How to Watch a DVD on Windows 10

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

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.
You can watch DVDs on your Windows 10 computer, but you'll need a DVD drive and an app.

 Drew Angerer/Getty Images 

by Anita George
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.
Updated August 01, 2018

If you want 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. Whether you decide to download an app or install a desktop program, here are three ways to watch a DVD on a Windows 10 computer.

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

Windows DVD Player is Microsoft's own version of a DVD player app. The app enables you to watch DVDs, and it can play commercial and personal (read: homemade) 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.
Microsoft's official DVD player app can be found in the Microsoft Store.

You can 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.

What We Like:

  • Since it's from Microsoft, it's likely the app is compatible with your Windows 10 computer.

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.

To download the Windows DVD Player app to your Windows 10 computer:

  1. Access the Microsoft Store on your PC's desktop. This can be done in at least three different ways:
    1. You may already have it pinned to your Toolbar. If the Microsoft Store app is pinned to your Toolbar, you should see a white shopping bag icon with the colorful Microsoft logo in the middle of it. If you see it on your Toolbar, select it to launch the Microsoft Store.
    2. Select the Start icon in the bottom left corner of the desktop screen, which looks like a white Microsoft logo. This will open the Start menu; from here, you can scroll through your apps and programs located on the left side of the menu until you see the Microsoft Store icon or, on the right side of the menu, you can scroll down until you see a larger tile-version of the Microsoft Store icon. Either way, select it to access the Microsoft Store.
    3. In the Toolbar, you can use the Cortana-powered Search Bar, represented as a white circle and found to the right of the aforementioned Start icon. In the search box, type "Microsoft Store" and the appropriate icon should appear, allowing you to select it.
  2. Once in the Microsoft Store, use the search box to search for "DVD Player."
  3. On the search results page, the Windows DVD Player app should be one of the first results. If not, select Show all. Select the Windows DVD Player app (shown as a combination DVD player/play button) once you see it.
  4. On the Windows DVD Player store page, download the free trial so you can test the app's compatibility with your DVD drive.
  5. Once you've downloaded the free trial, it will scan your DVD drive (which should have a DVD in it) and notify you if your drive is or isn't compatible. If it is, you'll be prompted to buy the full version.
  6. Once you select the Buy option (or you choose to do so when prompted by the Trial version), follow the on-screen instructions to purchase the app and install it to your PC.

Kodi: Best Free App Option in the Microsoft Store

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

A screenshot of the Kodi Dvd player app on a Windows 10 laptop. This is the main menu screen of the Kodi app.
The Kodi app doesn't just allow you to watch DVDs. You can also to view pictures, play the radio or listen to music.

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.

What We Like:

  • You can watch DVDs, listen to your music and the radio, and watch TV.
  • The 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 navigate through a few menus, or randomly right-clicking the movie file itself just to find a Play option.
  • Kodi also splits the movie file into separate video files. This doesn't affect playback, but it can be confusing since there doesn't seem to be an AutoPlay option as well.

VLC for Windows: Best Free Option (Beyond the Microsoft Store)

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.

A screenshot of the VLC for Windows web page. This is where you can download the VLC DVD player for free.
VLC for Windows is also available for download for Windows 10 PCs.

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.