Easy Ways to Watch DVDs on Windows 8/10/11

PDF download Download Article
Use other software to watch DVDs hassle-free
PDF download Download Article

Are you wondering how to watch a DVD on your computer? For a while now, Windows Media Player has not been able to play DVDs, so you need to use a third-party media player like VLC or buy Windows DVD Player from the Microsoft Store. Read on to learn more.

Play DVDs on Windows

Windows Media Player has not been able to play DVDs since Windows 7. Instead, use VLC, a free media player, or go to the Microsoft Store to try Windows DVD Player for free for 7 days, then pay $14.99 for the full software. You can simply insert the DVD and it will start playing.

Section 1 of 4:

Can I use Windows Media Player to watch DVDs?

PDF download Download Article
  1. Windows Media Player will no longer play DVDs as of Win 8. You can purchase the Windows DVD Player from the Microsoft Store, but there are also free options, like using VLC.
    2. Advertisement
Section 2 of 4:

Using VLC

PDF download Download Article
  1. 1
    Insert a DVD into your computer and open VLC. If you have a DVD drive built into your computer, you can use that. Otherwise, you'll need an external drive that connects to your computer via USB, which you can purchase at almost any electronics retailer like Amazon.com, Dell, or Walmart.
    • If you don't have VLC downloaded, you can get it from https://www.videolan.org/vlc/ .
    • Once the file downloads, run it, and select your preferred language to start the installation wizard.
    • Press Next to continue through the wizard and click Install after you've selected a location to save the .exe to.
    • VLC should open immediately after it downloads; if not, double-click the icon on your Start menu or desktop to launch it.
  2. 2
    Press Ctrl + D . This opens the Disc. Alternatively, find this option by going to File > Open Disc .
    • By default, the disc device will read any built-in drives first. Click Browse to change that if you have an external connected.
    • You also need to select the file type, like DVD , Blu-ray , or Audio CD .
  3. 3
    Click Play . It's in the bottom right corner of the window and will launch your DVD. [1]
    • Give VLC a minute to decode and read your DVD before it begins playing. Some DVDs, like those from Disney and other big producers, heavily encode their movies to prevent piracy.
    4. Advertisement
Section 3 of 4:

Using Windows DVD Player

PDF download Download Article
  1. 1
    Insert a DVD and open Windows DVD Player. If you have a DVD drive built into your computer, you can use that. Otherwise, you'll need an external drive that connects to your computer via USB, which you can purchase at almost any electronics retailer like Amazon.com, Dell, or Walmart.
    • If you don't have Windows DVD Player, you can download it from the Microsoft Store . It's not free and will cost you $14.99. There is, however, a free trial, during which you cannot play DVDs. You can merely see if the software works with your OS.
    • You can get the software for free if you upgraded from Windows 7/8/8.1 to Windows 10 with Media Center.
    • The upside is it's easier to use than VLC and many other free software.
    • If Windows DVD Player is installed on your computer when you insert the DVD, it should open automatically.
  2. 2
    Press the "Play" icon. It's along the bottom of the player and will begin playing your DVD.
    3. Advertisement
Section 4 of 4:

Troubleshooting Tips

PDF download Download Article
  1. 1
    Close background processes or other software. If you're not using other programs, make sure to close them since they take up resources that VLC can use. Decoding and running DVDs is a CPU-intensive process and something like Chrome running in the background can make VLC run slower.
  2. 2
    Check your DVD for smudges or scratches. These can result in errors from VLC as well as skippy or laggy playback. If you need to, clean the DVD and try again. [2]
    3. Advertisement

Community Q&A

Search
Add New Question
  • Question
    How can I download Windows Media Player?
    Community Answer
    Windows Media Player is built into Windows operating systems. If you don't see it, go to the Microsoft website and search for it to download.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 2 Helpful 3
  • Question
    Is there a DVD media player on Windows 10?
    Community Answer
    Whether Windows has a DVD media player depends on the device. If the device has a disc slot or other disc-reading hardware, it usually comes with some kind of DVD reading software already installed. Check your programs to see if you have it.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 10 Helpful 6
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Video

      Tips

      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Name
      Please provide your name and last initial
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

      You Might Also Like

      How to
      Extract Subtitles from an MKV File
      How to
      Add Subtitles to Windows Media Player
      Simple Ways to Connect a DVD Player to a Laptop
      How to
      Convert Any Type of Audio in Windows Media Player
      Copy & Burn Audio CDs Using Windows Media Player
      How to
      Get a Picture from Your Windows Media Player
      How to
      Put a Cover Photo on a Music File Using Windows Media Player
      How to
      Connect a Device to Windows Media Player
      Advertisement

      References

      1. ↑ https://wiki.videolan.org/What_can_VLC_do%3F/#Disk_image
      2. ↑ https://kb.princetonisd.net/books/classroom-troubleshooting/page/playing-dvds-with-vlc

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      1. Install VLC Media Player.
      2. Open your Windows Settings.
      3. Click Apps .
      4. Click Default apps .
      5. Select the current "Video player" option.
      6. Select VLC Media Player .
      7. Insert the DVD.
      8. Click Play DVD Movie .

      Did this summary help you?
      In other languages
      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 357,137 times.

      Is this article up to date?

      Advertisement