M3U8 Player Online — Play HLS Streams Free, No Upload

Play an HLS stream straight from its address

An M3U8 file is a playlist that points a player at a stream cut into short pieces, the format behind much live and on-demand web video, known as HLS. Many browsers cannot play it on their own. Paste the address, press Play stream, and this player fetches the stream and plays it, with a quality picker and live statistics. Your browser talks to the stream's server directly, and the address is not stored or sent anywhere else.

What an M3U8 address is

The address points to a small text file, not to a video. A master playlist lists the available qualities, and each quality's playlist lists the short pieces, called segments, that make up the video. If you open the address in a text editor you will see lines starting with #EXT and the names of the pieces. The player reads that text and then loads the pieces one after another.

When a stream will not play

The commonest reasons are an address that is wrong or has expired, a stream that needs a sign-in or a special token, and a server that does not allow other websites to read it. That last setting is called CORS, and it is why a stream can play in an app such as VLC and still fail in a browser: only the stream's owner can change it. Other causes are an http:// address on a secure page, which browsers block, and codecs your browser cannot decode. Streams protected by DRM are not supported.

Quality and the live numbers

Automatic lets the player move between qualities as your connection changes. If the stream offers several, the Quality list lets you fix one, for example to check how the lowest looks. Under the video, the player shows the picture size, the quality being played, how many seconds are buffered ahead, how many frames were dropped and whether the stream is live or on demand.

Privacy and use

Your browser requests the stream from its server directly, so that server sees your connection as it would for any visit; this page does not relay the stream, store the address or send it to analytics. Only play streams you have the right to watch. To look inside a video file you already have, the video metadata viewer shows its codecs and tags, and the video converter changes its format.

Frequently asked questions

How do I play an M3U8 file online?

Paste the address of the .m3u8 stream into the box and press Play stream. The player loads the playlist, starts the video and shows a quality list when the stream offers more than one.

What is an M3U8 or HLS stream?

HLS is a way of delivering video as many short pieces listed in a text playlist. The playlist file ends in .m3u8. It is used for live broadcasts and for on-demand video because the player can switch quality as the connection changes.

Why does my M3U8 stream not play?

Check that the address is right and has not expired, that the stream does not need a sign-in, and that it is not blocked by CORS, a server setting that stops other websites reading it. If it plays in VLC but not here, CORS is the usual cause and only the stream's owner can change it.

Does it work on iPhone and Safari?

Yes. Safari and iOS play HLS natively, so the player hands the address straight to the browser's own player. On other browsers it uses hls.js.

How do I choose the video quality?

When a stream offers several qualities, a Quality list appears under the video. Automatic lets the player decide from your connection speed, or you can fix one level, for example 720p.

Can it play live streams?

Yes, if the server allows it. The stats show whether the stream is live or on demand. Live streams that restrict access to their own website will not load here.

Does the player support DRM-protected streams?

No. Streams protected by DRM need a licence from their provider and cannot be played here. This player is for open streams that you have the right to watch.

Is the stream address sent anywhere, and is it free?

Your browser requests the stream directly from its own server. This page does not store the address or send it to analytics, and nothing is uploaded. The player is free, with no account and no extension.