How to Enjoy DVD Playback on Windows 10/11 [Full Guide]

Playing DVDs on Windows 10/11 may appear straightforward – insert a DVD and press play, right? Unfortunately, not all versions of Windows come with pre-installed DVD players. This absence results from Microsoft not paying licensing fees for DVD playback support in their operating systems and media players, including Windows 10 and 11.

No need to worry because you can still play DVDs on Windows for free without a DVD drive. We will provide helpful methods on how to play DVDs on Windows 10 and 11. We'll introduce you to commonly used media players and recommend the best DVD ripper for your convenience.

Part 1. How to Play DVD on Windows 10/11 Using the Best DVD Player Software

For enhanced editing effects, support for various media formats, and versatile playback controls when playing DVDs on your Windows 10/11, consider utilizing the advanced AVAide Blu-ray Player. This professional media player lets you play Blu-ray discs, DVD discs, folders, or ISO files on Windows 10/11, providing a comprehensive and flexible playback experience.

How to Play DVD disc with AVAide Blu-ray Player:

Step 1Initiate AVAide Blu-ray Player, start the player, connect the Blu-ray or DVD drive to your computer, and insert the disc into the drive.

Step 2Select a Blu-ray or DVD Disc. To play a Blu-ray or DVD, use the Open Disc button to load your movie. Then, choose the specific Blu-ray or DVD disc you want to play.

Step 3Upon completing the loading process, your movie will start playing automatically.

Part 2. How to Play DVD on Windows Media Player

If you don't want to download any software on your Windows PC, you can use its built-in Windows Media Player to play DVD. However, you need to install a compatible DVD decoder beforehand. Otherwise, you may encounter an error when you play DVD on Windows 10/11. Please follow the steps to play DVD on Windows Media Player.

Step 1Go to Start menu > Control Panel > Troubleshooter > View All > Windows Media Player. Follow the directions to install the DVD decoder on Windows Media Player.

Step 2Insert your DVD into the drive and it will be automatically playing on your Windows 10/11. If it fails to play automatically, click the name of this DVD in the panel of Player Library to play.

Part 3. How to Play DVD on Laptop via VLC

If you're familiar with using VLC for standard video playback, you might be curious about its suitability as a DVD player. Indeed, VLC has robust functionality for seamless DVD playback on Windows 10/11. The subsequent steps will guide you through playing DVDs on Windows 11/10 using VLC.If you're familiar with using VLC for standard video playback, you might be curious about its suitability as a DVD player. Indeed, VLC has robust functionality for seamless DVD playback on Windows 10/11. Besides, you can use VLC to play DVD on Mac. The subsequent steps will guide you through playing DVDs on Windows 11/10 using VLC.

How to Play DVD disc with VLC Player:

Step 1Download and open VLC, and insert your DVD into the disc drive.

Step 2Navigate to Media > Open Disc, and opt for the DVD option. Alternatively, you can click Browse to choose the Disc device or VIDEO_TS folder, which VLC will automatically detect.

Step 3Once you've configured the settings, click Play. Now, you can indulge in DVD playback on Windows 10/11 using VLC.

Part 4 How to Convert DVD to Digital to Play on Windows 10/11

While Windows Media Player in Windows 10/11 cannot play DVDs directly, it does support various video formats like WMV, AVI, MP4, and MOV. If you don't want to install DVD decoder for Windows Media Player, consider converting DVDs to file formats compatible with Windows Media Player. Consider using AVAide DVD Ripper, a trustworthy software that rips DVDs to alternative formats without compromising quality, including VOB, MP4, MOV, AVI, WMV, WebM, and more. Moreover, it seamlessly extracts audio tracks, sound, or background music from DVDs.

How to rip DVDs to other video formats:

Step 1Simply Insert the DVD into your computer and click Load DVD to initiate the import.

Step 2Choose the desired format for your output files, such as MP4, VOB, MOV, etc.

Step 3To launch the process, hit the Rip All button, and files will be ready in a matter of minutes.

Part 5. How to Fix DVD Won't Play on Windows 10/11

DVDs won't play on Windows Media Player after upgrading to Windows 10/11 because Microsoft removed the built-in DVD codec in WMP to save on licensing fees. In response, Microsoft introduced the Windows DVD Player on the Windows Store. However, the software is accessible only to those who upgrade from Windows 7 Home Premium, Professional, or Ultimate, as well as Windows 8 or 8.1 with Windows Media Center. For users not meeting these criteria, charges will apply for obtaining the DVD player software.

Below are several potential solutions that could help:

Solution 1. Check the Region Compatibility

If your DVDs are of different regions, you should check their regions codes from their covers. Then, you can change the region of your DVD drive to play DVDs. However, there is a limit on reset the region code for your DVD drive. In this case, you need to use AVAide DVD Ripper to help you remove the region code of DVDs.

Solution 2. Update the Driver for the DVD Drive

If you've installed a DVD player application but still encounter difficulties playing DVDs, it's conceivable that the DVD drive's driver might be outdated. To address this issue, we will update the driver for the DVD drive. Keeping your drivers current is essential for ensuring optimal functionality and compatibility with various software applications, including DVD players. Updating the DVD drive's driver enhances its compatibility with DVD player applications, potentially resolving issues related to DVD playback.

Solution 3. Install DVD Codecs

Install additional codecs that might be required for DVD playback. Some third-party players include the necessary codecs, but if you're using a basic player, you might need to install a codec pack.

Solution 4. Use Compatibility Mode

Right-click on the DVD player software's shortcut, go to Properties, and navigate to the Compatibility tab. Try running the software in compatibility mode for an earlier version of Windows.

Solution 5. Try Another DVD

Check if the issue is specific to a particular DVD. Try playing a different DVD to see if the problem persists.

Tip: If none of these solutions work, it's possible there's a hardware issue with your DVD drive, or the DVD itself may be damaged. In such cases, you may need to consider professional assistance or replacement of the hardware.

Solution 6. Fix DVD Drive Not Recognized on Windows 10/11

If your DVD drive is not showing up on Windows 10/11, you can use a command to fix this issue: Open Control Panel on Windows 10/11 > System and Security > Administrative Tools > System Configuration > Tools > Command Prompt. Press OK and paste the following command:

reg.exe add "HKLMSystemCurrentControlSetServicestapiController0" /f /v EnumDevice1 /t REG_DWORD /d 0x00000001. Then, press Enter and restart your Windows 10/11 to fix your DVD drive not recognized on Windows 10/11.

Solution 7. Rip Copy-protected DVDs

If your DVDs won't play on Windows 10/11 because of their copy protections, you can use AVAide DVD Ripper to rip content from copy-protected DVDs onto your Windows 10/11 for better playbacks.

Part 6. FAQs about How to Play DVD on Windows 10/11

Why can't I play DVDs on Windows Media Player in Windows 10/11?

Microsoft removed the built-in DVD codec in Windows Media Player (WMP) to save on licensing fees, making DVD playback unsupported. However, you can install a compatible DVD decoder to let Windows Media Player read your DVD.

How can I play DVDs on Windows 10/11 without a DVD drive?

You can still play DVDs on Windows 10/11 without a DVD drive by using professional media players like AVAide Blu-ray Player or converting DVDs to digital formats using tools like AVAide DVD Ripper.

Is an internet connection required to play DVDs on Windows 10/11?

No, an internet connection is unnecessary to play DVDs on Windows 10/11. All that is required is a DVD drive and the included Windows Media Player software. Simply Insert the DVD, and Windows Media Player will detect it and initiate playback automatically without requiring an internet connection.

By Bryan Simmonds on Jul 04, 2024