How to Play a DVD on Windows 11 for Free

DVD is still the most popular way to store movies and video recordings. DVD movies offer a number of advantages over other formats. For one, they are generally much higher quality than movies that are streamed online or downloaded from the internet. They also offer a wide range of special features, such as behind-the-scenes footage, interviews, and commentary tracks.

If you purchased or received a DVD and want to play it on your Windows 11 PC, then this is the right place you are looking for. We will share a couple of free methods to play DVD on Windows 11.

Go and Buy an External DVD Player First

As we can see, modern computers don’t have a DVD play by default as it takes too much space on board. However, this is not a big issue. You can go and purchase an external DVD player with USB port to read DVD discs on your PC. Here is a list of best portable DVD players for Windows 11 PC:

LG GP65NB60 ($24)

LG GP65NB60 is a portable USB-powered DVD burner that is ideal for use with laptops and netbooks. It features a slim design that makes it easy to carry, and it has a USB 2.0 interface for fast data transfer. It also includes Nero Burning Software for easy disc burning and LabelPrint for creating custom disc labels.

Dell USB DVD Drive-DW316 ($19)

Dell USB DVD Drive-DW316 is an external DVD drive that can be used to read and write CDs and DVDs. It connects to a computer via a USB port and is powered by the USB bus. The drive is compatible with Windows and Mac OS.

Dell USB DVD Drive-DW316 is a great choice for those who need an external DVD drive. It is easy to use and connect, and is powered by the USB bus. The drive is also compatible with Windows and Mac OS.

Pioneer BDR-XD07B ($105)

Pioneer’s BDR-XD07B is a slim external DVD and Blu-ray player that offers good performance and features at a reasonable price. It’s a good choice if you need an external drive for occasional DVD movie playback or light data backup and storage.

BDR-XD07B is a well-designed drive. It’s slim and light, making it easy to take with you on the go. The included USB 3.0 cable is just the right length, and the drive has an LED that lights up when it’s in use. It also comes with CyberLink Media Suite, a comprehensive media playback and editing suite.

BDR-XD07B performed well in our tests. It had no trouble playing back DVD and Blu-ray movies, and it read and wrote data quickly. It’s a great value if you need a DVD player and don’t already have a preferred media playback or editing software.

Does Windows 11 Have a DVD Player Software?

Yes. Windows Media Player is the built-in DVD player software that comes with Windows 11 OS. However, the functions are quite limited when comparing to other DVD player software. You can try it first. If you dislike it, then you can switch to other free or premium DVD playing software on Windows 11. We will share the whole list in the coming sections.

Method 1: Play a DVD on Windows 11 with Windows Media Player

Windows Media Player is a free desktop application developed by Microsoft that is used for playing audio, video and DVDs. This application can also be used for managing media content on portable devices and home media servers.

It supports a wide variety of audio and video file formats, including MP3, WMA, WMV, AVI and ASF. It also supports a number of streaming protocols, such as MMS, RTSP and HTTP. Windows Media Player can be extended with a number of plug-ins and add-ons, such as visualizations, codecs and skins.

To play a DVD on Windows 11 with Windows Media Player:

1. Insert the DVD into your computer’s DVD drive.

2. Open Windows Media Player.

3. Click the "Play" button.

4. Click the "DVD" option.

5. Select your DVD drive from the drop-down menu.

6. Click the "Play" button.

If you’re having trouble getting the Media Player to play your DVD, you may need to adjust your computer’s regional settings. To do this, open the Control Panel and go to "Region and Language". From here, you can change the region code for your DVD drive. Once you’ve changed the region code, try playing the DVD again.

Method 2: Play a DVD on Windows 11 with VLC Media Player

VLC Media Player is a free and open source media player and multimedia framework written by the VideoLAN project. VLC is available for desktop operating systems and mobile platforms, such as Android, iOS, Windows 11 Mobile, and Windows Phone. VLC supports a wide range of audio and video codecs, file formats, and streaming protocols.

VLC is one of the most popular media players in the world and is used by millions of people every day. The player has a simple interface that is easy to use and navigate. It also has a wide range of features that make it a powerful media player.

To play a DVD on Windows 11 with VLC Media Player:

1. Download and install VLC Media Player.

2. Insert your DVD into your computer’s DVD drive.

3. Open VLC Media Player.

4. Click on the "Media" menu at the top of the screen and select "Open Disc."

5. Select your DVD drive from the "Disc Device" drop-down menu and click "Play."

If you’re having trouble getting VLC to play your DVD, you can try changing the settings. Go to Tools > Preferences and then click on the "Input / Codecs" tab. Under "Discs," make sure that the "DVD" option is selected. You may also need to change the "DVD device" setting to match the location of your DVD drive.

Once you’ve got the settings configured, try playing your DVD again. If it still doesn’t work, you can try downloading a codec pack. A codec pack will provide VLC with the necessary codecs to play just about any type of video or audio file.

Other Free DVD Playing Software for Windows 11

Windows Media Player and VLC are enough for basic needs. However, they might fail to play some DVDs. In addition, they lacks some advance features such as 4K video support or video playback. So it is necessary to recommend a few other DVD playing software.

