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What is the M3U8 file format?
Files with the .m3u8 extension are UTF-8 encoded multimedia playlists. These are standard text files - they do not contain any real audio or video data, but only references to multimedia files or subfolders which store them. Besides the references they also include information about the playlist through comment lines beginning with #. Every extended playlist must start with the header tag #EXTM3U on its first line.
References to multimedia contained within .m3u8 files can occur in three forms: as a relative path, an absolute path, or a URL address.
HLS streaming. Today .m3u8 files are most widely used as HTTP Live Streaming (HLS) manifests - a technology introduced by Apple in 2009 and later standardized as RFC 8216. In this role the file describes where to fetch short .ts video segments (typically 2-10 seconds each) and, in a master playlist, which quality variants are available. HLS-specific directives use the #EXT-X- prefix - for example #EXT-X-STREAM-INF declares a variant bitrate, and #EXT-X-ENDLIST signals that a stream is complete.
.m3u8 files may be commonly encountered in streaming services, IPTV players, and Internet radio stations. They are also used to store playlists including multilingual names of songs, due to the UTF-8 symbol encoding standard ensuring that non-ASCII characters display correctly.
.m3u8 and .m3u are formats very similar to each other - they are playlist files recognised by multiple multimedia players. The only thing that differs them is the encoding guarantee: .m3u8 is explicitly UTF-8, while .m3u files may use any 8-bit encoding depending on the system locale, which can cause titles with accented or non-Latin characters to display incorrectly.
Security & safety
RISK: LOWThe .m3u8 file itself is harmless plain text. Two practical cautions: (1) it can point at remote URLs, so a malicious playlist could direct a player to unwanted content - inspect unfamiliar playlists in a text editor first. (2) Saving streamed video via m3u8 may breach a site's terms or copyright; only download streams you're entitled to. Avoid sketchy "m3u8 downloader" websites that push ads/PUP - use yt-dlp or ffmpeg directly.
Format details
in a nutshellFULL NAMEUTF-8 M3U Playlist / HLS (HTTP Live Streaming) Playlist
DEVELOPEROriginally Nullsoft (M3U for Winamp); HLS variant standardized by Apple (RFC 8216)since M3U from Winamp (late 1990s); m3u8 = UTF-8 M3U; HLS use of m3u8 since 2009 (Apple), RFC 8216 in 2017
CATEGORYAudio Files
MIME TYPEapplication/vnd.apple.mpegurl (HLS) or audio/x-mpegurl
TYPEPlain-text playlist (UTF-8 encoded M3U); for streaming it is an HLS manifest listing media segments / quality variants
STANDARDOpen · royalty-free
Programs that open M3U8 files
Windows4 apps
VLC media player
Open-source Open the .m3u8 (Media -> Open File, or paste an HLS URL via Open Network Stream). Plays both local playlists and HLS streams. 
Notepad / VS Code
Open-source Open as text to SEE what the playlist points to (track paths or HLS segment URLs).
yt-dlp
Open-source Download an HLS stream to a single MP4: yt-dlp "<m3u8 url>". Best tool for saving streamed video legally available to you. 
