VUDU removes Disc-To-Digital scanning from iOS app | Ever-Curious Geek

Disc To Digital conversion is one of the highlights of VUDU - a Walmart digital movie service. And scanning bar codes of your physical movies on an iPhone or iPad was a really super convenient way to add digital copies of your physical DVDs and Blu-rays to your VUDU and Movies Anywhere digital lockers.
But with a recent update, VUDU has removed mobile disc-to-digital scanning from its iOS app. It apparently is still available on Android. They have replaced it with a clunkier, but still functional, in-browser scanning feature. Now, instead of scanning directly with an app using your iPhone camera, you snap pictures of the barcodes one at a time and upload them for VUDU to recognize.
Hopefully this doesn't mean that VUDU Disc-To-Digital is going away, but it's made an already clunky system a little clunkier to use. After all, the desktop D2D system is hopelessly broken, especially on Macs.
What do you think of VUDU Disc To Digital? Let me know in comments! #vudu #digital #disctodigital
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[@dani0363]

Thank you!! I finally know how to do disc to digital from my iphone!!

[@andrewpatterson4976]

You summarize it in a really concise, thoughtful way, kudos - what really angers me is that this function of the app motivated me to send money to them in a quick and easy fashion. Now, my future with all of this is in doubt, the most annoying thing about it before was that Disney wasn't on board but this is so much worse. Why not have Vudu collect all the money they could have made and burned it in a drum?

[@Bender2497]

Thanks for the video. I thought I was SOL regarding converting my Blu-rays via disc to digital. Had no idea you had to open up safari. I got it to work like a charm. There were a few movies that it didn't support, so I'm a little bummed that I couldn't convert all of my Blu-rays. But, I'm happy with the ones that I could, I'll likely sell the discs back. Wife wants less clutter, and I like my movies. This is our compromise.

[@Bender2497]

The ones I couldn't convert were the original Star Wars movies, along with Toy Story 3 and No Country for Old Men.

[@boogiedownnyc]

Best feature on Vudu

[@DaRealKingCoopa]

Thank you

[@darbymcdaniel5457]

thanks for the help

[@kathryns1079]

I started using the conversion back in 2013 and really liked being able to add our movies to the cloud. There are several that I have not been able to get uploaded as the conversion program says the disk is not eligible. It sort of irks me as the movie is often in their collection and I am not sure why my version is unacceptable. One movie that I wish would work is my blue ray version of Maos' Last Dancer. Not sure why it won't even load. But all in all, love having access to our movies when we travel using a roku stick. VUDU allows other family members to enjoy as well.

[@heathercareyvlogs5748]

Thank you. My computer doesn't read bluray discs and it also doesn't have a camera so I have to do it on my ipad and it scared me because I couldn't find the disc to digital in the app. I always watch my movies on my Ipad anyway. There's only two movies I want to convert as of now. Bumblebee and Home!

[@jessib1180]

I just can't stand when people feel the need to "fix" the process when it already works. It was so easy before--now I have to go through a whole song and dance that's completely unnecessary...

[@kainable8769]

if it ain't broke don'r fix it.

[@shieldagent001]

I dont have apple im a andriod user but I did use the disc to digital and its been great for the most part some flaw I have still include some of the new movie now won't let me because they are only doing the Itunes and if you try to scan it the app says error on it...also I did scan barcodes for movie off picture on the internet and got some movies that way and did not have to buy the disc but now its not working

[@AJGrossman]

Had a lot of success with the iOS app, have not tried the iOS in browser version yet (traveling on business right now). But I'll give it a try once i get home. It's been a great feature so far and has allowed to convert the majority of my library to digital and, with MoviesAnywhere, get them in my iTunes and easily watchable via AppleTV. Here's hoping i am able to get the new browser version to work.

[@EverCuriousGeek]

Alex Grossman that’s a good point about making disc based movies available to your Apple TV. Never thought of that (I’m a Roku-Chromecast dominated house). The iOS browser based system works reasonably well so far. Have had a couple snapped photos kicked because they can’t read the UPC. But I like that there’s no separate process for checking out like the app had (confirm, then send an email then get to checkout). All happens in the browser now without extra steps. Wish it could have been like that within the app.

