How to Play a DVD on MacBook Pro for Beginners (2026 Guide)

If you have just bought the new MacBook Pro, you can find the latest MacBook Pro Retina does not offer built-in DVD drive. Thus, people who need to play DVD on MacBook Pro, things will be slightly hassle than before. What should be the best methods to play DVD disc on MacBook Pro without drive? The article explains 3 frequently used methods to make it work. Just learn more detail about the solutions and select the desired one accordingly.

Part 1. The Essential Hardware: External DVD Drives

If your MacBook Pro was bought after 2012, it does not have a built-in DVD drive. You can use an external DVD drive to play a DVD on a MacBook Pro, and Apple SuperDrive is undoubtedly the best choice for you.

Since modern MacBook Pros lack internal disc drives, you’ll need an external one. Here are the two best options:

Option 1: Apple USB SuperDrive

• • Pros: Official first-party support ensures high build quality and seamless integration with macOS. Its sleek, durable aluminum design perfectly matches the Mac aesthetic.
• • Cons: It is an aging design that still uses a USB-A cable. To use it with a modern MacBook Pro, you will need a USB-C to USB Adapter (Dongle).
• • Note: It must be connected directly to the Mac; it often fails to work when plugged into non-powered USB hubs or docks.

Option 2: Third-party USB-C Drives

• • Pros: These drives connect directly to your MacBook’s Thunderbolt/USB-C ports without needing an adapter. They are generally much more budget-friendly than the Apple version.
• • Added Value: Many third-party options also support Blu-ray playback and faster data transfer speeds, which the Apple SuperDrive does not.

Connect External DVD Drive to MacBook Pro

Now, follow us to see how to connect an external DVD drive to a MacBook Pro.

1.Select suitable external DVD player

The price of the external DVD player, the main features, its weight and many other factors are all worthy to consider and compare. Apple SuperDrive is the best choice and you need to buy it in advance.

2.Connect DVD drive to MacBook Pro

Connect DVD drive to MacBook Pro with USB port instead of USB hub, and then check for the drive on the MacBook Pro. Select "Preferences" to choose "External disks" box. And then you can open the DVD drive to view its content.

3.Check the external DVD drive carefully

In order to play DVD on MacBook Pro, you have to choose the standard 120mm disc. And then setting the DVD drive to make sure everything works.

Part 2. Play DVD on MacBook Pro in the "Hidden" DVD Player App

Many users believe that Apple removed the DVD Player app entirely in recent macOS updates. In reality, it is still hidden deep within your system. If the Mac DVD player app doesn't launch automatically when you insert a disc, here is the secret to finding and using it.

1.Locate and Launch the DVD Player App

If you cannot find the app in your Applications folder, use these two methods:

• • The Spotlight Shortcut: Press Command (⌘) + Spacebar and type "DVD Player," then hit Enter.
• • The Manual Path: Open Finder and go to: /System/Library/CoreServices/Applications/.

2.Connect and Insert

Connect your external DVD drive to your MacBook Pro.

Insert your DVD disc into the drive. Your Mac will typically recognize the disc and automatically launch the DVD Player app.

Note: If it recognizes the disc but doesn't play, simply press the Spacebar once the app is open.

3.Control Your Playback

Use the on-screen control bar to manage your viewing experience:

• • Basic Controls: Play/Pause, adjust volume, or fast-forward/rewind.
• • Advanced Settings: Click the menu bar to edit subtitles, change audio tracks, or customize specific playback options.

The native Apple DVD Player is the most intuitive choice because it is built-in and optimized for macOS. However, its biggest limitation is that it cannot bypass Region Codes. If your DVD is from a different country than your drive's setting, the app may refuse to play it or force you to change your drive's region (which can only be done 5 times).

Part 3. How to Play DVD on MacBook Pro in Third-party DVD Player Software

Here is the updated and optimized section for AnyMP4 Blu-ray Player.

I have refined the historical context to be more concise and pivoted the software introduction to focus on the specific "pain points" (Region Codes and Encryption) that the native Apple player cannot handle.

While older Macs (pre-2013) came with internal drives, modern MacBook Pros require an external solution. However, even with a drive, the native Apple DVD Player often fails when encountering Region Codes or Copy Protection. This is where professional third-party software becomes essential.

AnyMP4 Blu-ray Player stands out as a "must-have" for Mac users because it solves the two biggest headaches of DVD playback:

• • Bypasses Region Code Limits: Unlike the native Mac player which limits you to 5 region changes, AnyMP4 allows you to play DVDs from any country (Regions 1-6) without restrictions.
• • Cracks DVD Encryption: It seamlessly handles encrypted commercial DVDs, including CSS, Sony ARccOS, and other modern protections that usually cause
• • Universal Compatibility: Plays all formats including DVD-ROM, DVD-R, DVD+R, and even 4K UHD DVD discs or ISO files with HEVC encoding.
• • Lossless Audio Quality: Supports advanced hardware decoding for Dolby Digital, DTS-HD, and 5.1/7.1 Surround Sound, ensuring your MacBook Pro sounds like a home theater.
• • Modern Interface: Designed to be intuitive and retina-ready, matching the premium look of your MacBook Pro.

