Setting DVD Region on Mojave

[Nighthawk4]

I have a 2013 iMac. I added an external DVD Drive.

When I insert a DVD, the DVD Player appears from nowhere (I can’t find it listed in Launchpad) and I get a prompt to set the Region as it has defaulted to Region 1.

I unlocked the padlock and selected Region 2. It says I have four more changes permitted but when I click on Set Drive Region it says Not Permitted.

Therefore my DVDs are all unusable.

Please help.

I am running Mojave 10.14.6.


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[krs]

Did you try playing the DVDs with VLC?
As far as I remember, VLC will play any DVD, it's not region dependant.

 

[chscag]

I don't believe you can set the Region with the built in DVD player that's included with later versions of macOS. The only DVD player it will work on is the Apple model. But don't take my word on that....

However, member "krs" is correct about the VLC player as it is supposed to work for any region. VLC is free so you certainly won't be out anything by trying it.

 

[ferrarr]

Here are Apple’s procedure for changing the DVD region code in macOS, Change your DVD drive region in DVD Player on Mac - Apple Support.


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[Nighthawk4]

VLC does not run the DVD.

I have changed the Region Code. At least I assume I have as the DVD does at least start. However, as soon as I try to select the subtitles it hangs.

Perhaps I should try a different DVD? I am trying to play Dr No from the Bond Boxset.

None of this would have been a problem if Apple had not removed the internal drive.

Maybe I should not have bought the cheapest drive offered by Amazon?


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[pm-r]

According to Apple, the suggestion and link that Bob provided is supposed to work...
Change your DVD drive region in DVD Player on Mac - Apple Support



- Patrick
======

 

[chscag]

According to Apple, the suggestion and link that Bob provided is supposed to work...

The key words there is "supposed to work". I'm sure it works for the Apple Superdrive. But ever since Mojave when Apple changed from the old DVD player to the newer built in DVD player, setting the region is different. The built in DVD player is no longer an application found in the Application Folder but is actually launched when a DVD or CD is inserted into an optical drive.

 

[pm-r]

The key words there is "supposed to work". I'm sure it works for the Apple Superdrive. But ever since Mojave when Apple changed from the old DVD player to the newer built in DVD player, setting the region is different.

Now, I wonder why I am and would be so surprised...


- Patrick
======

 

[Slydude]

The DVD Player app isn't in the Application folder like it used to be. It's now in /Library/Core Services/Applications You can double-click it and run it like an app but I don't see any preference for changing the region code. Perhaps that option will only come into play when a DVD is inserted that's different from the current setting.

 

[krs]

VLC does not run the DVD.

Maybe there is something wrong with the DVD.

I just bought a new DVD for Christmas and it plays perferctly using VLC on my Mac running El Capitan.

 

[pm-r]

... ... ...
I just bought a new DVD for Christmas and it plays perferctly using VLC on my Mac running El Capitan.

Not exactly what the OP is using: ;-)

I am running Mojave 10.14.6.

- Patrick
======

 

[MacInWin]

I am on Catalina, ran the DVD player, selected "Help" and found this:

To play a DVD, the region code of the DVD must match the region code of your DVD drive. Your DVD drive is automatically set to a region code the first time you play a coded DVD. If the region code for a DVD doesn’t match the current region code of your DVD drive, a dialog asks you if you want to change the code for the drive.

WARNING: You can set the region code for your DVD drive only five times (including the original setting). The fifth time you change the code, it’s permanently set to the last code you set. Any DVDs you play must match the last code you set.

Insert a DVD into your Mac that has a different region code than the one your DVD drive is set to.

If you haven’t reached the 5 maximum DVD region change limit, you’re asked whether you want to change the DVD region. Choose a region that matches the DVD region.

If you’re not asked to change your DVD region and the DVD plays, your DVD drive is already set to a compatible DVD region for that disc.

If the DVD drive reaches the maximum number of changes, DVDs that don’t have a compatible DVD region code are ejected.

Seems like nothing has really changed about the process. I don't have an out of region DVD to try, but Apple seems to have left in provisions to change regions. And given that the change in players was made in Mojave, it should work there, too, although one can launch the player and look at Help to make sure.

 

[krs]

Not exactly what the OP is using: ;-)

Yes, I realize that.

