True, while QuickTime Player struggles with nearly every video encounter, VLC for Mac handles all the basics pretty well. But there’s so much more to discover in the land of video-playing features: multiple. Every time a Mac system is upgraded, VLC will encounter compatibility problems, no matter macOS High Sierra, Mojave, Catalina, or Big Sur. With the release of Big Sur, lots of users began to report the incompatibility of VLC. In this case, the best way to fix “VLC won’t play MP4” on Mac is to use an alternative media player.
This guide will show you everything you should know about using VLC to play Blu-ray movies. Blu-ray disc is the successor of DVD and primarily used to store ultra-high-quality movies. It makes sense that Blu-ray is the first choice among movie lovers.
However, the biggest challenge is to play Blu-ray movies on Windows and Mac OS X due to AACS, Advanced Access Content System. It is developed to prevent users from playing and copying Blu-ray content. Can VLC play Blu-ray movies? This article will answer the question and share you more options to watch Blu-ray content.
Part 1: Can VLC Play Blu-ray?
Since Windows 10 and Apple Mac Mojave do not offer native playback support for Blu-ray movies, it is necessary to find a third-party media player. VLC Media Player is a widely used media player around world. It is available to Mac, Windows and Linux. VLC can play various files and rip DVD.
When it comes whether you can use VLC to play Blu-ray, the answer is various depending on your situations. Firstly, if your Blu-ray movies are not encrypted, you can play them in VLC directly. Due to AACS and legal reasons, all versions of VLC cannot open encrypted Blu-ray discs. Every time you try to play encrypted Blu-ray disc you will only get the AACS decoding error message.
Part 2: Play Blu-ray with VLC on Windows and Mac
Apparently, VLC only cannot play encrypted Blu-ray movies. Fortunately, there is a solution that you can turn VLC to a Blu-ray player and decrypt commercial Blu-ray. VLC cannot play encrypted Blu-ray is due to lake of decryption key data base and AACS dynamic library. In another word, once you get these extra files, VLC can play Blu-ray on Windows and Mac.
How to Play Blu-ray with VLC on Windows
Step 1: Make sure that you have the latest version of VLC installed on your PC; otherwise, download it from here(https://www.videolan.org/vlc/) for free. VLC 2.0 and above support the Blu-ray playback.
Step 2: Download the Keys database from the website(http://www.techisky.com/applications/vlc-bluray/KEYDB.zip) to your desktop or a temporary folder. Then go to your user directory, C:Usersyour usernameAppData. If you cannot see the AppData folder, hit the Downward icon at the upper right corner, go to View tab and check Hidden items. Create a new folder in AppData and rename it aacs. Next, move the Keys database file titled KEYDB.cfg into the aacs folder.
Step 3: Download AACS dynamic library. For Windows 32bit, download from here(http://www.techisky.com/applications/vlc-bluray/32bit-aacs/libaacs.dll). If your Windows is 64bit, download it here(http://www.techisky.com/applications/vlc-bluray/64bit-aacs/libaacs.dll). Navigate to C:Program Files or C:Program Files (x86), find the VLC directory, and put the libaacs.dll file into it.
Now, you can play Blu-ray movies in VLC without any trouble.
Note: VLC 2.2.1 and above still does not have menu support for Blu-ray discs yet. Plus, this way is only available to Blu-ray discs encrypted by AACS. For other encrypted technology, there is no support.
How to Play Blu-ray Using VLC on Mac
Step 1: Open Safari and access http://vlc-bluray.whoknowsmy.name/. Download the Mac version of Keys database and AACS dynamic library to your desktop.
Step 2: Run Finder and go to ~/Library/Preferences/aacs/. If you cannot find the aacs folder, create a new one and name it. Then move the Keys database file into the folder.
Step 3: Go to the Applications folder, find the VLC app, right-click on it and select Show package contents. Then put the dynamic library file into Contents/MacOS/lib/.
Step 4: Since VLC does not support Blu-ray menus, you have to manually select a title to play.
