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Blu-ray A, B and C: What to check before buying a disc

Standard Blu-ray uses Regions A, B and C. Learn how to check a disc and player for compatibility, and how UHD Blu-ray differs.
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Blu-ray movie discs use three lettered region codes: A, B and C. In general, a standard Blu-ray player plays discs assigned to its own region, while region-free or multi-region discs are exceptions. Ultra HD Blu-ray discs are region-free, but they still require a UHD-capable player; a standard Blu-ray player cannot play them.

What Blu-ray regional codes mean

A Blu-ray region code is a compatibility designation for commercial movie discs. It is separate from the numbered region system used for DVDs: standard Blu-ray regions are letters, not numbers. A disc may be assigned to one region, carry flags for multiple regions, or have no regional restriction. Sony’s support pages, last modified in May 2022, describe the system and advise checking the disc marking and device documentation.

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Where Regions A, B and C apply

The regional map is a broad guide, not a substitute for checking the release and player. Sony groups locations as follows:

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Region Broad geographic grouping
A North America, South America, U.S. territories, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and other areas of Southeast Asia
B Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Australia and New Zealand
C Asia, except for Japan, Korea, Taiwan and the other Southeast Asian areas listed under A

See Sony’s Blu-ray region guide and its UK support guidance. A disc’s country of manufacture or purchase does not establish its region; use the region marking on the disc or case instead.

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What Region Free and ABC mean

“Region FREE” is an unofficial marking. Sony says it may indicate that a disc has no regional flag or that it carries all three flags, A, B and C. An ABC marking indicates compatibility with all three regions. Some region-free discs may have no code printed, so check the release information and player documentation if the marking is unclear.

Sony says commercial Blu-ray movie region codes can be found on the back of the case. Its UK support page explains the Region FREE label; its U.S. support page describes ABC discs.

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Will an imported Blu-ray play on your player?

Usually, a standard Blu-ray player or computer drive plays discs intended for the same region. A different-region disc may not play unless the disc or equipment is region-free or supports multiple regions. For a specific release, check both the marking on the disc or case and the player’s supported regions.

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  1. Identify the format. Determine whether the disc is standard Blu-ray or Ultra HD Blu-ray.
  2. Check the disc’s region. Look for the A, B or C marking, an ABC or Region FREE label, or release information indicating regional compatibility.
  3. Check the player. Confirm its supported format and regions in the device manual. Do not infer compatibility from where the player or disc was bought.

Sony says a standalone Blu-ray player’s region setting cannot be changed. A computer optical drive may permit a limited number of region changes with suitable software, after which the setting may become permanent. Behavior depends on the drive and software, so consult their documentation rather than assuming the computer is unrestricted. See Sony’s UK guidance on changing region settings.

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How Ultra HD Blu-ray regional coding differs

Ultra HD Blu-ray discs are region-free, but that does not make them playable in every Blu-ray device: the player must support the UHD format. Sony states that UHD discs can be played “using a player that supports Ultra HD Blu-ray, regardless of the region where they were purchased.” The Blu-ray Disc Association says UHD players play current Blu-ray content, but standard Blu-ray players cannot play UHD discs. Check both format support and region when assessing compatibility.

Sources: Sony Support and the Blu-ray Disc Association FAQ. The FAQ page does not state a publication date.

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Quick compatibility checklist

  • Confirm whether the disc is standard Blu-ray or Ultra HD Blu-ray.
  • Read the region marking on the disc or case; do not rely on its country of purchase.
  • Check the player’s manual for supported regions and formats.
  • For a computer drive, check the drive and playback software documentation for region-change limits.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

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