How to Change VHS to Digital: Preserve Old Tapes the Smart Way

Understanding How to Change VHS to Digital

VHS tapes aren’t built to last. Whether it's a wedding, birthday, or your child’s first steps, every VHS cassette is a ticking clock of fading memories. Fortunately, there are reliable ways to change VHS to digital, so you can enjoy those moments again—and share them with the next generation.

This guide walks you through your options, from DIY to professional solutions, while highlighting key things to watch out for, like worn-out VHS players or blank tapes.

Use a VHS Player with a VHS Video to Digital Converter

One way to digitize VHS tapes is by using a VHS player (also known as a VCR) connected to a VHS-to-digital converter. These converters often come with USB cables and software that allow you to transfer footage to your computer.

Pros:

• Inexpensive upfront

• Good for tech-savvy users with time and patience

Cons:

• Requires a working VCR (increasingly rare)

• Many converters are low quality or unreliable

• Video quality may suffer during transfer

• Blank tapes may waste hours of your time

If you don’t already own a VCR, purchasing one in good condition can be more expensive than outsourcing the job. Read our guide finding a working VHS player.

Try a VHS/DVD Recorder Combo Unit

Another DIY route is a DVD/VHS recorder combo. These devices were once popular and can burn your VHS footage directly onto a DVD.

Things to know:

• DVDs can become unreadable over time

• Not all formats are compatible with modern devices

• It's an extra step if you eventually want cloud storage

For comparison, America’s best video tape conversion service will skip the DVD entirely, uploading your digital files directly to the cloud where they’re safe, sharable, and easily downloaded.

Use a Professional Digitizing Service

If you'd rather not fuss with cables, software, and hours of playback, professional services exist to make this process simple. A company like Heirloom provides a VHS to digital service that:

• Repairs damaged or moldy tapes at no extra cost

• Gives you credit for blank or unplayable tapes

• Uploads your memories to secure cloud storage with an optional flash drive

We also offer a VHS-C conversion service if your tapes are the smaller camcorder variety.

What Happens If the VHS Tape is Blank?

It’s surprisingly common to discover that old tapes are blank, partially recorded, or unplayable. If you're using a DIY method, this can waste hours. Before investing time or money, we recommend reading our blog:
Blank VHS Tapes: Why You Shouldn’t Pay to Convert Them to Digital

📧 Want more tips like this?

Subscribe to Heirloom emails to learn how to preserve your priceless memories. Get discount codes for expedited shipping, quality digitizing, and secure cloud storage. We never spam, and it’s easy to unsubscribe at any time.