Tips to open M3U8 file

Can't open the M3U8 file? You are not the only one. Thousands of users face similar problems every day. Below you will find tips on how to open M3U8 files as well as a list of programs that support M3U8 files.

M3U8 file extension

File Name UTF-8 M3U Playlist Format
File Category Audio Files

The M3U8 file is supported on 3 operating systems. Depending on your operating system, you may need different software to handle the M3U8 files. Below is a summary of the number of programs that support and open the M3U8 file on each system platform.

Operating systems
  • 7
  • 3
  • 2
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

What is M3U8 file?

The .M3U8 file is a text file. This is a playlist containing references to the songs. It is a special type of the .M3U file and serves the same purpose. The only difference is in the encoding used in the file. In the case of .M3U8 it will always be UTF-8 which allows the use of diacritical marks. The file can be edited in any editor, but should be kept using UTF-8 encoding to avoid compatibility problems. Most playback software can use .M3U8 files without any problem.

How to open M3U8 file?

The main problem with UTF-8 M3U Playlist Format is that the M3U8 file is incorrectly associated with programs. Thus, when you open M3U8, the program selection wizard or some other program starts. This can be quickly resolved by following the instructions below.

The first thing you should do is just "doubleclick" on the M3U8 file icon you want to open. If the operating system has an appropriate application to support it and there is also an association between the file and the program, the file should be opened.

Step 1. Install iTunes

An often overlooked issue is to make sure that iTunes is installed on the computer. The easiest method is to use the system search engine by entering the program name iTunes in it. If we do not have this program, it is worth installing it, as it will help you automatically associate the file M3U8 with iTunes. Below you will find a list of applications that support M3U8 files.

Step 2. Create association of iTunes with M3U8 files

If, despite the installed application, the M3U8 file does not start in the iTunes application, you must create a file association. This option is available from the level of Properties of a specific file available in the context menu. The window will show, among other things, the type of the file and the information by which the program is used to launch the file. Changes can be made using the "Change" button. The program should be visible in the window, otherwise it should be selected manually using the "Browse" button and the program installation directory should be indicated. The "always use the selected program ..." field will set the iTunes application as the default for handling the M3U8 file.

Step 3. Update iTunes to the latest version

The fault may also lie with the iTunes program, it is possible that UTF-8 M3U Playlist Format requires a newer version of the program. This can be done using the application (if it provides such options) or from the Apple, Inc. website and install the latest version.

Step 4. Check for the following problems with the M3U8 file

If the above steps do not help, you can assume that the file itself is not correct. File problems can be divided into the following:

The M3U8 file may be unusually small compared to the original file. This is most often caused by a problem while downloading the M3U8 file. The only repair option is to download the file again.
The most common cause here is computer viruses. A quick virus scan using an up-to-date antivirus program should clear up any doubts. Some antivirus vendors also provide free online scanners. For the best results, we will scan the entire operating system, not just our M3U8 file. Sometimes virus-infected M3U8 files cannot be recovered, so make a backup in advance.
A typical compatibility error - the program does not support the older version of the M3U8 file. These problems are known and are often very easy to fix using the software developers's website.
There can be many reasons for the failure. Depending on the type of file, it is necessary to repair it accordingly. Some programs offer the option of recovering data from damaged M3U8 files. The easiest way to restore the file is from a backup or by contacting N/A, but this one can be expensive. Not all damage can be reversed.
When reading, a message appears that the file was encrypted or corrupted. The encrypted file M3U8 except for the special designation, works normally, but only on the device where it was encrypted, before transferring it to another machine, decryption is required.
The operating system protects files in some locations (e.g. the root of the system partition) against unauthorized access. These directories are write-protected to them and it's very hard to fix this problem. It is best to move M3U8 to a different directory.
This problem only occurs with more complex files. In this case, the M3U8 file is blocked by the first application to open it. Closing other programs should help. Sometimes you have to wait for the session to the file M3U8 to close. However, some background programs may block the M3U8 file while scanning. If this does not work either, restart the device.