3 Solutions for Fixing Windows Media Player Not Playing DVDs

Windows computers come with a default DVD player a Windows Media Player. Do you have a disc ready to enjoy? However, many users have responded to a common malfunction: they encounter a blank screen when playing a video or are prompted to say that the file type is not supported. There are various reasons for the Windows Media Player not playing DVDs problem.

We'll explain in detail why such a malfunction occurs and provide a specific solution here. You can also recognize the best player here. Follow our guide step by step and enjoy the smoothest DVD-playing experience.

Part 1. Will Windows Media Player Play A DVD

Will Windows Media Player play a DVD? Yes, but not all.
After encountering the problem of not being able to play, don't hurry yet. Let's see what the possible triggers are.

Why Some DVDs May Not Work in Windows Media Player

• Windows Media Player Does Not Support DVDs

Not all Windows Media Players on Windows systems support reading DVDs; if you are using Windows Vista or Windows 7, you don't need to worry about this; however, Windows Media Player on Windows 8, Windows 10, and Windows 11 does not support reading DVDs. However, Windows Media Player on Windows 8, Windows 10, and Windows 11 does not support playing DVDs at the moment, and you may need to download a special DVD player from the App Store.

• Lack of Compatible DVD Decoder

Is the DVD not showing up in Windows Media Player? Some users are greeted with a message alerting them that a compatible DVD decoder is not installed on their device. In this case, you need to follow the tips on how to get the right codec. If the problem persists after installation, try uninstalling and reinstalling it.

• There Is A Digital Copy Protection Issue

You are also likely to encounter another kind of pop-up window that prompts you that there is a problem between your DVD drive, decoder, and digital copy protection. This may also indicate that your DVD drive is outdated.

• Insufficient Memory

When your computer has too many programs running in the background, it may cause the DVD not to play on Windows Media Player issue. You can check the running programs in Task Manager.

• Your Disc Is Corrupted

If your disc has stains or scratches on it, then the DVD drive will not be able to read the contents properly.

Part 2. How to Play A DVD on Windows Media Player on Windows 7

How do you play a DVD on Windows Media Player?
As we can already understand from the above, Windows Media Player on Windows 7 is capable of playing DVDs. You don't need to do much extra work. There are detailed step-by-step instructions in this section.

Step 1. Make sure you have a CD drive, and link it to your computer. Link the disc you want to play.

Step 2. Close the CD drive. Now, the inserted DVD will be playing automatically.

Step 3. If the DVD does not play, go to Windows Media Player. Find Player Library and click the disc or chapter you want to watch.

Part 3. DVD Not Playing on Windows Media Player on Windows 8/10

Solution 1: Using DVD Codec

Windows 8 and 10 don't support playing DVDs, but they are still compatible with DVDs. To play discs through these two systems, you will need to download a third-party codec.

Here is how to get a decoder for DVD on Windows Media Player. Follow the steps and try to play DVDs on Windows Media Player.

Step 1. Go to the bottom left corner. Click Start and enter troubleshooter in the search box. Then, choose Troubleshooter > View All > Windows Media Player.

Step 2. A window will pop out to ask you to install a Windows Media Player decoder. Follow the on-screen guide and finish the installation.

Step 3. Launch the CD drive on your computer. Insert the disc and close the CD drive. Windows Media Player will start playing the DVD video.If it is not, open Windows Media Player and choose Player Library. Select the DVD you want to play.

Solution 2: Using Player Alternative: Aiseesoft Blu-Ray Player

Although Windows Media Player on Windows 8 and 10 do not support playing DVDs by default, they can still read them. So you can look for a more specialized DVD disc player, such as Aiseesoft Blu-Ray Player.

Aiseesoft Blu-Ray Player supports playing DVD discs, Blu-ray discs, Blu-ray folders, ISO image files, and so on. It can present HD video footage with a definition of 1080p, 720p, and even 4K UHD. It can also be used to play video or audio files in regular formats, such as MP4, MPG, WMV, MKV, AVI, FLV, etc.

Aiseesoft Blu-Ray Player also allows you to customize video playlists. No matter which way you look at it, it is the best alternative to Windows Media Player, your best assistant for playing CDs.

Here is how to play your DVD with Aiseesoft Blu-Ray Player.

Step 1. Download and install Aiseesoft Blu-Ray Player on your Windows computer. Insert your DVD disc into the drive.

Step 2. Enter the main interface of Aiseesoft Blu-Ray Player. Click Open Disc and select the DVD you want to play.

Step 3. When the DVD is loaded, the video will be displayed. You can do the playback, audio, and subtitle settings in the menu interface.

Solution 3: Using DVD Playback Plug-ins and Add-Ons

You also have the option to add plug-ins or add-ons to your device for DVD playback.

There is a dedicated Windows DVD Player app available in the App Play Store for Windows 10. you can use it to play DVDs, though it is free for a limited time only.

On Windows 8.1, the plug-ins you can choose from include Pure Player X, DVD Media Player, Movie Video Player, Coole VLLC Media Player, and Fast Player for DVD.

Windows XP or Vista users might consider SRS Audio Enhancements or DFX.

Part 4. FAQs of Windows Media Player Not Playing DVDs

Conclusion

Windows Media Player not playing DVDs issue happens a lot. The reason could be the lack of the necessary codecs. You can either get the codecs again from the Microsoft App Store or install a plug-in that can play DVDs. The best way to do it once and for all is to use a professional tool like Aiseesoft Blu-ray Player. It has high playback quality and good compatibility.