How to Play DVDs on Windows Media Player
This wikiHow teaches you how to play a DVD on a Windows computer. Unfortunately, the Windows Media Player program doesn't support DVDs in Windows 8 and 10, meaning that you'll have to use the free VLC Media Player program instead. Open the...
Part 1 of 3:
Installing VLC Media Player
-
How to Play DVDs on Windows Media Player Picture 1
Open the VLC Media Player website. 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. -
How to Play DVDs on Windows Media Player Picture 2
Click Download VLC. It's an orange button on the right side of the page. -
How to Play DVDs on Windows Media Player Picture 3
Wait for VLC to download. 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. -
How to Play DVDs on Windows Media Player Picture 4
Double-click the VLC setup file. You'll find it in your browser's default download location. -
How to Play DVDs on Windows Media Player Picture 5
Click Yes when prompted. Doing so will allow the VLC installation window to open. -
How to Play DVDs on Windows Media Player Picture 6
Install VLC. 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 of 3:
Setting VLC as Default
-
How to Play DVDs on Windows Media Player Picture 7
Open StartHow to Play DVDs on Windows Media Player Picture 8
-
How to Play DVDs on Windows Media Player Picture 9
Open SettingsHow to Play DVDs on Windows Media Player Picture 10
-
How to Play DVDs on Windows Media Player Picture 11
Click Apps. It's an option in the Settings window. -
How to Play DVDs on Windows Media Player Picture 12
Click Default apps. You'll find this tab on the left side of the Apps section. -
How to Play DVDs on Windows Media Player Picture 13
Scroll down to the "Video player" section. It's near the bottom of the page. -
How to Play DVDs on Windows Media Player Picture 14
Click the current video player. This option is below the "Video player" heading, and should be Movies & TV. Clicking it prompts a drop-down menu. -
How to Play DVDs on Windows Media Player Picture 15
Click VLC media player. 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 of 3:
Playing Your DVD
-
How to Play DVDs on Windows Media Player Picture 16
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.
-
How to Play DVDs on Windows Media Player Picture 17
Open StartHow to Play DVDs on Windows Media Player Picture 18
-
How to Play DVDs on Windows Media Player Picture 19
Open File ExplorerHow to Play DVDs on Windows Media Player Picture 20
-
How to Play DVDs on Windows Media Player Picture 21
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.
-
How to Play DVDs on Windows Media Player Picture 22
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.
-
How to Play DVDs on Windows Media Player Picture 23
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.
3.5 ★ | 2 Vote
You should read it
- How to Reinstall Windows Media Player
- GOM Player: Free Media Player for Windows
- 22 shortcuts to VLC for Windows and Mac
- How to Install VMware Player
- How to Take a Snapshot of a Video Running in Windows Media Player
- How to Play TS Files on PC or Mac
- Instructions on how to install Adobe Flash Player on your computer
- VMware Workstation Player - Download VMware Workstation Player
- 5 MX Player tricks you may not know
- 10 interesting hidden functions of VLC Media Player
- Set up VLC Media Player as the default multimedia player on Windows 10
- How to fix 3 problems with VLC Media Player
May be interested
How to Take a Snapshot of a Video Running in Windows Media Player
How to Convert Any Type of Audio in Windows Media Player
How to Add Subtitles to Windows Media Player
How to Copy or Burn a CD Using Windows Media Player
How to Adjust Subtitle and Voice Delay on VLC Player
How to Use Adjustment and Effects Settings in VLC