VLC for Windows 10 for Windows

Quick summary

VLC for Windows 10 is a free, native multimedia app for Windows 10 that prioritizes a clean, modern interface and fast performance. It streamlines the experience compared with the classic VLC desktop release, trading some advanced controls for a sleeker, simpler UI. Whether that trade-off works for you depends on how much fine-grained control you expect from a media player.

Getting the app

VLC for Windows 10 is distributed through the Microsoft Store. Installing it is the same as other Windows 10 apps: open the Store, search for the app, and click Install. The process is straightforward and typically takes only a few moments.

Look and feel

The player’s design is minimalist and contemporary. You can switch between a light and dark appearance and choose from several accent colors to adjust the aesthetic. Navigation relies on a top and bottom bar — the top area is used to locate media, while the bottom toolbar holds playback controls and contextual actions.

Top navigation elements (reordered)

• Music
• Network
• Browse
• Videos

When media is playing, the top area changes to give quick access to tasks such as opening another file, streaming to a compatible device, and accessing local or removable sources.

Playing media

Pick the file you want to play and open it; the video or audio will appear in the main viewing area. Playback controls appear along the bottom of the window. The app does not show tooltips for those controls, so you may need to click a few to learn their functions — a minor annoyance but one that typically disappears after a couple of uses.

When nothing is playing, tapping the three-dot menu on the bottom bar reveals additional options and settings.

Power features and limitations

VLC for Windows 10 includes several useful capabilities, but it does not expose the same breadth of customization found in the traditional desktop version. If you rely on the desktop app’s extensive settings and advanced features, you may find this UWP build restrictive.

One notable omission is native DVD and Blu-ray playback — a feature that many users expect from a full-featured media player and may miss in this edition.

Who should use it?

If you want a fast, attractive, and straightforward media player that integrates with Windows 10, this app is a strong candidate. If you consider yourself a power user who needs deep format, subtitle, or streaming controls, stick with the full VLC desktop release or explore other more configurable players.

Alternatives worth trying (reordered)

• KMPlayer
• 5KPlayer

Recent fixes in the latest update

The most recent release addressed several technical problems and playback regressions (items listed in a changed order):

• Resolved an adaptive regression related to transport stream changes (notably HLS)
• Made miscellaneous fixes for raw H264/HEVC frame rate handling
• Corrected TTML entity handling so the decoder receives them properly
• Implemented a workaround for busy-loop behavior when invalid items are played via VLM

If you want help finding a specific setting or a feature comparison between the Windows 10 app and the desktop VLC, tell me which features matter most and I’ll outline the differences.