Windows 10 doesn’t come with an app that plays DVD movies. To watch a DVD, install a DVD player app, such as Windows DVD Player from the Microsoft Store, then insert the disc and open it from AutoPlay or File Explorer. You also need a DVD drive, built in or connected by USB.
Applies to: Windows 10. Keep in mind that Windows 10 support ended on October 14, 2025. Security updates now come only through the Extended Security Updates program, which stops on October 12, 2027.
What you need
- A DVD drive. Many newer laptops don’t have one. An external USB DVD drive works the same way.
- A DVD player app. Windows 10 can read data discs on its own, but movie DVDs need a player app.
Get a DVD player app
- Windows DVD Player. Microsoft’s app is in the Microsoft Store. It was free for PCs upgraded to Windows 10 from Windows 7 Home Premium, Professional, or Ultimate, or from Windows 8 or 8.1 with Media Center. Other PCs can buy it.
- VLC media player (free). Download it from VideoLAN’s website. Insert the disc, open VLC, select Media > Open Disc, choose DVD, and select Play. It plays most commercial DVDs and doesn’t need extra codecs.
- Another player. The Microsoft Store has other DVD player apps. Install players only from the Microsoft Store or the developer’s own site.
Before you buy anything, check whether your PC maker installed a DVD player already. Look in the Start menu for “DVD”.
Play a DVD
- Insert the DVD. If a notification appears, select it and choose to play the DVD with your player app. A stuck tray on an HP desktop has its own fixes in opening the CD drive on an HP desktop.
- If nothing happens, open File Explorer (Windows logo key + E) and select This PC.
- Right-click the DVD drive and select Open AutoPlay…. Then choose your player.
- In the player, select Play movie or press the play button. Select the full screen button to fill the screen.
To make the same app open every time, open Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > AutoPlay and pick an action next to DVD movie. You can also set it in default apps.
If the DVD won’t play
- The drive isn’t in This PC. Try another USB port for an external drive. For a built-in drive, restart the PC and check again.
- The disc spins but won’t play. Clean the disc with a soft cloth, wiping from the center out. Try another DVD to see if the problem is the disc.
- A region error appears. DVDs are made for a region. Most DVD drives only let you change the region a few times, so don’t change it unless you need to.
- It’s a Blu-ray disc. Blu-ray needs a Blu-ray drive and a player that supports Blu-ray. A DVD drive can’t read it.
Frequently asked questions
Can Windows Media Player play DVDs in Windows 10?
No. Windows Media Player in Windows 10 plays music CDs and video files, but not DVD movies.
Can I copy a DVD to my PC?
Home movie discs you made can be copied like any other files. Copying commercial movie DVDs may break copy protection laws where you live.
How do I burn my own disc?
Follow the steps for burning a CD in Windows 10. They work for data DVDs too. If you have a disc image file, you can mount the ISO without a disc.
Can I play Blu-ray discs on Windows 10?
Only with a Blu-ray drive and a paid player app that supports Blu-ray. DVD drives can’t read Blu-ray discs, and Windows DVD Player doesn’t play them.
Why does my DVD say it’s the wrong region?
Movie DVDs are coded for regions of the world. A drive can change its region only a few times, usually five, before it locks. Avoid changing it unless you need to.
Related: music discs work differently, so use playing a CD on Windows 10 for those. On a newer PC, the steps for playing a DVD on Windows 11 apply instead.
Eligibility for the free app is explained on Microsoft’s page The Windows DVD Player app is available for free for eligible Windows 10 upgrades.
Matt Jacobs has been working as an IT consultant for small businesses since receiving his Master’s degree in 2003. While he still does some consulting work, his primary focus now is on creating technology support content for SupportYourTech.com.
His work can be found on many websites and focuses on topics such as Microsoft Office, Apple devices, Android devices, Photoshop, and more.