What is an M3U File?

An M3U file is a simple text-based file format used to hold a list of web-accessible audio or video files. Usually, it is used for storing playlists of single music or movies available for media player playback. Many well-known audio players, including Winamp and iTunes, follow standard procedures in using the M3U file format. Many streaming media players also let this format be supported.

The lengthening.M3U is the short for “MPEG Version 3.0 URL.” The file format which is used to offer a list of the locations of media files that might be played or downloaded remotely over the Internet is developed by the Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG). Many streaming media players including Winamp and VLC media players use the.M3U file format for storing its metadata and additional data.

Start a file with the extension.M3u.

To open an M3U file, one must have a suitable media player. Every well-known media player including Winamp, iTunes, VLC media player, and Windows Media Player can efficiently playback M3U files.

The media player opens the playlist just by double-clicking on an M3U file. One can only access the file this way. The media player will then play the music or video files contained in the playlist in the next stage.

File with the extension created here. M4U.

Making an M3U file is not difficult. All that is needed of you and your computer is to create a text file and save it using the M3U extension. Among other text editors, Notepad and TextEdit can help one achieve this.

Once you have created the text file, you will be able to include online available audio or video file URLs to the file. By visiting the media player in charge of storing music or video files, one can find their URLs kept online.

Once you have completed adding the URLs of the online audio or video files to the M3U file, you will be able to save the file and subsequently access it with a media player suitable for the file. The media player will then run the songs or video files contained in the playlist in the next phase.

Final Thoughts

Designed to hold a list of audio or video files available online, the M3U file format is a simple text-based file type. Usually, it is used for storing playlists of single music or movies available for media player playback. Already somewhat extensively used audio players and streaming media players support the M3U file type. To open an M3U file, one must have a suitable media player. First, create a text file then add the URLs of the music or video files you intend to play from the internet to create a file with the extension.M3U.