How to Play DVDs on Xbox One: App Setup, Supported Models, and Fixes

Can You Play DVDs on Xbox One?

Yes, Xbox One can play DVDs!

The Xbox One, developed by Microsoft, is one of the most popular home video game consoles available today. Designed as the successor to the Xbox 360, the Xbox One features an optical drive capable of playing not only DVDs but also Blu-rays. The latest iterations, Xbox One S and Xbox One X, even support 4K UHD Blu-rays and high dynamic range (HDR10) video playback.

One exception is the Xbox Series S, which doesn't come with an optical drive, so it can't play DVDs or Blu-rays directly.

Now you know that both DVD disc and Blu-ray disc can be played on the Xbox One series. Next I provide detailed steps to play DVDs on Xbox One with or without a disc drive.

How to Play a DVD on Xbox One with the Blu-ray Player App

The easiest way to watch DVD on Xbox One is to insert the DVD into the console first. If this is your first time playing a DVD or Blu-ray disc, Xbox may prompt you to install the free Blu-ray Player app from Microsoft Store. Once installed, the app handles both DVDs and standard Blu-ray discs.

If the prompt does not appear, you can install the app manually from Microsoft Store and then play the disc from the app.

Step 1: Insert the DVD

Place the DVD into the Xbox One optical drive. If the console prompts you to install the Blu-ray Player app, select Install and wait for the download to finish.

Step 2: Open Microsoft Store if no prompt appears

Press the Xbox button on your controller to open the guide, then go to the Home screen. Open Microsoft Store. If you do not see the Store block on the Home screen, open My games & apps or add the Store block back to Home.

Step 3: Search for Blu-ray Player

In Microsoft Store, select Search and type "Blu-ray Player". Choose the Blu-ray Player app from the search results.

Step 4: Install the app

Open the app page and select Install. After installation, the app will appear on your Home screen or in My games & apps.

Step 5: Play the DVD

If the Blu-ray Player app launches automatically, the movie should start playing. If it does not launch, open the app manually from Home or My games & apps.

For the best result, keep the console flat and stable, and do not move it while a disc is spinning.

Tips: Control DVD Playback on Xbox One

You can use the Xbox controller to manage DVD playback. Press A to select menu items, use the triggers or bumpers to fast-forward, rewind, or skip, and press the Menu button to open the disc's root menu or playback options. For future viewings, insert the disc and open the Blu-ray Player app from the Home screen or My games & apps.

How to Convert DVD to Digital for Xbox One Playback

Direct DVD playback on Xbox One depends on several conditions: the console must have a disc drive, the Blu-ray Player app must be installed, and the disc must be readable and region-compatible. When a DVD has a different region code, surface damage, unsupported disc format, or copy protection, the console may fail to load the movie even though the model supports DVD playback.

DVDFab DVD Ripper gives Xbox users another playback option by converting DVDs to Xbox-compatible digital files. You can save the movie as MP4, MKV, AVI, or another supported format, then play it from a USB drive, external hard drive, or network storage. This method also works better for Xbox One S All-Digital Edition and Xbox Series S users, because these models do not include a disc drive and cannot play physical DVDs directly.

DVDFab DVD Ripper for Xbox One Playback

DVDFab DVD Ripper can convert protected DVD discs, ISO files, and DVD folders to Xbox-compatible video formats. It provides Xbox One device profiles, common output formats such as MP4, MKV, and AVI, and customizable settings for codec, resolution, frame rate, bitrate, audio tracks, and subtitles.

The software also includes basic editing tools, so you can trim unwanted clips, crop the video frame, add external subtitles, or adjust the picture before exporting. If you want to watch DVD content from USB or NAS instead of the original disc, DVDFab creates a cleaner DVD ripping workflow for Xbox playback.

How to Convert DVD to an Xbox One-Compatible Format with DVDFab

Now, let's see how to watch DVDs on Xbox One by converting DVDs to digital formats like MP4. 

Step 1: Download and Install DVDFab DVD Ripper on the Computer

Launch DVDFab 13 and select the Ripper module. Insert the DVD disc into your computer's optical drive, or click Add to load a DVD ISO file or folder.

Step 2: Choose an Xbox One profile or a video format.

There are two ways to convert DVD to MP4 and other Xbox One digital formats. First, click 'Choose Other Profile' > 'Format' > 'Video' and select 'MP4'. Alternatively, click 'Choose Other Profile' > 'Device' > 'Microsoft' and choose your preferred output device - Xbox One.

Step 3: Customize Your DVD Video

The main movie title has been selected by default, but now you can click the "Choose Other Titles" to select the titles you want. You can also change the title name and select the audio tracks and subtitles you like.

There is also an "Advanced Settings" Panel for you to tweak your settings like codec, frame rate, resolution, etc., and a "Video Edit" tool to trim, crop videos, add watermark and subtitles, adjust picture values, and more.

Step 4: Set the Output Destination and Start to Convert DVD

Move to the bottom of the main interface and click the "folder" icon to select a directory to save the output video. And then you can click the "Start" button to start the process of ripping the DVD to Xbox One.

Tips: How to Play Converted DVD Files on Xbox One

To play the converted video from USB, connect the drive to your Xbox One and open a supported media app, such as Media Player. Select the USB device, find the video file, and press A to play it.

For network storage, make sure your Xbox One and media server are on the same network. Open the media app, choose the server, and select the converted DVD video. If the file does not play, convert it again using a more compatible format such as MP4.

Why Won't the Xbox One Play DVDs? 

The operation of playing DVDs on Xbox One may seem simple, but many users encounter a variety of playback troubles. There are a few common reasons that Xbox One won't play DVD. So I summarize the common types of errors and the corresponding solutions.

Error 1: The disc's region code does not match the console

DVDs and Blu-ray discs are often protected by region codes. If the disc's region code does not match the region set in your Xbox One's settings, the console will fail to read the disc.

The solution is to adjust the region to match the region code of your disc by navigating to Settings > System > Language and Location on your Xbox One. If the issue still exists, remove the region code permanently with DVDFab software.

Error 2: This disc format is not supported

Some disc formats, like HD-DVD and user-made or burned discs, are not supported by the Xbox One due to compatibility difficulties. You will need to either change the disc or use a dedicated player in this case.

Error 3: Device does not respond or disc is not recognized

It maybe due to either optical drive hardware failure or scratches or stains on the disc's surface.

To figure out what the root of this error is, test it with another disc. If it still won't play, the issue is likely with the drive itself, so you need to contact official Xbox Support. If the console successfully plays the new disc, the fault lies with the original media. In that scenario, try cleaning the disc with water and toothpaste before attempting playback again.

Conclusion

Xbox One S, Xbox One X, and Xbox Series X models all support DVD, Blu-ray, and even 4K UHD playback. Whether you choose to install a dedicated Blu-ray player or convert your DVDs to an Xbox One-compatible digital format, it's easy to play DVDs on Xbox One. In addition, for those experiencing playback issues, converting DVDs to digital formats using DVDFab DVD Ripper provides a reliable method.