Standard Blu-ray discs use three lettered region codes: A, B, and C. A region-locked player generally plays standard Blu-ray discs assigned to its own region. Ultra HD Blu-ray discs are region-free on players that support the UHD format, but that does not mean those players can play standard Blu-ray discs from every region.
What do Blu-ray region codes mean?
Region codes are compatibility labels used on standard Blu-ray discs. They indicate the geographic region for which a disc is intended and help determine whether a region-locked player will play it. The codes are letters—A, B, and C—not the numbered codes used for DVDs.
Sony groups the regions broadly as follows:
| Code | Broad coverage |
|---|---|
| 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 the areas Sony lists under Region A |
These are broad groupings, not a substitute for checking a specific release. Sony advises checking the region marking on the disc and the documentation for the particular player when compatibility matters: Sony Support: Blu-ray Disc region codes.
Where can you find a disc’s region code?
The marking is usually printed on the disc or on the back of its case. Some region-free discs may show no code, so the absence of a visible marking does not by itself establish how a disc is configured.
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Sony Support Ireland says “Region FREE” is not an official player setting. The label may describe a disc with no region flag set, or one with all three region flags—A, B, and C—set. It refers to the disc’s coding, not necessarily a setting you can switch on in a player: Sony Support Ireland: Are Blu-ray/ Ultra HD Blu-ray Discs region coded?
How do region codes affect playback?
A region-locked Blu-ray player or optical drive generally plays standard Blu-ray discs assigned to its own region. Region-free discs and players are exceptions. Because region behavior can vary by disc and player, confirm the exact disc marking and the player manual rather than relying only on where a title was bought.
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Are Ultra HD Blu-ray discs region-free?
Sony states that Ultra HD Blu-ray discs are region-free and can play on devices that support Ultra HD Blu-ray, regardless of where the discs were purchased. That assurance applies to the UHD disc and a UHD-compatible device. It does not establish that the player’s separate standard Blu-ray playback is region-free, or that a standard Blu-ray disc bundled with a UHD title will play in every region. Check each disc in a set and the exact player model’s documentation.
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What to check before buying an imported disc
- Identify the format. Check whether the disc is standard Blu-ray or Ultra HD Blu-ray; UHD compatibility is a separate capability.
- Check the disc or case. Look for an A, B, or C marking, or a region-free indication.
- Check the player’s standard Blu-ray region support. Consult the manual or official product documentation for the specific model.
- Verify UHD support separately. If buying an Ultra HD Blu-ray disc, confirm the player supports that format. For box sets, check the region compatibility of each included disc.
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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