1.Download and install DVD Player

When you download and install AnyMP4 DVD Player on MacBook Pro, you can launch the DVD Player on MacBook Pro to recognize the DVD files. And then click "Open Disc" button on the main interface to load the DVD files.

2.Choose the DVD source file

After that, you can choose the DVD source file from the popup window. You should make sure the external DVD drive connects with MacBook Pro. And then you can select the desired DVD source file to play with.

3.Play DVD disc with DVD Player

Now you use the DVD player for Mac to watch DVD on MacBook Pro with an external DVD drive. And you can also choose the caption you want to enjoy the DVD files.

Part 4. Troubleshooting Common Issues

Even with the right hardware and software, you might encounter technical glitches. Here is how to fix the most common problems:

1. "Disc Not Recognized" or "Power Failure"

• • The Issue: The drive spins for a second and then stops, or the disc doesn't show up on the desktop.
• • The Solution: Most cheap USB-C hubs do not provide enough current for an optical drive. Plug the drive directly into your MacBook Pro's Thunderbolt port. If your drive came with a "Y-cable" (two USB plugs), make sure both are connected to provide maximum power.

2. "Region Code Error" in Apple DVD Player

• • The Issue: A popup says the disc's region does not match your drive's region.
• • The Solution: Apple only allows you to change the region 5 times before it locks permanently. To avoid this, stop using the native player and switch to AnyMP4 Blu-ray Player or VLC, which are region-free and won't force you to change your drive settings.

3. DVD Player Crashes on M3/M4 Apple Silicon Macs

• • The Issue: The legacy DVD Player app freezes or crashes on the latest macOS Sequoia/Sonoma.
• • The Solution: Ensure your macOS is updated to the latest version. If the problem persists, the app may be experiencing compatibility issues with the M-series architecture. Switching to a modern third-party player is the most reliable fix.

4. Black Screen when using AirPlay or Screen Mirroring

• • The Issue: You try to AirPlay your DVD to a TV, but you only see a black screen while hearing audio.
• • The Reason: This is caused by HDCP (High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection). Apple blocks the video signal of commercial DVDs over wireless mirroring to prevent piracy. You must watch the DVD directly on your MacBook screen or use a wired HDMI connection.

5. Digitize Your DVD Collection

If you want to solve the problems of external drives, region codes, and "disc not found" errors forever, the best strategy is to convert your physical DVDs into digital video files.

Why Rip DVDs to MP4?

• • Portability: Watch your movies on your MacBook Pro, iPad, or iPhone without carrying an external drive.
• • Longevity: Protect your physical discs from scratches and "disc rot."
• • Convenience: No more worrying about HDCP blackouts or region locks.

To get the best results, we recommend AnyMP4 DVD Ripper. It is specifically designed to handle the encryption found on commercial discs and can convert them into high-quality MP4, MKV, or MOV files in minutes.

1.Load your DVD disc

Download AnyMP4 DVD Ripper on Mac, and insert the DVD into DVD drive. Hit "Load DVD" option to import DVD disc into MacBook Pro.

Note: You can choose the Full Tile List or Main Movie option from the pop-up window.

2.Edit and select output video format

Use filters before ripping DVD to video or audio, to crop, trim, rotate, adjust brightness and other more video effects to add on. Later, select one output profile you want from the Output Format option. Here, you can choose the MKV Lossless profile to rip the DVD without losing quality.

Note: If needed, you can click the gear icon to customize the parameters of output profiles, including encoder, bitrate, resolution, etc.

3.Rip DVD into videos on Mac

Hit Rip All button, to start DVD to video or audio ripping process on MacBook. After that, you can play the DVD videos on MacBook Pro anytime anywhere you want.

If you want to play DVD on Xbox 360, Wii, PS4, etc., you could select the corresponsive formats from the drop-down list.

Note: You can click the Save to option at the bottom to set the download folder of converted DVD files.

Besides using a MacBook Pro DVD player to watch DVDs, this DVD-ripping method is also an effective way to watch DVDs freely. With this guide, you can try downloading AnyMP4 DVD Ripper and use it with the free trial version.

Part 5. FAQs

Conclusion

In spite of above methods to play DVD on MacBook Pro, you need an external DVD drive for MacBook Pro first. And then you have to download and install some DVD Player software for Mac. It is difficult to play DVD in the way. What should be the most efficient solution in order to make sure the MacBook Pro plays DVD? AnyMP4 DVD Ripper should always be the first choice. Whether you rip the DVD with External DVD drive for Mac, or use another computer to rip the DVD, you can play the DVD video on Mac freely. Download it by clicking the below button to try it immediately. More questions about how to play DVD on MacBook Pro, you can feel free to share the opinion here.

If you are using the old Windows 8, jump to visit this post: How to play DVD on Windows 8.