For all the high-profile new features Microsoft introduced on Windows 10, it took a key one away. You can no longer play a DVD on your PC and laptop, even if your device still has a disk drive.
If you upgraded from high-tiered versions of Windows 7 or 8.1, you may still have a native program in the form of Windows DVD Player, but it will be impossible for everyone else unless you install a third party program.
Microsoft decided to remove Windows Media Centre from Windows 10 but gave people upgrading from Pro or Ultimate versions of Windows 7 / 8 Windows DVD Player. For everyone else this is a paid app in the Windows Store that currently costs £12.49/$14.99. It also currently has a three-star rating, but can’t play Blu-ray discs.
However, assuming you’re not running Windows 10 S and can download apps from your browser, we’d recommend trying VLC Player. This app is completely free and often our go-to for playing video files on your computer, but it also has a nifty DVD player built-in. Here’s how to use it.
How can I watch DVDs on Windows 10 for free?
VLC is a great app for your PC and laptop, given its ability to play almost any type of media (CDs, DVDs, digital formats, streaming) without a problem. Despite being a free download, it can run on all major platforms and even play Blu-rays with the right files.
VLC Player available to download both via the Microsoft Store and from the official website, where you can also download it for Mac.
Once the download is finished double-click on the file (usually in your Downloads folder), agree to let it make changes on your system, select your language, then follow the installation wizard ensuring that you choose the recommended settings.
When the installation is complete insert a DVD into your drive, then open VLC, select Media > Open Disc from the menu bar at the top.
Select your DVD drive from the Disc Device drop-down list (usually D:), and click Play. Now you should have access to your DVD library once more, and it’s all smiles again. It’s a great idea to turn your DVDs into MP4 files so you can watch them on any device, even without a DVD drive.
Author: Martyn Casserly, Contributor
Martyn has been involved with tech ever since the arrival of his ZX Spectrum back in the early 80s. He covers iOS, Android, Windows and macOS, writing tutorials, buying guides and reviews for Macworld and its sister site Tech Advisor.