How to Watch DVD on Laptop: A Beginner’s Guide

So, you’ve got some DVDs lying around, maybe some classic movies or family videos, and you want to watch them on your laptop. But wait—how do you even check if your laptop can play DVDs? And what if it doesn’t have a DVD drive at all? Don’t worry! We’re going to walk through everything step-by-step, and by the end, you’ll know exactly what to do.

Does My Laptop Have a DVD Drive?

First things first: Does your laptop even have a DVD drive?

Many older laptops came with built-in DVD drives, but newer models, especially ultra-thin ones, often don’t include them anymore. Manufacturers tend to ditch optical drives to save space and weight.

How to Check for a DVD Drive

• Look at the side of your laptop. A DVD drive usually looks like a thin slot or a tray with a button to eject it.
• Check File Explorer (Windows) or Finder (Mac). On Windows, open “This PC” or “My Computer” and see if there’s a DVD drive listed. On Mac, look for “DVD” or “CD” devices in Finder.
• Check Device Manager (Windows). Press Win + X, choose “Device Manager,” then expand “DVD/CD-ROM drives.” If you see something, your laptop has a drive.

If your laptop has a DVD drive, great! You’re halfway there. If not, don’t panic; we’ll cover alternatives soon.

What Software Do I Need to Play a DVD on My Laptop?

Having a DVD drive is only part of the picture. You also need software to read and play the DVD content. Think of the drive as a CD player and the software as the radio tuner that helps you listen to your favorite station.

Why Can’t You Just Use Default Players?

Some laptops come with DVD playback software pre-installed, but if you don’t have any or it doesn’t work, you’ll need to get one.

• Windows 10 and 11 stopped including Windows Media Player’s DVD playback feature by default.
• Macs usually come with the DVD Player app, but it’s not perfect and may have region code restrictions.

Recommended DVD Player Software

Here are some easy-to-use programs that work well for beginners:

VLC Media Player is a favorite for many because it’s free and plays almost everything — movies, DVDs, even weird video formats you didn’t know existed. You can download it directly from the official website: videolan.org.

Once you have VLC or similar software installed, just pop in your DVD and open the program. It should detect the disc and start playing automatically.

How Can I Watch DVDs If My Laptop Doesn’t Have a DVD Drive?

Okay, so what if your laptop case looks like a sleek slab with no slot or tray? This is super common nowadays, especially with ultrabooks, Chromebooks, or MacBooks.

Option 1: Buy an External DVD Drive

This is by far the easiest workaround.

• USB DVD Drives are cheap and plug-and-play.
• Just connect it to your laptop’s USB port, insert your DVD, and open your playback software.
• They’re portable enough to toss in your bag and use anywhere.

For example, the LG Electronics 8X USB 2.0 Super Multi Ultra Slim DVD Writer is a popular choice and costs around $30-$40. According to PCMag, external drives like these offer reliable playback with minimal setup[1].

Option 2: Rip DVDs to Digital Files

If you want to go a little techy, you can convert your DVDs into digital video files (like MP4) and watch them anytime without the disc.

• Programs like HandBrake (free) let you rip DVDs.
• Be aware of laws about ripping DVDs in your country; some places consider it illegal to bypass copy protections.
• Ripped files can then be played with any media player, no DVD drive needed.

Option 3: Use Network or Media Streaming

If you have a desktop or older laptop with a DVD drive on the same network as your laptop, you can share the drive over the network.

• Windows allows “DVD drive sharing” via Media Streaming options.
• Some NAS devices also support DVD sharing.

But this option is more complicated and may cause lag or playback issues, so it’s not ideal for beginners.

Are There Any Free or Recommended DVD Player Programs?

Yes! As I mentioned earlier, VLC Media Player is probably your best bet.

Why VLC?

• It’s completely free with no trial limits.
• Plays DVDs, CDs, and almost every video format.
• Available on Windows, Mac, and Linux.
• Handles DVD menus, subtitles, and region codes more flexibly than most default players.

What About Region Code Restrictions?

Sometimes, DVDs won’t play because they’re locked to a specific region (like DVDs bought in Europe won’t play on US players). This is frustrating, but VLC can help.

• VLC can often bypass region code restrictions, especially with manual configuration.
• Alternatively, some DVD drives allow you to change the region code a few times through your operating system settings.
• Remember: Changing region codes is limited to around 5 times per drive.

If VLC can’t play your DVD due to region coding, look for guides on how to change your drive’s region or consider tools like AnyDVD (paid software) that remove restrictions. But be mindful of legal implications depending on your location.

Now, let’s get into the nitty-gritty with actionable steps.

Step 1: Check for a DVD Drive

1. Look around your laptop’s sides for a DVD tray or slot.
2. On Windows, open “This PC” and see if “DVD Drive” appears.
3. On Mac, open Finder > Devices > check for DVD.
4. Or, go to Device Manager > DVD/CD-ROM drives.

Step 2: Choose Your DVD Playback Software

• Download and install VLC Media Player from videolan.org.
• If you prefer others, try Leawo Blu-ray Player or PowerDVD.

Step 3: Insert Your DVD and Open the Software

• Insert the DVD into your drive.
• Launch VLC or another player.
• If it doesn’t start automatically, in VLC, go to Media > Open Disc, select DVD, and click Play.

Step 4: Troubleshoot Region Codes if Needed

• If you get an error, your DVD might be region locked.
• Check your DVD drive’s region code in Device Manager (Windows) or System Information (Mac).
• Change your drive region code if you haven’t reached the limit.
• Try VLC’s settings or third-party software to bypass region locks.

Step 5: If No DVD Drive, Use External Drive

• Buy a USB DVD drive.
• Plug it into your laptop.
• Repeat steps 2-4.

Step 6: Optional – Rip DVDs for Digital Watching

• Download HandBrake or similar.
• Insert DVD into any machine with a DVD drive.
• Convert DVD to MP4 or MKV.
• Transfer file to your laptop.
• Watch without needing a DVD drive.

FAQs About Watching DVDs on Laptops

Final Thoughts

Watching DVDs on a laptop sounds simple, but it can get tricky if you don’t have the right hardware or software. The good news? You don’t have to be tech-savvy to make it work.

• Check if you have a DVD drive.
• Use free software like VLC.
• Get an external drive if you don’t have one.
• Mind region codes—they’re often the culprit if your DVD won’t play.
• And ripping DVDs can be a convenient fallback, just be careful about copyright rules.

Give it a shot, and soon you’ll be enjoying your favorite DVDs anywhere with your laptop!

References

[1] PCMag. “The Best External DVD Drives for 2024.” PCMag, https://www.pcmag.com/picks/the-best-external-dvd-drives.

[2] VideoLAN. “VLC Media Player.” https://www.videolan.org/vlc/.

[3] HandBrake. “Open Source Video Transcoder.” https://handbrake.fr/.

If you have any questions or hit a snag, just ask! Watching DVDs on your laptop isn’t rocket science—it just takes the right steps.