DVD Region Codes Explained: Every Region, Blu-ray Codes and Region Free Players
You find a rare box set online, the price is right, and it arrives in perfect shape. Then your player shows “Wrong Region” and the disc will not start. This happens all the time, and the reason is DVD region codes. These are small digital locks that studios add to discs so a disc sold in one part of the world will only play on players from that same area.
This guide covers DVD region codes from start to finish. You will see every region on a map-style table, how Blu-ray region codes are different, what a region free DVD player actually does, and how to check a disc before you pay for it. If you buy imports, collect anime, or just want to know what the little globe on the back of the case means, read on.
Quick answer: DVDs use numbered regions from 1 to 8, plus Region 0 for discs that play anywhere. The US and Canada are Region 1. Blu-rays use only three letters: A, B and C. The US is Region A. A disc plays only when its region matches your player, unless the disc or the player is region free. 4K Ultra HD discs are almost always region free.
What Are DVD Region Codes?
DVD region codes are a flag stored on a disc that says which part of the world the disc was made for. Every standalone DVD player is also built for one region. When you insert a disc, the player reads the flag and compares it with its own setting. If they match, the movie plays. If they do not, the player refuses, usually with a message like “Region error” or “Cannot play this disc.”
The system was created with the DVD format in the late 1990s. It is not a copy protection scheme in the usual sense. The disc is not damaged and nothing is wrong with your player. The two are simply built not to work together.
You can usually spot the region on the back of the case. Look for a small globe icon with a number inside it, or text such as “Region 1” or “Region 2/4”. A globe with “ALL” or a 0 means the disc should play in any player.
Why Studios Use DVD Region Codes
Region coding gives film studios and rights holders control over where and when a movie is released. According to the Wikipedia overview of DVD region codes, the system lets studios set different release dates, prices and content in each territory, and limit imports of discs they do not earn royalties from.
When DVD launched, movies often opened in cinemas months apart around the world. A film might be out on DVD in the US while it was still playing in theatres in Europe. Studios did not want cheap US discs flooding into countries where the cinema run was still going. DVD region codes solved that problem for them.
There are also licensing reasons. A TV show might be owned by one company in North America and a different company in the UK. Each one releases its own disc with its own extras, menus and sometimes different episode edits. Region coding keeps those releases in their own markets.
All DVD Region Codes Explained (Regions 0 to 8)
Here is the full list of DVD region codes and the areas each one covers. Most collectors only ever deal with Regions 1, 2 and 4, but it is useful to know them all.
| Region | Areas covered |
|---|---|
| 0 / ALL | Worldwide. Plays in any DVD player. |
| 1 | United States and US territories, Canada, Bermuda |
| 2 | Europe (except Russia, Belarus and Ukraine), Japan, the Middle East, Egypt, South Africa, Greenland |
| 3 | Southeast Asia, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau |
| 4 | Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, Australia, New Zealand, Pacific islands |
| 5 | Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, most of Africa, Central and South Asia (including India), Mongolia, North Korea |
| 6 | Mainland China |
| 7 | Reserved. Used for some special and pre-release copies |
| 8 | International venues such as aircraft and cruise ships |
A few things stand out. Japan shares Region 2 with the UK and Europe, not Region 1 with North America. Mexico is Region 4, not Region 1, even though it borders the US. And a single disc can carry more than one code. A “Region 2/4” disc, for example, will play in players from both regions.
Blu-ray Region Codes: A, B and C
When Blu-ray arrived, the industry simplified things. Blu-ray region codes use just three letters instead of eight numbers, and the map is drawn differently.
| Blu-ray region | Areas covered |
|---|---|
| A (or 1) | North, Central and South America, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Southeast Asia |
| B (or 2) | Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Australia, New Zealand |
| C (or 3) | China, Russia, Central and South Asia (including India), Mongolia |
| ABC / Region free | Worldwide |
The biggest change is Japan. On DVD, Japan is Region 2 with Europe. On Blu-ray, Japan is Region A with the US. That is good news for anime fans, because a Japanese Blu-ray will usually play on an American Blu-ray player, while a Japanese DVD will not play on an American DVD player.
The other change is that Blu-ray region codes are used less often. Many Blu-ray releases, especially big studio films, are sold region free. Locking is more common on TV shows, anime and smaller labels. You should still check every disc, but your odds of an import working are better on Blu-ray than on DVD.
Do 4K Ultra HD Blu-rays Have Region Codes?
