Quality switching
Let the player adapt to your connection, or lock a resolution to check each rendition.
M3U8 Player
Paste an .m3u8 link and it plays right here, in any modern browser. Switch quality, check that a stream works, and see what the player is loading.
Play a stream
Paste an .m3u8 link above to start playing
- Quality Auto or locked rendition
- Streams VOD and live HLS
- Private Plays straight from the source
- Runs in your browser
- Nothing uploaded
- No account
01How it works
How to use the M3U8 Player
- 01
Paste the M3U8 link
Copy the playlist address and paste it into the box above the player.
- 02
Press Play
The player loads the playlist and starts with a quality that suits your connection.
- 03
Switch or inspect
Lock a quality, watch the bitrate, or open the same stream in the checker or downloader.
02About
What is the M3U8 Player?
Most browsers can't open an .m3u8 link on their own. Chrome and Firefox download the playlist or show an error, because HLS needs a player that reads the playlist and feeds the segments to the video element. This page is that player.
Playback uses hls.js, the open-source HLS player behind many video sites, with Safari's built-in HLS support as a fallback. It shows the current resolution and bitrate, lets you lock a quality, and explains errors in plain language, so it doubles as a quick stream tester.
Popular uses
- Stream testing
Confirm a new encoder or CDN setup plays before you ship it.
- Checking a link
See whether an .m3u8 link from a colleague, client, or API still works.
- Watching in any browser
Play HLS in Chrome, Firefox, or Edge, which don't open .m3u8 links on their own.
- Debugging players
Compare with your own player to tell stream problems from player bugs.
03Features
Why use this M3U8 Player tool
Live and on-demand
Plays recorded videos and live streams, including streams with separate audio tracks.
Readable errors
Network, CORS, expired-link, and codec problems are explained, not just reported as failed.
Private by design
Streams and files go straight between your browser and their source. ToolsBase never sees them.
No account, no install
Works in any modern browser on desktop or phone. There's nothing to sign up for or download.
No DRM circumvention
Protected streams are refused. The tools work with open HLS and standard AES-128 only.
04FAQ
M3U8 Player: frequently asked questions
How do I play an M3U8 link online?
Paste the .m3u8 address into the box and click Play. The stream starts in the player below it. Use the quality menu to lock a resolution.
Why won't my M3U8 link play?
The usual reasons are: the server doesn't allow other websites to load the stream (CORS), the link has expired (many carry a time-limited token), the stream is DRM-protected, or it's an http:// address, which browsers block on secure pages. The message under the player says which.
Can I play a local .m3u8 file?
Not directly. A playlist refers to its segments by address, so the player needs the playlist's URL. Paste the original link instead.
Which browsers are supported?
Current versions of Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Opera, and Safari, on desktop and Android. On iPhone, Safari plays HLS natively.
Does the player save the stream?
No. It streams segments from the server for playback only. To save a copy, use the HLS Downloader.
05More tools
More HLS tools
Pass the same stream to another tool, or convert what you've saved.
HLS DownloaderPaste an .m3u8 link, choose a quality, and save the stream as one MP4 file.M3U8 CheckerPaste an .m3u8 link to see what's inside: every rendition with its resolution, bitrate, and codecs, plus the duration, segments, encryption, and anything worth fixing.TS to MP4Turn .ts files into an MP4 that plays everywhere.