I usually try to use Microsoft Store Apps whenever possible. The only real problem that I can recall with them was when I tried 3 different Apps from the store to extract a 7-zip file. None worked so I downloaded the program from the 7-zip site.
However, I have been reluctant to try the VLC Store App for 2 reasons
- The program from the VLC site works well; and
- The App had very bad reviews the last time I looked at it.
Normally with reviews I look for say 80% 4 and 5 star reviews. I am suspicious of 100% favourable particularly when there are only a small number. Equally, I approach 1 star reviews with caution. With VLC however, at the time I looked at it, all the reviews were 1 star and most voiced similar complaints that the App crashed and had very limited functionality compared to the program that you download from the VLC web site.
Recently I looked again at the reviews and now 40% are 4 & 5 stars against 50% 1 & 2. This at least is some improvement but there are still many recent unfavourable ones. The main complaints remain App crashing and lack of functions including the inability to play DVDs.
So, I decided to download the Store App and compare it to the Desktop App from the VLC site.
ABBREVIATIONS
DVLC The standard desktop program downloaded from https://www.videolan.org/index.html
SVLC The version from the Microsoft Store.
They are both about 40MB downloads.
TO SUMMARISE, the 1 and 2 star reviews are correct in that SVLC has limited functionality and really only plays common video files which is something the Win 10 “Movies & TV” App will do. However, it did not crash at least on my computer.
I did not test everything but here are the results of the things that I did.
Play DVD
DVLC Played with full functions
SVLC Does not work
DVD iso (ripped copy)
DVLC Plays with full functions
SVLC Does not work
YouTube Video
DVLC Copy and paste YouTube URL to “Open Network Stream” and it plays
SVLC Open “Network” and paste the URL into the box and nothing happens
.mkv File
Both played the file
iTunes .m4v
DVLC Would not play
SVLC Would not Play
.mp4 Video File
Both play .mp4 – AND I assume other common video files but I only have .mp4 files.
Other functions and tools that come with DVLC are not there with SVLC.
On top of that, this annoying screen comes up every time you open SVLC asking if I want to use my USB attached Win 10 Back-up Drive as my media library OR copy my backups to internal storage. NO I DON’T!
SUMMARY
As I mentioned before, the inbuilt Win 10 Movies & TV App does all that SVLC does so I can’t see the point in getting it.
HOWEVER, TO BE FAIR this warning is prominently displayed in the store
Now that this warning is there, for what it is, it is a good player for common files. However, for the full functioning program you need to download the desktop version from the VLC site.
Mine did not crash, and as the warning is now in place, perhaps 1 & 2 star reviews are a bit harsh. Just be aware that if you are expecting something similar to the full VLC program, this store App is not the one for you. I have uninstalled it.