How to Play DVD on Windows 11 Laptop & Desktop Computers
When you intend to insert and play a DVD movie on your PC, you might discover that there is no option to open the DVD. This is because not all versions of Windows are equipped with a built-in DVD player. Similar to Windows 10, Windows 11 also lacks a pre-installed DVD player application. This leads to the question of how to open a DVD on Windows 11. Can Windows Media Player be used to play DVDs on Windows 11? Regrettably, while Windows Media Player is capable of playing audio CDs, data CDs, and data DVDs, it cannot open video or movie DVDs on Windows 11.
However, there is no need for concern, as there are alternative methods available for playing DVDs on Windows 11 laptops and desktop computers. Please refer to the information below.
Table of Contents
Method 1. Play DVD on Windows 11 with Preinstalled DVD Player Software
If your computer is equipped with a built-in disc drive, it likely includes preinstalled DVD software for playing DVD discs. For instance, certain Dell laptops come with CyberLink PowerDVD pre-installed. Playing a DVD on your Windows 11 machine under these circumstances becomes quite straightforward.
To play DVDs on Windows 11 using the integrated player software, follow the steps below:
Step 1. Insert a DVD into your computer's DVD drive, and usually, the DVD player in Windows 11 will launch automatically.
Step 2. In case the program doesn't launch automatically, take a moment to locate it. You can input "movies" or "DVD" into the Windows 11 search bar to check if the pre-installed DVD player software surfaces.
Step 3. If you merely hear a whirring sound for a few seconds without any subsequent activity, it generally indicates that there is no DVD player app in Windows 11 system. Alternatively, you can refer to your computer's user manual or visit your PC manufacturer's website to identify the DVD player app they include and to learn how to play DVDs.
If there is no preinstalled DVD player software to help play DVDs on Windows 11 computers, try other methods below.
* If your computer doesn't have an internal DVD drive, check the best external DVD drive for Windows 11.
Method 2. Play DVD on Windows 11 with Windows DVD Player
Microsoft has removed the built-in DVD playback capability and introduced the Windows DVD Player as the designated DVD player for Windows 10 and 11. The Windows DVD Player is a paid application available for purchase from the Microsoft Store. You can use the free trial to check your DVD drive's compatibility with Windows DVD Player before purchasing the full version for $14.99. It's worth noting that Windows DVD Player facilitates the playback of commercial and homemade DVDs on Windows 10/11 computers (excluding support for Blu-ray discs).
To play DVDs on Windows 11 using Windows DVD player, follow the steps below:
Step 1. Navigate to the Microsoft Store, enter "Windows DVD Player" in the search bar, and locate the version offered by Microsoft Corporation. Proceed to purchase and install the application as prompted. (Please be aware that the free trial is solely intended for compatibility checks and does not grant DVD playback on Windows 11.)
Step 2.Insert a DVD into your disc drive. The Windows DVD Player will automatically scan for movie files within the disc drive, subsequently opening the DVD on Windows 11 computers and laptops.
Note: It's important to acknowledge that the Windows DVD Player may not represent the optimal choice to play DVDs on Windows 11 computers/laptops due to its inconsistent performance. Instances of commonly reported errors include "Error: Video Could Not Be Decoded," DVDs spinning without playing, significant image distortion, and non-functionality. Unfortunately, in the event of an error, refunds are not available.
If you are unwilling to pay for Windows DVD Player, there are also free DVD players for Windows 11.
Method 3. Play DVD on Windows 11 with Third-party Free DVD Player
While Windows 11 doesn't contain a default DVD player, there are many other free DVD players for Windows 11. Below are the best free Windows 11 DVD players that come with the ability to open commercial and encrypted DVD discs on Windows 11 computers.
5KPlayer
5KPlayer is a 100% free DVD player for Windows 11/10/earlier. It can play DVDs you buy and you burn. In addition to DVD disc, it can also play ISO files, VIDEO_TS folder, and VOB videos. It's able to read DVDs protected by different region codes, Disney DRM, DVD CSS, Sony ARccOS, etc. It supports NVIDIA CUDA®, AMD, Intel® QSV, & DXVA 2.0 to ensure a smooth DVD playback experience on Windows 11 computers, including the DVD movies with multi-subtitle tracks.
