M3U File

What are M3U files and how to open them

Are you having problems opening a M3U file or are you simply curious about its contents? We're here to explain the properties of these files and provide you with software that can open or handle your M3U files.

What is a M3U file?

A .M3U file is an Extended M3U playlist file.

M3U is short for Moving Picture Expert Group Audio Layer 3 URL. Files that have the .m3u file extension are MP3 playlist files, also commonly referred to as Winamp playlist files.

The M3U file format was initially created for the Winamp software application, but a variety of MP3 players now use the M3U file format to manage a user's custom playlists. While M3U files are normally used to store audio playlists, some M3U files may contain video file references as well.

The M3U file does not contain any of the actual media within the file. These files only contain references (URLs/links) to the actual media files that have been saved to the user's playlist.

How to open M3U files

We have identified three M3U openers that are compatible with this specific type of M3U file.

Programs that open Extended M3U playlist files

Last updated: December 28, 2023

Various apps that use files with this extension

These apps are known to open certain types of M3U files. Remember, different programs may use M3U files for different purposes, so you may need to try out a few of them to be able to open your specific file.

Help us help others

File.org helps thousands of users every day, and we would love to hear from you if you have additional information about M3U file formats, example files, or compatible programs. Please use the links below or email us at submit@file.org to discuss further.