Sometimes you find it quite troublesome that you can't play some new DVDs on your standalone DVD player. If you get a new Windows 7 or 8 computer, you may find that it can't play your DVDs as Microsoft omitted this feature in Windows 7and 8. Likewise, there seems to be the same on the Mac. Even though optical media is going the way of VHS tape, there are still many contents in DVD format. So let me share 5 best free DVD player software with you to address the problem of lacking native DVD playback on Windows 7/8/8.1/10 platforms. With these free DVD player software, you could freely play DVD disc on PC.

Part 1: 5 Best Free DVD Player Software for Windows

Top 1. Leawo Free Blu-ray Player

Leawo Free Blu-ray Player is the prior free DVD player software for you to play DVD on Windows 8/7/8.1/10 for free. This DVD player software freeware offers lifelong free service for playing DVD folders, DVD discs, DVD ISO files and IFO files on Windows. It is also a region free DVD player software program that could play back all DVD discs from different places and countries. The most recent DVD releases are supported. It is recommended as the best free DVD playing software also since it is a free Blu-ray player to playback all Blu-ray discs (regardless of disc protection and region codes), a free HD media player to play up to 1080p and 4K videos, a music player to tune in favorite music. This free DVD playing software has gradually become the most popular free software to play DVD, Blu-ray and HD movies on the computer. Moreover, it provides both versions for Windows and Mac.

Top 2. BlazeDVD Free

• . The best free DVD Player for enjoying movies with you loved ones during this pandemic. DVD Player - FREE brings DVD and Video playback capabilities to Windows 10 users. It combines a powerful media engine with a clean and modern interface to ensure the best user experience. Key features: - Play DVD video disc, including VCD, DVD, Blu-ray.
• Following are our recommendations on both paid and free dvd ripping or decoder tools: 1. MacX DVD Ripper Pro Paid Our editors rated this ripper as the #1 best DVD ripper for Mac. It’s a shareware software that is packed with great features to let you easily backup just any type of DVD available in the market.
• Apr 12, 2021 DVDFab HD Decrypter is the best free DVD decryption software available to download for macOS 10.10 - 11.3 and Windows 10/8.1/8/7. In order to enjoy the three main functions of the best DVD decryption software, get this DVD decrypter free download. Here are the details about the main features of this free DVD decrypter.

The BlazeDVD Free is mainly featuring all the DVD playback on Windows computers. To be more precise, it has the best compatibility with Windows 10 system. As so many people may have problems with DVD won't play on Windows 10 as well as most media contents because the WMP seems not to work. The free DVD player for Windows 10 also supports DVD, CD, VCD, and SVCD. This software can help solve most formats including MP4, AVI, MPEG, RMVB, VOB, WMV, DTS.

Following are our recommendations on both paid and free dvd ripping or decoder tools: 1. MacX DVD Ripper Pro Paid Our editors rated this ripper as the #1 best DVD ripper for Mac. It’s a shareware software that is packed with great features to let you easily backup just any type of DVD available in the market.

Top 3. MPL Free DVD Player

MPL Free DVD Player is another great Windows DVD player free for all users on Windows XP, Win7 x32, Win7 x64, Windows 8, WinVista, and WinVista x64. You can load up a number of video and audio files in XviD, MKV, MP4, WAV, WMA, MP3, OGG, AAC. While it is able to display DVD media data, you can also play DVD, VCD, SVCD by the tool. Acting as an open-source media player, its codec library can be amended and added to as more as you like.

Top 4. GOM Player

I should mention GOM Player in this list. It's another free software to play DVD in Windows 8. Not only DVD, but it could also play files in formats such as AVI, DAT, MPEG, DivX, XviD, WMV, ASF. It's also capable of playing even the damaged video files by skipping the frames. If you come across a file it cannot play, it will direct you to the appropriate open-source codec to install.

Top 5. UM Player

As a free multimedia player, it builds in over 270 video and audio codecs so you can handle nearly all media formats, including DVD, AAC, AC3, ASF, AVI, DIVX, FLV, H.263, Matroska, MOV, MP3, MP4, MPEG, OGG, QT, RealMedia, VOB, Vorbis, WAV, WMA, WMV, XVID and many more. This unique free DVD player software also has unique features such as subtitles search, skinnable interface, customizable hotkeys and a lot more. The UM Player also reads damaged media files and scratched CD/DVD.

