How to Play DVDs on Windows Media Player

Written by Jack Lloyd

Last Updated: October 24, 2023 Tested

If you want to watch a DVD on your Windows 10 or Windows 8 PC, you can do so using a free app called VLC Media Player. VLC is easy to install, and we'll walk you through the process step-by-step. This wikiHow guide will teach you how to play a DVD on your Windows computer.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Installing VLC Media Player

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Go to https://www.videolan.org/vlc/download-windows.html in your computer's web browser. This will open the VLC media player's download page.
It's an orange button on the right side of the page.

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The VLC setup file should begin downloading after 3 seconds, but you can click the orange click here link near the top of the page to download the file manually if the download doesn't start within 10 seconds.
You'll find it in your browser's default download location.
Doing so will allow the VLC installation window to open.
Once the VLC installation window opens, click Next in the bottom-right corner of the window until VLC begins installing, then click Finish when the setup completes. When you've successfully installed VLC, you can proceed with making it your computer's default video player.

Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Setting VLC as Default

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Click the Windows logo in the bottom-left corner of the screen.
Click the gear-shaped icon in the lower-left side of the Start window. This prompts the Settings window to open.
It's an option in the Settings window.
You'll find this tab on the left side of the Apps section.
It's near the bottom of the page.
This option is below the "Video player" heading, and should be Movies & TV. Clicking it prompts a drop-down menu.
You'll find it in the drop-down menu. Doing so sets VLC Media Player as your computer's default video player, making it easier for you to play future DVDs using VLC.

Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Playing Your DVD

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1
Attempt to play the DVD automatically. By inserting the DVD into your computer, you should be able to open it in VLC without any fuss; however, if this doesn't work, you can force VLC to open the DVD by following the rest of the steps in this method. Make sure that VLC media player isn't open, then do the following:
- Insert the DVD into your computer's DVD drive.
- Click the Select to choose what happens with DVD movies. notification in the bottom-right corner of the screen.
- Click Play DVD Movie in the pop-up menu that appears in the upper-right corner of the screen. As long as VLC remains installed, this option will be selected by default when inserting a DVD in the future.
Click the Windows logo in the bottom-left corner of the screen. If your computer doesn't present you with a notification when inserting the DVD into the DVD drive, you can select the DVD from with This PC and force it to open in VLC from there.
Click the folder-shaped icon in the lower-left side of the Start window. The File Explorer window will pop up.
4
Click This PC. You'll find this option in the left-hand sidebar of the File Explorer window. Doing so opens the This PC app.
- You may have to scroll up or down in the left-hand sidebar in order to find This PC.
5
Right-click your DVD's name. In the "Devices and drives" section near the bottom of the window, you should see a disc-shaped icon with the DVD's name above it. Right-clicking this icon prompts a drop-down menu.
- If your mouse doesn't have a right-click button, click the right side of the mouse, or use two fingers to click the mouse.
- If your computer uses a trackpad instead of a mouse, use two fingers to tap the trackpad or press the bottom-right side of the trackpad.
6
Click Play with VLC media player. This option is in the drop-down menu. Doing so will force the DVD to open in VLC media player, where it will begin playing after a few seconds.
- Most DVDs will require you to click Play on the DVD title screen before the movie will begin.

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How can I download Windows Media Player?

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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.

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Is there a DVD media player on Windows 10?

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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.

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Windows 7 Home Premium (and up) users should be able to use Windows Media Player to play DVDs. To do so, simply insert the DVD into your computer, then open Media Player and double-click the DVD's name in the right-hand pane if the DVD doesn't begin playing automatically.^{[1]
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VLC will work with most versions of Windows (including XP), though you'll need to select the DVD from within the VLC app. To play an inserted DVD directly from within VLC, click Open Disc... in the drop-down menu, and click Play at the bottom of the window.

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Warnings

Common reasons for DVD malfunctions which aren't related to VLC or Windows Media Player include region locks on the DVD itself, a faulty DVD, and failing computer hardware.

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Neither Windows Media Player nor the Windows 10 Movies & TV app will play DVDs, so you'll need to use VLC (or a different DVD-enabled player) to play DVDs.

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