How to Play Blu-ray Using VLC on Linux
Step 1: Firstly, make a folder named aacs and download the Keys database with the codes:
cd ~/
mkdir -p ~/.config/aacs/
cd ~/.config/aacs/ && wget http://vlc-bluray.whoknowsmy.name/files/KEYDB.cfg
Step 2: Then install AACS dynamic library with codes:
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:n-muench/vlc
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install vlc libaacs0 libbluray-bdj libbluray1
sudo apt-get dist-upgrade
Step 3: Now, run VLC and play your Blu-ray movie simply.
Part 3: Play Any Blu-ray Discs in VLC after Ripping
Some people reported that they still cannot play Blu-ray movies in VLC although they followed the instructions above. Bear in mind that only the Blu-ray discs encrypted by AACS are supported. If it does not work for you, it means the necessary key is not included in the library. In such case, you have two options, ripping the Blu-ray disc and play in VLC or looking for another media player available to Blu-ray discs.
Ripping Blu-ray for VLC with Vidmore Blu-ray Monster is a good idea. It makes your Blu-ray movies playable in a wide range of media players. Plus, it is also a way to back up your Blu-ray discs.
- Rip Blu-ray discs to digital videos for playing anywhere.
- Keep the original video and audio quality while ripping.
- Support a wide array of output formats, such as MP4, AVI, etc.
- Extract Blu-ray movies for playback on portable devices.
- Offer extensive video editing tools, like cut, rotate, and more. In brief, Blu-ray Ripper is the best way to play Blu-ray movies in VLC without installing extra library.
How to Rip Blu-ray for Playing in VLC
Step 1: Install the best Blu-ray ripper
When you want to a Blu-ray disc but VLC cannot play it, download the best Blu-ray ripper from the official website. Double click the installer file and follow the onscreen instructions to install it on your computer. Then insert the Blu-ray disc into your drive.
Step 2: Import the Blu-ray disc
Click and expand the Load Blu-ray menu at the upper left side, select Lod Blu-ray Disc and select your disc. The Load Blu-ray Folder is used to rip videos from a Blu-ray folder. Then you will be presented the main movie. To see all titles, click the View/Select Title button, check the titles you want to rip and hit OK to confirm it.
Next, click the format icon on one title to open the format dialog. Go to the Video tab, select your favorite format from the left-hand column, and select the desired quality. If you want to rip Blu-ray for playback on iPhone or Android phone, go to the Device tab and select your device. Then set the output format for other titles. The magic bar icon can take you to the video editor window.
Tip: MKV Lossless is the default output format when ripping Blu-ray disc. It provides the best video quality as well as keep all subtitles and audio tracks. However, if you want to edit the videos, you have to switch to other formats.
Step 3: Rip Blu-ray movies for VLC
After setting, click the Play icon in front the title to preview the Blu-ray movie with the built-in media player. Then locate the bottom area and set a specific folder to save the Blu-ray movies in the Save to field. Next, click the Rip All button to start ripping Blu-ray for VLC. A few minutes later, you can open ripped Blu-ray movies in VLC or any media players.
Part 4: Top 4 Blu-ray Player Alternatives to VLC
In addition to rip Blu-ray discs for VLC, you can also get a Blu-ray player program directly. Here we identified top 5 best Blu-ray player software.
Top 1: PotPlayer
Similar to VLC, PotPlayer is a free Blu-ray player application. Since it already integrates the Blu-ray decode and decryption, so you can play Blu-ray in this VLC alternative directly. The user-friendly interface makes it simpler to use than VLC.
Pros:
- Completely free without any restrictions.
- Support Blu-ray menu and subtitles.
- Take snapshots when playing Blu-ray movies.
Cons:
- This is no help files.
- The default video render is not very good.
Top 2: VSO Media Player
VSO Media Player is another way to play Blu-ray without VLC. More importantly, it can play your Blu-ray discs for free, as well as most popular video formats and DVDs. For beginners, it is a good starting point to enjoy your Blu-ray movies.
Pros:
- Play Blu-ray movies without extra library or codec.
- Control image and subtitles of Blu-ray movies.
- Support multi-angle and multi-version.
Cons:
- It is not compatible with Mac OS X.
- It cannot decode the latest Blu-ray encryption.
