All-in-One External CD/DVD Drive with USB Hub & SD Card Reader – A Must-Have Companion for Modern Laptops
As modern laptops continue to get thinner and lighter, many no longer include a built-in CD/DVD drive and often come with only a limited number of USB ports. That’s where this multifunctional external CD/DVD drive comes in — offering a complete solution for anyone who still values access to physical media and needs more connectivity options.
Whether you want to revisit your collection of classic CDs from the 90s, enjoy your favorite DVD movie box sets, digitize and import music from old audio CDs to your computer, burn audio or video files to blank discs, back up important photos and documents, or simply install software or games from a disc — this versatile drive has you covered. It functions as a reader, writer, burner, ripper, and data backup tool all in one.
But it doesn't stop there. This external drive is also equipped with a built-in USB 3.0/2.0/Type-C hub and SD/TF card slots, allowing you to easily connect other peripherals like a wireless mouse receiver, Bluetooth dongle, USB flash drive, external hard drive, or SD memory cards. This eliminates the need for a separate USB hub, helping you keep your desktop organized and efficient.
Despite its rich features, the setup is incredibly simple. Just plug the data cable into your laptop or desktop — your PC will recognize the drive automatically. (For Mac users, the icon will appear after a disc is inserted.) Then insert a CD or DVD and use your preferred media player, burning, or ripping software to access the content. No drivers or complicated setup required — just plug and play.
Please note: This CD/DVD drive is not compatible with Chrome OS, smart TVs, cars, trucks, projectors, tablets, iPads, smartphones, gaming consoles (PS4/PS5, Xbox, Switch), and it does not support Blu-ray/4K discs.
Compatibility, Incompatibility, Recommended Software, and Usage Instructions
Compatibility: This USB external CD/DVD player for PC is compatible with Windows laptops and desktops (11, 10, 8, 7, Vista, XP), Linux computers, and Apple devices including MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, iMac, Mac mini, and Mac Studio (including M1, M2, M3, and M4 chips).
Incompatibility: This drive is not compatible with Chrome OS (Chromebooks), TVs, cars, trucks, projectors, tablets, iPads, smartphones, gaming consoles (PS4/PS5, Xbox, Nintendo Switch), and it cannot play Blu-ray discs.
How to Use on Windows Computers: Prepare playback, burning, or ripping software based on your needs, and network connection for Windows 11 > Connect the data cable (located under the drive) to your computer's USB-A or USB-C port directly, or through a self-powered USB hub > The system will automatically install the necessary driver, and a “DVD RW” icon will appear in Windows Explorer > For video DVDs, make sure to set the DVD region code to match your disc (e.g., Region 1 for US/Canada); CDs do not require a region setting > Insert the CD or DVD, then use your chosen software to play, burn, or rip > When finished, eject the disc by pressing the physical button or right-clicking the icon and selecting “Eject.”
Trusted Free Software for Windows: For audio CD playback, use Windows Media Player or VLC; for video DVD playback, try VLC, Kodi, or 5KPlayer; to burn audio CDs, use CDBurnerXP or ImgBurn; for burning video DVDs, use ImgBurn, BurnAware Free, or CDBurnerXP; to rip audio CDs, consider Windows Media Player, iTunes, Exact Audio Copy (EAC), or Fre:ac; to rip video DVDs, use HandBrake or MakeMKV.
How to Set the Region Code in Windows: Right-click the "DVD-RW Drive" icon and select "Properties" > Go to the "Hardware" tab and select your CD/DVD drive > Click "Properties" at the bottom > Open the "DVD Region" tab > Choose the correct region (e.g. Region 1 for US/Canada) and click "OK". (Note: You can only change the region code 4~5 times.)
How to Use it on Apple Mac Computers: Open Finder > Settings (or Preferences, depending on your macOS version) > Ensure "CDs, DVDs, and iOS Devices" is checked in the General Tab and Sidebar Tab if available > Prepare the media player, burning, or ripping software based on your needs (not all) > Plug the data cable (located under the drive) into your computer's USB-A or USB-C port directly or a self-powered USB hub > Insert your CDs or DVDs > The disc drive icon will appear on the desktop after a disc is successfully read > Use your installed software to play, burn, or rip the disc > After playback/burning, the tray cannot open via the button due to macOS limitations. To eject a disc on Mac computers after playback/burning, right-click on the desktop icon and select "eject," or choose "File" > "Eject" from the menu.
Trusted Free Software for Apple Mac: For audio CDs, use Apple Music, iTunes, or VLC; for video DVD playback, use VLC or Apple DVD Player; for burning audio CDs, try Apple Music, Burn, or Express Burn; to burn video DVDs, use Burn for Mac, HandBrake, DVDStyler, or iDVD (for older systems); to rip audio CDs, use Apple Music, X Lossless Decoder (XLD), or HandBrake; to rip video DVDs, use MakeMKV or HandBrake with VLC (to read protected DVDs).
What's the Burning & Ripping: “Burning” means copying music, videos, or files from your computer onto a blank CD or DVD, while “ripping” means copying content from a CD or DVD onto your computer. These processes let you create custom discs or save physical media digitally.
Note Before Burning Discs: Before burning, ensure your blank disc capacity is sufficient (CD-R/CD-RW: 700MB or 80 min audio; DVD-R/DVD+R: 4.7GB or 2 hours video; Dual Layer DVD: 8.5GB for long videos), use the proper burning software, set a safe burning speed (10X or lower for CDs and 4X to 8X for DVDs), and confirm the file format is compatible with the blank disc (Supported audio formats: WAV, MP3, WMA, AAC [M4A]. For car or home CD players, burn in CD-DA format; Use MPEG-2, VOB, or MPG for DVD-Video.). To convert files into disc-compatible formats, use Burn (for Mac), DVDStyler (for Windows & Mac), or CDBurnerXP (for Windows). If burning a data disc for storage, you can include any standard file types without format conversion.
About Photo/Image Discs: Some photos cannot be viewed or downloaded on Mac and Windows due to incompatible disc formats, unsupported image files, copy protection, or disc damage. Both systems support JPEG, PNG, TIFF, BMP, GIF, HEIF, and most RAW formats, but some RAW files may need Preview, Photos, or third-party software to open.
About Data Cable & Power Supply Cord: The USB-A/C data cable is integrated into the bottom of the drive and connects to your computer. If the computer’s USB port does not supply enough power, use the included power cable to connect the drive to a 5V USB charger or power bank to ensure stable operation and prevent read or burn errors.