If you have upgraded your computer to the latest version of Windows 11 or plan to buy a Windows 11 PC, and want to play movie DVDs, burn or rip discs on a Windows 11 computer, a reliable external optical drive compatible with Windows 11 is necessary since the era of internal optical drives has long passed.
This article will be published when Windows 11 is just released, so we have not had much time to test and confirm many external CD/DVD drives compatible with Windows 11, so we will keep updating this article to ensure that all recommended products are now the best external CD/DVD drive for Windows 11 OS. Meanwhile, various common problems and solutions regarding the use of CD/DVD drives on Windows 11 will be also updated soon.
We have collected some points for your reference when choosing a Windows 11-compatible external CD/DVD optical drive：
- System – First of all, we have to ensure that the optical drive supports Windows 11 and is backward compatible with Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista.
- Mac OS – We may only occasionally need to use an external CD/DVD drive to complete a task, so if you or your family have a Mac computer at the same time, an external optical drive that is also compatible with Mac OS will be a better choice.
- Driver program – Fortunately, most external CD/DVD drives do not require additional download and installation of drivers. This is why many sellers claim that their devices support plug and play, but in fact, they just don’t need to install additional drivers, but you must also prepare a media player or burning/ripping program.
- Speed – The faster the read & write speed, the quieter your optical drive is when it is running. So we choose at least one external optical drive that supports 8x DVD and 24x CD to avoid a lot of noise.
- Brand – Products from famous brands or professional manufacturers can at least guarantee product quality and a more reliable warranty, no one wants the product to stop working in a few months and you will never find a seller.
- Price – Don’t pay for those extra features that seem to be useful but may not be used at all. Choose within your budget!
Below are the best external CD/DVD RW drives that have been tested or confirmed to support Windows 11 systems although their product information may not have been updated yet.
1. Dell DW316 External USB Slim DVD ±RW Optical Drive 429-AAUX
Spec & Features：
- Connection Method: USB 2.0 cable
- Compatible with Windows 11/10/8.1/7/xp and Mac OS
- Supported discs: CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-ROM, DVD-R, DVD-RAM, DVD-RW, DVD+RW, DVD+R, DVD+R DL, DVD-R DL
- Max Read Speed: 24x (CD) / 8x (DVD)
- Max Write Speed: 24x (CD) / 8x (DVD±R) / 6x (DVD±R DL)
- Rewrite Speed: 24x (CD) / 6x (DVD-RW) / 8x (DVD+RW) / 5x (DVD-RAM)
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Preloaded CyberLink Media Suite to easily play and burn DVD/CDs, or install disc-based computer programs.
- No additional driver installation required
- Ultra-slim, portable
- Longer data cable that can be removed
- Powered by the USB port on the PC, no batteries or power cords are necessary.
Disadvantages：
- Not faster USB 3.0
- Has no USB-C cable, you need to purchase it by yourself or use an adapter
- Do not support M-Disc
2. ROOFULL External CD DVD +/-RW Drive USB 3.0 Type-C Portable CD/DVD ROM Optical Drive Player Reader Writer Burner with Protective Carrying Case
Spec & Features：
- Connection Method: USB 3.0 and USB-C cable (the data cable is embedded on the back of the device to prevent loss)
- Compatible with Windows 11/10/8.1/7/xp and Mac OS
- Supported discs: CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-ROM, DVD-R, DVD-RAM, DVD-RW, DVD+RW, DVD+R, DVD+R DL, DVD-R DL
- Max Read Speed: 24x (CD) / 8x (DVD)
- Max Write Speed: 24x (CD) / 8x (DVD±R) / 6x (DVD±R DL)
- Rewrite Speed: 24x (CD) / 6x (DVD-RW) / 8x (DVD+RW) / 5x (DVD-RAM)
- No additional driver installation required
- Come with a thick protective storage carrying case bag, you can better protect your device security and prevent dust
- Come with a USB to micro-USB power supply cable in case that some ultrathin laptops have an insufficient power problem
Disadvantages：
- No accompanying software, you need to purchase one or look for free software
- The data cable is a bit short
- Do not support M-Disc
3. LG Electronics 8X USB 2.0 Super Multi Ultra Slim Portable DVD Writer Drive +/-RW External Drive with M-DISC Support (Black) GP65NB60
Spec & Features：
- Connection Method: USB 2.0 cable
- Compatible with Windows 11/10/8.1/7/xp and Mac OS
- Supported discs: M-Disc (for superior data protection), CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-ROM, DVD-R, DVD-RAM, DVD-RW, DVD+RW, DVD+R, DVD+R DL, DVD-R DL
- Max Read Speed: 24x (CD) / 8x (DVD)
- Max Write Speed: 24x (CD) / 8x (DVD±R) / 6x (DVD±R DL)
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Come with Cyberlink Software
- Silent Play: Automatically adjusting the playback speed according to its criteria for optimal performance
- No additional driver installation required
- Ultra-slim, portable
- Longer data cable that can be removed
- Powered by the USB port on the PC, no batteries or power cords are necessary.
Disadvantages：
- Not faster USB 3.0
- Has no USB-C cable, you need to purchase it by yourself or use an adapter
FAQs:
Q: What are the popular media player software used for Windows 11?
A: You can try free VLC player, 5KPlayer, Any Player, KMplayer, or paid PowerDVD, etc.
Q: Can I use these external DVD Drives on my Windows 11 Surface Pro laptop?
A: Surface Pro series laptop may not supply enough power for an external optical drive or hard drive. If you have a powered (20 watt or above) USB hub, you can use any of these products, or check the best external CD/DVD drive for your Surface Pro laptop.
Q: Can these optical drives play Blu-ray discs?
A: No! These external CD/DVD drives can only read and write CD and DVD disks.
Q: Can I use one of these USB CD/DVD drives on my Chromebook, iPad, iPhone, car, or truck?
A: No! These devices can only work with Windows and Mac OS laptops and desktop computers.