#1 PotPlayer

PotPlayer is a free multimedia player with plenty of features and rich customization. It supports all common video and audio file formats, as well as DVDs, Blu-rays, and other multimedia content. You can also use PotPlayer to play streaming video from the internet.

PotPlayer is a great alternative to other media players, such as VLC Player and Windows Media Player. It has a sleek interface and can be customized to your liking. You can also use PotPlayer to play 360-degree videos and 3D movies.

One of the best things about PotPlayer is that it’s very lightweight and doesn’t use much of your computer’s resources. This makes it ideal for playing HD videos and movies.

#2 GOM Player

GOM Player is a media player for Windows that can play a variety of different audio and video files. It supports a wide range of file formats, including AVI, MP4, FLV, MKV, and more. GOM Player also has a built-in codec library that allows it to play almost any video file.

GOM Player is a great alternative to other media players, such as VLC Player or Windows Media Player. It has a simple, yet stylish interface that is easy to use. GOM Player also has a variety of advanced features, such as the ability to play 360-degree videos, take screenshots, and more.

Overall, GOM Player is a great media player that is suitable for both casual and power users. It is free to download and use, and it does not require any additional codecs or plugins.

#3 KMPlayer

KMPlayer is a totally free media player that can play a variety of audio and video formats, including DVD video. It is also capable of playing some broken or incomplete media files. KMPlayer is available for Windows, macOS, and Linux.

KMPlayer has a clean and simple interface. It is easy to use and can be customized to suit your needs. KMPlayer can play almost any audio or video format, including popular ones such as MP3, AVI, MKV, and FLV. It can also play some less common formats such as OGG, WAV, and WMV.

#4 BlazeDVD Free

BlazeDVD Free is a powerful and easy-to-use DVD player software that can play all types of DVDs, including commercial and homemade DVDs. It offers many features, such as the ability to play multiple DVDs at the same time, support for multiple audio and subtitle tracks, and support for a variety of video and audio formats. BlazeDVD Free also includes a range of built-in tools for managing your DVD collection, such as the ability to create and manage playlists, and the ability to bookmark your favorite scenes.

Best Premium DVD Playing Software for Windows 11

Paid dvd ripping software generally have more features than free ones. This can include things like better organization tools, more playback options, and more customization options. Paid software also tends to be more reliable and have better customer support than free software.

Another reason to use paid DVD player software is that it can help you avoid potential legal issues. Some free DVD player software is not licensed to play certain types of DVDs, which means you could be breaking the law by using it. Paid software is more likely to be licensed to play all types of DVDs, so you can be sure you’re using it legally.

Finally, paid DVD player software can simply be a better overall experience. With more features and better support, you’re likely to have a more enjoyable experience using paid software. If you’re serious about watching DVDs, a paid player is probably worth the investment.

PowerDVD ($59.99)

CyberLink PowerDVD is a media player for Microsoft Windows. PowerDVD supports playback of Blu-ray Discs, DVDs, Video CDs, SVCDs, and various streaming protocols. It is also available on Android, iOS, Windows Phone, and smart TVs.

CyberLink PowerDVD has been reviewed by many tech publications. In general, the reviews are positive, with most reviewers praising the player for its excellent video and audio quality, its user interface, and its support for a wide range of audio and video formats. However, some reviewers have criticized the player for its high price and for its lack of features compared to other media players.

Corel WinDVD Pro ($29.99)

Corel WinDVD Pro is a powerful and versatile DVD player software that allows you to play and manage your DVD collection with ease. With its intuitive interface and wide range of features, Corel WinDVD Pro makes it easy to watch your favorite DVDs and manage your collection.

Corel WinDVD Pro offers a wide range of features that make it a great choice for managing your DVD collection. With its intuitive interface, you can easily add and remove DVDs from your collection, and organize them into categories for easy access. You can also create custom playlists, and set playback options such as subtitles, audio tracks, and aspect ratio.

In addition, Corel WinDVD Pro offers a variety of advanced features for power users. With its DVD authoring tool, you can create custom DVDs with menus, chapters, and subtitles. You can also use the software to convert your DVDs to other formats, such as DivX, for playback on other devices.

Whether you’re a casual DVD viewer or a power user, Corel WinDVD Pro is a great choice for managing your DVD collection.

Video Tutorial: How to Play DVDs on Windows 11 for Free

Why Can’t I Play DVDs on Windows 11?

There are a few reasons why you might not be able to play DVDs on Windows 11. One reason could be that your computer’s optical drive is not compatible with DVD playback. Another reason could be that you do not have the proper codecs installed on your computer to play DVD video. Finally, your Windows 11 settings may be configured in such a way that prevents DVD playback.

If your computer’s optical drive is not compatible with DVD playback, you will need to purchase an external DVD player that is compatible with Windows 11. If you do not have the proper codecs installed on your computer to play DVD video, you can download and install the codecs from the Microsoft website. Finally, if your Windows 11 settings are preventing DVD playback, you can change the settings by opening the Windows Media Player and going to the Tools menu.

Frequently Asked Questions

Summary

As you can see, playing DVDs on Windows 11 is a quite simple process. There are dozens of free media players out there that can play DVDs flawlessly. Go with Windows Media Player first as it is pre-installed on Windows 11 and there is no need to download other software. If this does work, then you can pick up other free or paid DVD player software listed in our article.