FREE Media Players that Supports DVD Playback on Windows 8

Aug 11, 2012

I can see your eye-brows rising right after reading the title. Unfortunately your hunch is right. As of this posting Microsoft has decided to take out DVD playback support from Windows Media Player in their non-pro version of Windows 8. The same fate also struck the Windows Media Center that including these nice features back will require you to purchase some add-ons. These add-ons called the Windows 8 Media Pack or the Windows 8 Pro Pack will eventually convert your non-pro Windows to a Windows 8 Pro with Media Center after purchasing and installing the add-on. Don’t want to spend another dime for Windows 8? Do you want free media players that supports DVD playback? Read on.

We always wanted some free stuff, and media players are one of them. This is true especially if you’re already out of bucks spending the last dime on your favorite software finding out later that it still lacks the feature you’re looking for. Also, if one media player has a definite advantage over the other that installing both free media players can only solve the problem. Listed below are the most suggested free media players suggested by GHacks.net site that you can install without any obligations from their respective developers.

• VLC Media Player – is by far the most popular among free media players that is almost available in any platform other than Windows. It supports almost all major video formats that also supports DVD playback that we’re looking for. Also if my memory is serving me right, there is an Android version of VLC media player that you can download and install for free from the Google Play Store.
• SMPlayer – supports DVD playback but it needs the popular MPlayer to exist in your system to support SMPlayer’s functionality. To enable DVD playback you to go to Open -> Disc -> DVD from drive and follow the dialog box that will open a new window for the configuration menu from which you can select the CD/DVD drive letter first.
• Allplayer – supports both CD and DVD playback, but unlike the two media players above using this software requires some patience. To play DVD media using Allplayer, click the load button located at the bottom-leftmost part of the GUI window then select Open DVD.

Personally I use VLC Media Player and it is one of my favorite free media players whenever Windows Media Player fails me to play DVD media and some video formats. Do you know of free media players that supports DVD playback? Feel free to share it with us by posting your comments below or by sending me a message. I will be glad to include it here and update my list for everyone to see.

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UJIN a.k.a NUTC24CK32 - a video game addict in his childhood days. A computer geek with little interest in English and Math subjects but ends up finishing a degree in Computer Engineering and running his own tech-blog. Currently employed as Sr. Specialist/Sr. Engineer at Globe Telecom doing process automation using PERL. Previously worked at Commission on Elections as a system administrator/web developer/network admin in the IT Department. Interested in gadgets, coding, information technology news, music and dancing.