Nowadays, a lot of people exclusively use streaming. However, DVDs still have a place in our world. Perhaps one of your favourite movies isn’t available on any streaming services. Perhaps you would prefer a method of watching movies without an internet connection. Or perhaps you have some old home movies on DVD. You might wish to use your laptop to watch a DVD for any number of reasons.
Sadly, it’s not always simple to do that. Apple laptops that are more recent lack DVD drives. Furthermore, Windows lacks native support for DVDs, even if your laptop runs Windows. However, most laptops provide a method for playing DVDs. This is the procedure.
How to Play a DVD on a Windows Laptop
A DVD drive is the first item you require. You will need an external drive because most new laptops lack one. While you’re about it, why not convert that drive into a capable Blu-ray reader/writer? You may then view Blu-ray discs alongside your DVDs, making it future-proof.
Software that can play DVDs is something else you’ll need. You can do this using Windows Media Player if you’re still on Windows 7. Simply place the disc into the drive is all that is required. Select the disc from the Player Library in Windows Media Player by opening it. It ought to begin playing on its own. Additionally, you can choose specific chapters or menus.
However, neither newer nor earlier versions of Windows support the playback of DVDs. Even Windows 7 won’t support playing back Blu-ray discs. You will therefore need to locate some top-notch software. Here are a few excellent choices.
VLC Media Player
Leawo Blu-ray Player
Another potent programme that plays Blu-ray discs right out of the box is Leawo Blu-ray Player. No additional widgets or software are required to be installed. Simply insert your Blu-ray disc, and the programme will recognise it. The main menu will open if you click the tiny disc icon. You may then use any control you would find on a Blu-ray player from there. You may play and pause the video as well as navigate the menus and skip segments.
When the menu loads for the first time on some Blu-rays, you’ll get caught in a loop. If it occurs, go to “Player settings” and select “DVD/Blu-ray.” Activate the switch labelled “Skip Blu-ray disc menu.” Your menu problems will now be resolved.
Downloading Leawo Blu-ray Player is free, and none of the features have a barrier. When you pause your video, a pop-up advertisement will appear. You can pay for the full version if this annoys you. Although it’s a bit expensive, most people will be OK with the free version because the advertising aren’t bothersome.
Windows DVD Player
In the Microsoft Store, Windows has its own DVD player application. Because Microsoft is charging for a feature that was free in Windows 7, we truly loathe to suggest it. Furthermore, the free software actually performs better. The Windows DVD Player App currently has a three-star rating from users as of July 2022.
This is partially caused by the marketing’s deceitful tactics. The app allegedly offers a 7-day free trial, but the trial is completely useless. It only determines whether the player is compatible with the DVD player on your computer. We obviously weren’t going to pay for this bird up front. Not even Blu-ray discs can be played on it.
However, there is one situation in which there may be no other option. You might only be permitted to install Windows-licensed applications on a company-owned laptop. The Windows DVD Player App wouldn’t contravene any corporate restrictions in that instance.
Troubleshooting Windows DVD Playback Issues
If you have a drive and software but are still experiencing problems, there might be a problem with your drive. Here are a few methods for resolving DVD playback difficulties.
Hit X after holding down the Windows key for a few seconds. When a menu appears, choose “Device Manager” from it. Click “DVD/CD-ROM drives” under Device Manager. Your DVD player ought to be listed there. There is a problem with your drivers if there is a red “X” next to it. After reinstalling them and restarting your computer, your drive should function normally.
If your drive is absent from the list, the registry on your computer does not have a record of it. In that case, you must include it. Please take note that the actions below could harm your computer. You should back up your register before continuing, as we strongly advise. Anytime you tinker with your registry, this applies.
Type “cmd” into the search box on your start menu to launch it. Click “Run as Administrator” by selecting “Right Click” on the Command Prompt icon. Copy and paste the following command into the command prompt:
Reg.exe add /f /v EnumDevice1 /t REG DWORD /d 0x00000001 “HKLMSystemCurrentControlSetServicesatapiController0”
Enter, then restart the computer. Return to Device Manager and search for your DVD drive there. If it still doesn’t appear, there is a hardware problem. Either the drive is broken, or the cables are connected improperly.
Playing a DVD on Your MacBook
There are some pros and cons of playing DVDs on a MacBook. The MacBooks of today lack DVD drives. The MacBook Pro non-Retina, which was discontinued in 2016, was the final MacBook with a drive. You won’t have a drive to play with if you have a newer MacBook. Having said that, a solution exists. To find out more, go to the section after this one.
Playing your DVD is as easy as popping it in if your MacBook has a DVD drive. It will begin spinning, and your Mac will detect the presence of a DVD after a short while. The DVD player app will then automatically start playing your disc at that point. The app can also be launched manually at any time.
The interface of Apple’s DVD player software is uncomplicated. Using your mouse, you can move around the DVD menu by clicking on various selections. On a bar at the bottom of the screen are controls for Fast-Forward and Rewind. After a little period, the bar vanishes; but, if you move your mouse, it will reappear. A new bar containing a list of chapters will emerge when you move your mouse to the top of the screen. You can fast skip scenes by navigating horizontally back and forth. A DVD would be played in a similar manner on any desktop-sized Apple computer, incidentally. There is no requirement for any outside software.
SuperDrive
The SuperDrive is an external DVD drive that Apple sells. It’s a really thin device that fits easily next to your MacBook in a laptop bag. It may be used with any MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, Mac Mini, or iMac and connects with a brief USB cord. Additionally, it is shockingly inexpensive for an Apple product.
Once attached, it functions exactly like any other DVD drive. When a disc is installed, Apple’s DVD player will instantly detect it, allowing you to start watching. The best part is that when you’re not using it, you don’t have to carry it around with you.
Conclusion :
You can see that there are always options for playing DVDs on laptops. A DVD drive, DVD playing software, and a few minutes of setup time are all you need. You may easily convert your laptop into a portable DVD player thanks to the wide range of alternatives available. As an alternative, you might just start out by purchasing a portable DVD/Blu-ray player. You may watch movies in this fashion without putting a strain on your laptop’s battery.