Part 2: 5 Best Free DVD Player Software for Mac

Top 1. 5KPlayer

This free DVD player software for Mac has a very reliable capability of playing DVD and DVD ISO image files. Besides, some common video formats like MP4, AVI, DivX, FLV, M2TS, MKV, MPEG, MTV, MXF, OGM, RMVB, SWF are all available. At the same time, all the playback process are coming with good quality and high speed. Additional features like streaming media on different devices via AirPlay, download videos online from Vimeo, screenshots, and more are offered. The interface has a modern design and the navigation is easy to understand.

Top 2. VLC Media Player

For the Mac systems, the second-best free DVD player software recommendation is VLC Media Player. If you have trouble playing a DVD media file or you can't play it in your standard media player, let VLC do you a big favor. This free DVD playback software can be seen as a default player, simply because most individuals never get a message saying that a codec isn't supported. That includes playing commercial DVD movies. However, I know many people spend money on DVD playing software since VLC doesn't support commercial Blu-ray discs due to the copy protection involved. For that, you can trust the above Leawo Free Blu-ray Player for Mac.

Top 3. KMPlayer

Highly praised open-source multimedia application. You can use this free DVD player software to play DVD on Mac systems as well as Windows 7 and 8. Just like VLC, this DVD player software freeware contains its own internal codecs and is able to play virtually any media file you throw at it including VCD, DVD, AVI, MKV, Ogg, OGM, 3GP, MPEG-1/2/4, WMV, RealMedia, FLV and QuickTime. It has an extra feature to play incomplete or damaged AVI file.

Top 4. Real Player

Decades before, the Real Player had won its majority users on Windows because of its specialty on decoding technologies. Now the developed version has brought its new adventure on Mac OS X computers, and it works fine as it should be. Getting more Mac users with optimistic reviews, you can totally try the download DVD player for Mac free. It succeeds where Windows Media Player fails. With an improved graphic equalizer, users will enjoy the DVD media contents in a richer experience.

Top 5. QuickTime Media player

There is always one reason for people consuming Apple products like Mac OS computers and laptops. That could be the preinstalled utility by the Mac system. QuickTime also has a brilliant functionality to support DVD and multiple video formats playbacks. Since this free DVD player is born with the system, it operates seamlessly on Mac as Mac users can make full use of this tool. However, from time to time, QuickTime might have problems playing uncommon media files.

Part 3: How to Play DVD on Windows

In this part, I will introduce a practical and simple guide to play DVD free on Windows system. You can try out the free DVD player for Windows 10, Leawo Blu-ray Player as the best free DVD player.

Step 1: Download the Windows DVD player free online and install it on the Windows computer.

Step 2: Open the program to get into the home interface. Here, insert a DVD disc into your DVD drive, then the name of the DVD will pop up on the main window. Just click on the disc name and the playback will begin. When the software has loaded the DVD media contents successfully, you will then see it on the playlist.

Step 3: Once the DVD playback is running, there are some shortcuts to adjust settings from multiple aspects. You can move the mouse to the title area where you could see 4 icons showing up to represent subtitle settings, video settings, audio settings, and menu.

Step 4: The first is about the subtitle settings. While you are moving toward the upper-left corner, quickly click on the first icon. That is the image of the subtitle settings. It is able to see a panel like below suggesting the options can be changed, including Enable (Disable) subtitles, Subtitle offset, Subtitle selecting, Browse for subtitle.

Step 5: The second one is for making video changes so as to fully control the DVD playback. So click on the second 'Video setting' icon for reaching the video adjustment panel. Here in the video-setting panel, there are a lot more parameters you can manipulate. You are allowed to select the method for deinterlacing, deinterlace or not, crop black bars to enhance visual effects, modify the brightness and contrast, etc.

Step 6: Try on the third option around the title area to set audio parameters. For some people, audio is one of the most important parts for DVD media contents. So for that, users are able to change options including audio volume, volume amplification that helps boost the sound over the maximum, audio offset, audio stream, the output method, the output device, etc.

