How to play DVDs in Windows 10

VLC Media Player easily plays DVDs but not Blu-rays as the software is unable to decrypt such discs on its own. If you receive an error trying to play a Blu-ray, there is a workaround available. Browse to the vlc-bluray GitHub page (Opens in a new window) and follow the steps to download and install a third-party tool called MakeMKV.

How to Play DVDs and Blu-ray Discs in Windows

Microsoft neutered Windows Media Player in Windows, but you can turn to third-party apps instead. Here’s where to find DVD and Blu-ray player software for Windows 10 and Windows 11.

Updated March 22, 2022
https://www.pcmag.com/how-to/how-to-play-dvds-in-windows-10
(Photo: Marek Mnich / Shutterstock)

You probably catch most of your favorite TV shows and movies through video-streaming services, but many of us still have hefty DVD and Blu-ray collections. Unfortunately, if you pop a disc into your Windows PC, you may bump into trouble because Microsoft’s Windows Media Player doesn’t support DVDs or Blu-rays.

If you’re wondering how you’re supposed to play your favorite discs in Windows, don’t panic. Several PC brands bundle in multimedia software through which you can play a DVD, though sometimes these products are limited in nature. Microsoft offers a Windows DVD Player app, but it costs $15 and has generated a number of bad reviews. Instead, you can turn to third-party programs like VLC Media Player, Leawo Blu-ray Player, and 5Kplayer.

Before you can play any disc-based media, you naturally need a DVD drive. Most laptops no longer come with DVD drives because many manufacturers try to make their machines as thin and light as possible. For desktops, DVD (and Blu-ray) drives are often optional. If your PC doesn’t have one, you can always purchase an internal (Opens in a new window) or external (Opens in a new window) drive. Many of these drives are also read/write capable, so you can burn DVDs and Blu-ray discs.

You should be able to play DVDs in most player applications with little or no trouble. However, most programs lack the necessary functionality to decode commercial and encrypted Blu-ray discs. Some programs, such as Leawo Blu-ray Player, can play Blu-rays out of the box. Others will need a separate piece of software to decrypt the disc so that it’s playable.

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Microsoft’s Windows DVD Player

The Windows DVD Player app (Opens in a new window) sold in the Microsoft Store is a barebones affair, but it works (at least most of the time). You may first want to check out the seven-day trial version. To do this, click the ellipsis next to the Buy button and select Free Trial. However, this trial version won’t actually play DVDs, rather it simply tells you if it’s compatible with your PC’s built-in DVD player.

You’ll notice from the reviews at the Microsoft Store that the Windows DVD Player doesn’t get stellar grades; it has an average rating of 3.2 out of 5. Many people complain that the app doesn’t work right, and may not work at all in some cases. Others gripe about spending $15 for an app they feel should be free.

If you decide to open your wallet, download and launch the app. Insert a DVD (the program doesn’t support Blu-ray discs) into your drive and click Play. You’ll have access to the usual array of commands, including Play, Pause, Stop, Fast Forward, Rewind, Control Volume, and Resize Screen. But better player apps are available.

VLC Media Player

Developed by the folks at VideoLAN, VLC Media Player is a versatile multimedia player; it can play music and videos stored on your PC or home network, as well as DVDs, CDs, and Blu-ray discs. VLC Media Player is free, though you can always donate some funds to its development.

To use this option, you must first download and install the software from the VideoLAN VLC Media Player website (Opens in a new window) . Launch VLC Media Player, insert a disc, and it should rev up automatically. If not, click Media > Open Disc > DVD, then click the Play button. You’ll find a full range of buttons to control playback.

VLC Media Player easily plays DVDs but not Blu-rays as the software is unable to decrypt such discs on its own. If you receive an error trying to play a Blu-ray, there is a workaround available. Browse to the vlc-bluray GitHub page (Opens in a new window) and follow the steps to download and install a third-party tool called MakeMKV.

After copying the necessary file as described on the GitHub page, open MakeMKV and allow it to decrypt your current Blu-ray disc. You also need to install the 64-bit Java Runtime Environment (Opens in a new window) (JRE) to access the menus on the disc. You can then play the Blu-ray in VLC Media Player.

MakeMKV is free to use for 30 days after which time you would have to purchase it at a cost of $60. However, there are ways around that if you consult the MakeMKV forums (Opens in a new window) .

Leawo Blu-ray Player

Leawo Blu-ray Player (Opens in a new window) is a free and versatile media player that can handle content from DVDs, Blu-ray discs, folders, and ISO files. And yes, it does play Blu-rays without a hitch and without the need for any additional software. The program is simple to use. Just pop in the disc, and Leawo should automatically detect it. Click the icon for the disc to play it. You can play, pause, stop, go forward, go back, and even loop the video from your disc.

