How to Play a DVD on Windows 10 with the Best Methods [2025 Newest]
Summary: Whether your computer has built-in support, finding how to play a DVD on Windows 10 is essential for an immersive viewing experience. This guide will explore how to play DVD movies on Windows 10 using the best free and premium solutions accessible to all users, regardless of skill level.
Table of Contents
When most new-age users opt for direct streaming from OTT platforms, some old-school and veteran individuals still prefer DVDs for a nostalgic entertainment experience. Sadly, most new computers lack built-in DVD support, making users wonder how to play DVD on Windows 10 or 11. Here, we will explore the best ways to play a DVD on Windows 10, including free and paid DVD players. So, grab your DVD collection right away to learn the top ways and enjoy your movies effortlessly.
How to Play DVDs on Windows 10 with the Best DVD Player
PlayerFab DVD Player is a widely used DVD player that allows you to play encrypted DVDs, ISO files, and folders in any geographical area. If you've ever wondered how to play a DVD on Windows 10/11, PlayerFab is one of the best solutions for creating a cinema-like home theater environment. It can import and play all kinds of digital files and formats at an accelerated speed. Plus, it preserves all the metadata info of your favorite TV show or movie to display for better organization and management.
- Plays all types of DVD discs regardless of the region code
- Provides all-around support for playback of the navigation menu on all DVD formats
- Offers a Main Movie mode to skip other titles and land directly on the feature-length title
- Ensures fluent playback with AMD, Intel, and NVIDIA technology
- Imports and plays various media formats
- Displays the metadata info on the page to manage and organize the local media library
Steps on How to Play a DVD on Windows 10/11 with PlayerFab DVD Player
Step 1: Download PlayerFab DVD Player for free and install it successfully. You will find two modes to choose from; opt for the PC Mode.
Step 2: Import your DVD disc into your computer's disc drive and hit Disc to locate the imported file.
If your source DVD is saved as an ISO file or a folder, use File Explorer. Alternatively, drag your imported DVD content into the main interface of PlayerFab DVD Player. Ensure to select a playback mode.
Step 3: Play the DVD content on your Windows PC.
3 Other Reliable DVD Players to Play DVDs on Windows 10
Are you still seeking more options on how to play DVD on Windows 10? Then, these free and paid tools can end your search and offer you the best visual quality you could ask for. Let's get a brief overview, pros and cons, and a detailed process of each tool right away to understand how to play DVD movies on Windows 10.
DVD Player 1: VLC
VideoLAN's VLC is one of the best free solutions available to play a DVD on Windows 10 and other Windows PCs. This cross-platform multimedia player can play most digital files without breaking the bank. Whether you need to play DVD content, media files, webcams, devices, or streams, VLC is the best option. The best part about VLC is that it has no spyware, ads, or user tracking, making it accessible to all users.
Pros:
- Free and user-friendly software without ads
- Works with various video formats without additional codecs
- Directly plays online videos and music
- Lightweight software that uses minimal system resources
Cons:
- It is not easy to search for songs in VLC's library
- It has a bit of an outdated interface that can be difficult to use at times
How to Play DVD Movies on Windows 10 with VLC Media Player
Step 1: Install the newest version of VLC Media Player by VideoLan on your Windows computer.
Step 2: Insert the DVD you wish to play in your computer's optical drive.
Step 3: Open VLC Media Player and select Media. Then, choose Open Disc.
Step 4: Pick the DVD location and click Play to enjoy your DVD content.
DVD Player 2: Potplayer
Potplayer is a multimedia player that can enhance your disc-viewing experience. Its enhanced hardware acceleration gives you an enriching and immersive viewing experience with 3D using your PC or 3DTV. With support for various output and subtitle formats, it offers the convenience of watching disc content directly on large screens. Additionally, it provides a range of codecs for smooth and seamless management.