Part 4: How to Play DVD on Mac

Mac users could also have a look at how to play DVD with the native free DVD player for Mac, the QuickTime player. Before starting the DVD playback, you should check if your Mac computer is connected to an external DVD disc drive.

Step 1: Put the DVD disc you want to play into the DVD drive.

Step 2: Launch the local free DVD player for Mac by double-clicking on the icon. Actually, some people think the program is not working when the interface would not come up for some versions. But the truth is that it pops as a little icon on the dock meaning it is operating.

Step 3: Once the DVD is inserted, you can find the disc name and information from the Finder. Just double click on the DVD file icon, then QuickTime will be automatically called out with a window to start loading the DVD.

Step 4: Click on the 'Play' button to begin playing DVD media contents.

Extras: How to Convert DVD to MP4

Converting your DVD disc to MP4 video is recommended if you wish to digitize your DVD movies. That is because MP4 is the most popular video format, and you can always easily share it and play it anywhere. You will need a software such as Leawo DVD Ripper for the ripping job, because it is among the best DVD rippers available today. It has top class features such as;

• Leawo DVD Ripper

  ☉ Decrypt and rip DVD discs with disc protection and region code
  ☉ Convert DVD to MP4, MKV, AVI, MOV, FLV, and other 180+ HD/SD formats
  ☉ Convert DVD main movie to videos for space saving
  ☉ Convert 2D DVD movies to 3D movies with 6 different 3D effects
  ☉ Fast conversion with NVIDIA CUDA, AMD APP and Intel Quick Sync acceleration technologies

This software has many more features, which you can learn about form the product page. Whether you are using Windows or macOS, the software is available for both platforms. Once you have downloaded this software, follow the steps below for using it;

Step 1: Load the source DVD disc

Insert your DVD disc into your disc drive, then launch Leawo Prof. Media. Open the “Convert” module, and then click the 'Add UHD/Blu-ray/DVD' button on the main interface.

Step 2: Select the output format

Click the drop-down list next to the “Add Photo” button.Select“Change” to enter the Profile settings panel where you can choose the output format from the“Format” group, in this case MP4 video.

Note: You can click the same drop-down list and click the 'Edit' button to adjust the video and audio parameters of the output files. They include video and audio codec, bit rate, aspect ratio, frame rate, channel, etc.

Step 3: Start ripping your DVDs

Click the green “Convert” button and then set the output directory to save the final converted DVD movies in the “Save to” box. Click the button again and the ripping should start. The ripped videos will be saved onto your hard drive in the format you chose.

Can't play DVD on your computer? You may need to download a DVD decoder. Here we'll introduce the best DVD decoder programs for Mac and Windows to help play DVDs.

DVD decoder, generally speaking, is third party software to make DVDs playable on other platforms like mobiles. And in most cases, a sound DVD decrypter has the following three functions:

It transcodes the DVD movies to MPEG-2 files acceptable to the majority of DVD players.
It provides the must-have DVD codecs to your certain DVD players that lack such codec pack.
It unlocks the copyright protections from DVD and converts DVD to MP4, MOV, MKV, etc. digital formats.

Generally, when you purchase a DVD player for your PC or Mac, it comes along with a DVD decoding program. But chances are that you buy a second-hand computer or a renovated one without DVD decrypter. Then what is your plan?

Table of Contents

Part 1- Free Download DVD Decoder for MacBook/iMac for DVD Playback on Mac OS X

Section 1 - Standalone DVD Decrypter for Mac

Good news comes to Mac users that there is a self-contained DVD decoder called MacX DVD Ripper Pro available to process all kinds of DVD for you:

• Decode DVD to MPEG-2 files with main/full title; backup DVD to ISO image or MKV file with 1:1 original quality for smooth playback on Mac, QT, VLC, 5KP.
• Tackle all the DVD protection troubles including wrong title from 99-title DVDs, Disney 60GB oversized, distorted picture, half crash and more.
• Intel QSV tech makes it possible to take 5 mins to transcode DVD to MP4 MOV H264 HEVC MKV AVI FLV, at 250-320 FPS for iPhone iPad Android Game Consoles.
• Decrypt all DVDs, protected Disney DVDs, 99-title DVDs, workout DVDs, AV (Japanese) DVDs, Lionsgate DVD, damaged/unplayable DVDs, homemade DVDs, etc.