macOS2 apps
Linux2 apps
Android1 app
iOS1 app
Technical details
deep spec| File type | Plain UTF-8 text; human-readable and editable in any text editor without special software |
| MIME types | `application/vnd.apple.mpegurl` (HLS); `audio/x-mpegurl` (legacy local playlist) |
| Magic header | `#EXTM3U` must appear on the very first line of every extended `.m3u8` playlist |
| Character encoding | Strictly UTF-8; the `8` in the extension explicitly signals this, enabling non-ASCII track titles and file paths |
| Reference types | Relative file paths, absolute file paths, and full HTTP/HTTPS/RTSP URLs |
| HLS segment format | MPEG-2 Transport Stream (`.ts`) or fragmented MP4 (`.fmp4`) files fetched sequentially by the player |
| HLS directive prefix | `#EXT-X-` tags control stream behavior - e.g. `#EXT-X-TARGETDURATION`, `#EXT-X-STREAM-INF`, `#EXT-X-ENDLIST` |
| Segment duration | Typically 2-10 seconds per segment, declared by `#EXTINF` per entry and bounded by `#EXT-X-TARGETDURATION` |
| Adaptive bitrate | A master `.m3u8` lists child playlists at different bitrates and resolutions via `#EXT-X-STREAM-INF` |
| Encryption | AES-128 per-segment encryption declared with `#EXT-X-KEY`; supports URI-based key server delivery |
| DRM integration | Compatible with Apple FairPlay, Google Widevine, and Microsoft PlayReady via `#EXT-X-SESSION-KEY` |
| Live vs. VOD | Live streams omit `#EXT-X-ENDLIST`; completed VOD playlists terminate with it so the player knows the stream has ended |
| Subtitle and caption tracks | WebVTT or TTML tracks referenced via `#EXT-X-MEDIA TYPE=SUBTITLES` or `TYPE=CLOSED-CAPTIONS` |
| Comment syntax | Any line beginning with `#` that is not a recognized tag is treated as a comment; used for metadata such as artist and title |
| Released | M3U from Winamp (late 1990s); m3u8 = UTF-8 M3U; HLS use of m3u8 since 2009 (Apple), RFC 8216 in 2017 |
| Open standard | Yes · royalty-free |
| Specification | datatracker.ietf.org |
M3U8 conversions
Possible
.M3U8 .MP4GUIDE
Yes, an HLS stream linked by an M3U8 file can be saved as a single MP4 -- the fastest method is one ffmpeg…
How to convert
.M3U8 .M3UGUIDE
Yes, M3U8 converts to M3U -- the fastest way is to open the file in Notepad++ (or any text editor) and save…
How to convert
.M3U8 .TXTGUIDE
Yes -- an M3U8 file is already plain text. Rename a copy to .txt or open it in any text editor and save with…
How to convert
.M3U8 .AACGUIDE
You can extract AAC audio from an HLS stream pointed to by an M3U8 file using ffmpeg or yt-dlp - both free…
How to convert
.M3U8 .MP3GUIDE
Yes, for an audio HLS stream -- the fastest method is one yt-dlp command: yt-dlp -x --audio-format mp3 .
How to convert
.M3U8 .PLSGUIDE
Yes for local file playlists - load the M3U8 in VLC, then use Media > Save Playlist to File and choose PLS as…
How to convert
Not possible
Community Q&A
asked by users
E
Frequently asked questions
How do I open an M3U8 file?
Open it in VLC media player (free, all platforms) - it plays both local playlists and HLS stream URLs. To just see what it contains, open it in a text editor; it's plain text listing tracks or segment URLs.
How do I convert/download an M3U8 stream to MP4?
Use yt-dlp ('yt-dlp <m3u8 url>') or ffmpeg ('ffmpeg -i index.m3u8 -c copy out.mp4') to fetch the HLS segments and merge them into one MP4. Only do this for streams you're allowed to download.
Why is my M3U8 file empty / just text?
Because it's a playlist, not media - it only lists track paths or stream segment URLs. The actual audio/video is elsewhere (local files or a streaming server). If those are missing or the stream ended, nothing plays.
What's the difference between M3U and M3U8?
Same playlist format; .m3u8 is encoded in UTF-8 so it supports non-ASCII filenames and titles. .m3u8 is also the standard extension for HLS streaming manifests.
Is M3U8 audio or video?
Either - it's just a playlist. The old 'audio' label is outdated: today most .m3u8 files are HLS manifests for streaming VIDEO, though local m3u8 playlists can list songs, videos, or both.
Why won't my M3U8 stream play / it says the link expired?
HLS manifests often use time-limited, token-signed segment URLs. If the tokens expired or you're not authenticated to the source, the segments won't load. Re-capture a fresh .m3u8 from the source, or play it through the original site/player.
References
1RFC 8216 - HTTP Live Streaming (HLS)datatracker.ietf.org
2Apple Developer - HTTP Live Streamingdeveloper.apple.com
