Member Avatar for Mecbethben

I don't care if there is a Bluray drive built in or not. I have an external one that didn't cost a fortune. What I would like is for Apple or some third party to release some proper software support for Bluray films, in particular those that have some form of protection included in them.

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Short summary and practical next steps based on the replies here (for ): commercial Blu‑ray playback on macOS is mostly a software/licensing problem, not the external drive. pointed toward the VLC approach and / mentioned the paid “Mac Blu‑ray” players — both routes are valid, but each has tradeoffs.

VLC is a great general player, but the Blu‑ray navigation library it uses (libbluray) does not include AACS/BD+ decryption by design, so most retail discs won’t play out of the box without extra components and ongoing key updates. That’s why people link to supplemental libraries or key databases — it works sometimes, but can be fragile and legally sensitive. (images.videolan.org)

A common, more reliable workflow is to use a tool that handles disc decryption and then play the decrypted stream in VLC or another player. MakeMKV explicitly supports reading encrypted Blu‑rays and has a streaming feature many people use to feed VLC or Plex; it’s widely used as the “middleman” because it handles the disc protection side. If you prefer a one‑click commercial product, there are Mac players that bundle playback and decryption (they’re usually paid and vary in features). Test one of those if you want a simpler, supportable experience. (makemkv.com)

Two important practical notes: many older Blu‑ray apps were 32‑bit and won’t run on macOS Catalina (10.15) or later, so confirm the app is 64‑bit/notarized for modern macOS. Also check region coding and drive/player region settings — some discs are region‑locked and that can block playback even when software is correct. Finally, macOS Gatekeeper can block unsigned players; use the official “Open Anyway” / Security & Privacy controls if you trust the app. (support.apple.com)

If the goal is minimal fuss: try a current paid Mac Blu‑ray player first (as suggested by /). If you’re OK doing a bit more maintenance to avoid ongoing fees, try MakeMKV’s streaming plus VLC. In either case, ensure your external drive is USB3 (or powered), check the app’s macOS compatibility, and be aware of legal/regional restrictions in your country.

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Member Avatar for rubberman

You can use VLC (one of the best open-source media players available) on your Mac. Here is a link to what you need to get it to play commercial (encrypted) BD discs: http://vlc-bluray.whoknowsmy.name/

Do bear in mind that you may need to update the keys file from time to time since BluRay will change them occasionally.

Member Avatar for Mecbethben

VLC is already installed in my computer for common playback. But it can't play my Discs bought from Amazon. So any other choice?

Edited by Mecbethben
Member Avatar for rubberman

Did you follow the instructions in the link I provided? You may have to reboot after you install the library and key file.

Member Avatar for BerryCarol

I'm also a frequent Macgo Blu-ray player user. Though I have to pay for it, luckily just once, I can update almost every week to play the new release.

Member Avatar for milo299

You can look for app free in :

Edited by milo299 because: chang content
Member Avatar for OwenTaylor

VLC, mac blu-ray player

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