Video and audio can be excellent sources of entertainment and pastime. With all the video and audio formats, you won’t specifically use one format. MP4, MOV, WMV, MP3, and AAC are some of the most well-known media formats. Furthermore, have you ever heard of M3U8? It is a file format used for video and audio playback prgram that store playlists. Many users fail to play their M3U8 files on their computers even if they already use media players. That’s because M3U8 is not your typical file format. It requires additional effort and knowledge before you can view them. To know more about the M3U8 format, check out the next part and learn some techniques to convert M3U8 to MP4. That way, you can play them without any errors!
What is an M3U8 File?
A computer file format called M3U8 is mainly used to generate an extendable playlist linked to an online stream and radio. It consists of an internet web path with information about each track. M3U8 files use “UTF-8” character encoding compared to M3U. The HTTP Live Streaming (HLS) protocol, which streams audio and video over the internet, is now based on M3U8 files. However, remember that the M3U8 file is plain text and does not include audio or video data. Other text information inside the M3U8 file might be some comment that describes the contents.
How to Convert M3U8 to MP4 with VLC Media Player
Distinctive Feature: Aside from being a video converter, VLC has a screen recording feature that lets you capture your entire screen and save them to MP4 format.
Supported Video Quality: VLC allows you to save your video in 720P and 1080P.
A cross-platform player that plays most multimedia files from discs, computers, smartphones, and network streaming protocols is what VLC Media Player can offer. It is free, open-source software with customizable skin to take your user experience to the next level. VLC Media Player can also be an excellent video converter, making it simple to convert M3U8 to MP4, MOV, AVI, FLV, WMV, and other formats. Plus, all your converted files have the same quality as the original. You can learn all the steps on how the VLC M3U8 file to MP4 converter works.
Step 1Install VLC on Your Computer
Install VLC according to your computer OS. You can get the download button by clicking the embedded link above. Ensure you follow all the instructions on the setup window to download the tool. After that, launch it and proceed to the next step.
Step 2Start to Convert M3U8 to MP4
Next, go to the “Media” tab of the tool and pick “Convert/Save” from the menu or press the “Ctrl+R” on your keyboard. Upload the file by hitting the “Add” button and then “Convert/Save“ to launch the converter window. On that window, select the “Video for MPEG4 1080p TV/Device” as the output and choose the file folder by ticking the “Browse” button. After that, hit “Start” to convert to MP4.
Step 3Play the MP4 File
Finally, the video will automatically go to the output folder you set. Launch that folder and find the file. Then, point the cursor of your mouse to the file to see its details. The M3U8 file is now converted to MP4 format. Double-click on it and enjoy watching the video.
How to Convert M3U8 Video to MP4 Online Convert
Distinctive Feature: It allows you to cut the video by entering specific timestamps to convert the only part you need.
Supported Video Quality: It can convert video to 480P, 720P, and 1080P.
Online Convert is a helpful free video converter no watermark that can convert your M3U8 files to MP4 format. You can select a video from your Google Drive and Dropbox or enter a URL. Also, you can drop an M3U8 into the converter tab as an alternative way. Furthermore, the tool has other functions to help you improve your video. You can change the bitrate, adjust the aspect ratio, set file size, and more. Additionally, change the frame rate to 120fps, rotate the video, and others. Then, you can also adjust the audio settings of the video. That includes the quality, audio codec, frequency, and much more. Below is a guide to learning how to use this M3U8 converter online.
Step 1Launch the Online Convert Website
First, open the link above to access Online Convert official website. Once you are on the landing page, start familiarizing all its features and converter box. You can access the website on Google Chrome, Safari, Mozilla Firefox, or other web browsers.
Step 2Import and Convert M3U8 File
Next, import your M3U8 by dropping it into the converter tab. If the video is from a cloud-based library, like Dropbox or Google Drive, hit the icon you are using and log in with your account to select the file. Once the M3U8 to MP4 online converter analyzes your file, hit the ”Start” button to convert it.
Step 3Check the Converted File
After the M3U8 to the MP4 conversion process, the converted file will automatically go to your computer folder. Then, look for the file and check that it is now changed to MP4 format. You can play the video with your media player and enjoy it without error.
Professional Video Converter to Change M3U8 to MP4
Distinctive Feature: The tool uses hardware acceleration to fasten the conversion process. So even if your video is long, you can convert it into a minute.
Supported Video Quality: It supports 720P, 1080P, and 4K quality for a crystal clear output.
If you are looking for a program that can convert an M3U8 file to MP4, Video Master Premium is worth a try! It is versatile software that provides all the features you need in a converter. The M3U8 to MP4 converter offers many options to enhance your video before conversion. You may crop, trim, rotate, add or change filters, put watermarks, effects, and more. Besides that, you can select your preferred video codec between HEVC or H.264. Also, its capability to convert multiple MU38 files to MP4 with a single click is its finest feature. Instead of manually converting each video, this will save you time. See the specific instructions below to learn how. We import another format as an example, but the process works similarly in the M3U8 format.
