How to Play Blu-ray on PC/Mac? [6 Best Blu-ray Players Here]

Lafanda
23/03/2023

Blu-ray Player

In order to enjoy high-res Blu-ray playback on a computer, you should prepare a Blu-ray drive and a reliable Blu-ray Player for PC and Mac computers. However, it may be a bit confusing to choose from a bunch of Blu-ray players on the market. Therefore, we've collected and tested the 6 best Blu-ray Player for Windows 11/10/8/7, and macOS for your reference. Now, pick your preferred choice and see how to play Blu-ray on PC and Mac with a flow experience.

3 Best Software to Play Blu-ray on PC with Ease

Among the countless choices, we've selected the 3 best free Blu-ray players for Windows and conducted detailed reviews in terms of the features and drawbacks. Now, you can go through all of them and pick your best to watch Blu-ray on PC with smooth and immersive Blu-ray playback.

VideoByte Blu-ray Player (Recommended)

VideoByte Blu-ray Player
Ratings	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Supported Systems	Windows 11/10/8/7/Vista/XP & Mac OS X 10.9 or above
Features	Get rid of all types of DRM restrictions like AACS, BD+. APS, CSS, etc. Unlock region codes from Region A to C and Region 0 to 8. Ensure high-quality Blu-ray playback of lossless 1080p and local videos of 4K. Apply audio decoding systems like DTS and Dolby Digital. Enable hardware acceleration to avoid laggy and dodgy playback. Come with an easy-to-go control with titles, chapters, tracks, and subtitles preserved. Capture snapshots at any time without affecting Blu-ray playback.
Drawbacks	Cannot play Blu-ray discs of up to UHD 8K resolution. Cannot play 3D Blu-ray discs. Paid to use with a free trial for 30 days.

VideoByte Blu-ray Player is flying high with its sparking features. Being an all-in-one player for Blu-ray discs, DVDs, VCDs, ISO files, Blu-ray/DVD folders, and local media files in any format, it can keep the original video quality of up to 4K resolution and the best sound quality with advanced audio decoding technology. Better yet, it can bypass DRM protections and region codes to play Blu-ray on PC as easily as a piece of cake.

To deliver the best Blu-ray playback, VideoByte Blu-ray Player will keep all the original titles, chapters, audio tracks, and subtitles. Also, you're able to adjust the video effect in aspects like hue, gamma, contrast, brightness, and saturation. It's totally foolproof to use this Blu-ray player for PC with an intuitive navigation menu.

Now, let’s see how to watch Blu-ray on PC using this amazing Blu-ray player.

How to Play Blu-ray on PC Using VideoByte Blu-ray Player:

Step 1. Launch VideoByte Blu-ray Player and insert your Blu-ray disc into PC.
Step 2. Click "Open Disc" and choose the Blu-ray disc from the screen.
Step 3. Now, choose a title to start playing Blu-ray on computer.

Note: Make sure your computer is connected with the Internet so that the software program can decode the protected/region code used on the disc.

Player Main Mac — Open VideoByte Blu-ray Player

Menu Subtitle Mac — Menu: Select Subtitles

For more usage details, you can see the step-by-step guide on the tutorial video below.

Cyberlink PowerDVD 22

Cyberlink PowerDVD 22
Ratings	⭐⭐⭐⭐
Supported Systems	Windows 11, 10, 8.1, 7 (64 bit OS only)
Features	Support 4K Ultra HD and 8K video playback. Enable DTS-HD, Dolby Audio, and Hi-Res 7.1 surround sound. Watch online videos on YouTube in the player. Cast your video playback on smart TVs for a bigger screen. Offer video editing features like trimming and converting.
Drawbacks	Do not support Mac computers. Cannot play protected discs with DRM or region codes. Do not support playing 3D videos. Expensive to use starting at $69.99. Crash sometimes when playing Blu-ray 8K videos on PC.

Cyberlink PowerDVD 21 is an excellent 4K and 8K Media Player with HDR10 support. It can playback Blu-ray discs, ISO files, and Ultra HD video files and then offers you an unparalleled audiovisual experience. More importantly. With the support of DTS HD Audio and Dolby True HD Audio, Cyberlink PowerDVD 22 can deliver a cinema-like audio experience when you are viewing Blu-ray movies using it.

It should be noted that the product is more expensive than the above one, whose price is around $69.99. Also, the media player can be only used on Windows. Moreover, it cannot play discs restricted by DRM protections or region codes.

How to Play Blu-ray on Windows Using Cyberlink PowerDVD 22

Step 1: Download and Launch Cyberlink PowerDVD 22.