Besides playing DVDs on Windows 11, it can also play videos, music, radios, download videos and music online, and stream files. Just download 5KPlayer to have a try now!
To play DVDs on Windows 11 using the free DVD player, follow the steps below:
Step 1. To play a DVD on Windows 11 computers and laptops using 5KPlayer, insert the DVD disc into the DVD-ROM.
Step 2. Install 5KPlayer on your Windows 11 PC and launch the application. Then, click the DVD button on the main interface. This action will prompt 5KPlayer to automatically load the DVD from your drive and open it.
Step 3. Within 5KPlayer, you have the option to choose the specific DVD chapter or section, select an audio track and language, as well as load external subtitles, among other features.
VLC
VLC is an open source and free DVD player for Windows 11/10 and other systems. It's able to play DVD, Audio CD, VCD, video files, and streaming media without problems. It has the libdvdcss library built-in so that it's able to play protected DVDs on Windows 11 computers, including DVDs protected by CSS and region codes. It's one of the most popular free DVD players on Windows 11 and earlier systems.
To play DVDs on Windows 11 using VLC, follow the steps below:
Step 1. Insert the DVD disc you want to play into your PC's optical drive.
Step 2. Download, install, and open VLC. Then click the "Media" menu on the top bar and from the options on the menu, choose "Open Disc...".
Step 3. In the Open Media window, click the Browse button and select your DVD drive. The default options should be correct for most users so leave them as default. Then click Play to start playing DVDs on Windows 11 computers and laptops. You can set VLC as the default DVD player in Windows 11: go to Settings -> Apps -> Default apps and set "Video Player" to VLC.
PowerDVD
PowerDVD is a powerful DVD player for Windows 11 and earlier. It's able to play DVDs, Blu-ray discs, and other media on Windows 11 PC with smooth performance. It's very popular if you need a program to play Blu-ray discs on Windows 11 PCs. In addition, there are tons of useful features to adjust the movie effects and improve the viewing experience. That's why many Windows 11 laptops and computers are sold with PowerDVD pre-installed. However, this DVD player for Windows 11 is not free and it's a little bit pricey.
How to play DVDs on Windows 11 using PowerDVD? It's extremely easy:
Step 1. Download and install PowerDVD on your Windows 11 computer.
Step 2. Insert the DVD that you want to play. Then this Windows 11 DVD player will automatically detect and start to play the movie content.
Method 4. Play DVD on Windows 11 with WinX DVD Ripper
Besides playing DVDs directly from the disc, we can also rip DVD to digital file and play the DVD video on Windows 11 computers and laptops without using a DVD drive. This can also help when a Windows 11 DVD player fails to play an encrypted or damaged DVD.
To rip DVD on Windows 11, we recommend WinX DVD Ripper. This tool can rip home-made and copy-protected DVDs for Windows 11 players and other programs in VIDEO_TS folder, ISO file, MP4, AVI, WMV, MPEG, MOV, and etc. It retains the best output quality after the rip so you can enjoy high-quality DVD playback on Windows 11 players.
To play DVDs on Windows 11 by converting the DVD for Windows 11, follow the steps below:
Step 1. Insert the DVD disc to the DVD-ROM or external DVD drive. Launch WinX DVD Ripper and click "DVD Disc" button on the top left. It will auto load the DVD and detect the right main DVD title for you.
Step 2. Choose output format. For playing DVDs on Window 11 computers, choose to rip DVD to MP4, WMV, MPEG, H.264, etc., which are all Windows 11 supported video formats. For example, select General Profiles on the left column > choose MP4 Video.
Step 3. Hit "RUN" button to begin ripping the DVD. Once finished, you will get a Windows 11-compatible video in the destination folder. Then you can open the DVD video on Windows 11 computers, tablets, phones, etc. wtihout using a DVD player or DVD drive.
Disclaimer: Digiarty Software does not advocate ripping/copying copy-protected DVDs for any commercial purpose and suggests referring to the DVD copyright laws in your countries before doing so. And do not use WinX DVD Ripper to rip DVD rentals.
