Raudo
Formats · M3U
What is an M3U (and M3U8) file?
The most common playlist format in IPTV. Here you see it from the inside — and learn why your "M3U link" gives you movies and series too.
What M3U is, in one sentence
An M3U file is a playlist: a plain-text file with the name of each channel and the internet address it streams from. It stores no video, only the list of links; the player reads it and opens each address when you pick a channel.
See it from the inside
This is an M3U playlist
It's not scary: just three kinds of line. The channel name, its data and the address it streams from.
#EXTM3Uheader: “this is a playlist”#EXTINF:-1 tvg-logo=“logo.png” group-title=“News”,Example Channel HDname, logo and grouphttp://example.server/stream/123where it streams fromThe most common confusion
Why your "M3U link" also gives you movies and series
The link your provider gives you is rarely a bare M3U: it carries your username and password inside. And that, really, is Xtream Codes.
http://server.com:8080/get.php?username=pedro&password=••••••&type=m3u_pluscredentials inside → it's XtreamSo, M3U or Xtream?
Here's the key almost nobody explains. "M3U" and "Xtream Codes" aren't two separate worlds: they're two ways of handing your details to the player.
- A bare M3U (a file or link with loose channels, no username or password) gives you exactly that: live channels.
- A provider "M3U link" (the usual get.php?username=…&password=…) carries your login inside. Raudo recognises it, goes in via Xtream and shows you live TV, movies, series, posters and the EPG guide.
That's why you paste your link into Raudo and everything appears: because that link, even if you call it M3U, is an Xtream login. You don't have to do anything special — the app detects it on its own.
Under the hood
What's inside an M3U playlist
Each channel's name
Every line's EXTINF tag holds the name you'll see, and sometimes the logo and group (Sports, News, Movies…).
The stream address
Below each name is the URL that channel plays from. It's what the player opens when you click it.
Groups and categories
Many lists group channels by category, and a good player sorts them into folders automatically.
Channel logos
If the list includes the logo URL, the player shows it in the gallery so you recognise the channel at a glance.
The other classic question
M3U vs M3U8
Same playlist, same function. The only difference is how the text is saved.
| M3U | M3U8 | |
|---|---|---|
| It's a channel playlist | ||
| Text encoding | basic | UTF-8 |
| Shows accents, Arabic or Cyrillic well | ||
| The player opens it the same |
How to open an M3U on Windows
Don't open it in Notepad — you'd just see text and links. An M3U needs an IPTV player that reads the list and plays each channel. In Raudo it's as easy as pasting the M3U link your provider gave you, or loading the file — and you also get an EPG guide, favourites and a channel gallery. The step-by-step guide is linked below.
Frequently asked questions
What is an M3U file?
An M3U file is a text playlist that holds the name of each channel and the internet address it streams from. It contains no video: only the list of links the player opens one by one. It's the standard format used to hand over IPTV channels.
Why does my M3U list also give me movies and series?
Because your "M3U link" isn't a bare M3U: it's a provider link with your username and password inside (the usual get.php?username=…&password=…). That's Xtream Codes, and Raudo detects it automatically to show you live TV, movies, series and posters. A channels-only M3U, with no credentials, would give you live TV only.
What's the difference between M3U and M3U8?
None in terms of function: both are the same playlist. The only difference is that an .m3u8 is saved in UTF-8, an encoding that correctly displays accents and alphabets like Arabic or Cyrillic in channel names. A good player opens both the same way.
How do I open an M3U file on my PC?
You need an IPTV player, not Notepad. Download Raudo, paste the M3U link your provider gave you (or load the file) and the channels appear ready to play, with a guide and favourites. The full guide is linked on this page.
Does the M3U file include the channels?
Not in the sense of containing video. The M3U only stores the names and stream addresses; the content lives on your provider's servers. That's why Raudo, like any player, includes no channels — it's just the tool that opens your list.
Keep learning
Open your M3U playlist in Raudo, with a guide, movies and series.
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