4 Methods to Play DVD on Laptop for Convenience & Portability

As more people turn to digital media, laptops are getting thinner and lighter, making them easier to carry. However, this also means many laptops no longer have DVD optical disc drives. Additionally, the default DVD playback feature may not work as well as it used to. This post will share what you must prepare to play DVDs on your laptop. We will also provide reliable ways how to play DVD on a laptop. Without further ado, let us dive right in and get started!

Part 1: What You Need to Prepare When Playing DVD on Laptop

When you want to play a DVD on your laptop, you must ensure you have a few things ready. These essentials will help you enjoy your DVD without any trouble.

What You Need to Prepare:

• DVD Drive

• Player Software

Why You Need Them:

• An external DVD drive is essential because it lets your laptop read the DVD and load the content. Without this device, you could not watch the movie or video on the DVD.

• You need player software to make your DVD work. Your laptop lacks a built-in DVD player, so you must install dedicated software to watch DVD content. This software ensures you get your movie's best video and sound quality.

Part 2: Play DVD on a Laptop with the Best Video and Audio Quality

An all-in-one media player that makes it easy to enjoy your favorite DVDs and Blu-ray movies on your laptop is AVAide Blu-ray Player. For a seamless experience, AVAide Blu-ray Player supports high-resolution videos up to 4K quality and Dolby Digital or DTS audio, delivering superior sound and clear images.

You can use basic playback controls such as moving forward and backward and adjusting volume. You can easily capture memorable movie scenes by taking screenshots during playback. This player uses advanced technology to deliver smooth playback and provides a top-quality DVD and Blu-ray experience for anyone who wants to play movies on their laptop.

Now that you have discovered what AVAide Blu-ray Player can do let us proceed on how to play DVDs on a laptop using it:

Step 1Start by getting the AVAide Blu-ray Player. Download it from the website and install it on your laptop. Once installed, connect an external disc drive to your laptop and insert your DVD.

Step 2Open AVAide Blu-ray Player and click on Open Disc. Select the DVD file and wait as the software decodes it.

Step 3You can control your DVD viewing when the playback begins. You can control your video experience using the playback buttons to stop, pause, or jump ahead. You can set your audio levels through the Volume Slider.

If you want to see the list of videos, click Playlist to browse through them. For a better view, widen the screen by switching to Full-screen mode. You can even take a screenshot by clicking the Camera button to save a favorite scene. The snapshot will automatically saved on your local file.

With all these features, you will likely experience the best video and audio quality. Enjoy watching your DVD on your laptop!

Part 3: Play DVD on Laptop with VLC

Works well on Windows 10/11 laptops, VLC is an excellent choice for playing DVDs and many other video formats. With its easy-to-use interface, VLC offers valuable features like subtitle synchronization, video and audio effects, and the ability to create playlists. Furthermore, VLC is also known for streaming content from different sources and can even play damaged or incomplete video files. The software runs smoothly on any system because it remains light and quick.

Below are the steps on how to watch a DVD on a laptop using VLC:

Step 1Run the VLC media player on your laptop.

Step 2Go to Media in the top menu and select Open Disc.

Step 3In the Open Disc window, go to the Disc tab.

Step 4Verify that the DVD selection appears enabled. Check that the Disc device section displays the correct DVD drive.

Step 5Finally, click Play to start watching your DVD.

Part 4: Easily Play DVD on Laptop with PotPlayer

A multimedia player designed for Windows, PotPlayer is known for its high customization options and easy-to-use shortcut keys. It lets you watch Blu-ray movies and DVDs on your laptop with excellent video and audio clarity. You can get PotPlayer on HP laptops, but you must verify that your laptop uses Windows 7, 8, 10, or 11.

Learn how to play DVDs on an HP laptop using PotPlayer:

Step 1You can play a DVD on your laptop using PotPlayer through File Explorer. Start by placing your DVD into your laptop's DVD reader. Open File Explorer to see your DVD drive.

Step 2Right-click on the DVD drive. Choose Open with from the menu, and then click on PotPlayer.

Step 3The software will launch, and your DVD will start playing. PotPlayer also supports different video formats so that you can enjoy high-quality playback.

Part 5: Play DVD on Laptop with PlayerFab

One great thing about PlayerFab is its ability to play videos smoothly without losing clarity. It is not just for DVDs; it also supports Blu-ray and UHD discs, letting you enjoy movies in stunning 4K clarity.

This player can also manage videos from popular streaming sites. Even better, it skips annoying ads automatically when you watch online videos through the player. With PlayerFab, you get a multifunctional feature that supports 3D playback, delivers high-quality content, and makes watching your favorite movies and shows easy.

Step 1Open the PlayerFab after you finish installing it. Follow the steps on the screen carefully to set it up.

Step 2Once it opens, go to the Discs tab on the main menu. Ensure you have already inserted your DVD into the laptop's DVD drive.

Step 3When the program loads the DVD, search for the video you want to view. The video display area appears on the right side of your screen.

Step 4Click on the video to begin playing or watching it. That is all! You can now enjoy your movie or stop it anytime you want.

By Bryan Simmonds on May 22, 2025