Almost never. 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray discs are designed to be region free, so a 4K disc bought in the UK or Japan will normally play on a 4K player in the US. This is one reason collectors who import a lot have moved toward 4K.
There is a catch. Many 4K movies come in a package with a standard Blu-ray disc as well. That second disc can still be region locked. So the 4K disc may play fine while the regular Blu-ray in the same case does not. If you plan to watch the standard disc on an older player, check its region separately.
How Players Handle DVD Region Codes
Understanding how your hardware works will save you from most problems. Here are the main types of players and how each one treats DVD region codes.
Standalone DVD players
A normal DVD player sold in the US is locked to Region 1. It will play Region 1 discs and Region 0 discs, and it will reject everything else. You cannot change this from the normal settings menu.
Blu-ray players
A Blu-ray player has two region settings: one for Blu-rays and one for DVDs. A US Blu-ray player is Region A for Blu-ray discs and Region 1 for DVDs. So buying a Blu-ray player does not get around DVD region codes. Your Region 2 DVDs will still be blocked.
Computer drives
Disc drives in computers usually let you choose the region the first time you insert a disc. Most modern drives use a system called RPC-2, which allows you to change the region a limited number of times, usually five. After the last change, the drive is locked to that region for good. If you use your computer to watch imports, think carefully before you switch.
Game consoles
Consoles that play movies, such as PlayStation and Xbox models with disc drives, follow the same rules for films. Games and movies are handled separately, so a console that plays games from anywhere may still refuse an import movie disc.
What Is a Region Free DVD Player?
A region free DVD player is a player that ignores DVD region codes. It will play Region 1, Region 2, Region 4 and every other DVD, as long as the disc itself is not damaged. Some are sold region free from the factory. Others are standard models that a seller has changed with new firmware or a special code.
You will also see the term multi-region. In practice, sellers use “region free” and “multi-region” to mean the same thing. Some multi-region Blu-ray players are region free for DVDs only and switchable for Blu-ray, meaning you change the Blu-ray region by hand in a menu. Read the description carefully so you know which kind you are getting.
A good region free DVD player is the easiest fix if you collect discs from more than one country. Here is what to look for:
- DVD and Blu-ray support. Make sure it covers both DVD region codes and Blu-ray region codes if you collect both formats.
- PAL to NTSC conversion. This lets you watch European discs on a TV that does not accept PAL signals. More on this below.
- Firmware updates. Some modified players stop working with new discs after a firmware update. Good sellers tell you whether updates are safe.
- Seller support. Buy from a seller who offers a warranty and explains how the region change was made.
Owning a region free DVD player is generally legal in the US and many other countries. Region coding is a business tool, not a law, so playing a disc you bought from another country is not a crime. If you are unsure about the rules where you live, check before you buy.
Can you make your current player region free?
Some older DVD players have hidden menus that can unlock region settings with a sequence of remote control buttons. These codes are shared on fan forums. It can work, but it can also void your warranty, and newer players rarely allow it. If your player is modern, buying a proper region free DVD player is usually the safer and simpler route.
PAL vs NTSC: The Other Half of the Problem
Even a disc with the right region can fail to look right on your TV. That is because of the TV system it was made for. DVD region codes control where a disc plays. PAL and NTSC control how the picture is sent to the screen.
NTSC uses 525 lines at 60 Hz and is used in North America and Japan. PAL uses 625 lines at 50 Hz and is used in most of Europe, Australia and much of Asia and Africa. A UK DVD is usually Region 2 and PAL. A US DVD is Region 1 and NTSC.
Many modern TVs with HDMI inputs can show both, but older sets and some budget TVs cannot display a PAL signal. If you play a PAL disc on one of those, you may see a black and white picture, a rolling image or no picture at all. A player with PAL to NTSC conversion fixes this.
There is one more small detail. Films on PAL DVDs run about 4% faster than on NTSC discs, because they are shown at 25 frames per second instead of 24. A two hour movie is roughly five minutes shorter, and voices can sound a little higher. Most people never notice, but serious film fans sometimes prefer NTSC releases for this reason. Blu-ray mostly avoids the problem, since most Blu-ray films are stored at 24 frames per second in every region.
How to Check DVD Region Codes Before You Buy
The best way to avoid a wrong region disc is to check before you pay. Here is a simple routine that works for any store.
- Read the product details. Look for “Region 1”, “Region A”, “Region free” or “All regions” in the listing. If it is not there, ask the seller.
- Look at the back cover photo. Zoom in on the globe icon or the small print near the barcode. The region and TV system are usually printed there.
