2022.08.10

How to Download and Watch M3U8 Videos in Easy Steps?

Posted by Eleanor Taylor
M3U8 videos are text files that store multimedia playlists. You can easily open the M3U8 file with a notepad to track the address of that file and its properties. We also shared some of the most reliable M3U8 players you can use to play your playlists.

Ever heard of M3U8 files? These are basically plain text files that media players can use to organize MP3 files. Because this file extension isn’t as common as other media files, many users often have difficulty downloading and watching them on media players.

This article can be your ultimate M3U8 guide if you want to know about M3U8 files, how they work, and how exactly you can watch them on M3U8 players. So let’s begin…

What Are M3U8 Videos?

M3U8 files are text files that various media players can use to specify where media files are located. The M in the file extension stands for "music," while the U and the eight represent "Universal" and "playlist format, respectively. In a nutshell, M3U8 files provide instructions on where to find audio or video files so that media players can play them in sequence.

Also read: Ultimate Guide to Fix Peacock Error Code 9 [2022]

How to Download M3U8 Videos?

There are a few ways to download M3U8 videos. The first is by using a dedicated M3U8 downloader software like FlixPal or KeepStreams.

The second is by using a video converter that supports the M3U8 format.

The third and easiest way to download M3U8 videos is by using a browser extension. Browser extensions are available for both Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox. Once you've installed the extension, navigate to the M3U8 video's page and click on the "download" button.

How to Download M3U8 Videos with FlixPal and KeepStreams?

As discussed above, many streamers are still not too familiar with the M3U8 file format. It is no surprise why most of them are not too sure about downloading such videos to be viewed offline on different devices.

In this section, we’re going to introduce you to the two best downloaders that fully support M3U8 videos. You can download, save, and transfer M3U8 videos on numerous devices and play them offline without compatibility or playback errors - FlixPal Video Downloader and KeepStreams Downloader.

KeepStreams and FlixPal support downloading M3U8 videos from several websites, including:

Let’s have a quick look at what these downloaders have in store for you.

FlixPal Video Downloader

FlixPal Video Downloader can be your best buddy when it comes to downloading and saving high-quality M3U8 videos. The auto MP4 conversion feature will ensure you watch your favorite M3U8 videos on any device, be it a PC, laptop, iPhone, tablet, gaming console, Roku, you name it.

KeepStreams Video Downloader

Excellent compatibility and playback set KeepStreams Video Downloader apart from other commercially-available alternatives.

KeepStreams Video Downloader supports top-notch sound and picture quality, ad-free offline streaming, a Video Manager tool, and subtitles that will enhance your video-watching journey from start to end.

How to Watch M3U8 Videos?

Once you've downloaded the M3U8 video, you can watch it using any media player that supports the format. VLC Player is a popular choice for playing M3U8 videos. To play the video using VLC Player, open the program and click on "Media"> "Open File." Navigate to the location of the M3U8 video and click on the "Open" button. The video should start playing automatically. This is perfect if you want to watch an M3U8 video offline.

See also: How to Fix Hulu Error Code P-DEV320 on Various Devices?

Top 6 M3U8 Players to Use in 2022

1 - Vidmore Player

Vidmore Player is a professional media player which enables you to play any video and audio files, including MP3/M3U8 videos. It provides powerful playback functions, such as frame-by-frame playback, zooms in/out, adjusting playback speed, etc. In addition, it supports more than 500 types of audio and video formats. Vidmore player is available for both Windows and Mac.

Pros:

  • Support multiple video and audio formats
  • Provide editing features like cropping, rotating, watermarking, etc.
  • Built-in screen recorder and video converter
  • User-friendly interface

Cons:

  • A bit complicated to use for first-time users

2 - HLSPlayer

HLSPlayer is a free, open-source video player that can play live and VOD streams. It supports HLS/M3U8 streaming and can be used as a general-purpose media player. It has a simple interface with basic playback controls. You don't need to download any codecs or plugins as it works in your browser window.

Pros:

  • Available for multiple platforms
  • Can play live and VOD streams
  • Simple and user-friendly interface

Cons:

  • Lacks advanced features
  • Not suitable for playing high-definition videos

3 - Windows Media Player

Window Media Player is a built-in media player with the Windows operating system. It supports various video and audio codecs and can play local and online media files. You can use it to play M3U8 streams by installing the appropriate codecs. The best aspect of using Windows Media Player is it's free and easy to use.

Pros:

  • It comes pre-installed with Windows
  • Free to use
  • Supports a wide range of codecs
  • Can play both local and online media files

Cons:

  • Lacks advanced features

4 - Winamp Media Player

Winamp is a popular media player that supports a wide range of audio and video formats. It's lightweight and easy to use, making it an excellent choice for playing M3U8 videos. You can download Winamp for free from the official website. With Winamp, you can also create custom playlists, listen to online radio, and more; some people specifically use it for m3U8 videos.

Pros:

  • Lightweight and easy to use
  • It supports a wide range of audio and video formats
  • Free to download

Cons:

  • Not suitable for playing high-definition videos

5 - JWPlayer Stream Tester

JW Player Stream Tester is useful for testing whether your M3U8 video streams are working properly. It's free to use, and you can access it from the JW Player website. Enter the URL of your M3U8 video into the input field and click the "Test" button. You should see the video playing in the player window if everything is working correctly. You can also use JW Player Stream Tester to watch M3U8 videos from other websites. Enter the URL of the video into the input field and click the "Play" button.

Pros:

  • Free to use
  • Easy to use
  • Can test multiple videos at once

Cons:

  • Not suitable for playing HD videos

6 - Web IPTV Channel Player

Web IPTV Channel Player is another free M3U8 player that you can use to watch videos from various websites. Enter the URL of the video into the input field and click the "Play" button. The player will start playing the video automatically. This player is different from other M3U8 players because it supports live and VOD streams. It can show you a single video at a time.

Pros:

  • Free to use
  • Can Run M3U, M3U8, MP4, RTMP, and TS formats
  • Easy to use
  • You can use it online without needing to download anything

Cons:

  • Lacks the ability to play playlists

Also read: How to Fix Netflix Error Code NW-2-5 in Easy Steps? [2022]

To Sum It Up

M3U8 videos are text files that store multimedia playlists. You can easily open the M3U8 file with a notepad to track the address of that file and its properties. We also shared some of the most reliable M3U8 players you can use to play your playlists.

In the end, you also got to learn about the best M3U8 downloaders, such as FlixPal Video Downloader and KeepStreams Video Downloader, which auto-convert files into MP4 for the best possible streaming experience.

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