How to Make a Laptop DVD Drive Region-Free

Techwalla may earn compensation through affiliate links in this story. Learn more about our affiliate and product review process here.
Bypass your DVD drive's built-in region encoding with these programs.

DVD region codes prevent people from playing import DVDs they legally bought. This is even worse with laptops, because if you have your laptop overseas, you probably can't play any DVDs sold in that country. Luckily, there are software solutions around DVD region encoding. These media players and programs circumvent your computer's built-in region encoding, allowing you to play any DVD with your laptop's DVD drive, regardless of the region of the drive or the disc.

Advertisement

Using VLC Player

Video of the Day

Step 1

Download and install the VLC Player. This is a free media player that bypasses region encoding.

Video of the Day

Step 2

Insert the disc you want to play in your disc drive and launch VLC player.

Advertisement

Step 3

Go to "Media" then "Open Disc." In the "Disc" tab go to "Disc Device." Select the drive the disc is in and click "Play" to begin playing the disc.

Using Any DVD

Step 1

Download and install Any DVD. This is a paid program, but the trial version will work for several days before you have to pay.

Advertisement

Step 2

Restart your computer.

Step 3

Log back in to your computer after it restarts. Any DVD will automatically boot up and disable all region encoding on your disc drive.

Advertisement

Using DVDFab Passkey

Step 1

Download DVDFab Passkey. This is a paid program, but the trial period includes full functionality.

Advertisement

Step 2

Install the program and restart your computer.

Step 3

Log back into your computer. After your computer boots up, the welcome screen for DVDFab Passkey will appear. Click on "Start DVDFab Passkey."

Advertisement

Step 4

Insert the disc you want to play in your disc drive. A window will pop up asking what region the DVD is. Select the correct region and hit "OK." Your drive can now play the DVD.

Advertisement

Advertisement

references & resources