How to Watch a DVD on Windows 10

Use one of these options to play movies on your Windows 10 PC or laptop

By
Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication
Anita George
Writer
Anita George is a writer who has been covering technology since 2013. Her work has appeared in Paste Magazine and she holds both B.A. and B.S. degrees.
our editorial process
Anita George
Updated March 04, 2020
A close-up stock photo of two Microsoft Surface laptops on a white table. The main laptop which is blue, has a blue wireless mouse sitting next to it.

Drew Angerer / Getty Images 

To watch DVDs on your Windows 10 computer, you only need two things: a DVD drive and either a DVD player app or a DVD player desktop program.

You need a program or app to play the DVD on your PC, regardless of what DVD drive you own; Windows 10, unlike some of its predecessors, no longer ships with a built-in DVD player.

Windows DVD Player: Microsoft's Official App for Watching DVDs

A screenshot of the Windows DVD Player app store page in the Microsoft Store. This is where you'll purchase and download the Windows DVD Player app for your Windows 10 PC.
What We Like

  • No compatibility problems.

What We Don't Like

  • $14.99 is a hefty price for what should be a simple, straightforward media app.

  • The free trial doesn't let you see if the full version is worth it since it doesn't allow you to watch movies with it.

Windows DVD Player is Microsoft's own version of a DVD player app. The app plays commercial and homemade DVDs.

Download Windows DVD Player from Microsoft's app store. The Microsoft Store recommends using the free trial first before purchasing the full version for $14.99; not because the free trial lets you watch movies, but because it's intended to help you determine your DVD drive's compatibility with the app.

Kodi: Best Free App Option in the Microsoft Store

A screenshot of the Kodi Dvd player app on a Windows 10 laptop. This is the main menu screen of the Kodi app.
What We Like

  • Watch DVDs, listen to your music and the radio, and watch TV.

  • Sleek and immersive movie-watching interface.

What We Don't Like

  • Some parts of the app's interface are unintuitive. You cannot simply insert a DVD and begin playback immediately. Instead, you'll have to work through a few menus, or randomly right-click the movie file itself, just to find a Play option.

  • Kodi splits the movie file into separate video files. This behavior doesn't affect playback, but it can be confusing since there doesn't seem to be an AutoPlay option.

The Kodi app resides in the Microsoft Store. It was intended for use on home theater PCs but is compatible with Windows 10 PCs as well.

Kodi is more than just a DVD player app; it's a media center, so you can use it to play music and watch live television, too. Kodi is free to download and use.

VLC for Windows: Best Free Option

A screenshot of the VLC for Windows web page. This is where you can download the VLC DVD player for free.
What We Like

  • Easy to download and install.

  • The Interface is easy to understand and use.

  • Video quality is very good and movies play smoothly.

What We Don't Like

  • The interface is a bit plain.

If the Windows DVD Player app and Kodi don't work for you, there's still a third option available. In fact, you don't even need the Microsoft Store for this one.

It's called VLC for Windows, and you can download it straight from the VideoLAN Organization website. Select the big orange Download VLC and follow the on-screen instructions for installation. It's compatible with Windows 10 PCs and free to download and use.