How to Download M3U8 Videos with an M3U8 Downloader Software?

In this article, we focus on a certain type of file extension called M3U8 that some of you might not have heard of. What is an M3U8 file? What software is required to open this file, and how to download M3U8 videos?

If you're also finding the answers to these questions, then you're in good luck, read on to discover all the myths beneath M3U8 files.

1. M3U8 Explained: Everything You May Want to Know

1.1 What Is an M3U8 File?

Before we delve into M3U8 downloader applications we first take a look at what is an M3U8 file. From the term, it is apparent that we are talking of some kind of file format, a computer file format that allows you to access a stream via the internet. A UTF-8 encoded audio playlist file takes the M3U8 file extension.

The M3U8 video file contains a link to online files for an internet radio station or other streaming services. To refer to specific media files and/or entire directories of media files, the file can employ absolute paths, relative paths, and URLs.

1.2 Features of M3U8 Files

An M3U8 file usually has the following features:

• It could be an audio playlist encoded in UTF8 format.
• It can be read by media players such as Songbird, iTunes, VLC, and others.
• It can be converted into XSPF, HTML, or M3U using players such as VLC.

• Usually, files of such extensions include encoded audio playlists.
• They include location details for media files that are mentioned in the playlist.
• These files help one to locate audio or video files that are part of a playlist.

2. How to Download M3U8 Videos?

If you are wondering how to download M3U8, there are several ways to do so.

2.1 Download M3U8 Videos with M3U8X

M3U8X is an M3U8 video downloader that can be used to download M3U8 videos, with the help of the Chrome browser. The steps to do so are as follows:

• Open the section of Chrome Developer tools; here you can find the Network tab.
• Navigate to the section where the video files are and click on them.
• Filer list of the files to the file extension M3U8.
• Find the master or index M3U8 file and click on the same.
• Save the file on a disk and look into the properties of the file.
• If there is a single master URL, copy the same.
• Run the program called M3U8X.
• Paste the URL on the text boxes and find the videos on Chrome.
• Select download M3U8 video format as MP4.
• Click on download after check-marking on ‘One’.
• A dialog box will open up, displaying all .TS files; click on download to get all the files together.

Occasionally you might come across dialog boxes asking whether you wish to continue to download videos from M3U8. You can click on Yes and continue to download everything.

2.2 Download M3U8 Videos with StreamFab DRM M3U8 Downloader

If the above download process seems too complicated, there is an easier solution available. That is by using the DRM M3U8 downloader offered by StreamFab. This software can make things easy.

It can download MP4 videos in 1080 quality, also from websites that have M3U8 encryptions. You could try the free version of this M3U8 video downloader software or opt to download the professional version for Windows.

It is easy to use the downloader software to download M3U8 videos from DRM M3U8-encrypted websites. The steps to do so are as follows:

• Download the trial program for free or choose to pay a subscription for the same.
• Once the file is downloaded to your computer, run it.

• On the main interface, visit the DRM-M3U8 website where you wish to download videos from.

• Play the video you wish to download; there will appear a button for download on the top left corner; once you click on it the file will save for offline viewing.

In order to use this M3U8 downloader software to its fullest potential, ensure that you own a computer with Windows 11, 10, 8, or 7 OS. Also, ensure that RAM is 4 GB and free hard disk drive space is 40 GB.

2.3 Download M3U8 Videos with VLC Player

Most of you may only know VLC as a free and open-source and cross-platform multimedia player, however, apart from its robust playback features, there are some easily-neglectable features beneath this well-known media player, such as the ability to edit videos, convert videos, and also, our focus here, download M3U8 videos is one of its wonderful features.

VLC features an inbuilt video converter and downloader that is able to download M3U8 videos and convert the latter into popular MP4 or other video formats so that you can play them on any device. Here below are the detailed steps on the job:

Have you ever wondered if there is an online M3U8 downloader so that I don't need to install additional applications for the download task? Yes, actually, there are many. Free M3U8 Video Converter is one of them. It's extremely easy to use, just copy & paste the video URL, and then hit the Download button, and you're all set.

3. How to Create, Convert and Play M3U8 Files

In this section, we will talk about something extra, including how to create, convert and play back M3U8 files.

3.1 How to Create M3U8 Files?

Some M3U8 downloader software can help open as well as create such files. For instance, when you load several files onto a VLC M3U8 player, you might want to save the same as a playlist.

In order to save the files for easy playback, you can opt to press the Media button on the player. Here, on clicking on this option, you will find Save Playlist to File. Here you can save the playlist as an M3U8 file.

Another way to do so is to convert the same to another format. For instance, if a playlist is of the format HTML, you can save the same in M3U8 format.

3.2 How to Open and Play M3U8 Files?

When you download M3U8 these are files that can be read and edited by different text editors, for instance, Notepad as found in Windows. However, when you open such a file with a text editor, it allows you to read the different file references.

From the text editors, you cannot play the music files that are indicated in the playlist. That is because such programs are not media management programs or media players.

In order to be able to open M3U8 files and play the embedded playlist, you need media players such as VLC, Songbird, or iTunes of Apple.

You could also open these files with XMMS using Linux. Mac users can use programs such as CocoModX. There are also several programs, compatible with Windows that can open M3U8 files.

There are other ways to open such files online. For instance, you could try HSLPlayer. If you have a playlist of URLs as well as contents that have online references, then only this program comes of use.

Otherwise, when you have music or video files on a local drive or device, then creating a playlist to access the same is best done by VLC or similar programs.

3.3 How to Convert M3U8 Files? 

You might want to save such playlist files in other media formats such as MP3 or MP4. However, such a file is actually plain text which includes references or directory pathways to audio or video files. There is no embedded audio or video file which can be converted into other file formats or played directly.

Of course, there is a converter or downloader software that can claim to convert M3U8 files. Such programs will find the videos from the paths included in the file. It will then line up those media files for conversion. In general, a specific M3U8 file is of text-based format. Hence it cannot convert to anything other than a file of text format.

When you wish to capture the media files included in an M3U8 file, you would have to first locate the different media files as specified on the playlist. Once it is done, you can choose to convert the files to formats of your choice.

Instead of manually searching for files on a playlist, it is best to use export tool programs. There are free programs such as M3UExportTool which can use a playlist to identify sources for all media files.

It can then copy the files onto a single folder or location. This makes it easy to convert all the files using an audio or video converter. Media management programs such as VLC can resave open playlists in M3U8 format and save them in other formats such as HTML, XSPF, or M3U.

Final Words

Many of whom are unfamiliar with M3U8 files, will know that these are the playlist files that many libraries have. If you wish to export all media files from such a playlist file, all we need to do is use the right downloader software.

That is where StreamFab M3U8 Downloader comes into use. Though there are ways to make M3U8 file download happen through Developer Tools on Chrome, the process is complicated.