M3U8/HLS Stream Tester
A free browser-based tool for developers and content creators to test and debug M3U8/HLS video streams. No software to install — paste a URL and start testing.
Usage Notice & Copyright
M3U8 Player is a playback tool only. We do not store, host, or distribute any video content. All video streams are provided by users and played directly in the browser.
- This tool may only be used to play M3U8/HLS video links that you are legally authorized to access.
- Using this tool to play or distribute copyrighted or illegal content is strictly prohibited.
- You are solely responsible for all content played through this tool.
Core Features
A powerful yet simple M3U8 playback solution
HLS Stream Playback
Powered by hls.js with full HTTP Live Streaming support for smooth, reliable video playback.
Live Stream Testing
Quickly verify whether HLS live streams are working, with real-time validation and debugging tools.
Embeddable Player
Get an iframe embed code to drop the player into any website or app.
Chrome Extension
Install our browser extension to auto-detect M3U8 links on any page and play them with a single click.
Multi-Quality Switching
Automatically picks up multi-bitrate streams from M3U8 playlists, with manual resolution switching.
Playback Speed Control
Adjust playback speed from 0.5x to 2x — great for reviewing footage or speeding through content.
M3U8 Basics
Understanding M3U8 files and HLS streaming technology
What is an M3U8 file?
M3U8 is a text-based playlist format encoded in UTF-8, derived from the older M3U standard. It's widely used to describe multimedia playlists — think internet radio, personal music libraries, and online video streaming. An M3U8 file can reference files by absolute path, relative path, or URL, and it serves as the backbone of Apple's HLS (HTTP Live Streaming) protocol.
Learn More →How do I open an M3U8 file?
You've got several options: use this site's online player to paste a URL and play it instantly; open it with a desktop app like VLC or iTunes; or just crack it open in a text editor to see what's inside. Note that the online player only works with URL-based M3U8 links, not local files.
Learn More →Technical Articles
Deep dives into M3U8 protocol and HLS streaming