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Updated 2026-05-10

M3U8 Inspector: Analyze HLS Playlists Online

What this tool does

Paste any HLS m3u8 URL and this Inspector parses the manifest directly in your browser. It reports: master vs media playlist, all quality variants (resolution, bandwidth, codecs, FPS), AES-128 encryption detection via the EXT-X-KEY tag, external audio renditions, segment count and estimated total duration. This is a pre-flight analyzer, not a converter. It does not download segments. For the actual conversion to MP4, follow our M3U8 to MP4 conversion guide.

Note: fetching the manifest is subject to CORS. Most CDNs block cross-origin requests from external tools. If the analysis fetch fails, the Inspector still generates the ffmpeg and yt-dlp commands for you to run locally with your URL.

Runs entirely in your browser. No URL or manifest data is sent to any server.

Once analyzed: how to actually download as MP4

The Inspector tells you the structure of your playlist. To save it as an MP4, you need a separate tool. Here are the three methods - for the full walkthrough see the M3U8 to MP4 conversion guide.

Vidora Chrome Extension Recommended

One click. Works on authenticated streams, AES-128 encrypted HLS, and separate audio renditions. No CORS issues because it runs inside your browser tab.

Install Vidora - free during launch → 5 free downloads included
ffmpeg (CLI) CLI

Free and unlimited. Handles AES-128 automatically. Use -c copy to remux without re-encoding (fast, lossless quality).

ffmpeg command
ffmpeg -i "YOUR_M3U8_URL" -c copy output.mp4

After inspecting above, the command updates with your URL automatically.

yt-dlp (CLI) CLI

Smarter extraction with site-specific handlers. Best for streams where cookies or Referer headers are required.

yt-dlp command
yt-dlp "YOUR_M3U8_URL" -o output.mp4

After inspecting above, the command updates with your URL automatically.

Frequently asked questions

What does the M3U8 Inspector check?
The Inspector parses an HLS playlist URL in your browser and reports: master vs media playlist type, all quality variants (resolution, bandwidth, codec, FPS), AES-128 encryption detection via the EXT-X-KEY tag, external audio renditions, segment count, and estimated total duration. It is a pre-flight analyzer only - it does not download segments. Once you know the structure, follow our M3U8 to MP4 conversion guide to actually save the stream.
Why does the Inspector show a CORS error when I paste my m3u8 URL?
Most streaming CDNs set strict CORS headers that block cross-origin requests from external browser tools. The manifest is served only to requests originating from the video player's domain. This is a browser security policy, not a bug in the Inspector. Even when CORS blocks the analysis fetch, the Inspector still generates the exact ffmpeg and yt-dlp commands for you to run locally with your URL.
What does AES-128 encryption mean for this playlist?
AES-128 means each video segment is encrypted with a 128-bit key. The player fetches the decryption key from a separate URL listed in the EXT-X-KEY tag. The Inspector flags this on the result panel and shows the key URL when accessible. For the full cipher mechanics (CBC mode, IV derivation, PKCS#7 padding), read our AES-128 HLS Encryption Explained deep-dive. For practical decryption commands and tools, see the encrypted m3u8 download guide.
What is the difference between a master playlist and a media playlist?
A master playlist contains EXT-X-STREAM-INF tags that list multiple quality variants, each pointing to a separate media playlist. A media playlist contains the actual segment URLs (EXTINF tags) for a single quality level. If you paste a master playlist URL, this tool lists all variants with resolutions, bandwidth, and codecs. If you paste a media playlist URL directly, it shows the segment count and estimated duration for that specific quality track.
After inspecting, how do I actually convert the m3u8 to MP4?
Once the Inspector confirms the playlist structure, follow the M3U8 to MP4 conversion guide which walks through three methods. The basic ffmpeg command is ffmpeg -i "YOUR_M3U8_URL" -c copy output.mp4. The -c copy flag remuxes without re-encoding, which is fast and lossless. If the stream is AES-128 encrypted and the key server requires cookies, add -headers "Cookie: your_cookie_value" before -i. The Inspector also generates a yt-dlp command for cases where ffmpeg struggles with site-specific auth. After running the Inspector above, both commands appear with your URL baked in.

Related guides

Ready to convert? M3U8 to MP4 guide (3 methods) AES-128 HLS Encryption Explained Download AES-128 encrypted M3U8 How to find any M3U8 URL M3U8 URL Detector tool Free M3U8 CLI tools compared

Vidora Engineering

The Vidora team builds and maintains the Vidora Chrome extension for HLS, DASH, and MP4 video download. Based in Albuquerque, NM. We write about video streaming protocols, browser extension architecture, and practical ffmpeg recipes.