[@AJGrossman]

You're right that the process flow is much simpler now (that always was annoying having to confirm with e-mails, etc). I have tried additional films using the new browser method and been successful or had a clear message that the UPC in question cannot be converted at this time (which has always thrown me when it's a movie that shows as being a Movies Anywhere film, as opposed to a Paramount, Lionsgate or MGM film). But I guess there are still titles they don't have a legal authorization to convert to digital from disc yet. What I really like about the Movies Anywhere feature is the ability to watch films on any interface (Apple, Amazon, Google, etc). Plus, if it's a Movies Anywhere film, I can purchase a digital film wherever the price point is best and it will show up across the board along with the rest of my digital library, whether it be Vudu, Apple, etc. It's not often much, but saving $1-$5 a title can add up over time so it's nice to have a choice as a buyer.

[@EverCuriousGeek]

The biggest issues I've had with the new system is its failure to read the barcodes after taking a picture. Hopefully that improves. The whole digital copy ecosystem is still fractured but it's not as bad as it used to be. I had just picked up a Blu-ray of Mallrats where the UV code and iTunes digital copy supposedly expired on 12/31/17. Wouldn't redeem in UV on Movies Anywhere, Vudu of Universal's own website. Plugged the code into iTunes and it still redeemed, and filtered it back through Vudu and Movies Anywhere. (Yet, if I scanned the barcode, it thinks the Blu-ray was a DVD and I'd have had to pay $5 to get to HDX. Have had that a lot recently (the Blu-ray thinking it's a DVD).

[@AJGrossman]

I've seen that happen where the UPC shows up as DVD instead of Blu Ray and then they ask me for $5 for the UDX instead of $2. I've skipped those for now. I also had the wrong version delivered in one case (theatrical instead of Extended edition) and I've sent in a support ticket on that one which is working it's way through their process. Hopefully they correct that one soon. Either way, this whole thing with disc to digital and the Movies Anywhere linking things is a huge improvement over what we had before, so I remain cautiously optimistic.

[@zacharylee1995]

Dose Disc To Digital QR Scan Still Work on The VUDU App If you don't Mind Me Asking

[@EverCuriousGeek]

Zachary Lee Only on the Android app. You can do it through the Safari browser on iOS though.

[@CastIronCooking]

*My disk to digital works just fine, I was hoping to find a way around having to scan it near my billing address. Obviously if I have the DVD around my billing address I won’t need to put it to digital because I will own a physical copy, which I prefer anyway.*

[@EverCuriousGeek]

Cast Iron Cooking there is no (legal) way around that. It’s meant to enforce that you’re only scanning discs you own, not that you go over to a buddy’s or the library and start scanning Blu-rays into your collection.

[@CastIronCooking]

Mark David Zahn: Ever-Curious Geek *Yes I know why they do it! That’s why I wanted a way around it lol I converted a Blu-ray of my buddies that lives a couple apartments down from me, and wanted to do that at another friends but and then next city over and it wouldn’t let me do it. I don’t know what the square radius is from the actual billing address. But you are right I have a lot of movies that don’t have The ultraviolet code included And it is a great way to convert them by scanning the barcode.*

[@holydragonguy7850]

Its a pain to do it on my phone it says my location dosent match my billing

[@AJGrossman]

There seems to be a discussion thread on this on the Vudu forums at: forum.vudu.com/forum/vudu/vudu-disc-to-digital/444878-new-d2d-version/page2

[@CastIronCooking]

*Now I know why my iPhone was doing it for me and yours wouldn’t. I never downloaded the app on my iPhone I just have the website in my favorites. I don’t watch VUDU on my phone so there’s no reason for another app.*

[@cameronstrickland5340]

This video really helped me, thank you. The only thing is is I have an iPhone 7 and it keeps saying that the barcode is unreadable but I can see it fine. My camera’s clear. Please respond.

