Catalina Quick Tip: How to Find and Open DVD Player
You may think that Apple’s DVD Player app disappeared with macOS Mojave in 2018. It hasn’t and can be found in macOS Catalina, but Apple apparently wants you to think it has, even though the software has been upgraded to 64-bit.
The easiest way is to use Spotlight. Click the little Spotlight icon in the upper right corner of your Mac’s screen. Search for “DVD Player, and the app’s icon will appear at the top of the Top Hits. Double click on the icon, and the app will launch.
Once launched you can open a DVD by going to File > Open DVD Player. Of course, since Apple no longer makes a Mac with a built-in DVD player/slot, you’ll need a product such as the $79.99 long-in-the-tooth Apple USB SuperDrive, or better yet, the OWC Slim, an External 6X Blu-ray & CD/DVD Burner!
I work on a iMac, system macOS Mojave 10.14.6 with a 3.2GHz Intel Core i5 Processsor. Having problems burning DVDs and Blu-Rays with latest update. Compressor can not find Burner. Want to try new DVD Burner, will this one work?
p.s. I have a DVD player, using TV, so do not really need player.
How can you copy dvd from external dvd player to hard drive or flash drive to mac os catalina
I have almost the same question. Using a SuperDrive–shows in System Information in the USB Device Tree. But not in Location or anywhere that see. All I want to do is open an audiobook so I can transfer to my iPhone. Is it supposed to be this hard?
I used to have an i-Mac with a built in DVD player, and happily watched ordinary DVDs in the office whilst my wife watched bakery and house refurbishment programmes in the lounge. Of course, this did not play blu-ray DVDs. My Mac died, and I bought a new one, which did not have a DVD drive. I bought a blu-ray DVD player Pioneer BDR-XD05TS. Wonderful, for a few months before I upgraded my new Mac to Catalina, and found I couldn’t play ant DVDs at all! Your tip above (use spotlight) has helped a lot, but I’m back to square one, that my lovely blu-ray burner will only play ordinary DVDs! So – you’ve been a great help, but only with partial success. I am angry with Apple, in that a giant move to 64 bit technology causes so much hassle that at least they should have warned us. I’d never have upgraded if I’d known.
Many people are very frustrated with this as well and have decided to revert back to Mojave. If you’d like to do that, check out the Rocket Yard article: How to Downgrade from macOS Catalina to Mojave or Earlier
Let us know how it goes if you do!
I tried this and the DV Player screen opened (black) but a file I chose would not open. It did not work I have an LG portable DVD Writer I just purchased from Best Buy.
As mentioned to other commenters, I would suggest checking with the manufacturer to see if the player is compatible with Catalina.
This doesn’t work. I have upgraded to OSX Catalina and the DVD player doesn’t work with your external player. I am using a legitimate DVD disk that I have used before on the previous OSX and it worked fine. DVD player on OSX Catalina is broken.
Hi Scot, are you referring to the OWC DVD player? If so, I would suggest that you contact Customer Support: https://eshop.macsales.com/Service/
I have a couple questions for the pros here.
1) I used to be able to drag folders to my hard drive icon and store them in the HD. What do I click on to allow me to do that in Catalina instead of cluttering my desktop with all the folders?
2) Has anyone figured out how to transfer all of their itunes files and playlists easily? I have 2 Macbook Pros (2015) One has Mojave and the other is newer with Catalina. I want to transfer a boatload of music files (300 albums) and playlists to the one with Catalina WITHOUT using Time Machine or cloning the Mojave HD.
Apologies for the long question, but every forum has answers to this query in part only.
I have upgraded my late 2103 iMac with Catalina and installed it on a brand new Samsung 860 EVO SSD. (yep, took it apart and did the job!)
I have an external bog standard DVD / CD writer / player attached through the USB3 port, which unto the upgrade worked fine.
I have located the DVD player app as suggested by people on this forum (thank you by the way!)
However, I cannot locate the external player anywhere on my Mac (Sidebar, preferences etc)
When I insert a CD or DVD the player light flickers, whirrs and stuff as though it’s going to do something, then stops.
I have trawled through loads of forums, how can I ‘see’ my external drive and use it? Do I need a software download or something?
It’s driving me mad, why does Apple seem to make things so difficult?
Thanks for any suggestions.
Assuming you have “CDs, DVDs, and iPods” checked in your Finder preferences — How to Make Your Drive Icons Show up in macOS — Have you checked to make sure your player is supported by Catalina?
Hi, thanks for your prompt response, yes the CD’s Drives etc are checked, I have placed the DVD player icon on my desktop along with VLC in case they ‘wake up’ the drive. The blurb on the DVD drive says compatible with MAC OS as well as Windows. Did work under Mojave.
I appreciate CD’s DVDs are ‘old’ tech but it is convenient for some things. The drive is a generic buy from Amazon from a company called PiAEK (Chinese) and I don’t know how to confirm or otherwise if it’s compatible? Model No is CB31005 is the only other info I have.
One way to check if it’s the player is to borrow one from someone else – if that’s an option. If that one works, then it’s likely (and unfortunately) an issue with yours.
Hi I have an External Blu-ray & CD?DVD Burner and what App/software you recommend to play Blu-ray discs on my iMac?
Hi Andrew, Macgo and Leawo Blu-ray Player for Mac have both been mentioned as possibilities.
Thanks for the prompt reply to my question I will give the Apps a try.
You can find DVD Player in Mojave and Catalina by going to System > Library > CoreServices > Applications
Where does one find the actual app file, “dvd player”? It doesn’t seem to be among any of the apps in the applications folder on my Mojave, nor on Catalina? (I haven’t loaded Catalina yet because of some conflicts in other software that I use.)
It resides in System > Library > CoreServices > Applications
Thanks, Mark!
Cancel my previous question if you like! I looked it up and found where it is. No big whoop.
:-)
So is it still just in the applications folder? Or is that no longer even a thing in Mojave? I ask because I’m blissfully still on Yosemite.
The Applications folder is still in Mojave, but they moved DVD player to System > Library > CoreServices > Applications
It’s not shown in Mojave’s applications folder, so it must be one of the many hidden applications and other hidden files. There’s a workaround to find “hidden” files, but I’ve forgotten how to do that.
Thanks for the heads up on DVD Player.
I found that if you put a DVD in an external player it will bring the DVD Player into use. Don’t forget to eject the DVD before shutting the Player down.
I still do not know where it resides so can not actually list it in my applications. Guess that does not really matter…
Is there an App that plays Blu-Ray? I can’t seem to find a built in one for Mac.
Have you checked out Macgo?
https://www.leawo.com/blu-ray-player-mac/
Weird that they buried it in /System rather than /Applications.
When you insert a DVD, MacOS detects it and automatically opens the DVD Player app.
How come OWC does not make a Blu-ray or 4K drive that uses the USC-C connection ?
Hi Mark. Realistically, there is not much demand for USB-C optical drives today due to downloading and streaming. And for those who really need it, the speeds offered by USB-A are more than sufficient for Reading/Writing Blu-ray (as well as UHD I believe). You would just need an adapter like this one.
I hope that answers your question!
Thanks for the reply.
The Patrick AFB Base Exchange has a stack of unsold Apple Super Drives.I bought on there about 7 years ago. It died last year. I consider replacing it in the “Nice to have” rather than the “Need” category, since I can pull my 2007 MacBook out of the closet if I really need to access a CD or DVD.