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How to Connect a DVD Player to a TV

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Updated February 11, 2023

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Difficulty Simple

Steps 3

Time Required 5 - 10 minutes

Sections 4

Things to Know 3

If you are building the ultimate entertainment setup, you may wonder how to connect a DVD player to a TV. The best TVs, after all, still allow for connections with standard old-school DVD players. So why use a DVD player, and how to hook it up to a modern television? Keep reading to find out.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

DVD players are still a great way to watch movies and TV shows, as some programs are only available on DVD and not streamed or watched via Blu-Ray.
Most players connect via HDMI, and nearly every modern TV has an HDMI port or several ports, with no extra audio cables or component cables needed.
Place the player near enough to the television that it can easily connect to both the TV and the power outlet. Find the correct input and plug it in.

Why Use a DVD Player With a Television?

What is the main reason to continue to use a DVD player despite the prevalence of Blu-Ray and streaming? Variety. Streaming boasts a whole lot of content, as do Blu-Rays, but not everything has been released for either format, leaving DVDs as your only option for favorite movies unless you want to download something and learn how to connect a laptop to a TV.

Additionally, you may already have a sizable library of DVDs that you occasionally want to dip into. Video quality matters, which is why having quality video ports and an auxiliary channel helps ensure you get the best quality from your media. This means that you can use these features to enjoy movies as if they were playing on a large screen in the theater.

Insider Tip

You can often find both DVDs and old DVD players for cheap at garage sales, flea markets, and the like.

How Do You Connect Your DVD Player to Your TV?

The steps here may vary slightly depending on the make and model of both your player and television, akin to when learning how to connect a Blu-Ray player to a TV. With that in mind, we’ve tried to keep this guide as universal as possible.

STEP 1 Arrange the DVD Player

Place the Blu-Ray or DVD player near the television, or at least close enough that the cables can reach the necessary outlets
If you have an entertainment cabinet, arrange the DVD player either above or below the television for easy access.
Keep the DVD player unplugged for now.

STEP 2 Plug in the DVD Player to the TV

Your DVD player likely shipped with the correct cables.
In the vast majority of cases, modern DVD players connect via HDMI cable, though some older models use a composite cable, otherwise known as a component video cable and audio cable.
Simply plug the HDMI cable into the back of the DVD player to the correct input and then into the appropriate HDMI port of the TV.
If your DVD player needs composite cables, you’ll need to purchase and use adapters. These composite video cables are usually identified by their yellow plugs on either end, which indicates that they can carry a composite video signal. They may also have three additional colored connectors (red, white, and yellow) at one end of the cable to support audio as well. Make sure you purchase the right type of composite cable for your specific device

STEP 3 Test Everything Out

Plug the DVD player into a power outlet and turn on the DVD player and the TV. So long as the audio and video connections from A/V sources are connected properly, a picture should appear on the screen. If not, the connections may be connected improperly. Depending on the type of audio connection and type of input that your device has, you may need to use different types of audio and video cables for connecting audio devices and video devices.
Navigate to the appropriate HDMI channel on your television. For instance, if you are plugged into HDMI 2, look for HDMI 2 on your remote control.
Place a DVD into the DVD disc tray.
You should see a picture and hear sounds from the DVD. If you eventually come to love watching DVD movies on your TV and you have an upcoming road trip, you should consider investing in a great portable DVD player to stay entertained in the car.

F.A.Q.S

Can you connect an old DVD player to a new TV?

You should be fine so long as it connects via HDMI cable or if your TV allows composite cables to connect to the correct input.

What cables do you need to connect a DVD player to a TV?

In most cases, you’ll need just an HDMI cable. In certain instances, you’ll need component cables, which consist of a composite cable, or component video cable, and an audio cable for the yellow input.

What channel should my TV be on to display the output of my DVD player?

This depends on your TV and how the user interface is designed. Check the instructions for more information.

STAT: The first DVD player was created by Sony Corporation in Japan in collaboration with Pacific Digital Company from the United States in 1997. (source)

Lawrence Bonk

Lawrence Bonk is a copywriter with a decade of experience in the tech space, with columns appearing in Engadget, Huffington Post and CBS, among others. He has a cat named Cinnamon.