Put a movie DVD into a Windows 10 PC and you may find that nothing happens, or Windows Media Player says it can’t play the disc. That’s because Windows 10 doesn’t include the DVD video decoder that Windows 7 had. The fix is easy and can be free: install a DVD-capable player like VLC. This guide covers the free and paid options, what to do if your PC has no disc drive, and how to fix DVDs that won’t play.
Quick Answer
Install the free VLC media player from videolan.org. Insert the DVD, open VLC, and choose Media > Open Disc. Select DVD, pick your drive, and click Play. No codecs or extra software needed.
Why Windows 10 Can’t Play DVDs by Default
DVD movies use MPEG-2 video, which requires a licensed decoder. Microsoft removed built-in DVD playback (and Windows Media Center) starting with Windows 8. Windows Media Player in Windows 10 can play audio CDs and many video files, but not commercial DVD movies.
Your Options
| Player | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| VLC media player | Free | Plays DVDs, most video formats, and many discs; open source |
| Windows DVD Player (Microsoft Store) | Paid | Official Microsoft app; free for some users who upgraded from Windows 7/8 with Media Center |
| PC maker’s software (for example, CyberLink PowerDVD) | Often preinstalled, or paid | Check your Start menu; Blu-ray support in some versions |
Method 1: Play a DVD With VLC (Free)
- Go to videolan.org and download VLC for Windows. Make sure you’re on the official site; search ads sometimes lead to look-alike download pages.
- Run the installer and accept the defaults.
- Insert the DVD and wait a few seconds for the drive to spin up.
- Open VLC, click Media > Open Disc (or press Ctrl + D).
- Select DVD, confirm the Disc device is your DVD drive (for example, E:), and click Play.
Use the Playback > Title and Chapter menus to navigate, and the Audio and Subtitle menus to pick languages. To see the disc's own menu, make sure No disc menus is unchecked in the Open Disc dialog.
Make VLC open DVDs automatically
Go to Settings > Devices > AutoPlay, and under DVD movie (it appears after you’ve inserted a DVD once, or in Control Panel > AutoPlay) choose Play DVD movie (VLC media player).
Method 2: Windows DVD Player
- Open the Microsoft Store and search for Windows DVD Player.
- Buy and install it. If you upgraded from Windows 7 or 8.1 with Windows Media Center, it may have been installed for free automatically.
- Insert the DVD and open Windows DVD Player.
Try the free VLC option first. Microsoft’s app doesn’t play Blu-ray discs.
No DVD Drive?
Most new laptops don’t have one. Buy an inexpensive external USB DVD drive; Windows recognizes it automatically, and VLC plays discs from it the same way. For Blu-ray movies, you need a Blu-ray drive and Blu-ray-capable playback software; VLC doesn’t play most commercial Blu-rays because of copy protection.
DVD Won’t Play? Troubleshooting
- Drive doesn’t appear: Check File Explorer > This PC. If it’s missing, open Device Manager, expand DVD/CD-ROM drives, and update or uninstall and reinstall the driver, then restart.
- Region error: DVDs are region-coded (Region 1 for the US and Canada, Region 2 for Europe and Japan, and so on). Drives let you change the region only a few times. Buy discs for your region when possible.
- Choppy playback: Clean the disc with a soft cloth from the center outward, close other programs, and try another disc to rule out a scratched one.
- Black screen with sound: In VLC, try Tools > Preferences > Input / Codecs and set Hardware-accelerated decoding to Disable, then restart VLC. Also update your graphics driver.
- Homemade DVDs: Discs burned on other devices may need to be finalized on the recorder that made them before other players can read them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is VLC safe?
Yes, when downloaded from videolan.org. It’s free, open-source, and ad-free.
Can I copy a DVD to my PC?
Copying your own homemade DVDs is fine. Copying commercial movies may break copy protection, which is restricted by law in many countries. See our guide on copying a DVD in Windows 10 for details.
Summary
- Windows 10 can’t play DVD movies out of the box.
- Install the free VLC media player and use Media > Open Disc.
- Or buy Windows DVD Player from the Microsoft Store.
- Use an external USB drive if your PC has no disc drive.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.