(Photo: Marek Mnich / Shutterstock)
You probably catch most of your favorite TV shows and movies through video-streaming services, but many of us still have hefty DVD and Blu-ray collections. Unfortunately, if you pop a disc into your Windows PC, you may bump into trouble because Microsoft’s Windows Media Player doesn't support DVDs or Blu-rays.
If you're wondering how you're supposed to play your favorite discs in Windows, don't panic. Several PC brands bundle in multimedia software through which you can play a DVD, though sometimes these products are limited in nature. Microsoft offers a Windows DVD Player app, but it costs $15 and has generated a number of bad reviews. Instead, you can turn to third-party programs like VLC Media Player, Leawo Blu-ray Player, and 5Kplayer.
Before you can play any disc-based media, you naturally need a DVD drive. Most laptops no longer come with DVD drives because many manufacturers try to make their machines as thin and light as possible. For desktops, DVD (and Blu-ray) drives are often optional. If your PC doesn’t have one, you can always purchase an internal or external drive. Many of these drives are also read/write capable, so you can burn DVDs and Blu-ray discs.
You should be able to play DVDs in most player applications with little or no trouble. However, most programs lack the necessary functionality to decode commercial and encrypted Blu-ray discs. Some programs, such as Leawo Blu-ray Player, can play Blu-rays out of the box. Others will need a separate piece of software to decrypt the disc so that it’s playable.
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Microsoft's Windows DVD Player
The Windows DVD Player app sold in the Microsoft Store is a barebones affair, but it works (at least most of the time). You may first want to check out the seven-day trial version. To do this, click the ellipsis next to the Buy button and select Free Trial. However, this trial version won't actually play DVDs, rather it simply tells you if it's compatible with your PC's built-in DVD player.
You'll notice from the reviews at the Microsoft Store that the Windows DVD Player doesn't get stellar grades; it has an average rating of 3.2 out of 5. Many people complain that the app doesn't work right, and may not work at all in some cases. Others gripe about spending $15 for an app they feel should be free.
If you decide to open your wallet, download and launch the app. Insert a DVD (the program doesn’t support Blu-ray discs) into your drive and click Play. You'll have access to the usual array of commands, including Play, Pause, Stop, Fast Forward, Rewind, Control Volume, and Resize Screen. But better player apps are available.
VLC Media Player
Developed by the folks at VideoLAN, VLC Media Player is a versatile multimedia player; it can play music and videos stored on your PC or home network, as well as DVDs, CDs, and Blu-ray discs. VLC Media Player is free, though you can always donate some funds to its development.
To use this option, you must first download and install the software from the VideoLAN VLC Media Player website. Launch VLC Media Player, insert a disc, and it should rev up automatically. If not, click Media > Open Disc > DVD, then click the Play button. You'll find a full range of buttons to control playback.
VLC Media Player easily plays DVDs but not Blu-rays as the software is unable to decrypt such discs on its own. If you receive an error trying to play a Blu-ray, there is a workaround available. Browse to the vlc-bluray GitHub page and follow the steps to download and install a third-party tool called MakeMKV.
After copying the necessary file as described on the GitHub page, open MakeMKV and allow it to decrypt your current Blu-ray disc. You also need to install the 64-bit Java Runtime Environment (JRE) to access the menus on the disc. You can then play the Blu-ray in VLC Media Player.
MakeMKV is free to use for 30 days after which time you would have to purchase it at a cost of $60. However, there are ways around that if you consult the MakeMKV forums.
Leawo Blu-ray Player
Leawo Blu-ray Player is a free and versatile media player that can handle content from DVDs, Blu-ray discs, folders, and ISO files. And yes, it does play Blu-rays without a hitch and without the need for any additional software. The program is simple to use. Just pop in the disc, and Leawo should automatically detect it. Click the icon for the disc to play it. You can play, pause, stop, go forward, go back, and even loop the video from your disc.
A disc menu displays all the major titles and sections so you can jump to a specific one. You can also bounce back and forth between windowed mode and full-screen mode. If you bump into any trouble getting past the first chapter or menu of a commercial Blu-ray, you’ll need to adjust one specific setting. Click the Leawo Blu-ray Player menu, go to Player settings, and select DVD/Blu-ray. Turn on the switch for Skip Blu-ray disc menu.
The basic version of Leawo Blu-ray Player is free and provides all the features needed to play a disc, though an ad pops up anytime you pause the video. To dispense with the ads, the premium version will run you $44.95 a year or $99.95 lifetime.
5KPlayer
5KPlayer can play high-def videos, DVDs, and even online radio stations. A built-in Apple AirPlay feature lets you stream audio and video from your iPhone. You can also snag videos from YouTube and other streaming services. However, 5K Player cannot play commercial and encrypted Blu-ray discs, even with third-party decryption tools.
Download and install 5KPlayer and then launch the software. You’re asked to register by entering your name and email address in order to freely download videos and tap into Apple's AirPlay. Enter the registration code you receive by email, and you're good to go.
Pop a DVD in your drive and press the DVD button. Click OK, and your DVD starts playing. Onscreen controls let you play, stop, jump ahead, skip behind, and change the volume. Watching a DVD is as simple as that, though 5KPlayer is packed with many other cool features to make it a truly robust and resourceful multimedia player.
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