2026 Guide: How to Play DVD on TV (Apple, LG, Samsung, etc.)

Quick Navigation

The Traditional Way:

- HDMI Connection

- A/V Connection

- Component Connection

The Modern Way:

- Why Digitize DVDs

- DVD Conversion Guide

- Play Ripped DVD on TV via USB or Streaming

Comparison of the Two Ways:

- Verdict

FAQs

Many people still have cherished old DVDs, such as movies, home videos, and concert recordings. You might want to play them on your TV. The old-fashioned way is to simply connect the DVD player to the TV. But modern smart TVs, including Samsung, LG, and Sony, are getting thinner, and your TV may have removed traditional audio/video interfaces, or you might be using an Apple TV, which doesn't support external players at all. What to do next?

Don't worry. This article will provide the most comprehensive steps to play DVDs on your TV, including the traditional connection method (connecting the DVD player directly to the TV) and the modern digital method (converting the DVD to digital video and streaming it to a smart TV or Apple TV via USB or network). Let's jump right in!

The Traditional Way: Connecting a DVD Player Directly to Your TV

Connecting a DVD player directly to your TV still remains a straightforward solution. Depending on your DVD player and TV model, there are 3 primary connection methods: HDMI, A/V, and Component.

1. Use an HDMI Cable (Best Quality)

This is the recommended solution for modern DVD players and smart TVs equipped with HDMI ports. The HDMI cable can deliver the highest video and audio quality, up to 1080p/4K upscaling, without audio/video sync issues.

Simply plug one end of the HDMI cable into the HDMI OUT port on the DVD player, and the other end into the HDMI IN port on the TV. Then use your TV remote to change the input source to the correct HDMI port to start playing the DVD on your TV.

2. Use A/V Cables

This method is suitable if you have an older DVD player and older TV model with traditional yellow, red, and white RCA jacks.

All you need to do is to match the connector colors to the jack colors on both devices: Yellow to Video OUT/IN, Red to Right Audio OUT/IN, and White to Left Audio OUT/IN. After that, switch the TV's input source to AV or Composite.

(🔔 Note: If your Smart TV does not have full-sized RCA ports, use a 3.5mm-to-RCA AV adapter cable).

3. Use Component Cables

If your DVD player and HDTV have 5-color component jacks, this method is for you. It offers better video clarity (up to 480p/720p) than standard AV composite cables.

Similarly, you can connect the video cables to the color-matched ports on both devices: Green (Y), Blue (Pb/Cb), and Red (Pr/Cr). Then plug the other Red (Right Audio) and White (Left Audio) cables in for sound. Change your TV input source to Component once all cables are connected.

⚠️ Troubleshoot: If you get "No Signal", black screen, stretched video, audio lag, or your TV can't detect the DVD player after connecting, check out our dedicated guide: Fix DVD Player Not Working on TV.

That said, if you don't want the mess of cables, we recommend the modern digital streaming method detailed below.

The Modern Way: Digitizing DVDs for USB Playback & Wireless Streaming

Why Digitize DVDs for TV Playback:

The best reason to go digital is that you can completely get rid of DVD player and watch digitized DVD movies and videos on your TV whenever you want.

Plus, getting DVDs saved in digital copies makes them easier to carry with you on the go.

How to Convert DVDs for Your TV:

Considering that most DVDs are encrypted, we need a professional DVD ripper to digitize them.

Our top recommendation is WonderFox DVD Ripper Pro. This Windows software boasts powerful DVD decryption capabilities, and it supports commercial DVDs, homemade DVDs, ISO images, and VIDEO_TS folders. It also includes built-in presets for major TV brands, like Samsung TV, LG TV, Apple TV, Sony TV, etc., and universal formats such as MP4 and MKV, which can ensure smooth playback of your converted DVD video on your TV.

The software supports GPU acceleration and 1:1 lossless copy. Usually, a complete DVD movie can be converted to a digital video in 5 minutes.

Before starting your DVD conversion, please click the button below to download and install download and install the software on your Windows computer:

Step 1: Load DVD Source into the Program

Insert the DVD disc into your computer's DVD drive. Launch WonderFox DVD Ripper Pro, click on DVD Disc, select the target drive letter, and click OK. The software will automatically analyze and decrypt the DVD, and select the main movie title.

You can also import from an ISO image or VIDEO_TS folder if you have existing backups saved on your computer.

💡 If a DVD fails to load, enable Enhanced Decryption and load it again.

Step 2: Choose Output Format for Your TV

Click on Output Format on the right side of the main interface. Then select the profile based on your target device.

For Smart TVs (Samsung, LG, Sony, etc.): Go to the corresponding brand tab and pick your TV model preset. Alternatively, you can open the Video tab and choose MP4, which is supported by almost all TVs.
For Apple TV: Click the Apple tab and choose Apple TV.

Step 3: Start the Conversion

Click the three-dots button at the bottom to specify an output folder. Then click Run to start the DVD conversion process. Once finished, a pop-up window will prompt you to open the output folder where you will see the converted DVD video.

