Playlist index
Usually plain text that can list many channels and their media URLs. Use the playlist parser for this format.
Direct HLS workflow
Test an M3U8 player online in seconds.
Paste a direct .m3u8 media URL when you want to test one HLS stream. For multi-channel text, use the M3U playlist player instead.
direct HLS inputnative or HLS.js playbacksource access still applies
PLAYER / HLSREADY
Paste a direct M3U8 URLone stream · one browser player
Ready for a direct M3U8 stream.
M3U vs. M3U8
They are related formats, but the browser job is different.
HLS media index
Often a direct HLS stream manifest that points to media segments. Send it to the video player.
Browser boundary
Playback can still fail because of CORS, authentication, codec support, or an expired signed URL.
When an online M3U8 player cannot play
A direct M3U8 URL is not a guarantee that every browser can play the stream. Safari and some mobile browsers have native HLS support. Other browsers may use the HLS helper included on this page. Both paths still need the source server to return the manifest and segments with usable access headers.
If the URL is actually a multi-channel M3U text file, it belongs in the playlist parser rather than the single-stream player. If the stream uses a token that has expired, request a fresh URL from the provider you are authorized to use. Do not paste private stream URLs into public bug reports or share links that contain access tokens.