Top 3: Macgo Blu-ray Player
Macgo Blu-ray Player is a flexible VLC alternative for playing Blu-ray discs. Firstly, it is available to both Windows and Mac OS X. Plus, it offers a standard version and a pro one with some bonus tools.
Pros:
- Support Blu-ray discs and regular media files.
- Navigate Blu-ray menu with arrow keys on your keyboard.
- Use it with family members using Family Sharing.
Cons:
- It does not support Ultra HD Blu-ray playback.
- 3D Blu-ray discs cannot be rendered.
Top 4: Cyberlink PowerDVD
Cyberlink PowerDVD is a professional media player solution. Now, the developer introduced the Blu-ray playback into it. If you have enough budget, it is one of the best alternative to VLC for Blu-ray playback.
Pros:
- Support Blu-ray discs and 8K contents.
- Offer a well-designed user interface.
- Include many features to enhance experience, like TrueTheater HD.
Cons:
- It requires higher level hardware system.
- This alternative to VLC is large and takes space.
Part 5: FAQs of Playing Blu-ray with VLC
Does VLC play Blu-ray on Windows 10?
The answer is various depending on your situation. First of all, VLC alone cannot play commercial Blu-ray discs or Blu-ray folders on Windows 10. If you install the Keys database and AACS dynamic library, VLC may decode your Blu-ray disc properly. However, it cannot guarantee that all Blu-ray discs are supported.
How do I play Blu-ray discs without a Blu-ray player?
To play a Blu-ray disc, you have two choice, getting a Blu-ray player or ripping Blu-ray discs to digital videos. If you do not like Blu-ray players, Vidmore Blu-ray Monster can meet your need. It is able to rip your Blu-ray discs to high quality video files.
Can I play a Blu-ray on my laptop?
Playing a Blu-ray disc, you need both a Blu-ray BD-ROM drive and a Blu-ray player application, such as VLC. Most manufacturers have removed the ROM drive in order to make laptops thin and light. So, you may need an external Blu-ray BD-ROM drive. The alternative solution is to rip your disc and then play the digital videos on your laptop.
Conclusion
This article has discussed how to play Blu-ray discs with VLC Media Player. VLC is not only a widely used media player, but also offers a lot of tools. That may be why it is popular around the world. If you have followed the guide but VLC still cannot play your Blu-ray disc, you can rip it with Vidmore Blu-ray Monster or find another Blu-ray player. Have other questions? Please write them down below this guide.
- “Apple’s own DVD player fails to work, I tried to reinstall the Mac DVD Player. But nothing happens…”
- “I just upgraded to macOS Mojave on my 2017 MacBook Pro and found that the DVD Player app has disappeared…”
A good DVD player really matters. If you have large collections of DVD discs, you need to find a reliable DVD player to bypass Mac DVD Player not working or showing up errors. There are numerous free and paid Mac DVD player software in the market. Which one can be your best DVD player for MacBook Pro and Air? And how to play DVD on my Macbook Pro? Just read and find your answer.
Part 1: Top 5 Best Free Mac DVD Player Software
Is there a DVD player on Macbook Pro or on Macbook Air? The answer is absolutely yes. Here we will be covering top free DVD players for Mac, and you can pick up your preferred one to get a DVD to play on your Macbook. You can play DVDs on Mac for free with smooth playback experience here.
Top 1: Free Mac Blu-ray Player
You can play DVD/Blu-ray discs and movies with copy protection via Blu-ray Master Free Mac Blu-ray Player in 100% image quality. The Mac DVD player software adopts the most advanced kernel and newest playing technology. You can play any DVD with selectable chapter, title, audio track and subtitle.
Besides, you can adjust visual effects and take screenshots while watching DVD movies on Mac. The user interface is clean and intuitive. Thus, both beginners and experts can load and play DVDs on Mac with entire new home entertainment experience.
- 1. Play DVD disc, and DVD movie on Mac with customizable filters.
- 2. This DVD player also supports Blu-ray playback. (Can DVD player play Blu-ray files?)
- 3. Adopt the most advanced kernel and newest playing technology for DVD playback.
- 4. Support Dolby 5.1, DTS and HD audio to keep all audio tracks perfectly.
- 5. Play any video or audio format with great video quality.
- 6. Capture video images in one click while playing DVD movie on Mac.
