Can the PS4 Play DVDs or Stream Movies?

If you own a Playstation, you’ve probably wondered, “can my PS5 or PS4 play DVDs?” The answer is yes – usually. Most Playstation consoles can play DVDs and Blu-ray disks, but there are some models that cannot. Luckily, there are other ways to watch movies on PS4 and PS5. This guide will go over all the ways you can watch movies on your PS4 or PS5. 

Can the PS4 Play DVDs?

Anyone wondering, “can the PS4 play DVDs” will be happy to hear that the answer is yes! All models of the PS4 include a disc drive that is capable of playing DVDs and Blu-ray discs in addition to regular game discs. You don’t need any special app or external harddrive to play a DVD on PS4 consoles – simply pop your DVD into the same disc drive you use for games (just make sure you don’t have a game in there first). 

Your PS4 will detect DVDs and Blu-ray discs on its own and activate disc playback. It is important to note that you will need to connect your PS4 to the internet at least once before you can play DVDs or Blu-ray discs on it. 

The first time you try to play DVDs on PS4, make sure your console is connected to the internet and it will automatically enable disc playback. After you let your console enable the feature over the internet, you don’t have to have it connected to the internet to play DVDs or Blu-ray discs in the future. 

Can the PS5 Play DVDs?

Can PS4 play DVDs? Yes. Can PS5 play DVDs, too? Sometimes. This is one key area where the PS4 and PS5 differ from one another. 

The PS5 was the first generation of Playstation consoles to feature versions without a disc drive. With more and more people buying their games in digital-only format, Sony chose to offer a less expensive PS5 model that was able to cost less at launch due to its lack of a traditional disc drive. 

The regular PS5 does have a disc drive but the PS5 Digital Edition does not have one. So, depending on the specific PS5 model you have, you might not be able to play DVDs on PS5. Some users have tried plugging in USB external DVD players to their PS5 Digital Edition consoles, but this trick does not work. The console doesn’t have the capability to support playing any kind of discs. 

So, if you want to play DVDs on PS5, you’ll need to get a standard PS5 rather than a PS5 Digital Edition. However, there are other ways to watch movies on your Playstation console beyond DVD or Blu-ray. 

How to Play Videos From a USB Drive on PS4 and PS5

Anybody asking, “Can my PS4 play DVDs?” should know that there is an alternate way to watch movies and videos on Playstation consoles. Some may be sad to hear that their PS5 Digital Edition console is not capable of playing any kind of discs. However, you can also play movies and videos on your PS4 or PS5 using a USB drive, such as a thumb drive or USB external harddrive. 

It is fairly easy to do this. Start by connecting your USB drive to your laptop or PC and moving any videos you want to watch to the root folder of your drive. The root folder is the main, initial folder that opens when you plug in your USB drive. In other words, don’t bury your videos in any sub-folders. Eject the USB drive once all of the videos you want to watch are in the root folder then go ahead and plug the USB drive into your Playstation console. 

Navigate to the Media Gallery app on your PS4 or PS5 and you should see the videos you have on your USB drive. If a video appears to be missing it could be because it was not in the root folder on the USB drive or because it is copyright protected content, such as an illegally downloaded or copied movie. 

Can the PS4 Stream Movies?

Can the PS4 play DVDs? Yes, but there are other ways to watch movies on your Playstation console that might be easier. Streaming is one of the best ways to watch TV and movies today on any device. The top streaming services all have apps for Playstation consoles that you can download for free, such as Netflix and Disney+. 

If you use streaming services to watch movies and TV on your Playstation console, you don’t have to worry about the lack of a disc drive in the PS5 Digital Edition or any future Playstation consoles. 

How to Watch Digital Movies on PS4 and PS5

You can watch digital editions of movies you have purchased on sites like VUDU as well as stream movies on apps like Netflix on your PS4 or PS5. Watching digital movies on your PS4 or PS5 is generally the easiest method. 

Start by going to the Playstation Store app and downloading the app for the streaming service or video platform you want to watch. Usually these apps are free, so you shouldn’t have to pay anything for the download. After it is finished installing, open the app and follow the instructions to login or create an account. After that, you are all set! You can watch digital movies, TV, and other videos from Playstation apps anytime as long as your PS4 or PS5 is connected to the internet. 

Can the PS4 Play DVDs and Stream Movies?

Whether you just bought a Playstation or you’re shopping for a new one, you’ve probably been asking, “Can the PS4 play DVDs?”. This is an important question to consider when you’re trying to find the best Playstation model for you. All PS4 and PS5 models can stream movies and TV shows digitally but only the PS4 line and standard PS5 models can play DVDs and Blu-rays.