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tbirdvet Author

Level 6

13,887 points

DVD not working with Big Sur 11.6

Apple did it again. Updated to 11.6 now the DVD drive will not play DVD's. Issue on all my Mac M1 units.

Posted on Sep 15, 2021 5:28 AM

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74 replies

Barney-15E

Level 10

113,512 points

Oct 25, 2021 10:48 AM in response to janetart

I agree with tbirdvet, it is not a drive problem. Based on others stating that they can play non-commercial DVD’s, there is an issue with the Digital rights management (DRM) decoding code in the 11.6 release. It may be that part doesn’t work on the M1 Macs.

I can use my LG DVD drive on an M1 for everything else. However, I have never attempted to play a DRM DVD on 11.6 (likely never will).

Oct 25, 2021 11:22 AM in response to tbirdvet

At the Apple store, they told me it is the difference between Big Sur 11.4 (DVDPlayer worked no problem) then I upgraded to Big Sur 11.6(DVD player no longer works). is this the case with you as well? And does anyone have a work around? VLC did not play my DVD

Oct 25, 2021 11:35 AM in response to Donot Haveone

Foxtrot-Sierra - you are a beautiful human being! this actually worked. even the "Geniuses" at the Apple Store couldn't figure this out, unless of course you are an Apple Genius, in which case, where have you been all my life? Thank You!!

Smedsta

Level 1

13 points

Nov 4, 2021 6:50 PM in response to tbirdvet

To add to this, I updated my OS from 11.4 to 11.6 on my M1 Mac Mini with 16GB memory, and my DVD Player now opens and just stays on a blank "Viewer" screen. It's not frozen; I can still press play and pause, but everything just stays blank. I can hear the Apple Superdrive making noises when I open the DVD Player app, but there's just zero recognition.

VLC is OK for DVD playback, but scrubbing is a huge pain compared to the Apple DVD Player app. This is extremely disappointing. I update my OS for benefits, not to get perfectly functional apps taken out of action.

Nov 6, 2021 10:43 AM in response to tbirdvet

Have any of the people who've upgraded to Monterey encountered any additional problems? I was too quick to update the last time, and feel better waiting to find out if there are issues that may be fixed at a later time.

tbirdvet Author

Level 6

13,887 points

Sep 15, 2021 7:09 AM in response to tbirdvet

Just installed the vlc app and that works. Let us hope it gets fixed with Monterey but then I assume we will get other issues. Oh well.

tbirdvet Author

Level 6

13,887 points

Sep 16, 2021 5:18 AM in response to Pete in OKC

Using Mac Mini M1 with Apple Super Drive and Samsung DVD drive. I just downgraded to 11.5.2 and now all works again. Several people have reported this issue. Not sure how yours has no issue.

tbirdvet Author

Level 6

13,887 points

Sep 16, 2021 7:33 AM in response to Pete in OKC

The issue is 11.6 as many have noted this issue. No issue with prior versions.

Sep 16, 2021 12:24 PM in response to tbirdvet

I'm wondering if the region could be the issue. I'm in region 2. What's yours?

tbirdvet Author

Level 6

13,887 points

Sep 16, 2021 12:54 PM in response to majortom1967

Region 1. You may have something there! Probably when Monterey is released the issue will get resolved and then we can fix some new issue.

Sep 16, 2021 1:09 PM in response to tbirdvet

I have it but no sense to test it there. Maybe a BS 11.6.1 could help.

kloom

Level 1

4 points

Sep 21, 2021 3:17 PM in response to tbirdvet

Thank you for suggesting VLC! That works for me too. Great app — I use it to reduce the file size of edited videos, and hadn't thought of using it to watch DVDs

kloom

Level 1

4 points

Sep 21, 2021 7:37 PM in response to tbirdvet

I should add that I only encountered the problem playing commercially produced DVD's (including non-region specific). Homemade DVDs (e.g. of family videos) worked fine.

Sep 24, 2021 9:47 AM in response to tbirdvet

Very helpful knowing this

Sep 26, 2021 6:51 AM in response to tbirdvet

I cannot play DVDs from an external drive on our M1 Macs, but can play it in my old High Sierra Mac > NOT GOOD. What the heck do we do Apple???

DVD not working with Big Sur 11.6