- Watch for clues in the title. Words like “UK edition”, “Import”, “PAL” or a European rating logo (such as BBFC) suggest a Region 2 disc.
- Check the format. A DVD and Blu-ray combo pack has two discs, and each one can have its own region. One may play and the other may not.
- Know your own player. Find the region on the label on the back of your player or in its manual. A US player is Region 1 and Region A.
When you shop with us, the same routine applies. If a listing does not make the region clear, get in touch before ordering and we will check the case for you.
Disc Will Not Play? Region Error or Something Else
Not every playback problem is caused by DVD region codes. Before you blame the region, rule out the other common causes.
- A clear region message. If your player says “Region error”, “Wrong region” or shows a globe with a cross, the region is the issue. A region free DVD player or a different disc is the fix.
- Freezing, skipping or a blank screen partway through. This is usually a scratch or dirt, not the region. Our guide on how to fix a scratched DVD walks you through safe cleaning and repair.
- Black and white or rolling picture. The region is fine, but the disc is PAL and your TV cannot show it. Use a player with PAL to NTSC conversion.
- A Blu-ray will not load in a DVD player. This is a format issue. DVD players cannot read Blu-ray discs at all. See our DVD vs Blu-ray guide for how the formats compare.
- A recordable disc will not play. Some older players cannot read DVD-R or DVD+R discs. This has nothing to do with the region.
DVD Region Codes and Collecting
For collectors, DVD region codes are both a problem and an opportunity. Some shows and films were only released on disc in one country. Others have better extras, uncut versions or complete series sets in one region that never came out in another. A region free DVD player opens up all of those.
Anime is a good example. Many Japanese releases are expensive and have no English subtitles, so most US fans buy North American editions. Still, the Region A link between Japan and the US on Blu-ray makes importing easier than it used to be. If you are building an anime shelf, our guide to the best anime on DVD and Blu-ray lists strong picks that play on standard US players.
British TV is another. Some UK series have longer complete sets or different cuts than their US versions. If you love a long-running show, our list of TV series box sets is a good place to compare options before you start importing.
One more tip: write the region on the spine label or inside cover of any import you own. When your collection grows, it is easy to forget which discs need the multi-region player. Our DVD storage ideas include simple ways to keep imports on their own shelf.
Region issues are also one of the few downsides of physical media. Streaming has its own version of the problem, since shows disappear or change between countries without warning. A disc you own, in the right region, stays playable for good. We look at that trade-off in physical media vs streaming.
Common Mistakes With Region Codes
These are the errors we see buyers make most often:
- Assuming a Blu-ray player fixes DVD region codes. It does not. Blu-ray players keep a separate DVD region lock.
- Thinking Japan is Region 1. For DVD, Japan is Region 2. Only on Blu-ray does it share Region A with the US.
- Buying a 4K combo pack and expecting both discs to play. The 4K disc is region free, but the standard Blu-ray inside may not be.
- Changing a computer drive region too many times. After about five changes, the drive locks for good.
- Ignoring PAL and NTSC. A region free DVD player still needs to output a signal your TV understands.
DVD Region Codes FAQ
What region is the United States?
The US is Region 1 for DVDs and Region A for Blu-rays. Canada, Bermuda and US territories share the same codes.
What region is the UK?
The UK is Region 2 for DVDs and Region B for Blu-rays. UK DVDs are also usually PAL.
Can a Region 2 DVD play in the US?
Not on a standard US player. You need a region free DVD player, or a computer drive set to Region 2. You may also need PAL support on your TV or player.
Do Blu-ray region codes apply to 4K discs?
No. 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray discs are almost always region free. Any standard Blu-ray packed in the same case can still be locked.
Is Region 0 the same as region free?
Yes. Region 0, “ALL” and “region free” all mean the disc is meant to play in any player, though a PAL disc can still need a compatible TV.
Are region free DVD players legal?
In the US and many other countries, yes. Region coding is a studio business practice, not a law. Check local rules if you are outside the US.
Final Thoughts
DVD region codes look confusing at first, but the rules are simple once you see them laid out. Check the globe on the case, know your player’s region, and remember that Blu-ray region codes are only A, B and C. If you collect from more than one country, a region free DVD player with PAL support is the one purchase that removes the problem for good.
Ready to add to your shelf? Browse our full DVD and Blu-ray catalog. Orders over $50 ship free, and if you are ever unsure about a disc’s region, ask us before you buy.