What is the #EXTM3U tag?

#EXTM3U must be the very first line of every extended M3U file. It tells media players the file contains metadata beyond just URLs. Without it, most players treat the file as basic M3U and ignore all EXTINF attributes.

What does tvg-id do in M3U?

tvg-id is the Electronic Program Guide identifier that links a channel to its EPG data. It must match the channel ID in your XMLTV file exactly (case-sensitive) for programme information to appear.

What is the difference between tvg-id and tvg-name?

tvg-id is used for EPG matching and must match your XMLTV source. tvg-name is a fallback identifier and internal channel name. Use tvg-id for reliable EPG matching.

Do all players support M3U tags?

Most modern IPTV players support #EXTM3U, #EXTINF, tvg-id, tvg-logo, and group-title. HLS-specific tags (EXT-X-*) only work in HLS-compatible players. EXTVLCOPT is VLC-only.

M3UReference

M3U Tags Reference — Every M3U Tag and Attribute Explained

If you're looking for a complete M3U tags reference, this guide explains every M3U tag and attribute used in M3U playlists. From essential M3U tags like #EXTM3U and #EXTINF to EXTINF attributes like tvg-id and group-title, this comprehensive M3U tags guide covers syntax, usage notes, and player compatibility for each M3U tag. Understanding M3U tags is essential for creating and troubleshooting playlists.

Updated June 2025·6 min read

M3U Tags Reference - Every M3U tag and attribute explained

Understanding M3U Tags

M3U tags transform simple URL lists into rich multimedia playlists with metadata. Every M3U tag serves a specific purpose: some M3U tags like #EXTM3U apply to the entire playlist, while others like #EXTINF describe individual entries. Learning M3U tags enables you to create professional-grade IPTV playlists with channel logos, EPG integration, and organized categories. This M3U tags reference covers both universal M3U tags supported across all players and player-specific M3U tags extensions.

The M3U tags specification evolved from audio playlists (Winamp, 1998) to modern streaming applications. Today's M3U tags support live TV, VOD, HLS streaming, and complex metadata. Understanding which M3U tags are required versus optional, and which M3U tags work in which players, is essential for M3U playlist creation and troubleshooting.

#EXTM3UHeaderRequired

The foundational M3U tag that must be the very first line of every extended M3U file. Without this M3U tag, most players treat the file as basic M3U and ignore all metadata. The optional x-tvg-url attribute sets the EPG source URL for the entire playlist.

Syntax

#EXTM3U x-tvg-url="http://epg.example.com/xmltv.xml"

#EXTINFEntry metadataRequired

The most important M3U tag after #EXTM3U. This M3U tag appears immediately before each stream URL and contains the duration (or -1 for live), all channel attributes, and the display name after the final comma. No blank line is allowed between this M3U tag and the URL that follows.

Syntax

#EXTINF:-1 tvg-id="bbc.one" tvg-name="BBC One" tvg-logo="https://…/logo.png" group-title="UK",BBC One HD

tvg-idEXTINF attribute

The Electronic Program Guide identifier. Must match the channel ID in your XMLTV EPG source exactly — including case, dots, and hyphens. If it doesn't match, no programme data will appear for that channel.

Syntax

tvg-id="bbc.one.uk"

tvg-nameEXTINF attribute

The internal channel name used as a fallback for EPG matching when tvg-id is missing. Some players (TiviMate, Kodi) also use it to pre-fill the display name when importing.

Syntax

tvg-name="BBC One"

tvg-logoEXTINF attribute

A URL pointing to the channel logo image. Displayed in the channel list. Supported formats: PNG, JPG, SVG. The URL must be publicly accessible — logos behind authentication will not load.

Syntax

tvg-logo="https://example.com/logos/bbc1.png"

group-titleEXTINF attribute

Groups channels into folder-style categories in the player UI. Channels with identical group-title values are shown together. Case-sensitive — 'Sports' and 'sports' create two separate groups.

Syntax

group-title="UK | Entertainment"

x-tvg-urlEXTM3U attribute

Set on the #EXTM3U header line to specify the EPG source URL for the whole playlist. Players that support this attribute (TiviMate, IPTV Smarters, Kodi with PVR) will automatically load and match the EPG data.

Syntax

#EXTM3U x-tvg-url="http://epg.example.com/xmltv.xml"

#EXT-X-TARGETDURATIONHLS tag

HLS-only tag. Specifies the maximum segment duration in seconds. Only appears in M3U8 HLS manifests, not in IPTV channel playlists.

Syntax

#EXT-X-TARGETDURATION:10

#EXT-X-ENDLISTHLS tag

HLS-only tag. Marks a VOD playlist as complete. Absent in live HLS streams. Not used in IPTV channel playlists.

Syntax

#EXT-X-ENDLIST

#EXTVLCOPTVLC extension

VLC-specific extension for passing playback options. Commonly used to set a custom user-agent for streams that require browser identification. Only parsed by VLC.

Syntax

#EXTVLCOPT:http-user-agent=Mozilla/5.0

Check your M3U tags automatically

The M3U Validator scans every M3U tag including EXTINF tags and reports syntax errors, missing commas, and malformed attributes in your M3U tags.

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Learn more about M3U tags

EXTINF ExplainedDeep dive into the #EXTINF M3U tag.M3U Format GuideFull M3U syntax with working examples.What Is M3U?M3U fundamentals and M3U tags explained.EPG GuideHow tvg-id M3U tag connects to EPG data.