Step 2: Connect Blu-ray Drive and Insert Blu-ray Disc.

Step 3: Run Cyberlink PowerDVD, select PC mode. Then you could import video and audio files to the media library from your computer disc. Or you could open the media files from "My Computer" to open the video or audio files directly.

VLC Media Player

VLC Media Player
Ratings	⭐⭐⭐
Supported Systems	Windows XP SP3 to the last version of Windows 11 Mac OS X 10.7.5 or later
Features	Support playback of DRM-free discs and local files in a range of formats. Play discs with the video quality of up to 1080p. Apply custom effects and filters to adjust video playback. Feature with recording and converting functions. Support playing SBS 3D videos. Free to use without any extra fee.
Drawbacks	Need extra operation to play Blu-ray Only 2.0 and higher versions support Blu-ray Do not support playing ISO files. Do not play DRM-protected discs or discs with region codes.

VLC Media Player is the world's famous free and open-source media player for Windows and Mac. It can play DVDs, audio CDs, VCDs, and local files in MP4. WMV, AVI, MOV, WMA, FLAC, MP3, etc. Also, VLC lets you add audio tracks or subtitles to video playback if necessary. Moreover, it enables auto audio synchronization to fix the out-of-sync problem. You can also apply effects and filters to change the playback for any scenario.

However, it cannot play Blu-ray discs on a PC in a direct way. Instead, it takes a few steps for you to make it possible to play Blu-ray on PC with VLC. Also, you should note that it doesn't support Blu-ray playback of encrypted discs and discs restricted by DRM protections and region codes.

How to Play Blu-ray on Windows Using VLC Media Player

Step 1: Download and Install VLC Media Player. Then, open your File Explorer and navigate to C:\ProgramData. Or, replace C:\ with the drive where you have Windows installed.
Step 2: Create a new folder and name it AACS, then download KEYDB.cfg directly to the C:\ProgramData\aacs folder you just created.

Note: If the program is not installed on the C drive, please replace C:\ with the drive where you have Windows installed.

Step 3: Download liaaacs.dll from the vlc-bluray.whoknowsmy.name site directly to your VLC folder.
Step 4: Insert a Blu-ray disc into your Blu-ray drive and launch VLC. Select Media > Open Disc.
Step 5: After that, choose the Blu-ray radial, check the box next to no disc menus, and make sure that your Blu-ray is selected in the disc device field. Then select Play. You can now enjoy Blu-ray videos.

As you can see, it will be such a huge work to play Blu-ray on PC with VLC which might be troublesome for most people.

3 Best Software to Play Blu-ray on Mac without Hassle

If you have a Mac computer and want to learn how to play Blu-ray on MacBook Pro/MacBook Air/MacBook mini/iMac, you may want to check out the following recommended 3 Blu-ray players for Mac. Don't forget to get yourself an external Blu-ray drive as well. Now, let's hit the road.

VideoByte Blu-ray Player (Recommended)

As mentioned above, VideoByte Blu-ray Player also works like a charm on macOS X 10.9 or above. It enables you to watch protected Blu-ray movies on Mac with high quality and the best sound quality. Better yet, it can play Blu-ray discs restricted by DRM protections and region codes with no sweat. Take a shot and you'll see.

Macgo Blu-ray Player

Macgo Blu-ray Player
Ratings	⭐⭐⭐
Supported Systems	MacOS X 10.8 and later
Features	Keep 4K video quality of local media files. Support playback of DRM-protected discs. Provide an all-featured navigation menu. Support mainstream output formats. Allow additional BONUSVIEW and BD-Live content.
Drawbacks	Only available on Mac Do not support 4K UHD Blu-ray discs currently. Cannot play discs that are restricted by region codes. Do not support DTS or Dobly sound effects. Do not play 3D videos and 3D discs. Drop frame in high-resolution playback. Not cheap concerning its features.

As its name suggests, Macgo Blu-ray Player is only available on Mac. It can support various kinds of file formats, which include AVI, MP4, MOV, MKV, and WMV. This Macgo Blu-ray player now provides both free and Pro versions, the latter enhances 4K video viewing experience and original audio quality and improves player performance with better hardware acceleration. With Macgo Blu-ray Player, you can enjoy high-quality Blu-ray videos on PC easily and conveniently.

However, the price of Macgo Blu-ray Player is relatively high, and it is growing steadily over the years due to the fact that competitor options may offer more value for money despite the great service Macgo provides. Moreover, it'll fail your expectation if you want to play discs protected by region codes.

