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Windows 11 can’t play DVD movies on its own. Install a free player such as VLC media player, insert the disc, and in VLC choose Media > Open Disc, then Play. You also need a DVD drive. Many newer laptops don’t have one, so you may need an external USB drive.
This guide covers playing commercial and home-made DVD-Video discs on a Windows 11 PC. To protect a disc you made yourself, see our guide to making a DVD backup. It explains what you need, how to play a disc in VLC, other player options, and what to do when a disc won’t play. Blu-ray discs need different hardware and software, covered briefly in the FAQ. Steps were checked against VideoLAN’s and Microsoft’s documentation in October 2026.
Why Windows 11 Doesn’t Play DVDs
Windows 11 doesn’t include DVD movie playback. The Media Player app that comes with Windows 11 doesn’t play DVD movies, and Microsoft says DVD playback isn’t included in Windows Media Player Legacy either, which is an optional feature on some editions. If you insert a movie disc, File Explorer may simply show a VIDEO_TS folder of files. That’s normal: the drive works, but Windows has no app to play the movie.
What You Need
- A DVD drive. Open File Explorer and select This PC. A DVD drive shows up under Devices and drives. See how to find drives in This PC.
- An external drive if your PC has none. A USB DVD drive such as the ASUS ZenDrive V1M plugs into a USB port, and Windows sets it up on its own. Make sure it reads DVDs, not just CDs.
- A DVD player app. VLC is free and open source, and VideoLAN’s feature list includes DVD Video as a supported input.
Play a DVD With VLC
- Download VLC from the official site, videolan.org, and install it. VLC is also listed in the Microsoft Store. Result: VLC media player appears in the Start menu.
- Insert the DVD. If File Explorer or an AutoPlay prompt opens, close it. Result: the disc is ready in the drive.
- Open VLC and select Media > Open Disc. Result: the Open Media window opens on the Disc tab.
- Under Disc Selection, choose DVD, and make sure your DVD drive is selected under Disc device. Result: VLC knows which drive to read.
- Select Play. Result: the DVD’s menu or the movie starts.
Use the Playback menu for chapters and titles, and the Audio and Subtitle menus to switch languages. To watch full screen, double-click the video or press F. For other apps, see how to go full screen on Windows 11.
Play a disc straight from File Explorer
Once VLC is installed, you can also right-click the DVD drive in File Explorer, choose Open with, and pick VLC.
Play a MOV Video File With VLC
The same VLC installation can play a video saved on your PC. For a .mov file, open VLC, choose Media > Open File, select the video, and choose Open. This uses Open File rather than Open Disc and does not require a DVD drive. VideoLAN’s VLC feature list includes MOV among its supported input formats.
Check both picture and sound, then try moving to another point in the video. You do not need to install a separate codec pack just to try VLC. A MOV file is a container: playback still depends on the audio and video inside it, so the extension alone is not a guarantee that every MOV file will work.
If the file will not play, finish downloading or copying it before opening it, update VLC from VideoLAN, and test another video. If only one file fails, request a fresh copy or an H.264 MP4 export from its creator. Keep the original; renaming .mov to .mp4 does not convert its contents. Conversion is a separate fallback, not a required step before trying playback.
Other Ways to Play a DVD
- Microsoft Store players: a Store search for “DVD player” lists several third-party apps, some free and some paid. Read the reviews and the system requirements before you install one. Microsoft has sold its own Windows DVD Player app in the past, but it didn’t appear in a Store search when we checked in October 2026.
- Software from your PC or drive maker: some PCs and external drives come with a player. Check the box or the maker’s support site.
- A TV DVD player: if you only need to watch the movie, a standalone player connected to a TV avoids software issues entirely.
If the DVD Won’t Play
The drive doesn’t show up
- Unplug an external drive and plug it into a different USB port, ideally on the PC itself rather than a hub. Result: Windows detects the drive again if the port or hub was the problem.
- Right-click Start, select Device Manager, and expand DVD/CD-ROM drives. Result: you see whether Windows lists the drive and whether it has a yellow warning icon.
- If it shows a warning, right-click the drive, select Uninstall device, confirm, and restart the PC. Result: Microsoft says Windows reinstalls the driver automatically after the restart.
Microsoft’s drive not recognized guide explains that a missing drive usually means a driver or configuration problem, and lists further steps, including checking the BIOS.
The disc spins but nothing plays
- Open the disc from VLC’s Media > Open Disc instead of relying on AutoPlay.
- Check that it’s a DVD-Video disc. A data DVD with video files needs Media > Open File instead.
- Try another disc. If other discs work, clean the problem disc with a soft cloth, wiping from the center outward.
You get a region error
Commercial DVDs are coded for a region, and DVD drives are set to a region too. In Device Manager, right-click your drive, choose Properties, and check the DVD Region tab if it’s shown. Drives usually allow only a few region changes before the last one becomes permanent, so change it only if you need to.
There’s no sound
Check the Windows volume, VLC’s volume and mute button, and your output device under Settings > System > Sound. In VLC, open Audio > Audio Track and pick another track, since some discs have several.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Windows Media Player play DVDs on Windows 11?
No. Microsoft says DVD playback isn’t included in Windows Media Player Legacy, and the newer Media Player app doesn’t play DVD movies.
Is VLC safe?
Download it only from videolan.org or the Microsoft Store. VideoLAN says VLC is free, with no spyware, ads or user tracking.
Can I play Blu-ray discs?
You need a Blu-ray drive and Blu-ray playback software. A DVD drive can’t read Blu-ray discs, and commercial Blu-ray movies usually need paid software.
Do I need a codec pack?
Not with VLC, which includes its own decoders. Avoid codec packs from unfamiliar sites.
Need to make your own disc? Here’s how to burn an ISO file to a disc with ImgBurn, or how to burn multiple copies of the same disc for free.
Matthew Burleigh is the founder, head writer, and editor of Solve Your Tech, which he launched in 2012. He has written technology tutorials since 2008 and worked in IT since 2003, including small-business support, IT management, and consulting. He holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science from Arizona State University.
Matthew writes practical guides for Windows, iPhone and iPad, Microsoft Office, Outlook, Google apps, and Android. Solve Your Tech’s guides are tested on current devices or checked against official product documentation, with clear steps, sources, and update dates.
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