Online browser-based HLS (M3U8) player

Paste an .m3u8 link and watch the stream play, live or on demand, to check it works before you share it.

No stream to test? Try a sample:

Add a captions file (VTT)

Your stream plays here.

Paste a link to an HLS playlist (.m3u8) above and press Play.

  • Stream your video file as a live stream.

    Upload the file to LiveReacting and pick a start time. Our servers broadcast it on YouTube, Facebook, Twitch or any other platform, and to your viewers it looks live.

    See pre-recorded live streaming
  • Stream your video files as a 24/7 live stream.

    Put the files in a playlist. Our servers broadcast them on YouTube, Twitch or any other platform without stopping, with your computer off.

    See 24/7 live streaming
  • Play a game with the people watching your live stream.

    Trivia, polls, giveaways and word games run inside the stream. Viewers take part by typing a comment in the live chat on YouTube, Facebook, Twitch or Instagram.

    See interactive live streaming
  • Send one live stream to several platforms at the same time.

    YouTube, Twitch, Kick and any other platform that takes an RTMP feed, all from one stream.

    See multistreaming
  1. Paste a link to the stream

    A direct link to the HLS playlist, the file that ends in .m3u8. Live or on demand.

  2. Press Play

    The stream plays here, in your browser. Nothing is uploaded or stored.

  3. Check the playback

    Speed and captions are in the player's settings. A captions file (VTT) can be added under the link field.

M3U8 troubleshooting

Why an M3U8 stream will not play, and the fix.

  • The server does not allow it

    The server hosting the stream must allow cross-origin requests (CORS). Without that, a browser plays it only on the stream owner's own site.

  • The link is http, not https

    A browser blocks an http:// stream on an https:// page. Use the https:// address of the stream if it has one.

  • The link is not the playlist

    Paste the link to the .m3u8 file itself, not to the web page the stream is shown on.

  • The stream is offline

    A live stream plays only while it is live. An on-demand playlist plays at any time.

  • The link has expired

    Many services sign their stream links with a token that expires after minutes or hours. Copy a fresh link and try again.

  • The video codec

    H.264 video with AAC audio plays everywhere. H.265 (HEVC) plays in some browsers and not in others.

HLS player FAQ.

Why is my video not playing?

Check that the link is right and points to an .m3u8 playlist. The fixes for the common causes are above: CORS, http links, expired links and codecs.

Why is there no sound?

Check that the player and your computer are not muted, and that the stream has an audio track.

Why is the video buffering?

Your connection, or the server sending the stream, is too slow for the quality. The player steps down to a lower quality when the stream offers one.

Why is the video quality poor?

HLS changes quality with your connection. On a slow one the player picks a lower quality; the stream's best quality is what it was encoded at.

How do I turn on subtitles or captions?

Captions inside the stream show in the player's CC menu. You can also add a WebVTT (.vtt) file: press "Add a captions file (VTT)" under the link field. Its server must allow cross-origin requests (CORS). A captions file suits on-demand video; it cannot stay in time with a live stream.

Is this online HLS player free?

Yes, free, with no account.

Do I need to install anything?

No. It works in your browser: paste the M3U8 link and press Play.

Which browsers does it work in?

Current versions of Chrome, Firefox and Edge play HLS through hls.js; Safari plays it natively.

What is an HLS (M3U8) stream?

HLS (HTTP Live Streaming) is a streaming format made by Apple. The video comes in short segments listed in an .m3u8 playlist, and the quality adapts to your connection, which is why it is one of the most common formats for live and on-demand video.

Why will my M3U8 stream not play here?

Most often CORS: the server hosting the stream must allow cross-origin requests. Also check that the link is the .m3u8 playlist itself and that the stream is live or available.

Can I play both live and on-demand (VOD) streams?

Yes, both. When you embed a live stream, turn on livestream mode to hide the seek bar and the timeline.

Are the streams I play stored anywhere?

No. The player loads the stream straight from the link you give it, and we keep nothing.

How do I embed this player on my website?

Embedding is a paid feature, $20 a month: write to [email protected] to turn it on. Then press Embed player next to Play, set the size and options, and copy the iframe code into your page.

Send your stream to YouTube and Twitch.

Create a free account and go live from your browser, or stream a recorded video on a schedule, with your computer off.

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