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How to Play and Stream DVD Disc Media in Windows 10 OS

Windows 10 includes native support for playing DVD disc media through Windows Media Player. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to get DVD playback working, as well as how to stream DVD content from your Windows 10 device to other devices on your home network.

Enabling DVD Playback in Windows Media Player

To get DVD playback working in Windows Media Player, you first need to confirm a few settings:

  • Enable DVD decoding – Go to Settings > Apps > Video playback and confirm “Play DVDs” is checked. This allows Windows Media Player to decode DVD video.
  • Install latest media features – Go to Settings > Apps > Optional features and click “Add a feature”. Select “Media Feature Pack” and install it. This provides additional codecs needed for DVD video playback.
  • Set default DVD drive – Open Windows Media Player, go to Tools > Options > Devices and set the default DVD drive where your discs are inserted.

Once those are enabled, simply insert a DVD disc and open Windows Media Player. DVD playback should start automatically.

If playback does not start, try these troubleshooting steps:

  • Restart your computer after making the above changes.
  • Try a different DVD disc to rule out issues with the disc.
  • Update your DVD drive’s firmware and drivers to latest versions.

Streaming DVDs Over Home Network

If you want to stream DVD content to other devices on your home network like smart TVs or mobile devices, Windows 10 has two built-in options:

Stream with Play To

  1. Open Windows Media Player and begin playing a DVD movie
  2. Click the “Stream” button and select a compatible device on your network like a smart TV. This uses DLNA technology.
  3. The DVD movie will begin streaming to that device. You can then control playback remotely.

Stream with Media Streaming

  1. Go to Settings > System > Remote Desktop and toggle “Enable media streaming” to On
  2. Right-click the DVD drive in File Explorer and select “Media Streaming Options”
  3. Check “Enable media streaming from this computer” and select “Allow remote connections”
  4. Click OK to save changes
  5. On your streaming device, look for your Windows 10 PC as a media streaming source and select it
  6. You can then browse and stream DVD content to the remote device

The advantage of Media Streaming over Play To is it does not require the DVD to be playing locally for the stream to continue. This allows you to start a stream and then shut down Windows Media Player on your host computer while the stream continues.

Tips for Best Quality Streaming

For highest quality DVD streaming over home network, consider these tips:

  • Use Ethernet connections if possible instead of WiFi for faster and more reliable throughput
  • Enable QoS on your router and prioritize the device running Windows Media Player for lowest network latency
  • Lower the bitrate on the streaming settings to match your network capabilities
  • For remote connections outside your home, port forwarding on your router may be required
  • Testing different resolutions if quality is inconsistent between devices
  • Enabling hardware acceleration decoding on receiving device can help performance

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