Well, above are the methods to play DVD on Windows 11. Now choose one and enjoy movies!
FAQ
1. Does Windows 11 support DVDs?
No. Windows 11 does not come with a pre-installed DVD player app. There is an official DVD player from Microsoft to help users open DVDs on Windows 11 PC. But surprisingly, it's neither free nor well-made.
2. Why won't DVDs play on Windows 11?
What to do if the DVD won't play with a DVD player installed on Windows 11 computers? When Windows 11 won't play a DVD, there are a few things to consider:
- The DVD player lacks a certain codec to play the DVD. Try another DVD player instead.
- The CD/DVD driver is corrupted or outdated. Try to update or re-install the DVD/CD-ROM drivers.
- The Windows registry might be corrupted. Then you may need to change some of the registry values.
- The DVD has a different region code and your Windows 11 DVD player/drive is not compatible with. To play a region-locked DVD on Windows 11 PCs, you need to remove the region code or change the region code of your DVD drive.
- The DVD is protected by strict schemes, encoded in a non-standard structure, or corrupted. Try to rip the DVD with WinX DVD Player.
- Make sure your Windows 11 DVD player is the latest version. Update it if it can't open a DVD.
- For more fixes, check here.
3. How to play DVDs on Windows 11 without a DVD drive?
If your computer doesn't come with an optical drive, you need to get an external DVD drive to open a DVD. Most DVD drives have a USB cable, and you simply need to insert the DVD into the external DVD drive and connect the USB cable to the computer, then you should be able to open the DVD as normal. Note that a DVD player app is still required to open a DVD on Windows 11 via an external DVD drive.
If you don't want to get an external DVD drive, here is another way: convert the DVD into a digital format and then you can play the DVD video on Windows 11 without using a DVD drive. WinX DVD Ripper can help this but it still need a computer with a DVD drive for the conversion.
4. What is the best DVD player for Windows 11?
In addition to VLC and 5KPlayer mentioned in the above article, there are some other free DVD player apps for Windows 11 to help PC play DVDs. They are:
- PowerDVD
- KMPlayer
- GOM Player
- PotPlayer
- Kodi
- Leawo Blu-ray Player
5. Can Windows 11 play Blu-ray discs?
Yes, you can play a Blu-ray disc on Windows 11, as long as you get a Blu-ray DVD drive and player. Windows 11 doesn't contain a pre-installed DVD or Blu-ray player app, so you will need to get an external drive connected via USB and an app to play the Blu-ray disc.
6. Can Windows Media Player play DVD on Windows 11?
Yes. Insert you DVD into the optical drive and open Windows Media Player, it should be able to play the DVD automatically. However, Windows Media Player supports data DVDs only. You can't use it to play video DVDs on Windows 11 computers. If you want to play video DVDs with Window Media Player, you need to install the essential DVD codec for it. That is a complicated process and is confusing for regular users.
7. How to select the best DVD player for Windows 11?
There are some popular DVD player options for Windows 11, including 5KPlayer, VLC Media Player, PowerDVD, MPC-HC, and more. When selecting a Windows 11 DVD player program, there are several factors to consider:
- The DVD player should be able to play different DVDs on Windows 11, including protected DVDs. It will be better if it also supports Blu-ray playback.
- There should be options to adjust the audio and video settings to enhance the DVD playback on Windows 11 PCs.
- It should be easy to play a DVD on Windows 11, so choose a DVD player with a user-friendly interface.
- It should be able to play DVDs on Windows 11 smoothly and reliably, without any lag or stutters.
8. Is there a way to add DVD playback support to Windows 11 natively?
As metioned earlier, you can't play a video DVD on Windows 11 using its native app Windows Media Player. However, you can download a DVD video codec for Windows Media Player, such as Media Player Codec Pack and K-Lite Codec Pack. However, downloading and setting up the DVD codec for Windows 11 apps may be a little bit troublesome for non tech-savvy users. In addition, even with a DVD video codec installed, Windows Media Player still can't open a protected DVD.
Therefore, you may try a different free DVD player for Windows 11 or rip the DVD in advance in order to play all DVDs without hassles.
