To watch a DVD 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.

We like these three options best for watching on our own systems:

  • Windows DVD PlayerKodiVLS for Windows

Windows DVD Player: Microsoft’s Official App

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

  • No compatibility problems.

  • $14.99 is a hefty price for a simple media app.

  • The free trial doesn’t let you watch movies with it.

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

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.

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

  • Sleek and immersive movie-watching interface.

  • Some parts of the app’s interface are unintuitive.

  • Kodi splits the movie file into separate video files, which is confusing.

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.

However, 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.

VLC for Windows: Best Free Option

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

  • Easy to download and install.

  • The Interface is easy to understand and use.

  • Video quality is very good and movies play smoothly.

  • The interface is a bit plain.

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.

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