How to Watch Blu-rays in Windows 10 With VLC
VLC Media Player handles most formats of music and video files. It’s similar in functionality to Windows Media Player, with many extra features. You can get it from the Microsoft Store but it doesn’t support DVD or Blu-ray, so it’s better to download the version that’s available free from the developer’s website. When you first install VLC, it isn’t capable of playing Blu-ray discs. After you install it, you must download two additional files and place them into specific folders. Even after you set it up, VLC can’t display some Blu-ray menus. Here’s how to set up VLC Media Player to watch Blu-rays in Windows 10.
How to Rip and Convert Blu-ray Discs to Watch on Windows 10
The other way to watch Blu-ray discs on a Windows 10 computer is to convert the files on the disc into files that any media player can play. The process is known as ripping and encoding. When you rip and encode a Blu-ray disc, you copy the disc’s information to your computer, and then you convert it into a convenient media file format. Despite the name, this process is not destructive. After you rip and encode a Blu-ray disc, you can still use the disc as you would normally. Some programs, like MakeMKV, perform both the ripping and encoding parts of this process. Since the process is automated, this is the easiest way to watch a Blu-ray movie on Windows 10. The conversion process can take a long time if you have a slow computer, and converted Blu-ray discs also take up a lot of hard drive space. This method’s added benefit is that once you have converted a Blu-ray disc, you can use a program like Plex to watch it on your other computers or even your phone. Here’s how to rip and convert a Blu-ray disc to watch on Windows 10:
Why Doesn’t Blu-ray Work in Windows 10?
Windows 10 doesn’t include the built-in ability to play Blu-ray discs because Microsoft would have to pay a licensing fee to include that functionality. That option would drive up the cost of every single copy of Windows 10. Since most computers don’t even have Blu-ray players, Microsoft doesn’t offer the feature. With the Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S, Microsoft offers a free license to watch Blu-ray movies on your console. This option isn’t available to users of Windows 10, so you have to look elsewhere if you want to watch Blu-ray discs on your computer. The two best options are to use a third-party media player like VLC or convert your Blu-rays with a program like MakeMV.
