How to Back Up Old VHS Tapes Before It’s Too Late

If you still have a box of VHS tapes in the loft or under the bed, you’re not alone. For most families, those tapes are the only copies of birthdays, weddings, first steps and loved ones who are no longer with us. The problem? VHS tapes and players were never designed to last forever.

In this guide we’ll walk through the safest ways to back up your old VHS tapes to digital, what to expect from DIY options, and when it’s easier (and safer) to hand the job to a professional.

Why you shouldn’t leave VHS “for another year”

Magnetic tape slowly loses signal over time. Heat, damp, mould and repeated playback all make things worse. At the same time, working VHS players are getting harder to find and more expensive to repair.

Backing up your tapes now means:

• You can watch them on modern TVs, phones and computers.
• You’re not relying on a single, ageing VHS deck to keep working.
• You can make extra copies for family so the memories are spread, not stuck in one house.

Option 1: DIY capture with a USB device

The most common DIY route is a USB capture stick that plugs between your VHS player and a computer. You connect the yellow/red/white cables to the stick, install the software, press play on the tape and hit record on the computer.

Pros

• Relatively cheap if you already own a working VHS player and a computer.
• You’re always in control of where your tapes are.
• Great if you only have one or two tapes and you enjoy tinkering with tech.

Cons

• Real-time process – a two-hour tape takes two hours to capture.
• Software can be fiddly; dropped frames and audio sync issues are common.
• Quality depends heavily on the condition of your player and cables.
• You still need to organise, name and back up the files properly afterwards.

If you want to go down this route, read some independent reviews first and avoid the absolute cheapest options. Quality capture devices and clean, serviced VHS decks make a big difference.

Option 2: VHS to DVD recorders

You might still find combined VHS/DVD recorders that copy tapes straight to DVD. These can be handy, but there are a few limitations:

• DVD is itself an ageing format – modern laptops often don’t have drives.
• You don’t get flexible digital files (like MP4) unless you rip the DVD later.
• Good quality combo machines are rare and can be costly second-hand.

If you do use one, treat the DVD as a temporary step: copy the disc to proper digital files and back those up too.

Option 3: Using a professional VHS to digital service

A good professional service will:

• Use serviced VHS decks and professional capture equipment.
• Check your tapes individually, cleaning and lightly repairing where needed.
• Deliver your videos as MP4 files that work on most modern devices.
• Offer extras like USB sticks, DVDs and longer-term online access.

For bigger batches, or if your tapes include really important milestones, this can be the most cost-effective option once you factor in the time, frustration and hardware involved in DIY.

At The Video Converters we convert VHS, VHS-C and other tape formats to MP4, USB, DVD and secure cloud folders – with simple per-tape pricing and no charge for blank tapes.

What to do with your VHS files once they’re digital

Whether you’ve gone DIY or used a service, the job isn’t finished when you get your first digital copy. Think in terms of at least three copies:

• On a computer or laptop.
• On an external drive or USB stick stored safely.
• In the cloud – for example a private folder on a reputable cloud storage provider.

Give copies to other family members too. The more places your videos live, the less likely they are to disappear for good.

So… what’s right for you?

If you only have one or two tapes, a working VHS player and you’re comfortable with computers, a good USB capture device may be enough.

If you have a pile of tapes, no working player, or you’d simply rather get it done properly with as little stress as possible, a professional service is usually the easiest route – especially if you want USBs, online access and DVDs as gifts.