[Solved] 8 Ways to Play DVD on Windows 10/11 PC and Mac

Playing DVDs has become a challenging task nowadays since discs are not the trend anymore. But do you want to play your DVDs simply? If so, you are grateful since we have various tools we can offer to watch your DVD successfully on the computer. So, what are you waiting for? Read this post and learn all the information you need to know the best methods on how to play DVDs on Windows 10 and Mac laptop.

• Part 1. How to Play DVDs on Windows 10/11
• Part 2. How to Play DVDs on Mac
• Part 3. Why Does DVD Not Playing on Windows and Mac
• PPart 4. FAQs about Playing DVDs on Windows 10/11 and Mac

	OS Compatibility	Price	DVD Playback	Blu-ray Playback	Other Formats	Key Features	Additional Notes
Free Blu-ray Player	Windows 11/10, MacOS	Free			Various video/audio formats	Free Blu-ray playback	May require codecs for some formats.
Windows Media Player	Windows 11/10	Free		(Without additional codecs)	Limited video/audio formats	Basic media playback	Limited features, may not play all DVDs.
CyberLink PowerDVD	Windows 11/10	Paid (Standard/Ultra)		(Ultra)	Extensive video/audio formats	High-quality playback, advanced features	Best for home theater, frequent updates.
KMPlayer	Windows 11/10	Free		(Without additional codecs)	Various video/audio formats	Lightweight, customizable	Highly customizable, may require codecs.
Apple DVD Player	macOS	Free (Included with macOS)			Limited video/audio formats	Basic DVD playback	Basic player, limited features.
5KPlayer	Windows 11/10, macOS	Free			Various video/audio formats	HD video playback, streaming	Also a video downloader.
VLC Media Player	Windows 11/10, macOS	Free		(With additional setup)	Extensive video/audio formats	Versatile, open-source	Can be complex for beginners, but very versatile.
Leawo Blu-ray Player	Windows 11/10, macOS	Free/Paid		(With additional setup)	Various video/audio formats	Blu-ray/DVD playback, region-free option	Free version has limited features.

Part 1. How to Play DVDs on Windows

1. Free Blu-ray Player

Playing DVDs on Windows 10/11 and macOS is simple. So, if you are a PC or Mac user, we have a trustworthy offline program you can use. To effectively play a DVD, use the Free Blu-ray Player. Its main objective is to play DVDs and Blu-rays without facing any problems. With this, if you want to enjoy watching the film from your disc, always consider using the offline program. Also, the software allows you to change the audio track, channel, video track, subtitle, and other parameters. This way, you can watch the DVD based on your desired output.

Moreover, besides the discs, it also can play various video formats. It includes MP4, MT2, M2TS, FLV, MKV, MXF, TRP, WMV, RMVB, and more. In terms of the interface, it is user-friendly and easy to operate. You can make adjustments easily, and it even lets you choose your preferred screen mode. Lastly, if you have a favorite scene from the film and you want to capture it, you can just click the Snapshot button from the lower interface. With that, you can watch videos while taking the best scene you like. Follow the simple method below to discover how to play DVDs on Windows 10/11 and Mac.

Step 1.Download and install the Free Blu-ray Player on your Windows or Mac, and get it installed immediately. You can get the installer by hitting the Download button below.

Step 2.Launch the software and press the Open Disc option to load the DVD from your computer. But take note that before going through this process, ensure that the DVD is already connected to your computer.

Step 3.After you open the DVD, you can enjoy watching the movie you have. You can also use the buttons from the interface to control the movie while watching.

My experience with free Blu-ray players for Windows 10 is that they offer basic Blu-ray playback without much fuss, making them easy to use for simply watching movies, though they might lack advanced features, have ads, and occasionally struggle with heavily protected discs or menu navigation.

2. Windows Media Player

Windows Media Player is the default player only on Windows-based devices. Coming since the launch of Windows 95, Windows Media Player supports playing video/audio files, DVD discs, etc. Its simple and clear interface is very beginner-friendly for new users to get it on. Besides, there are basic features like creating playlists, tagging files, streaming media, and more.