Pros:
- Watch and engage in a 3D movie experience
- High customization with many shortcut keys
- Supports all popular video and audio codecs
- Facilitates watching disc content in high audio/video quality
Cons:
- Adjusting the video frames and sizes can be problematic
- The software does not update frequently compared to its competitors
How to Play a DVD on Windows 10 with Potplayer
Step 1: Open a new tab on your device's web browser. Navigate to the Potplayer site and download the DVD player for free on your Windows computer.
Step 2: After successfully running the app, tap Potplayer in the upper left corner and see the dropdown menu.
Step 3: Click Open and choose Open DVD/Open DVD Files (*IFO).
Alternatively, you can right-click your DVD device in the File Explorer. Click Open With and select Potplayer.
DVD Player 3: 5KPlayer
5KPlayer is another free yet robust DVD player for Windows PCs. Whether you have encrypted or home-recorded DVDs, 5KPlayer can bypass any region codes or other copy-protections to play the DVD seamlessly. Additionally, it offers professional controls, allowing users to cast disc content directly from their PCs to Apple TVs. Its hardware decoding helps load any DVD at an accelerated speed.
Pros:
- Supports professional controls like AirPlay and GPU acceleration
- Supports 4K playback, subtitles, and various video formats
- Plays any copy-protected DVD disc regardless of the region codes
- Supports playing home-recorded, scratched, or damaged DVDs, ISO files, or DVD ISO files
Cons:
- It does not provide video tweaking or fine-tuning audio tracks
- Users have often suspected it of being adware and malware
How to Play DVD Movies on Windows 10 and 11 with 5KPlayer
Step 1: Browse the 5KPlayer site. Navigate to the part of 5KPlayer and click Free Download. Install this authentic DVD player software on your Windows computer.
Step 2: After you launch the 5KPlayer software, tap DVD on the main interface. Choose your DVD device and tap Play.
Step 3: Hover your cursor over the Start menu and pick a chapter or section. Similarly, select an audio track, language, and closed caption to play.
Your DVD content will play automatically as soon as you are done selecting.
Comparison of the 4 Top Windows DVD Players
Take a look at the detailed comparison table of the 4 available external DVD players to find the one that best matches your requirements.
| Parameters | User Interface | Compatible OS | Playback Speed | DVD Menu Navigation |
Ad-free |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PlayerFab DVD Player | Modern, simple, and intuitive navigation | Windows and macOS | Super-high, lightning speed | Yes | Yes |
| VLC | Simple and friendly | Windows, macOS, Linux, and mobile | Moderate, fine-tuned speed | Yes | Yes |
| Potplayer | Modern and highly customizable | Windows PC only | Blazing fast speed and optimized | Yes | No. Ads in the installer. |
| 5K Player | Sleek and Apple-like | Windows, macOS, and mobile (iOS) | Moderate | No | No |
FAQs
Yes. Windows 10 users with an optical disc drive can use the built-in Windows DVD Player app to play DVD content directly on their computers. It is available for purchase in the Microsoft Store. However, it does not support Blu-ray discs and formats.
Playing CDs on Windows 10 is straightforward. Users can enjoy their CD content directly using the built-in Windows Media Player or File Explorer. Here's how to use the default option (Windows Media Player).
Step 1: Insert your CD into the PC's optical drive.
Step 2: Ensure the AutoPlay prompt is enabled. If yes, click Play audio CD (for music CDs). Or select Open folder to view files (for data CDs).
Step 3: To proceed manually, press the Windows key + S key to type and open Windows Media Player.
If it is not installed, use the Settings app and click on Apps. Select Optional Features and click Add a Feature. Tap Windows Media Player to enable it.
Step 4: Locate the CD under Unknown Album or its title in the left section. Click on it and press Play.
Conclusion
Today, digital formats have replaced traditional formats. While DVDs and physical media are less common today, pre-digital and classic users still find solace in their DVD collections. Here, we explored the best tools to play a DVD on Windows 10. All the suggested ways are pretty popular in the market. However, we recommend using PlayerFab DVD Player due to its advanced features, GPU hardware acceleration, and user-friendly interface.
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