[@EverCuriousGeek]

Cameron Strickland I would try enabling the camera flash if you can. Might help. I had an iPhone 7 Plus and now an iPhone XS Plus, and I find switching to the telephoto camera lens often works better for this. Keep trying. It does work.

[@oLyHiGhGeRl2007]

I also hate how you have to be at your physical address to do the disc to digital... I have never gotten that feature to work.

[@EverCuriousGeek]

Kimmie Karch I can totally understand why they do that. Otherwise what’s to stop you from scanning barcodes left and right strolling through Best Buy or the library. That said, I have way more luck with the mobile D2D than the desktop version. It has never worked on my Mac at all. The desktop version is better for movie multipacks where the UPC isn’t valid (Lethal Weapon 4-pack and Ninja Turtles 3-pack Blu-rays worked on desktop for me). Shame that you can only do 100 titles per year on the mobile version.

[@oLyHiGhGeRl2007]

Mark David Zahn that is true, but even when I have my location on it errors out so I can't even use the feature 😟

[@AJGrossman]

I have never had the desktop version reading discs work for me on my Mac laptop using an external optical drive. Not sure what is up with that, if it's an issue with the app or with the fact that it's an external optical drive (since MacBooks don't have internal optical drives any more).

[@mikecinema7443]

Kimmie Karch You have to be connected to wifi for pinpoint accuracy. Also make sure the address matches your billing address.

[@kristy4567]

I'm so behind with technology lol so I'm just using this. It wasn't working for me either. But what I figured out is if the billing, shipping, etc addresses don't match up EXACTLY, it wasn't working. So for example it was missing an 'ave'. and another a capital letter. It works fine now. I think it had to match up exactly to gps location according to mail services. Try this.

[@G14tube]

I am trying to upload Skyscraper It’s in the voodoo database But I am getting this message when I try to upload it any ideas why this is happening? This UPC is currently not eligible for Disc to Digital on mobile. If UPC listed is different from your photo, please hold the camera closer and be sure to focus on the barcode.

[@mattshapiro8739]

When I try doing it now, every time I click "Convert Disc" it says "Please enable Location permissions in device settings." But as far as I can tell, they're enabled. I haven't seen anyone else online with this problem. Do you know how to fix it?

[@EverCuriousGeek]

I don't know that I get a "please enable" message every time I convert, but it does seem to check for location access, camera, UV and billing address each time and show me that all my boxes are checked before converting. Kind of a clunky user experience.

[@toriaborg7890]

In my settings for vudu, I've had to allow location as "always" for it to work. When I've marked "when Using the App" it hasn't worked. Then I just turn it back off when I'm done scanning. Clunky, for sure.

[@LilFaeryGaming]

I had to enable location on safari too to get it to work but even though I’m at home it doesn’t work because it says I have to be at my billing address. It’s annoying

[@mikesway2008]

I was wondering where it went last night and now it makes sense. It’s because of Apple’s in-app purchases.

[@AJGrossman]

I don't think that was the case, since that was the reason why you had to verify the purchase via e-mail, etc., so as to comply with the entire in-app purchase criteria. But maybe the rules on that changed.

[@BeyondSightPictures]

I believe it's about Vudu/Walmart circumventing the user's ability to disable and enable access to location services. Before, one could simply turn the Vudu app's privilidges on and off directly as needed for Christmas nversions. Now, Safari's privileges would have to be disabled entirely. Even when I was not using it, the previous Vudu app constantly accessed my location data.

[@holydragonguy7850]

But both locations are the same so idk

[@martinphillips4607]

I can’t speak for other, but this industry is so corrupt , if I can’t own a copy of the dvd 📀, like the tv show. Or the movies, then I don’t want it. When I buy something I buy it for life. Don’t lie to the consumer , you will lose in the end .

