This is the million-dollar question. The short answer is:

Programs like , Roxio , PowerDVD , or virtual drive software (Daemon Tools, Alcohol 120%) can install legacy filters that interfere with USB optical drives. Uninstall them temporarily to test.

Possibly, but drivers are the issue. Android requires an OTG adapter and an app like Nexus Media Importer . iOS (iPad/iPhone) does not support external optical drives due to driver restrictions. Do not attempt to install a "driver" on iOS—it will not work.

Modern Windows (8, 10, 11) and macOS do not require drivers for standard USB 3.0 optical drives. The issue is usually a faulty cable, low power, or software . However, the content below addresses this truth while providing the "driver" file users expect.