Step 1Install the M3U8 to MP4 Video Converter
To save Video Master Premium on your computer, click the "Download" option corresponding to your operating system and follow the setup window. Start the tool after that to become familiar with its main interface, buttons, and navigations. This will make it simple for you to complete the tasks below. Look at the image below to verify that you have the proper software installed.
Step 2Select MP4 Format
After that, select "Converter" from the top panel and click the "Convert All to" button on the top-right side. Pressing the arrow-down icon will bring up the output format window. Choose "Video" and "MP4" from the list of choices. To convert the video to an MP4 with 4K resolution, select "4K Video" from the menu.
Step 3Import M3U8 and Start
Drag and drop the video onto the tool, or use the "Add Files" button in the top-left corner to choose the file from your "File Menu." The software will display the video once it has finished analyzing it. You can now edit the video by clicking the "star" icon under the file details to open the editor window. Afterward, hit the "Convert All" button.
Step 4Preview the Converted File
The M3U8 to MP4 conversion will begin after you click the "Convert All" button in the tool's lower-right corner. Then, if you think you missed an editing element, you can halt the procedure and check the progress directly on the "progress bar." Once done, check the converted file on the "Converted" panel and witness that it is in MP4 format. Hit the "Play" symbol to preview the video.
How to Save M3U8 as MP4 on Android/iPhone
1M3U8 Loader
Distinctive Feature: It has a file manager where you can rename and organize your files to locate them quickly.
Supported Video Quality: The app can convert the video with the same quality as the source.
M3U8 Loader is dedicated to Android smartphone users. It is a straightforward app that lets you download and convert M3U8 to MP4 Android through its URL. Yes, you can only convert and download M3U8 files from the web, and there’s no option where you can directly import a video from your device. Nevertheless, the tool offers all the essential features that beginners may benefit from. With its copy-and-paste process, you can instantly turn your M3U8 files to MP4 format. Also, you can share your converted files on YouTube, Facebook, Snapchat, and other platforms. Find out below to learn how to use the app.
User guide:
- Get the app from your Google Play Store or through the link above and save it on your Android phone. Open the app and go to the “Download” section.
- Then, get the URL of the M3U8 file you want to convert and paste it on the ”Converter” bar of the app. Select the “Video” button since we will convert it to MP4. Tap the “Download” button to save the video.
- After that, all the videos you converted are saved on the app’s “File Manager.” Hit the “Album” button on the lower part to check, play, or share the video.
2M3U8 Player Pro
Distinctive Feature: The app doesn’t compress the video when playing, so you can have the best quality while streaming.
Supported Video Quality: The player supports any video quality, like 720p to 4K, for every video you play.
We have created a clever workaround even though the iPhone lacks an app that can convert M3U8 to MP4 natively. No specific app can help you convert M3U8 files to MP4, but we will share an alternative solution to play the file on your iPhone. Here, you can use the M3U8 Player Pro which you can get from your App Store. The app doesn’t provide you with a list of M3U8 links. So, you can use your video link and play it on the player. See how this is possible by following the user guide beneath.
User guide:
- Launch your App Store and search for M3U8 Player Pro on the search bar. Tap the “Get” button to save the app on your iPhone.
- TAfterward, copy the URL of your M3U8 file and paste it on the URL bar. Then, tap the “Play” button under the URL bar.
- Once you hit the play button, the app will analyze the link until it appears. You can now enjoy watching your M3U8 video on your iPhone.
FAQs of Converting M3U8 to MP4
Extra Tip: Recommended MP4 Players
Numerous media players can play MP4 files. This makes your streaming experience more productive because of their features, like adjusting the speed, customizing the player skin, adjusting the volume, and more. When your MP4 files are linked to these players, you can access them like other media files, which can be played by double-clicking. However, if you want to play and upload MKV videos to iTunes, there are standards you need to meet. So, click this link if you want to know about the iTunes requirements. Furthermore, you could play MP4 playlists on your computer using these suggested MP4 players according to the operating system you are using:
- Windows: Apple iTunes, RealNetworks RealPlayer Cloud, Microsoft Windows Media Player, Nullsoft Winamp, Roxio Creator NXT Pro 6, and VideoLAN VLC Media Player
- Mac: Songbird, CocoModX, RealPlayer Cloud, RealNetworks RealPlayer, and VideoLAN VLC Media Player
- Linux-based systems: XMMS and VideoLAN
Comparison Chart
Tools | Other Supported Formats | System Requirements | Other Features |
---|---|---|---|
VLC | MKV, MOV, AVI, WebM, etc. | For CPU-Intel i3 or above/ For HDD-500MB or more/ For RAM-2GB or higher | Screen recorder |
Video Master Premium | ProRes, AVI, WMV, MOV, etc. | For CPU-1GHz Intel or above/ For HDD-200MB or more/ For RAM-1GB or more | Video compressor |
Online Convert | MP4 only | Chrome version 107.0.5304.87/Safari 15.6.1 | Video editor |
M3U8 Loader | MP3 | Android 4.1 and above | Audio converter |
M3U8 Player Pro | It only plays M3U8 format. | iOS 12.0 or later | None |