A disc menu displays all the major titles and sections so you can jump to a specific one. You can also bounce back and forth between windowed mode and full-screen mode. If you bump into any trouble getting past the first chapter or menu of a commercial Blu-ray, you’ll need to adjust one specific setting. Click the Leawo Blu-ray Player menu, go to Player settings, and select DVD/Blu-ray. Turn on the switch for Skip Blu-ray disc menu.

The basic version of Leawo Blu-ray Player is free and provides all the features needed to play a disc, though an ad pops up anytime you pause the video. To dispense with the ads, the premium version will run you $44.95 a year or $99.95 lifetime.

5KPlayer

5KPlayer can play high-def videos, DVDs, and even online radio stations. A built-in Apple AirPlay feature lets you stream audio and video from your iPhone. You can also snag videos from YouTube and other streaming services. However, 5K Player cannot play commercial and encrypted Blu-ray discs, even with third-party decryption tools.

Download and install 5KPlayer (Opens in a new window) and then launch the software. You’re asked to register by entering your name and email address in order to freely download videos and tap into Apple’s AirPlay. Enter the registration code you receive by email, and you’re good to go.

Pop a DVD in your drive and press the DVD button. Click OK, and your DVD starts playing. Onscreen controls let you play, stop, jump ahead, skip behind, and change the volume. Watching a DVD is as simple as that, though 5KPlayer is packed with many other cool features to make it a truly robust and resourceful multimedia player.

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How to play DVDs in Windows 10

How to play DVDs in Windows 10 seems simple enough. You just insert a DVD and press play, right? Surprisingly, there’s no built in DVD playing capabilities in Windows 10. These days, that might seem to make sense since most machines come without a disc drive, but if your computer comes with a DVD drive or you own and want to use an external DVD drive, playing a DVD might seem needlessly confusing.

Luckily, you have quite a few ways to play DVDs in Windows 10 at your disposal. And, we’ll cover the ones we think are best, according to ease of use and convenience.

• Here’s how to screenshot on Windows 10
• Have yet to switch? Here’s how to upgrade to Windows 10 for free

How to play DVDs on Windows 10 with pre-installed software

If you’ve purchased a computer with a DVD player built in, odds are very good that it came with its own software for playing DVDs. Since Windows 8.1 and Windows 10 don’t have the support built in, computer makers that add DVD players are almost sure to add that support in themselves before shipping out the product.

So, here’s what you should do:

• Step one: Search for the built-in DVD player software.

If you still have your computers user manual, there may be instructions for playing DVDs in it. You can also search on the manufacturer’s website to see which media/DVD playing software they installed.

Another possible way for finding the software is to open the Windows search bar and type in “movies” or “DVD” and see what results pop up. The pre-installed software is likely, though not guaranteed, to appear.

You may even get the software to launch automatically just by putting a DVD into your computer’s DVD drive.

Once you’ve identified the software that came pre-installed, you should easily be able to play your DVDs.

How to play DVDs in Windows 10 with free software

If you’re using an external DVD drive or can’t find any already installed software for DVD playback on your computer with an internal DVD player, you’re never out of luck.

While Microsoft does have a paid option for playing DVDs in Windows 10, you can get by with a great free option. VLC Media Player is the best free video player for countless reasons, and it just so happens to support DVD playback. You can download VLC here. You may also try any software that came bundled with an external DVD drive, as they often come with some.

• Step one: Launch VLC
• Step two: Insert your DVD

Playback may begin automatically. If it does, you’re good to go. If it doesn’t, perform the following steps:

• Step three: Select Media > Open Disc, or press Ctrl + D with VLC as the active window.
• Step four: In the new pop-up menu, under “Disc Selection,” choose DVD and press Play at the bottom.

If VLC hasn’t identified your DVD, you may have to point out where the disc drive is. You can do that using by pressing browse in the “Disc Selection” section of the pop-up menu and selecting your computers DVD drive from the drive options on the left of the File Explorer window.

How to play DVDs in Windows 10 using Microsoft’s paid software

As good as VLC is, we can understand if you’re wary of using a third-party software, so we’ll provide instructions on Microsoft’s software.

• Step one: Try Windows Media Player.

Launch Windows Media Player with your DVD inserted. In the navigation menu on the left side of Windows Media Player, you may see your DVD show up. Select it, and try to play it. If your computer came with a pre-installed DVD decoder, the DVD may play. If this doesn’t work, try out next step.

• Step two: Try the Windows DVD Player app.

You can get the Windows DVD Player app here or by searching for it in the Windows Store. This is a $14.99 app, but you can use it in a trial mode that can help you confirm it will work with your DVD drive.

To download the Trial version, select the three dots next to the Buy button, and select Free Trial. Once it’s installed, run it and insert a DVD. If the app determines it is compatible with your device, you can select the Buy Now option to get the complete app and use it to play DVDs.

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