- 7. The Mac DVD player freeware works with Mac OS X 10.5 or above.
Top 2: VLC Media Player
VLC Media Player is a free and open source DVD Player for Mac, Windows and other platforms. You can play not only DVD, but also CD, VCD, general video and audio files with VLC. The Mac DVD player freeware is capable to play encrypted DVDs. However, when you play a DVD with VLC on Mac, you may encounter VLC not working on DVD and other related issues.
Top 3: MPlayer
The latest MPlayer 1.4 version was released in April, 18th, 2019. It is compatible with the latest FFmpeg release and current FFmpeg development version. You can play DVD, Blu-ray disc, CD and video CD with MPlayer on Mac, PC and Linux. The open source Mac DVD player is free to use.
However, there is no way to save playlists. When you try to access the menu, the DVD movie will pause automatically. Meanwhile, MPlayer will be unstable for several minutes.
Top 4: QuickTime
QuickTime is the default media player for Mac. You can play DVD on MacBook Pro and other devices with ease. Well, QuickTime has been superseded by QuickTime X. It requires regular update. If you want to edit and convert video files, you need to upgrade to QuickTime Player Pro version first.
Top 5: KMPlayer
KMPlayer is also an open source multimedia player that can play most video and audio files, including DVD discs. You can experience the 3D home cinema entertainment with the 3D format playback function. The DVD player for iMac and other Apple computers takes low CPU memory. The multi-core decoding and subtitle support are also powerful. Since KMPlayer is an adware, the ads pop up constantly. The bundled programs are also annoying.
Part 2: How to Watch DVDs on Macbook Pro with Best Free DVD Player Freely
Launch Mac DVD player
Download and install the free DVD player for Mac. Launch the program to get its main interface. Then insert your DVD disc into the DVD drive.
Play DVD on Mac
Click the “Open Disc” option. Select the name of your inserted DVD. Click “OK” to confirm and move on. The program will start to play DVD movies on Mac instantly.
Adjust visual and audio effects
Unfold the “Control” list on the top toolbar of the Mac DVD player freeware. You can choose your favorite DVD title and chapter freely. Moreover, you can play, stop, forward, backward, volume up and down DVD video with one click.
Furthermore, you can customize audio track, audio channel, audio device, video track, subtitle track and screen size from the “Audio” or “Video” drop-down menus.
Take a snapshot of DVD movie
Click the camera-like “Screenshot” icon near the bottom to capture the DVD video image. You can click the folder icon besides to access the screenshot directly.
Vlc Player For Mac Mojave Dmg
These are good Apple DVD player for Mac alternatives you can use for Mac DVD player app missing, not working and other problems. You can play DVD discs with free Mac DVD players smoothly and effortlessly. If you want to play encrypted DVDs on Mac for free, you can free download Blu-ray Master Free Blu-ray Player to have a try.
The high video and audio quality can keep all details with the best visual experience. Its user interface is clean, safe and intuitive. Thus, you can find all advanced features and support directly. What’s more, you can play Blu-ray discs on Mac for free within Free Blu-ray Player too.
Part 3. FAQs of Playing DVD on Windows and Mac
1. How can I play a DVD on my Mac?
With Blu-ray Master Free Blu-ray Player for Mac, you can easily play a DVD on Mac and Windows. Get and run Free Blu-ray Player on your Mac. Insert the DVD disc to the DVD drive, and click Open Disc to choose the DVD disc. Once the DVD disc is loaded, your DVD file will be automatically played on Mac.
Download Vlc Player For Laptop
2. Can I play a DVD on a Blu-ray Player?
Yes, you can play a DVD on a Blu-ray player. All Blu-ray players can play standard Blu-ray discs, or even 3D Blu-ray discs. Since manufactures have enabled DVD disc playback on Blu-ray player, Blu-ray player can play DVDs without problem.
Vlc Player For Mac Os
3. Can VLC play DVD disc?
Vlc Player Download
VLC Media Player is a free and open source DVD player that plays DVD, VCD, CD, and popular video and audio files. Sometimes, VLC may not play DVDs for some errors. In this case, you can convert DVD to VLC supported file format with Free DVD Ripper.