M3U Converter
Convert M3U to M3U8, JSON, or CSV — fix encoding and reformat for any player
This free online M3U converter lets you convert M3U to M3U8, export your playlist as JSON or CSV, and fix UTF-8 encoding issues — all directly in your browser. No file is ever uploaded to a server. Your stream URLs, IPTV credentials, and channel list stay completely private on your device.
The most common reason to convert M3U to M3U8 is encoding. When channel names contain Arabic, Cyrillic, Chinese, or other non-Latin characters, an M3U file saved with the wrong encoding shows garbled text in your IPTV player. Converting to M3U8 forces explicit UTF-8 encoding and fixes the display permanently. Some iOS and Apple TV IPTV apps also require the .m3u8 extension and will reject a .m3u file even if the content is identical.
The JSON and CSV export formats are for developers and power users. JSON output gives you a structured array of channel objects — title, URL, group, tvg-id, tvg-name, tvg-logo — that you can import into a custom application, database, or script without writing an M3U parser. CSV output lets you bulk-edit metadata across hundreds of channels in a spreadsheet and re-import the corrected data. Converting back from M3U8 to M3U is equally simple — paste your M3U8 content, select M3U as the output, and click Convert.
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How to convert M3U to M3U8 online
Paste or upload your playlist
Paste your M3U content into the text area, or click Upload to load a .m3u or .m3u8 file from your device.
Choose output format
Select M3U8, JSON, or CSV from the format dropdown. M3U8 is the most compatible choice for IPTV players.
Click Convert
The converter processes your playlist instantly in your browser. No file is uploaded to any server.
Download the result
Click Download to save the converted file. Load it directly into your IPTV player.
When to convert M3U to M3U8
Non-English channel names
If channel names include Arabic, Cyrillic, Chinese, or other non-Latin characters and appear garbled in your player, converting to M3U8 (UTF-8) fixes the encoding.
iOS and Apple TV players
Apple's HLS standard uses the .m3u8 extension. Some iOS IPTV apps expect M3U8 files and may not load a .m3u file correctly.
Developer use (JSON/CSV)
Export to JSON for programmatic processing, or CSV for bulk editing channel metadata in a spreadsheet before re-importing.
M3U vs M3U8 — the short version: The file format is identical. The only difference is the file extension and encoding declaration. See the full M3U vs M3U8 guide for a detailed comparison.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between M3U and M3U8 output?
Both contain the same playlist data. M3U8 is saved with explicit UTF-8 encoding, which prevents character display issues in players on different operating systems.
Why would I convert M3U to M3U8?
If your playlist contains non-English channel names (Arabic, Cyrillic, Chinese, etc.) or your IPTV player shows garbled characters, converting to M3U8 fixes the encoding. M3U8 explicitly declares UTF-8.
Can I convert M3U8 back to M3U?
Yes. Paste your M3U8 content, select M3U as the output format, and click Convert.
What is the JSON output for?
The JSON output is useful for developers who want to import playlist data into a custom application, script, or database without writing their own M3U parser.
What does the CSV output include?
The CSV export includes one row per channel with columns for title, URL, duration, group-title, tvg-id, tvg-name, and tvg-logo. Useful for bulk editing in a spreadsheet.