Summary: This blog will introduce the best ways to help you play Blu-ray discs from any region easily.
Best Ways to Play Blu-ray Discs from Any Region
With full HD picture resolution, Blu-ray discs are the best way to enjoy your favorite movies at home. However, Blu-ray discs are often locked regionally, which means many users can’t play the discs out of the box. But worry not, in this blog, we will introduce the best solutions to help you play Blu-ray discs from any region, and also introduce the best Blu-ray player and Blu-ray player software to you. Don’t miss out.
Part 1: What Are the Differences Between All Blu-ray Region Codes?
Part 2: Best Region-Free Blu-ray Player to Play Blu-rays Released in Any Region
Part 3: Bonus: How to Get a Region-free Copy of Your Blu-ray Disc
Part 1: What Are the Differences Between All Blu-ray Region Codes?
What are Blu-ray region codes? They are the embedded data on your Blu-ray disc, which serves as a restriction of geographical locations. If the player can not recognize the region code, it means the code is not compatible or local, so the disc can’t be played. Why so? Because a Blu-ray disc or DVD can only be read and played by a player manufactured for the same region.
Blu-ray-region-codes-map
For instance, if you live in the US and want to play a disc purchased in the UK, then the discs won’t be playable in your DVD player purchased in the US. These restrictions of region codes apply to the world. Generally speaking, there are 3 categories of Blu-ray region codes, which are classified as Region A, Region B, and Region C. So what are the differences? Here are the specifics.
Region A: North America, South America, U.S. Territories, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and other areas of Southeast Asia
Region B: Europe, Africa, Middle East, Australia, and New Zealand.
Region C: Asia (except for Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and other areas of Southeast Asia)
Some Blu-ray discs are released as region free but there is no official channel that provides specific information. If you find a FREE symbol on your disc, it means the Blu-ray discs are compatible with any player. As of now, 4K movies are not region-coded, so you can play a 4K Blu-ray disc from anywhere. But you can only play foreign Blu-ray or DVDs on a 4K Blu-ray player when it’s region-free.
Part 2: Best Region-Free Blu-ray Player to Play Blu-rays Released in Any Region
Blu-ray region codes largely affect the free playback of Blu-ray discs. So how to fix the issue? In this part, we will introduce the best region-free Blu-ray players that allow you to play DVDs and Blu-ray discs from around the world.
- Sony BDP S3200
Equipped with HDMI Audio 7.1-channel output, Sony BDP S3200 is a region-free Blu-ray player that supports discs of all Blu-ray region codes, with a built-in connection that makes it more convenient. There’s no display on the device and it includes a front USB port for media playback. Moreover, it supports access to many streaming apps, including Netflix, Hulu, and YouTube.
Blu-ray-region-codes-Sony-BDP-S3200
- LG BP175
LG BP175 is an all-region Blu-ray player that supports all discs without restrictions of Blu-ray region codes. You can enjoy videos with HD 1080p and Dolby audio quality. The Blu-ray player supports Internet connection via the Ethernet port and has a front-facing USB port for the use of external hard drives. Like mainstream Blu-ray players, it also supports streaming services, including Netflix, Pandora, Spotify, Hulu, and YouTube.
Blu-ray-region-codes-LG-BP175
- Sony S3700E
Sony S3700E is a premium multi-region Blu-ray player that has 4K upscaling and 3D playback as well as built-in Wi-Fi. The player supports a wide range of discs, such as Blu-ray discs, DVDs, CDs, and more. With Dolby TrueHD & DTS-HD Master Audio for high-quality audio output, Sony S3700E is a solid option for Blu-ray playback. It also supports the PlayStation DualShock 4 controller and cloud-based gaming.
Blu-ray-region-codes-Sony-S3700E
- Sony BDP-S1700
Sony BDP-S1700 is a multi-region Blu-ray player that supports the playback of Blu-ray and DVDs of all Blu-ray region codes. It can automatically switch the region or you can make the switch in one click. The Blu-ray player supports full HD 1080p playback with Dolby Digital Plus and Dolby TrueHD. In addition, the Blu-ray player allows you to access Sony Entertainment Network, including Netflix, Pandora, and many more.
Blu-ray-region-codes-Sony-BDP-S1700
- Sony UBP-X700
UBP-X700 is a premium model from Sony, which allows you to play DVD and Blu-ray discs without restrictions of Blu-ray region codes. You can play any disc you want with automatic region switching. Sony UBP-X700 supports 4K UHD resolution with Dolby Atmos, HDR10, and Dolby Vision audio quality. What’s even better, it can upscale non-4K discs to 4K quality. You can also use it to stream media from Netflix, YouTube, Amazon, and more.
Blu-ray-region-codes-SonyUBP-X700
Part 3: Best Region-free Blu-ray Player Software to Play Blu-ray Disc of Any Region Code
What if you want to play Blu-ray videos on your desktop computer? Leawo Blu-ray player is a solid region-free Blu-ray player software that supports Blu-ray/DVDs from all regions, including Blu-ray region codes A, B, and C, and DVDs from regions 0 to 6. There is no need to change player regions, the region-free Blu-ray player software allows you to play region-locked Blu-ray discs out of the box without decryption. You can watch your favorite videos from anywhere.
Leawo Blur-ray Player is the best free media player that allows you to enjoy all types of videos, for instance, Blu-ray discs, DVDs, BDAV movie folders, Blu-ray ISO image files, container formats, audio, and more. Apart from physical discs, the player also supports various media formats like MP4, MKV, MOV, etc. You can also download 4K Blu-ray movies and play them with the best 4K Blu-ray player software for a supreme playback experience.
How to play the discs of Blu-ray region codes freely using leawo Blu-ray Player? Here are a few simple steps you need to follow.
Step 1: Launch the Leawo Blu-ray Player Software
Launch the Blu-ray player software on your computer. The software will typically detect the Blu-ray disc automatically.
If not, click the “Open Disc” or similar option and select your Blu-ray drive.
Step 2: Configure Playback Settings
Adjust settings like subtitles, audio tracks, and video quality based on your preferences.
Step 3: Enjoy Your Blu-ray Playback
Begin watching your Blu-ray movie the way you want. Use on-screen controls to pause, rewind, fast-forward, or adjust volume.