🔔 Note: The unregistered version only supports converting the first 15 minutes of a DVD. To convert the entire DVD, you need to purchase a license.

Before starting the conversion, you can also use these features:

Deinterlace: If your DVD records old TV shows, home videos, or live programs, it's likely interlaced (you'll see horizontal lines moving downwards during playback). You can open Settings and check Deinterlace, which will convert your DVD video to progressive frames, hence removing the horizontal lines and improving the viewing experience.
Select Audio and Subtitle Tracks: DVD movies usually come with multiple subtitles and audio tracks. You can expand the Subtitle and Audio Track options for the selected title and choose the desired language. It's worth noting that if you choose MP4 or MKV as the output format, you can select multiple audio and subtitle tracks. But as many TVs don't support multiple audio tracks and subtitles very well, it's recommended to keep only one audio track and hardcode the subtitles into the video to avoid playback issues such as missing subtitles or subtitles being out of sync with the audio/video.

Upscale Quality: DVDs are only available in SD (576p/480p) quality. You can choose to output in 1080p for easier playback on an HD TV, but this process will take longer. If your TV supports automatic upscaling (which most modern TVs do), you can output faster without upscaling.
Edit Videos: If needed, you can click Edit to edit the selected title. Supported editing functions include Crop, Trim, Mirror, Rotate, and adding filters.

Click here to download the software and try it: Download Link Download Link

How to Play Converted DVD Movies on Your TV:

- Play DVD on TV via USB (For Most Smart TVs; Apple TV Excluded)

This method works for most smart TVs, including Samsung, LG, Sony, TCL, Hisense, and Roku TVs.

💡 Note: Apple TV does not support playing video files directly from a USB drive. Instead, you should refer to the next streaming solution.

Step 1: Copy the converted DVD video files to a folder named ‘Movies' or similar on your USB or external hard drive.

Step 2: Insert the drive into your Smart TV's USB port.

Step 3: Open the built-in media player app your TV and select the DVD movie to play.

For more details: How to Play Video from USB on TV

- Stream DVD to TV via Media Server or AirPlay (For Apple TV & All Smart TVs)

This wireless method is perfect for Apple TV users and any smart TV connected to your home Wi-Fi. Once your DVD is digitized into a modern MP4 video (H264 + AAC), it's easy to stream.

1. Use Plex Media Server (For All Smart TVs)

Plex is a popular media player that can turn your computer into a personal media server and stream your converted DVD movies stored on your computer to your TV via your local network.

Step 1: Download and install Plex Media Server on your computer.

Step 2: Create a video library and add the folder containing your converted DVD movies to it.

Step 3: Download the Plex app from the app store on your TV, sign in to your account, and then select the movie you want to play.

🔔 Important: While streaming, ensure your host computer is on and connected to the same local network. For a complete step-by-step setup guide, see our detailed article: How to Use Plex.

2. Use AirPlay (For Apple TV)

For Apple users, the native solution for playing digitized DVD files on Apple TV is to stream via AirPlay.

Step 1: Import the converted DVD file (ensure it uses an Apple-friendly format first) into your iPhone or iPad.

Step 2: Swipe down the screen and tap the AirPlay icon to stream directly.

💡 Alternatively, you can use Home Sharing on your Mac to stream locally stored movies to Apple TV.

🔔 Note: If you want to play a commercial DVD using your Mac's built-in DVD Player app and then mirror your screen to Apple TV via AirPlay, you may encounter a black screen or system error due to DRM copy protection. To avoid this, you still need to convert the DVD to a digital MP4 file using WonderFox DVD Ripper Pro before streaming.

3. Stream DVD to TV via VLC

If you find it challenging to set up a dedicated media server like Plex, this will be an easier alternative. All you need is to use VLC's streaming feature.

Step 1: Place the converted DVD files into a folder on your computer and turn on local folder sharing in your OS settings.

Step 2: Download and install VLC on your TV.

Step 3: Open VLC, go to Local Network tab, find your shared computer folder and play the converted DVD video.

Comparison: Traditional vs. Modern Way

	Traditional Way (Direct Connection)	Modern Way (Digital Video)
What Required?	DVD player, physical discs, and cables	Computer, USB drive, or home Wi-Fi
TV Compatibility	Works on TVs with compatible physical ports (HDMI/AV/Component)	Works on all smart TVs
Play Region-locked DVDs?	Restricted	WonderFox DVD Ripper Pro removes all region and DRM locks
Convenience	Must swap discs manually; messy cables	Easy click-and-play; no cable
Best For	Users with working DVD players and old TVs	Smart TV users

Verdict: Connecting a DVD player to a TV is intuitive, but interface and compatibility bottlenecks are common with modern TVs. The better option is to digitize DVDs, which will not only overcome hardware limitations but also permanently preserve your disc collection. Download WonderFox DVD Ripper Pro to convert your DVDs at fast speed now: