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Isn’t it possible to somehow play a DVD and watch it on iPad?

I own a wonderful iPad. It is not some fancy iPad where I can write on it, etc. It is probably five years old at least, but it works wonderfully. I have an external cheap DVD player that works wonderfully. Also, is there anyway I can get that DVD player to plug into my iPad? I don’t want to rip or do anything illegal. I simply want to watch movies I own on a DVD player I own, but use the iPad as my television. You would think in today’s world that would somehow be possible but I don’t want to copy something onto the iPads drive for fun use iTunes to do such an such, I just want to plug my DVD into the iPad. Is there some sort of plug-in device that will help me to accomplish this or I am I totally out of luck? Thanks everyone.


Posted on Jul 9, 2023 3:31 PM

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Posted on Jul 10, 2023 9:43 AM

iOS/iPadOS devices have no provision to accept direct video input. You can download and play material from some Video streaming services (AppleTV+, Netflix, YouTube etc.) - or just stream directly via an internet connection.


Similarly, iOS/iPadOS devices fundamentally do not support connection of any optical media drives - including the Apple SuperDrive. As such, direct access to optical media (CD, DVD, BD) is not possible.

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Jul 10, 2023 9:43 AM in response to Machinato

iOS/iPadOS devices have no provision to accept direct video input. You can download and play material from some Video streaming services (AppleTV+, Netflix, YouTube etc.) - or just stream directly via an internet connection.


Similarly, iOS/iPadOS devices fundamentally do not support connection of any optical media drives - including the Apple SuperDrive. As such, direct access to optical media (CD, DVD, BD) is not possible.

Jul 12, 2024 4:05 PM in response to Machinato

Things may have changed since some people replied earlier. If you still have the same iPad you mentioned in your post, I don't think you can do it. However, if you have upgraded to a later model with USB Type C, there is a free app called Orion - HDMI Monitor that will allow you to plug in a USB-C Video Capture Card and pipe whatever you want in. Hope this helps.


https://apps.apple.com/us/app/hdmi-monitor-orion/id6459355072

Jul 12, 2024 8:28 PM in response to Machinato

If any of your movies came with Digital Copies – and you redeemed the codes in time – you might be able to play those Digital Copies on your iPad.


The best case is where the Digital Copies are of a type that lets you redeem them in the iTunes Store (or using the Movies Anywhere site and a link to your iTunes Store account). Then your iPad can play them directly using its TV app. You can probably even play them without downloading them – if you are at home, and you have decent Wi-Fi Internet service.

Isn’t it possible to somehow play a DVD and watch it on iPad?

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