How to Play Blu-ray on Windows Using Macgo Blu-ray Player

Step 1: Download and Install Macgo Blu-ray Player on Mac.

Step 2: Connect Blu-ray Drive with your Mac via a USB cable and Insert Blu-ray Disc.

Step 3: Wait for a while until the main menu pops out and you can make some adjustments in Scene Selection and Set Up etc. according to your preference.

Elmedia Player

Elmedia Player
Ratings	⭐⭐⭐
Supported Systems	MacOS 10.12 or later
Features	Support playing DRM-free discs and local files in 70+ formats. Add external subtitles and audio tracks for video playback. Create playlists to sort out your videos. Provide an extensive database to look for subtitles online. Adjust brightness, saturation, contrast, hue, gamma, sharpness, etc. Cast and stream local files to Chromecast, AirPlay, Roku, and DLNA. Offer other features like looping, snapshotting, deinterlacing, etc.
Drawbacks	Only available on MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, MacBook mini, and iMac. Do not support discs with DRM protections or region codes. Support playing Blu-ray of up to 1080p. Cannot play 3D videos or 3D discs. Provide a free version with limited functionalities.

Elmedia Player as one of the best free Mac Blu-ray players, offers advanced playback and streaming options. It supports 70+ video/audio formats and it allows you to view Blu-ray clips in different languages, and with alternative voiceovers. More importantly, with its easy operation, you can control the playback flexibly by using the settings provided by the tool.

However, the media play can only be used on Mac and it does not support decoding protected Blu-ray discs. That means almost all commercial Blu-ray discs are not supported. Also, it doesn't include the original titles, chapters, subtitles, and audio tracks in the video, but you can add extra audio tracks and subtitles inside the program.

How to Play Blu-ray on Windows Using Elmedia Player

Step 1: Download and Install Elmedia Player on Mac

Step 2: You can open Blu-ray files by using the following ways:
• You can drag-n-drop the file in the app’s window.
• From Finder, right-click and select "Open With", then pick Elmedia Player.
• While inside the Elmedia Player, select File from the Main Menu, then press "Open".

Step 3: Now, you can play Blu-ray on Mac using Elmedia Player.

Leawo Blu-ray Player

Leawo Blu-ray Player
Ratings	⭐⭐⭐⭐
Supported Systems	MacOS X 10.10 and later, Windows 7/8/8.1/10/11
Features	Play 4K UHD Blu-ray discs. Bypass DRM protections and region codes. Enable a virtual navigation menu during the playback. Keep the original chapters, titles, audio tracks, and subtitles. Instantly share videos on Facebook.
Drawbacks	Cannot play 3D videos and 3D discs. Do not add extra subtitles and audio tracks. Do not adjust the video effect on your own. Support video playback in 1080p on the free trial version.

Leawo Blu-ray Player is a leading Blu-ray player for both Windows and Mac, which can 4K UHD Blu-ray discs/DVDs, Blu-ray folders, ISO image files, and local videos in MP4, MKV, AVI, TS, VOB, etc. Moreover, it works as a region-free Blu-ray player that can bypass region codes from 0 to 8 and all kinds of DRM protections.

Leawo supports video playback of up to 4K resolution with studio-like sound quality. Moreover, it shows a virtual panel for you to take full control of the playback without influencing the watching. Its premium version even includes Blu-ray to MKV conversion with lossless quality at a 6X fast rate. However, it would cost you $44.95 for an annual plan or $99.95 for a lifetime plan.

Comparison Among 6 Best Blu-ray Player Software

After walking through the 6 best Blu-ray Players for PC and Mac, let's grasp the overall idea of the differences among them below. Then, it could be easier for you to pick a preferred Blu-ray player for your computer.

	Video Quality	Compatibility (Windows/Mac)	DRM-Free	Region-Free	Easy-to-use	Price
VideoByte Blu-ray Player	1080p HD & 4K	Windows & Mac	√	√	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	$29.95 (30 days free trial)
Cyberlink PowerDVD 22	4K & 8K	Windows	×	×	⭐⭐⭐⭐	$69.99
VLC Media Player	1080p	Windows & Mac	×	×	⭐⭐⭐	Free
Macgo Blu-ray Player	4K	Mac	√	×	⭐⭐⭐	$59.95
Elmedia Player	1080p	Mac	×	×	⭐⭐⭐	Free
Leawo Blu-ray Player	1080p	Windows & Mac	√	√	⭐⭐⭐⭐	$44.95

FAQs About Playing Blu-ray on Computer

Still have some lingering questions related to Blu-ray playback on Windows PC and Mac? You may want to take a look at the following FAQs and see whether your questions will be answered here.