Step 1.Insert the DVD you want to play into the PC’s computer drive.

Step 2.Launch Windows Media Player on your desktop.

Step 3.Find Unknown DVD on the left-side menu under Library, and play it. In here, you can also select the titles or chapters you want to play.

My personal experience confirms that Windows Media Player, while great for playing common video and audio files, completely fails to play Blu-ray discs; it simply lacks the necessary codecs and encryption support.

3. Cyberlink PowerDVD

Cyberlink PowerDVD is among the worthy software to use on your Windows to play DVDs. With its amazing capability, it can be accessible on Windows 10 and 11, making it more convenient for all users. Also, with this, you can enjoy even 4K movies without experiencing difficulties. However, the program is only perfect for Windows operating systems. So, if you are a Mac user, it’s better to find another DVD player.

Step 1.Put the DVD disc you want to play into computer’s drive.

Step 2.Open PowerDVD play on your computer, choose PC Mode.

Step 3.Select My Computer in Source from the Home menu, you will find your DVD disc and play it.

Using CyberLink PowerDVD is like having a premium home theater experience on my PC; it consistently delivers superb 4K video and high-res audio, with full Blu-ray menu support, making it the most reliable and feature-rich choice, despite its higher price tag.

4. KMPlayer

For Windows users, you can also use the KMPlayer. It is similar to VLC Media Player, an open-source DVD player that can handle various formats and discs, including DVD, VCD, AVI, MKV, OGM, 3GP, and more.

Step 1.Put the DVD disc into your computer’s disc drive. Then launch KMPlayer.

Step 2.Click the KMPlayer logo at the top-left corner, select Open File to find you DVD and play it.

My experience with KMPlayer is that it’s an incredibly versatile free player that handles almost any video format I throw at it, including high-resolution files, but its extensive features can be overwhelming for simple use, and it sometimes includes in-program advertisements.

Part 2. How to Play DVDs on Mac

1. Apple DVD Player

The Apple DVD Player is the default software for multimedia playing on macOS operating system. For DVD playback, Apple DVD Player allows its users to do basic playing controls like chapter skipping, subtitles switching on/off, pause, and more. The highest resolution of file playing is up to 4K. Besides, Apple DVD Player is a region-free playing tool.

Step 1.Insert the DVD into the optical drive on the Mac, the application will automatically play it.

Step 2.If not, press Space on the keyboard after the disc is detected.

My experience with Apple DVD Player is that it’s perfectly straightforward for playing standard DVDs, but it’s important to know it offers absolutely no support for Blu-ray discs, leaving users searching for alternative solutions for high-definition playback.

2. 5Kplayer

The 5KPlayer is another third-party Mac DVD player app perfect for MacOS to play DVDs. The Windows version is also available, making it good for Windows and Mac users. However, if you also want to watch Blu-rays, it is impossible. The software doesn’t support Blu-ray discs. Also, there are times when the software encounters lags while operating and watching films.

Step 1.Insert DVD into the drive and turn on 5KPlayer on Mac. Select DVD+.

Step 2.Find your related DVD driver from the interface, and click Play to start the DVD playback.

My personal experience with 5KPlayer has been mixed; while it advertises broad media support including high resolutions and even some Blu-ray claims, I’ve found its Blu-ray performance inconsistent and, more concerningly, it often exhibits intrusive behavior by changing system defaults without permission.

3. VLC Media Player

If you are searching for another DVD player that is compatible with both Windows and macOS, you can try operating the VLC Media Player. It is an open-source offline program that can play not just media files but also discs. With this software, you can play your DVDs and watch them freely. However, there are times when the program crashes for some reason. Also, it can’t play damaged videos from the DVD. The interface is not user-friendly, making it hard to operate.

Step 1.Put the DVD disc into the drive, and launch VLC Media Player

Step 2.Find Media at the upper toolbar, click it and select the Open Disc from the pop-up menu to play your DVD.