I threw that in (about El Capitan) because there seem to be the odd capabilities where Apple decided to remove functionality (or hide it more) in later OSs - although VLC, being a non-Apple app shouln't fall into that category.
I probably should not even have mentioned El Capitan since the OS makes no difference - DVDs play fine with VLC - period.
If the OP can't play the DVD using VLC there is something else wrong.

 

[Nighthawk4]

Oops, I commented on the wrong thread.

I tried an Apple SuperDrive and a different DVD.

This doesn’t play either using the DVD Player.

However, I dragged and dropped the DVD onto the VLC player and it worked.

Now watching the DVD


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[Convert2008]

DVD player.app is in Macintosh HD>System>Library>Core Services>Applications. Settings are in ~User>Library>Application Support>DVD player>Settings

 

[KurtKrueger]

I've tried everything that everyone has suggested but here's the problem: I'm on a MacPro Mohave 10.14.6 with an eternal Superdrive that I bought on Amazon. I'm Region 1. I bought a Region 2 DVD from the UK (which I've done many times over the years). I put the disc into the drive and it asks me to change the Region to 2. I do it and watch the movie. I eject the disc. I then put in a Region 1 disc - expecting me to be prompted again to change back to Region 1 - but it doesn't happen! No prompts come up allowing me to switch regions. (I SHOULD have 4 changes left to me.) No matter what I do, I cannot get the drive to be recognized. I then went to my applications folder ands that the DVDPlayer is greyed out with a slash through it - as are all other DVD related applications. I'm STUCK in Region 2!! So I went to two local tech support companies to explain the problem. All they can recommend is to try other apps: VLC, XBMC, 5K Player, KM Player. I downloaded and tried two of those but each one does not recognize the drive. HELP!

 

[krs]

So when you insert the DVD into the drive, nothing shows up on the desk top?

If you can't somehow select VLC to play the DVD and nobody here comes up with a way to get this to work with your Superdrive, I would just buy an external USB drive and use that since they are dirt cheap.
I bought an "dirt cheap" external ASUS DVD burner years ago that still works perfectly with my 2012 Mini also running Mojave 10.14.6

 

[MacInWin]

I've tried everything that everyone has suggested but here's the problem: I'm on a MacPro Mohave 10.14.6 with an eternal Superdrive that I bought on Amazon. I'm Region 1. I bought a Region 2 DVD from the UK (which I've done many times over the years). I put the disc into the drive and it asks me to change the Region to 2. I do it and watch the movie. I eject the disc. I then put in a Region 1 disc - expecting me to be prompted again to change back to Region 1 - but it doesn't happen! No prompts come up allowing me to switch regions. (I SHOULD have 4 changes left to me.) No matter what I do, I cannot get the drive to be recognized. I then went to my applications folder ands that the DVDPlayer is greyed out with a slash through it - as are all other DVD related applications. I'm STUCK in Region 2!! So I went to two local tech support companies to explain the problem. All they can recommend is to try other apps: VLC, XBMC, 5K Player, KM Player. I downloaded and tried two of those but each one does not recognize the drive. HELP!

Welcome to the forum. I seem to recall seeing someone having issues with external DVD players. You said it was a MacPro, which has, I think, an internal DVD, so the problem may not be the same, but the resolution to the external on a MacBook Air (I think it was), was to disconnect the drive physically, then rebooting and reconnecting to get the drive to work again. If it's internal, that would imply powering off, opening the case, unplugging the drive, closing the case, rebooting, shutting down, open the case, plug the drive back in, close the case and reboot. PITA, but worth trying maybe?

 

[krs]

Welcome to the forum. I seem to recall seeing someone having issues with external DVD players. You said it was a MacPro, which has, I think, an internal DVD................

A USB superdrive is not compatible with any Mac that had an internal optical drive, so if the external superdrive worked, which it did, then that Mac can't have an internal optical drive.

 

[MacInWin]

A USB superdrive is not compatible with any Mac that had an internal optical drive, so if the external superdrive worked, which it did, then that Mac can't have an internal optical drive.

In which case it's even easier. Unplug the external drive, reboot, plug it back in, put in a DVD and change the region. The idea is to get the hardware OUT of the loop, then put it back in. On connection, the OS will register the presence of the device and set it up to be used.