.M3U File Extension
M3U Media Playlist
| Developer | Nullsoft |
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What is an M3U file?
An M3U file is a media playlist supported by various media players, including VideoLAN VLC media player, Nullsoft Winamp, and Microsoft Windows Media Player. It contains plain text listing the locations of the media files in the playlist. M3U files can also include metadata, such as track titles and artist names.
More Information
Playlists can reference media stored on your computer or online media streams. They use file paths to locate local files and URLs to reference online media. Originally designed for audio playlists containing .MP3, .WAV, and other audio files, the M3U format is now also used for video playlists. For example, an M3U file may reference .MP4, .TS, and .WEBM video files.
M3U files do not contain the media itself. Instead, they provide information that media players use to locate and play the referenced content. M3U is commonly expanded as "MP3 URL," a name reflecting the format's original association with MP3 audio playlists.
How to create an M3U file
Many media players and audio management programs can create and save M3U playlists. For example, you can create an M3U playlist with VideoLAN VLC media player by adding media files to a playlist, selecting the appropriate playlist-saving option in the Media or File menu (depending on your version), and saving the playlist in M3U format. You can also use audio tag editors, such as Mp3tag, to create playlists from selected audio files or automatically generate playlists based on your music library.
How to open an M3U file
You can open an M3U file and play the playlist it contains with many media players, including VideoLAN VLC media player (multiplatform) and Microsoft Windows Media Player (Windows). If the playlist your M3U file describes does not start playing when you open it, you may not have access to the files included in the playlist.
You can also open an M3U file with any text editor, such as Microsoft Notepad (Windows) or Apple TextEdit (Mac), to view the text it contains.
How to convert an M3U file
M3U files are not audio or video files, so you cannot convert them to .MP3, .MP4, or other media formats. To convert the media files an M3U playlist references to other formats, you must locate or download the files. Then, you must convert them using an applicable program.
For example, if your M3U file references a series of MP3 files, you must locate or download the MP3 files. Then, you can use Audacity or VideoLAN VLC media player to convert them to other audio formats.