How to Play DVDs on Xbox One

Can You Play DVDs on Xbox One

The answer is yes. 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.

Model Supported Disc Types 4K Blu-ray is supported Built-in Optical Drive
Xbox One DVD, Standard Blu-ray NO YES
Xbox One S DVD, Standard Blu-ray, UHD Blu-ray YES YES
Xbox One X DVD, Standard Blu-ray, UHD Blu-ray YES YES
Xbox Series S Disc playback is not supported NA NO
Xbox Series X DVD, Standard Blu-ray, Ultra HD Blu-ray YES YES

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

How to Play DVD on Xbox One: Two Easy Ways

Play DVDs on Xbox One by Converting DVDs to Digital

To avoid various Xbox One problems, it is simple and much safe to rip and convert DVDs to Xbox One compatible video formats and play them on Xbox One directly through a USB stick or your network-attached storage. 

First, when you play DVD on Xbox One, there may exist some DVD copy protections such as region code, Disney copy protection, etc. that prevents Xbox One from reading the disc. Second, Xbox One S and Xbox One X can play DVDs safely in a vertical position, while the 2013 Xbox One can only play DVDs horizontally, so you are at risk of damaging your DVD if you get a disc stuck in Xbox One directly.

DVDFab DVD Ripper - The Best DVDs to Xbox One Converter

Then, the best solution to fix Xbox One not reading is to convert DVDs to Xbox One-compatible digital formats, so that you can play DVD videos on Xbox One successfully.

DVDFab DVD Ripper: convert dvd to xbox one

DVDFab DVD Ripper

This DVD Ripper allows you to convert any encrypted DVD / ISO file / Folder to 1000+ video & audio format playable on any device, media player, or home theatre.
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 Key Features
  • Automatically remove any DVD copy protection to make DVD to Xbox One possible.
  • Convert DVD to AVI, FLV, M2TS, MKV, MP4, TS, and other digital formats. 
  • Customize your videos with advanced settings and a video editor.
  • Synchronize all the meta-information of DVD, making it easier to manage your converted DVD video on Xbox One.
  • With advanced acceleration technology, this DVD-to-Xbox One digital converter can output high-quality videos at a lightning-fast speed.

How to Use this DVD to Xbox One Digital Converter?

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

This free DVD Audio Ripper is available on both Windows and macOS. After installing and launching this software, you can either insert the DVD disc into the optical drive or navigate to it using the Add button if it is already inserted.

How to watch a DVD on Xbox One

Step 2: Click 'Choose Other Profile'

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.

How to watch a DVD on 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.

how to play dvds on xbox one

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.

The conversion will take a few minutes. When the conversion is complete, you can play the video on Xbox One by using a USB stick or through your network-attached storage.

Play DVDs on Xbox One with the Dedicated Blu-ray Player

If your Xbox One device is equipped with an optical disc drive, then consider the second method. It's worth noting that playing a DVD or Blu-ray disc on Xbox One requires some extra steps. Microsoft doesn’t bundle a DVD/Blu-ray player with Xbox One, so you need to download and install the dedicated DVD or Blu-ray player first. 

Steps on how to watch DVD on Xbox One

Step 1: Install the Blu-ray player

  • To open the Home screen, press the Xbox logo button in the center of the controller.
  • Use your controller to navigate to the Microsoft Store, then press A to pick Enter.

Note: If there is no Store icon on the Home screen, you can scroll down and select Add More. Once you find the Store block, add it to the Home page for quick access.

  • To find the Blu-ray Player app, click Search in the Store and type "Blu-ray" in the search box. 

How to watch a DVD on Xbox One

  • Select Blu-ray Player, go to its details page, and then click Install to start the installation. Once installed, the app will appear on your Home screen or in My Games & Apps.

how to watch DVD on Xbox One

Step 2: Play DVD discs

  • Put a disc into the optical drive of your Xbox One console. If the Blu-ray player is already installed, it will automatically launch after recognizing the disc and begin playing DVD content.
  • If the player doesn't launch automatically, go back to the Home screen and find the app to open it manually. You can also find the installed Blu-ray player in My Games & Apps and launch it.

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 we 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.

Pro Tips
  • Clearly, the Xbox One is a powerful game console, but despite its built-in optical drive, it is not an ideal DVD player. It is constrained by multiple factors, including region codes, disc DRM, and disc format compatibility. Therefore, rather than permanently entrusting your media collection to a machine primarily designed for gaming, it is better to transfer the content under your own digital sovereignty, ensuring your movie night is not subject to its hardware limitations. You should convert DVDs to Xbox One compatible and decrypted video formats with tools such as DVDFab DVD Ripper, and them play them directly on the Xbox One via a USB stick, shifting the content from a closed hardware ecosystem to an open personal digital ecosystem. 

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 convert your DVDs to an Xbox One-compatible digital format or install a dedicated Blu-ray player, 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.