Can You Play a Blu-ray on a Computer?

Yes, you can. However, it requires certain kinds of drives and software to play Blu-ray on PC or Mac. Thus, you should ensure that you have the following items to enjoy Blu-ray playback on a computer.

A useful Blu-ray disc drive. If your computer has its own internal drive, you can check if it can play Blu-rays for you. If not, you may need to buy an external Blu-ray disc drive that can handle your Blu-ray discs.
A Blu-ray player software. Although you have bought a Blu-ray disc drive, it doesn’t mean you can watch Blu-ray on PC or Mac. As mentioned, many media players do not support playing Blu-rays, so a reliable Blu-ray player is a must.

Can't Play Blu-ray on PC? How to Solve It?

As mentioned above, Blu-ray discs can only be read by a Blu-ray drive as well as played by a Blu-ray player for PC and Mac. If you've already got them prepared but still failed to play and watch Blu-ray on PC/Mac, you should check out whether your Blu-ray disc is protected by DRM or region codes. In this case, you need a Blu-ray player like VideoByte Blu-ray Player that is supported to play protected Blu-ray discs.

How to Play Blu-ray on PC without Blu-ray Drive?

In addition to using some media players to play Blu-ray discs, there is also an alternative way that can allow you to enjoy Blu-ray playback on PC and Mac, which is ripping Blu-ray discs to common video formats. This method allows you to play Blu-ray on multiple devices without limitations. Here we would like to recommend a software program called VideoByte BD-DVD Ripper that can help you rip Blu-ray discs to DRM-free video formats easily and quickly.

VideoByte BD-DVD Ripper can rip DVD/Blu-ray movie discs into digital video formats for flexible watching on both Windows and Mac. Also, the audio tracks and subtitles can be well-preserved in the converted video file. With its high-quality output, fast speed, and stable performance, VideoByte BD-DVD Ripper has become an essential tool for DVD/Blu-ray ripping.

Features of VideoByte BD-DVD Ripper:

Remove DRM Protection and Region Codes: This excellent ripper is able to stripe off the restrictions by DRM protections and region codes and convert your Blu-ray discs to DRM-free files.
Multiple Output Formats: VideoByte BD-DVD Ripper supports 300+ formats so you can convert Blu-ray or DVD to MP4, MKV, and MOV, as well as extract the disc audio to MP3, AAC, M4A, etc.
Keep All the Audio Tracks and Subtitle: When you convert a DVD/Blu-ray disc to a digital file, you can choose to keep all the audio tracks and subtitles. After that, these audio tracks and subtitles can be selected when you play the converted videos on a media player. Also, VideoByte BD-DVD Ripper allows you to add external audio tracks and subtitles by yourself.
Adjust Playback Flexibly: For advanced users, VideoByte BD-DVD Ripper allows you to tailor ripped Blu-ray/DVD movies by adjusting settings such as resolution, aspect ratio, and audio encoder, etc. For common users, VideoByte BD-DVD Ripper lets them choose the default option of these output parameters.
Speed Conversion: VideoByte BD-DVD Ripper makes a great effort in improving the conversion speed in terms of various aspects, including multi-threading, multi-core, and GPU acceleration technology. So, you can enjoy converted Blu-ray videos on your media player as fast as flash.
High-quality Output: VideoByte BD-DVD Ripper can rip DVD/Blu-ray movies in their original quality as much as possible and provide 1080p resolution output. So, you can enjoy Blu-ray movies on your media player as if you were watching them at the cinema.

Step 1. Click Download as shown below to download and install VideoByte BD-DVD Ripper on Windows/Mac. After finishing the installation, launch the software program.
Step 2. Now, insert the Blu-ray disc into your device and press "Load Blu-ray" > "Load Blu-ray Disc" in the software.
Step 3. Select titles, tracks, and subtitles to convert. After that, click "Rip All to" and choose an output folder. Then, hit the "Convert All" button to let VideoByte BD-DVD Ripper do all the rest.

Rip to Option — Rip to Video/Audio/ISO/Folder

Ripping Disc — Click "Rip All" to Start Ripping DVD/Blu-ray Disc

Conclusion

A drive that supports reading Blu-ray discs is not enough to play Blu-ray on PC/Mac. You'll need a Blu-ray player that is able to bypass DRM protections or region codes and watch Blu-ray on PC/Mac with high resolutions. In this case, VideoByte Blu-ray Player outperforms its counterparts as the best Blu-ray player for PC and Mac computers for its 4K Blu-ray support and advanced decryption technology.