does the 2011 iMac have a built in dvd burner?

Welcome to Apple Support Communities

Yes, it does. Mid 2011 and older iMacs have got a SuperDrive unit that you can use to read and burn DVDs. Make sure that the disc creator you have bought is compatible with Mac OS X.

Yes. That would be the big slot on the right side.

Yes your 2011 iMac has a optical drive. Look on the right side of it.

It sounds like you brought software to burn video DVD's. Is that the case?

Others here have assumed you were talking about buying a DVD burner (hardware not software).

Mac's with built in DVD burners can burn DVD's without third party software, however you should realise that software is usually required to reformat video into a 'video format DVD'. Simply putting video files onto a DVD disk is not the same as a DVD you play in on a TV with menus etc.

It would help if you explained what your final aim is.

iDVD used to be Apple's solution for making video DVDs but that isn't available anymore but if you have an old copy you may be able to use it. If you don't have iDVD you will need to use some other app (like the one you purchased).

If you intend to burn a video DVD that will play in set top DVD player to a TV set you will need a video DVD authoring application.

iDVD was not included with Macs beginning with 2011 so you do need the authoring application that you purchased.

Some digital TVs that have memory card slots can play video movie files if they are on a memory card. However, most DVD players require a video DVD disk created with an authoring application.

Check that it works with OS X. Anyway, Finder and Disk Utility, included with OS X, allows you to burn DVDs

If this is the first time you have used your optical drive since 2011, it may need cleaning. DVD/CD drive cleaners can be purchased from any place that sells DVD/CDs.

Repairing permissions sometimes helps.

jafuu wrote:

I understand that I may need it burning .mov to DVD, but If the format is mp4 I don't need the third party software?

You still haven't explained you aim so I cannot really answer.

mp4 is not a standard DVD movie format, you must convert it to mpeg2, vob and other files for this to play on a standard DVD player (that is what iDVD, DVD Studio Pro & many other 'DVD authoring' apps do). The issue is somewhat confused by DVD players that can play other formats, occasionally supporting mp4 files, but that is not part of the DVD standard.

Saying you want a mov or mp4 on a DVD tells us nothing. What do you hope to play this disc on? A standard DVD player, a computer…

You should not need any external disc drive unless the internal disc drive stops working.

jafuu wrote:

I mean the the third party dvd creator is a program. I want to know If I should get my money back.

That depends specifically on what you need to do and whether the software that came with the Mac can accomplish that in a way that satisfies your needs.

jafuu wrote:

Ok. The dvd has finished, but didn't eject automatically. Is there a option for this, should I keep waiting, or eject it myself?

Use the eject key on your keyboard or go to Finder>File>Eject.