My experience with VLC Media Player on Mac for Blu-rays is that it’s a solid, free option that works once you jump through the hoops of manually adding decryption files, though it generally sacrifices interactive Blu-ray menus for broad compatibility and can sometimes struggle with newer or highly protected discs.

4. Leawo Blu-ray Player

The next PC/Mac compatible DVD player is the Leawo Blu-ray Player. If you have no idea about the program, it can help you play the DVD on your computer after accessing the program. You can even use the software on your Windows and Mac computers if you want. Its interface is also perfect for all users since you can understand all its main functions and controllers. But, its disadvantage is that the file size of the software is too large. If you have a low-spec computer, it will show you a low-level performance, which is not great for viewers. Also, you need to get its paid version to use all its features.

Step 1.Simply insert your DVD disc, and turn on Leawo Blu-ray Player on your computer.

Step 2.After the disc is automatically detected, click Play Disc from the main interface, and select it to play.

My personal experience with Leawo Blu-ray Player on Mac is that it generally succeeds at playing Blu-ray discs and supports menus, making it a dedicated choice, but the free version can be ad-heavy, and I’ve occasionally encountered issues like slow loading or minor stability problems.

Part 3. Why Does DVD Not Playing on Windows and Mac

Do you have a DVD and can’t play it on your Windows or Mac computers? Well, there are various reasons why that happens. If you want to learn some of the reasons, try to check this section.

Problem with Windows Media Player

After having Windows 10 or 11, Microsoft dropped the pre-built DVD codec accompanying Windows Media Player. It is one of the main reasons why WMP can’t play DVDs. Since there are missing necessary codecs to play the DVD, one of the best ways is to use another third-party app.

Problem with DVD Player

If your DVD is not playable, maybe another problem is the DVD player. The best thing to do is to check the Region code of the player. This is because if the region code of the player is not the same as the code of the disc, then it is impossible to play the DVD. So, you need to get a region-free DVD player to achieve DVD playback.

The DVD has Scratches or Damages

One of the reasons why you can’t play DVDs is maybe the DVD has many scratches or damages. If this happens, maybe the DVD is not playable anymore. To prevent this kind of situation, always ensure that you are keeping the DVD in a safe place.

The DVD Driver is Corrupted or Outdated

Another reason why you can’t play the DVD on your Windows or Mac may be the DVD driver is looking for the latest version or it is corrupted. If you don’t know yet, a driver is an important material that may help hardware communicate with the operating system.

Part 4. FAQs about Playing DVDs on Windows 10/11 and Mac

• What to do when I can’t see the DVD drive on Windows 10?

  When the DVD drive is not showing up, you can try to do these possible solutions. Make sure the DVD drive is connected properly. Also, you can try upgrading to the latest version of Windows. You can also try to reinstall the DVD drive and see if it already shows up on your Windows 10.

• What should I do when the DVD player on the Mac is not working?

  If the DVD player is not working, maybe there are some errors. In that case, instead of facing hassle, you can try installing another DVD player. You can try the KMPlayer, 5KPlayer, or the Free Blu-ray Player. These DVD players can help you play DVDs using your Mac computers.

• Can I use any external DVD drive for Mac?

  Yes, you can. The external DVD drives are a big help if you want to back up your files and keep them. This way, you have your storage to keep your files you don’t want to lose.

• What to do when you can’t detect the DVD drive on Windows 10?

  The best thing to do is to reinstall the DVD drive on your Windows 10. Sometimes, there is a problem when installing the drive. So, reinstalling the DVD drive is one of the effective methods. This way, the Windows can detect the DVD drive.

Wrapping up

Well, there you go. To know how to play DVDs on Windows 10 and macOS the helpful way is to read the post here. We will give you the method to play your DVD easily and smoothly using various DVD players available on Windows and Mac. Also, if you prefer the most straightforward way of playing the DVD, use the Free Blu-ray Player. Compared with other players, it has a user-friendly interface and offers the easiest way to play DVDs on Windows and Mac computers.