Streaming reigns king these days, with about 85% of US households subscribed to at least one streaming service provider. However, this doesn’t mean that the age of DVDs has passed. In fact, most people would agree that DVDs remain superior in terms of quality and longevity, and with a region-free player, you can make the most of your disc collection.
How to play all your DVDs regardless of region
- Determine your region code
Have you ever bought a copy of a film overseas, only to find out that it won’t play on your DVD player at home? This is because DVDs and Blu-Ray discs are embedded with a region code or a piece of data that restricts incompatible players from recognizing the disc’s information.
Region codes can vary depending on geographical location. For example, if you live in the US, you might be used to playing DVDs with Region 1 codes. However, if you buy a disc from China, it will only be recognizable with a Region 6 player.
- Explore your options
Two ways to bypass an incompatible region code are: using software hacks or modifying DVD player hardware.
Software hacking is relatively simple to do, and it can work on most DVD and Blu-Ray players. However, it also comes with numerous risks. For instance, your player can lock into a region outside of your native country, preventing you from playing local discs infinitely. In addition, using a software hack will render your warranty null and void.
- Buy a region-free player.
The safest and most accessible alternative to software hacking is to buy a modified player. Region-free DVD players can recognize any disc, no matter where it came from.
Additionally, hardware modifications are performed by the manufacturers themselves, so you don’t have to worry about voided warranties or sudden software failures.
Make sure to purchase your region-free player from a reliable distributor to guarantee its quality and functionality.
