What kind of file is M3U8? How to play and download it!

Have you ever heard of the m3u8 file format? This is a format used for videos and music, but compared to mp4 and wav, you may not see it as often or know much about it. This article introduces m3u8 files and summarizes some methods for downloading and playing them. Let's start with an explanation of m3u8.

What is m3u8?

The m3u8 format and the original mu3 format are a collection of media files that are playlist files in text (character) format that list URLs representing the location of files for continuous playback of video and audio. The m3u format was originally developed as a playlist for mp3 audio files and is often used in media players.

HLS (HTTP Live Streaming) is an application of this playlist for streaming video and audio over a network. The delivery server splits the original video and audio into MPEG-2 TS (Transport Stream) format files in 10-second segments, creates a list in m3u8 format in playback order (chronological order), and sends this list to the player side.

In conclusion, m3u8 is a format used for online streaming playback, so it cannot be downloaded and played by itself. It is not meant to be saved. Many of them are not designed to be downloaded in the first place because they are not designed to be saved. It is easier to understand if you understand it as a file that contains links to videos.

How to download m3u8 files

So, is there a way to download videos stored in m3u8 files?

Video Getter

Video Getter is a browser extension that allows you to search for and download videos from websites, so once installed, you do not need to do anything difficult to download them.

Using Chrome as an example, first add the extension on the Video Getter page.

Next, open the page for the m3u8 file you want to download.

When the video plays, a button for downloading will appear, just click on it and the download will begin.

VIDEO CYBORG

There are many sites on the Internet that allow you to convert file formats. Most of them will convert with a single URL, so you can convert the format to a regular video and then download it.

With VIDEO CYBORG, you can simply paste in a URL, select the format you want to convert, and download. Although account registration is now required, we recommend this method as it is also easy. The conversion procedure is the same for us users, so we can use it without having to think about anything difficult.

However, the disadvantage is that there is no guarantee that you will be able to download the file successfully every time. It often depends on the size of the file and the internet connection.

Since the site supports many format conversions other than m3u8, I think it is a site that can be used in a variety of situations.

StreamGaGa downloader for one-click video downloading

If you are looking for a quick and easy way to download videos, using a free online site is the best option, but some videos may not download properly because the files are too large. If stability is important, it is more efficient to use a proper download tool.

StreamGaGa is a download tool that supports most video and TV distribution services, allowing you to download videos not only from general sites such as YouTube, but also from paid distribution sites such as Netflix and Amazon Prime. It automatically performs m3u8 extraction and saves the video on your computer in a normal video file format.

Here, too, you can simply copy and paste the link to the video you want to download using the same procedure introduced earlier, and the download will begin. You can also set the quality, format, and even download it as an audio file. Downloading while watching in the built-in browser will save you a lot of tedious waiting time.

It is a powerful downloader that combines several excellent features into one, making it an indispensable tool for those who frequently download videos.

You can try it out for free on its official website, so if you are not sure about it, we recommend that you install and try it anyway.