How to Play DVD on Microsoft Surface Pro Series?

The Microsoft Surface Pro series has redefined versatility in the world of portable computing, blending the functionality of a laptop and the portability of a tablet. However, as we embrace this technological marvel, many users may wonder: "Is it possible to play DVDs on my Surface Pro?" The answer is yes, and this article will guide you through the process.

Kevincy Kevincy | Updated on Dec 15, 2023

Understanding the Limitations of DVD Playback on Surface Pro

Q: "A new Surface Pro owner here, and I am trying to figure out how to play DVD's on it when not connected to the internet. I frequently fly over the ocean with no internet service and would like to be able to watch movies during the flight. I'm not a very tech savvy person, so any help is appreciated!"

A: Well, to be honest, the Surface Pro is indeed an epoch-making product that pushes the boundaries between the tablets, laptop, and desktop PC. However, just like the modern laptop and desktop PC, Surface Pro doesn't come with a built-in DVD player either.

In addition, most current Surface Pro models have shipped with Windows 10 or Windows 11, which has castrated DVD playback capability. Therefore, you're not able to directly play DVD's on Surface Pro.

But the good news is, there are several workarounds you can take to get the job done. With the two simple methods below, you're guaranteed to watch your DVD's on Surface Pro swimmingly.

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Method 1: Play DVD's on Surface Pro with an External DVD Drive

The Surface Pro lacks a DVD drive, and Windows 10/11 lacks a DVD decoder, both ingredients that you need to watch a DVD movie. Let's tackle the issues in sequence.


First - Get a Qualified DVD Drive

As the Microsoft store no longer offers an external DVD player for Surface Pro, first of all, you need to get a qualified generic DVD drive that has its own power supply from local store or Amazon, Walmart, BestBuy, and other online marketplaces. If you have lots of DVDs purchased outside your country, a one-stop external region-free DVD drive is strongly recommended so that you don't need to change DVD Player Region each time and worry about the 5-changes restriction.

It's worth noting that, Surface Pro may not supply enough power over the USB port for many peripherals so that the DVD drive may spin up and then turn off and repeats over and over without actually loading. To avoid erratic DVD viewing experience, you'd better figure it out before you buy the external DVD drive. Alternatively, a powered USB Hub that should ensure there is enough energy to all devices connected to Surface Pro.

Second - Install a Third-Party DVD Player for Surface Pro

Most USB DVD drives do not bundle the necessary movie playback software. So when you connect the external USB DVD drive to your Surface Pro and the DVD disc is stably loaded, you'll run into the second issue - Windows 10/11 doesn't natively support DVD playback unless you pay for the Windows DVD Player app at $14.99 from Microsoft Store.

This problem can be simply solved by installing a third-party DVD Player for Surface Pro, such as VLC media player, KMPlayer, PotPlayer, Kodi, PowerDVD player, etc. Yeah, we've made a list of the best free DVD players for Windows 10/11. Now, you can play DVD's on Surface Pro and enjoy your popcorn time at liberty.

Method 2: Create Your Own DVD Digital Library on Surface Pro

If you prefer a more streamlined approach, converting your DVDs to a digital format is an excellent solution. This allows you to store your entire DVD collection on your Surface Pro and eliminates the need to carry physical discs.

WonderFox DVD Ripper Pro is a top-ranking choice that helps you simplify the DVD to digital conversion, no matter whether it's a homemade DVD or a commercial DVD. This program can intelligently bypass all copy protection and convert the main full-length movie to MP4, MKV, AVI and 300+ common formats for smooth playback on Surface Pro.

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Preparation: Insert a homemade or copy-protected DVD into the DVD-ROM drive connected to your Surface Pro.


Step 1 - Load a DVD Source

Install and runInstall and run WonderFox DVD Ripper Pro. Click "DVD Disc" to select a DVD drive letter and click "OK" to load all DVD content.

Load a DVD Source in DVD to Surface Pro Converter

Step 2 - Select an Export Format

Open the format library on the right side of the app. Navigate to "Microsoft" category and choose your Surface Pro model. You're also recommended to go to "Video" category and choose "MKV" profile because it can wrap multiple audio and subtitle tracks in one file.

Select an Output Format

Step 3 - Digitize DVD onto Surface Pro

Specify a destination folder. At last, hit "RUN" to convert DVD to Surface Pro at a fully hardware accelerated ripping speed. After done, you can play DVD on Surface Pro anytime and anywhere.

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  • Rip DVD to MP4, MKV and 300+ presets with GPU acceleration.
  • Remove all DVD encryption like Cinavia, region code, CSS, etc.
  • 5-minutes to fast digitize DVD to MPEG-2 MPG format.
  • Make a 1:1 intact digital copy (VIDEO_TS or ISO) with all content.
  • Simply compress 8 GB DVD to 1-2 GB digital video file.
  • Multiple audio tracks, hard/soft and forced subs are supported.
  • Support homemade/commercial DVD & ISO & Video_TS folder.
  • Basic editing features and customize output video/audio parameters.
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Final Words...

Here's the rapid-fire roundup. Can you watch DVD's on Surface Pro? Sure. Both of the methods mentioned in the article will ensure the smoothly DVD playback on any model of your Surface Pro. But for long-term use, you can build your own DVD digital library on your Surface Pro, external hard drive, Kodi, Plex, media server, NAS, cloud storage, etc., which is much more convenient for playback, backup and personal fair-use.

Hopefully I make everything crystal clear. If this guide really works for you to play DVD on Surface Pro, don't forget to share it through your social media platforms. Cheers!

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