How To Burn A Dvd On Windows 11 [2021]

How to Burn a DVD on Windows 11: The Complete Guide

Despite the rise of cloud storage and USB drives, there are still plenty of reasons to burn a DVD. Whether you need to create a bootable disc for an OS repair, back up precious family photos, or burn a movie to watch on a legacy player, Windows 11 has you covered.

However, unlike the Windows of a decade ago, Windows 11 handles optical drives a bit differently depending on what you are trying to achieve. This guide will walk you through the two main methods: burning data files for storage and burning video files for playback.

Method 2: Burning a Video DVD (For TV Playback)

If you want to burn a movie or video to play on a standard DVD player, the process is slightly more complex. Windows 11 does not include a native "Windows DVD Maker" app like older versions did. It creates DATA discs (Method 1), which many DVD players cannot read.

To play a video on a TV, you need third-party software that can encode the video into the specific format DVD players require. how to burn a dvd on windows 11

Step 1: Download Burning Software There are several free and paid options available. Popular choices include:

  • BurnAware Free (Simple and effective for basic needs).
  • Ashampoo Burning Studio Free.
  • VLC Media Player (Can create simple video discs, though the interface is tricky).

For this guide, we will assume a general burning suite interface like BurnAware.

Step 2: Select Video Project Open your burning software. Look for an option labeled "Video DVD" or "Create Video DVD." Do not select "Data Disc" for this purpose. How to Burn a DVD on Windows 11:

Step 3: Add Your Video Files Drag your video files (MP4, AVI, MKV) into the software window. Most modern burning software will automatically convert these files into the VIDEO_TS format required by DVD players.

Step 4: Customize (Optional) Many programs allow you to create a simple menu, add chapters, or name the disc title.

Step 5: Burn Click the Burn button. Because the software has to convert (transcode) your video files into DVD format, this process will take significantly longer than burning a simple data disc. BurnAware Free (Simple and effective for basic needs)

Prerequisites

Before starting, ensure you have the following:

  1. A DVD Optical Drive: Many modern laptops do not come with built-in DVD drives. If yours doesn't, you will need an external USB DVD drive.
  2. Blank Media: A blank DVD-R, DVD+R, or DVD-RW disc.
  3. Windows 11: The operating system has basic burning capabilities built-in.

Method A — Burn a data DVD using File Explorer (simple)

  1. Insert a blank DVD into the DVD writer.
  2. In File Explorer, select the files/folders you want to burn.
  3. Right‑click > Send to > select the DVD drive.
  4. Windows will prompt: choose between "Like a USB flash drive" (Live File System, allows adding/removing files; works only on newer devices) or "With a CD/DVD player" (Mastered, compatible with most devices).
    • Pick "With a CD/DVD player" for best compatibility.
  5. Enter a disc title if prompted and click Next. Wait for files to copy to the staging area.
  6. When ready, on the Drive Tools — Manage tab (or in File Explorer) choose Burn to disc (if not automatic). Follow prompts and wait until burning completes.
  7. After burning, Windows may verify and then eject the disc. Test on another PC.

What You Will Need

Before you begin, ensure you have the following:

  1. A DVD Optical Drive: Many modern laptops and desktops no longer include built-in drives. If yours doesn't, you will need an external USB DVD drive.
  2. A Blank DVD: You can use either DVD-R (write once) or DVD-RW (rewritable).
  3. Files to Burn: Videos, photos, documents, or ISO files.