1. Load DVD Movies or DVD Folder.
Free download DVD decoder on Mac and run it. Click 'DVD Disc' or 'DVD Path' button to import the DVD movie you want to decrypt to MPEG-2 file.

2. Choose MPEG-2 file as Output format.
On the pop-up window, pick out 'Main Title Content Copy' or 'Full Title Copy' from 'DVD Backup' profile to make a digital copy of DVD to MPEG-2 file.

3. Select the Output Folder.
Click the 'Browse' button to choose the destination folder for output files.

4. Press 'RUN' button.
Click 'RUN' and this mac DVD ripper will start to decrypt and copy DVD on Mac. With Intel QSV and multi-core CPU (8) utility, it only takes you 5 mins to accomplish the DVD decoding mission as long as your computer configuration is powerful enough.

Notice: We only advocates using this DVD converter to decode DVDs under the concept of Fair Use and does not encourage any illegal reproduction or distribution of copyrighted content. Please abide by the local DVD copyright law before doing it.

Dvd Video Decoder

Section 2 - DVD Player for Mac to Play DVD

For some older MacBook or iMac, there is a DVD drive port for you to insert DVD disc and directly playback DVD on Mac computer. And if you do have an older MacBook or iMac, then you can consider to decode DVD and play movies on Mac without DVD decoder, but a solid DVD player. The recommendable Mac DVD player is the world-renowned 5KPlayer, which enables you to free play DVD on MacBook or iMac without any codec pack installation or DVD decoding stuff. Any DVD disc, protected by CSS, Region Code 1-6, UOPs, Disney or Sony, etc., can be playable with this ultra HD video player.

Step 1: Free download and launch this Mac free DVD player.

Step 2: Import the DVD disc by double clicks the file to play or find out the DVD files and then right click to choose 'Open with' → 5KPlayer.

Tips: during the DVD movie playback, if you are interested in the DVD movie soundtracks, you can also apply this DVD player freeware to free download movie soundtracks from YouTube, Vimeo, Vevo, Soundcloud, etc. 1000+ music video sites in batch with splitting speed.

Part 2- Free Download DVD Decoder for Windows PC for DVD Playback on Windows

Compared with Mac users, obviously Windows users have more choices on this point. See there is even a free DVD decrypter for Windows PC users. Now let's have a brief look at those amazing DVD decoding software for Windows.

Section 1 - Free DVD Decrypter for DVD Decrypting on Windows

Here introduces a 100% free DVD transcoder for Windows users, if not for all, named DVD Decoder Pack. It's designed as a plug-in for Windows Media Player when it comes to decode DVD movies. The key features of this DVD decoder lie in three aspects: codec installation; drive and audio-video synchronization.

Dvd Decoder Free Mac Download

The first and the last one might be much easier for you to understand. So I have no need to explain too much. I just elaborate 'drive' for you. This feature means the free DVD decrypter itself has a built-in player that supports playing videos in MPEG-2 and 5.1-channel Dolby Digital files, even a wide selection of VGA cards included. Only one deficiency of this free DVD converter is that it's only compatible with Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 2000, not all the Windows version.

Section 2 - Free DVD Player for Windows to Play DVD

Dvd Decoder Free Media Player 11

Windows based Windows Media Player needs a DVD decoder to accomplish DVD decryption and playback task while there is still another top DVD player able to decode and play DVD without DVD decrypter's help on all the Windows (10/8/7) versions. That is VLC media player.

Compatible Dvd Decoder

As the world's famous free DVD player, VLC is definitely worth a try. It works seamlessly to decode DVD for playback with MPEG-2 files, DVD disc, VOB files, Video_TS folder, as well as video formats, incl. MP4, MOV, MKV, FLV, AVI, etc. without any DVD decoder plug-ins needed. If you encounter the VLC video subtitles not sync problem or video audio out of sync, calm down, here are the solutions.