How to Play DVD in Windows Media Player

Windows Media Player is the default media player in Microsoft's platform. With Windows Media Player, you can enjoy media conveniently and without any charge. However, Windows Media Player (11) does not have the codecs needed to play DVDs. The good news is that you can view your DVD movies on your computer using Windows Media Player with Windows Media Player DVD decoders. This article will show you how to play a DVD with Windows Media Player.

Windows Media Player DVD needs:

• Microsoft system installed on your PC
• a DVD-ROM drive
• A software or hardware DVD decoder
• Windows Media Player 10 or above

Note: If you want to rip DVD to Windows Media Player WMV, AVI, ASF, WMA, etc. rather than simple playback, please go to Rip DVD to Windows Media Player.

Tips in Windows Media Player playing DVD and other DVD playback

1Make sure DVD playback decoder installed

Windows Media Player support for DVD playback is dependent upon the presence of a supported decoder, either hardware or software. When these are present, Windows Media Player provides DVD playback, which is provided by DirectShow, using advanced features of your video hardware, such as the Video Mixing Renderer (VMR).

2Open Windows Media Player & insert the DVD into the DVD drive

Now, sit down and relax. The DVD playback will automatically start. If the disc does not play automatically, click Quick Access Panel button on the Windows Media Player menu and select the drive that contains the DVD.

3 How to fix Window Media Player "Cannot Play This DVD" error

If there is no compatible DVD decoder installed on your system, you will encounter a "Cannot Play This DVD" error when insert the DVD into DVD drive.

To fix "Cannot Play This DVD" error, you need to install suitable DVD codec on your system. Of course, you could purchase commercial DVD decoder from giants like Cyberlink, Corel, Roxio, etc. for better and multimedia experience. However, you could usually use the free DVD codec, like K-lite Codec Pack, Codec Pack (Advanced) and so on. After DVD codec installed, play DVD again in Windows Media Player.

4How to watch DVD movies on portable devices like iPad, iPhone, iPod, etc.

As we all know, portable devices like iPad, iPhone, iPod, etc. don't support DVD formats. However, you may want to enjoy your favorite movies on your portable devices on the go. Then what to do? Don't worry about that! It is very easy to convert DVDs to iPad, iPhone, iPod, etc. supported video formats with Aimersoft DVD Ripper, an ideal DVD ripping software for you to rip DVD to popular devices like iPad, iPhone, iPod, PSP, Zune, Creative Zen, Google nexus one, Archos, Xbox 360, Apple TV, etc. with fast ripping speed and excellent video quality. Besides, you can convert any DVD to regular video & audio formats like AVI, MP4, WMV, MPEG, MOV, FLV, MKV, 3GP, MP3, WMA, WAV, etc. for sharing anywhere. Just get Aimersoft DVD Ripper and watch DVD movies anytime and anywhere you like. The equivalent Mac version is Aimersoft DVD Ripper for Mac.

Free download Aimersoft DVD Ripper: