What you can try:

• Keep only the audio tracks and subtitles you need.
• Avoid using an excessively low compression ratio; remove unnecessary content instead.
• Choose a DVD-9 or another larger-capacity storage option if preserving the original video quality is more important than using a smaller disc.

Remember that removing unwanted content can reduce the required compression, but it cannot guarantee a completely lossless DVD-9 to DVD-5 backup.

3.3 The DVD Drive Does Not Appear in the Software

If your DVD drive does not appear when loading the source disc, the problem may be related to the drive connection, operating system, or disc itself. You can try these solutions:

• Check whether the optical drive is properly connected to your computer.
• Open your operating system’s device management tools to see whether the DVD drive is recognized.
• Eject and reinsert the source DVD.
• Try another readable DVD to determine whether the problem is caused by the disc.
• Restart the software or reconnect the external DVD drive.

If the DVD drive still does not appear, you can try loading a supported DVD folder or ISO image instead, provided you already have access to the source files.

3.4 The Backup Cannot Be Written to a Blank DVD

If the software cannot burn the compressed backup to a blank DVD, first check whether the disc and optical drive are compatible.

Here are several things to verify:

• Make sure you are using a writable DVD-5 disc rather than an incompatible media type.
• Check whether your optical drive supports writing to the selected DVD format.
• Confirm that the output size does not exceed the disc’s available capacity.
• Make sure the blank disc is not damaged or already finalized.
• Check whether another application is using the optical drive.

If direct disc burning continues to fail, save the backup as a DVD folder or ISO image first. You can then use compatible DVD burning software to write the files to a blank disc.

3.5 The Software Cannot Read the Source DVD

A DVD copying program may fail to read a source disc for several reasons, including physical damage, optical drive problems, unsupported disc structures, or access restrictions.

You can try the following troubleshooting steps:

• Inspect the disc for scratches, fingerprints, or visible damage.
• Clean the disc carefully and try loading it again.
• Test the DVD with another compatible drive or DVD player.
• Make sure the DVD folder or ISO image is complete if you are loading files instead of a physical disc.
• Check whether the source DVD uses a protection scheme that the software does not support.

Part 4. FAQs

Conclusion

Compressing DVD-9 to DVD-5 is a practical way to create a smaller DVD backup, especially when you only have single-layer blank DVDs or don’t need to retain every part of the original disc. Regardless of which tool you choose, the key is to balance disc capacity, retained content, and video quality. Remove unnecessary audio tracks, subtitles, and bonus features before applying stronger compression, and always verify the final output size and playback quality before burning your backup.