Q&A for How to Change DVD Drive Region Code in Windows 10

In some cases, a DVD player's hardware has its own memory that manages region codes. Perhaps this is the case with your device.

If you bought your PC used, there's a chance the previous owner changed the region multiple times. If it's new and unused, your OEM probably disabled this choice.

You should be able to change the region back to region 0 the same way you change it to region 1. If you reach the 5 maximum times to change your hardware region, you can't switch it back to region 0 anymore. If that happens, you will need to unlock your DVD player or convert the disc to region free with Winx DVID ripper or Makemkv.

Movie studios don't like it when people import DVDs from other regions. If they could get away with it, they would stop you from changing it at all. If a drive didn't follow these restrictions, it couldn't legally be called a DVD-ROM drive or play encrypted DVDs.

The region is stored in an EPROM on the drive itself. It's not technically part of the firmware, which is why updating the firmware usually doesn't change the region code or reset the counter.

Insert a DVD from the region you want to switch to, as the DVD drive needs media from that region. Then, open Device Manager, find DVD/CD-ROM drives, right-click your DVD drive, select 'Properties', go to the DVD Region tab, and change the region to match your DVD. Note that Windows allows a limited number of region changes before the setting locks. Save your changes by clicking Apply and OK.

"Region 0" refers to a region-free state, allowing the player to play DVDs or Blu-rays from any region. Modifying the firmware of your DVD or Blu-ray player might be necessary to achieve this, but it's a complex and risky process that could void warranties or support agreements. If you're comfortable with the risks, look for instructions specific to your player model online. Be aware that modifying firmware can potentially damage your device.

If you've already changed the region setting to region 2 and still see the error message, your DVD player might have a region lock. Some players have restrictions that prevent them from playing discs from other regions. You could try unlocking the player using remote control codes, installing region-free firmware, or using software like VLC Media Player on a computer. Always research the risks, especially with firmware modifications.

The absence of a "Region" tab in your Samsung device's properties could be due to the specific model or the version of Windows 10 you're using. Try accessing region settings through the Settings app or Control Panel, or contact Samsung or Microsoft support for assistance.

The term "not selected" in DVD region settings often means no region has been set, suggesting the player might be in a region-free mode, allowing it to play DVDs from any region. However, the exact meaning can depend on the DVD player's model and firmware. To verify if your player is region-free, try playing DVDs from various regions; if it can play them without issues, it's likely region-free. If errors occur or it requests a region selection, it may not be entirely region-free.

If your DVD player's region code changed on its own to region 2 and you can't change it back to region 1 despite using a region 1 disc, the player or its firmware might be malfunctioning. Try a power cycle, check for a factory reset, use remote control codes, or update the firmware. If these don't work, contact the manufacturer's support for more assistance as a hardware or firmware issue might be the cause.

If you don't see a region code tab for your DVD drive in Windows 10, it may be due to the drive model, outdated or incompatible drivers, OS restrictions, or software limitations. Try updating your DVD drive's driver or using different playback software. If these don't work, your drive might be locked to a specific region or not support changes.