M3U File

Category: Audio Files

What is a M3U file?

The M3U file is associated with playlist files created and understood by all popular software media players and portable media devices. M3U files have references to media files, but they are not the actual file. It works by containing audio or video files and has the locations of media files in a plain text format. A typical M3U file is a plaintext list of media files queued in a certain order to be played by a software or hardware media player. The M3U file is short for MP3 URL which is short for Moving Picture Experts Group Audio Layer 3 Uniform Resource Locator. Although M3U files are usually used for audio playlists, some may also have references to video files. It is a media playlist file used and supported by media players such as iTunes and Winamp.

How to Open M3U Files

Microsoft Windows Media Player

VideoLAN VLC media player

Nullsoft Winamp

Apple iTunes

foobar2000

Clementine

Apple iTunes

RealNetworks RealPlayer Cloud

VideoLAN VLC media player

Songbird

Clementine

XMMS

VideoLAN VLC media player

Clementine

How to Make M3U Files

Exact steps for creating M3U files will vary by program and operating system. Download one of the above listed programs and you should be able to follow typical procedure for opening files or creating files from the File menu. Typically you will select File > Open or File > New and continue through the prompts. Some programs may follow a different procedure for either creation or opening of files.