[@DJaquithFL]

LMAO .. 99% of the people simply scan a barcode generated on their PC screen to their Android. And there's absolutely NO yearly limit. YTD .. hmm I've probably converted 300+ movies. I own thousands of movies. My 2¢ is buy a used Android phone and knock yourself out. 😁

[@DJaquithFL]

Ryan M There's a group of I don't even know how many that have compiled a list of 8,000 movies. No one has been banned. I also purchased at least 100 plus movies.

[@DJaquithFL]

Ryan M I use my Android VUDU App, the compiled movie database and the linked movies to this site's UPC codes www.upcitemdb.com The newest movies are about a year old, nothing current. So in one hand people can use Kodi which doesn't help the studios or they can buy used physical movies and ditto no help .. or they can take your $2-$5.

[@Bender2497]

Holy cow that works! Thanks D Jaquith!

[@monkeyrat2853]

It’s Patent Pending... they really should update their terms... guess they don’t want to loose money and would rather stay quite and be a corrupt little business

[@HazelEyedElf]

I've did this for only a few movies but am afraid to go any further...anyone been banned for it yet? Someone else said that the scans you take are monitored/stored by vudu and they can restrict your account if they find out. Don't know any of that is true, though.

[@poetg3000]

Why they stop 😞 😢

[@EverCuriousGeek]

poet tate your guess is as good as mine!

[@pongchannel.]

@@EverCuriousGeek they make not much on it pepole just use it for $2 movies

[@krazedsuperman]

When I try to Scan the barcode on my iPhone 6 Plus It says webpage not available try again so I tried to reload the page I had to start all over again and it still will not work I don’t know why Vudu pulled This shit really pisses me off and also I want to know why the 90s version of titanic is not eligible from disc to digital they still haven’t released a copy with a digital copy and also movies like Iron Man captain America have been released with digital copies yet when you scan the barcode of the versions that came out without a digital copy or not eligible voodoo really needs to pull their fingers Out of their asses

[@EverCuriousGeek]

Brian S If you’re talking about the James Cameron “Titanic,” there are at least two Blu-ray releases available that have the digital copy included. One is a standard Blu+DVD+Digital and there’s also a 3D pack. Last I checked they can be had pretty reasonably on eBay but I’ve seen them in Walmart as well. As far as not being able to do D2D on your old copy, there are a lot of weird things in which titles work and don’t. Also, it’s a Paramount title and they don’t seem to support Vudu D2D as much as other studios. As far as your Marvel titles, Disney doesn’t allow any Vudu D2D conversion at all (nor does MGM), which is really unfortunate and annoying as they’ve been so inconsistent with releasing Blu-rays with either old style digital downloads (the ones that come on a disc and you copy them into your iTunes) or no digital HD copy at all. I have all my Muppet movies in Movies Anywhere except Muppet Caper and Treasure Island - which came as a Blu-DVD two pack. If I want those, I have to buy them at $18 each on Vudu or iTunes. The whole ecosystem is still pretty frustrating despite Movies Anywhere.

[@Ytc4techs]

Thank goodness I switch to Android...!

[@pongchannel.]

Ikr love andriod

[@Harrypotter378763]

Or just buy an Android phone it came off iOS because of apple

[@EverCuriousGeek]

I've crossed over to Android a couple times and both were thoroughly unpleasant experiences - first with an HTC Evo on Sprint many moons ago, and more recently with the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge. My biggest qualm with them is I couldn't get an Android phone with large enough internal storage. Now that's becoming less of an issue, but I'm too bought into the Apple ecosystem at this point (MacBook Pro, iPad, Pencil, iPhone, Watch, Airpods). Switching to Android introduces too many hurdles to my workflow and daily routine.

[@1969btt]

You might want to watch potato jet and learn how to cut your video down to about 30 seconds... then I should subscribe.

[@timbliss3639]

The Browser version om IOS sucks! the VUDU app was much better.

[@EverCuriousGeek]

It's definitely a confusing step backwards from a user experience standpoint. Not sure why Android still gets it in the app but iOS doesn't. Maybe a difference in what a seller can do in the different app stores?