Recover .M3U8 Files After Deletion on Windows, MacOS, Android, and iOS

Have files been deleted due to a user’s error or software error? Have you formatted a disk by accident and need to know how to recover the files? Read our .M3U8 file recovery guide for Windows, MacOS, Android and IOS in 2024.

Recover .M3U8 Files After Deletion on Windows, MacOS, Android, and iOS
Data Recovery Tool

What is a .M3U8 file?

An M3U8 file is a playlist file used by various audio and video playback programs. It contains a path or URL to a media file or folder of media files, along with information about the playlist. M3U8 files use the same formatting as .M3U files, except the text stored in the files uses UTF-8 character encoding.

What Are Common Causes of ".M3U8" Files Lost or Failure?

There can be several common causes for .m3u8 files being lost or experiencing failure:

  1. Accidental deletion: The files may be deleted accidentally by the user or due to a software glitch.
  2. File system corruption: Corruption of the file system on the storage device where the .m3u8 files are stored can lead to their loss or failure.
  3. Virus or malware infection: If the storage device containing the .m3u8 files is infected with a virus or malware, it can corrupt or delete the files.
  4. Software or hardware issues: Errors or glitches in the software or hardware used to play or store the .m3u8 files can cause them to become lost or fail.
  5. Improper file transfer: If the .m3u8 files are not transferred correctly or completely during the process, they may get lost or become unusable.
  6. Disk formatting or partitioning: Formatting or partitioning the storage device without proper backup can result in the loss of .m3u8 files.
  7. Power failure or system crash: Unexpected power failures or system crashes during the creation, modification, or playback of .m3u8 files can cause them to be lost or damaged.
  8. Incompatible media player: Using an incompatible or outdated media player to play .m3u8 files can lead to failure or errors.
  9. Physical damage to the storage device: Physical damage to the storage device, such as a hard drive failure or damage to the memory card, can result in the loss or corruption of .m3u8 files.

It is important to regularly backup your .m3u8 files to prevent their loss and use reliable data recovery methods in case of failure.

How to recover lost ".M3U8" files?

Sometimes while working with a computer, laptop or other stationary or mobile devices, you may encounter various bugs, freezes, hardware or software failures, even in spite of regular updates and junk cleaning. As a result, an important ".M3U8" file may be deleted.

Go to view
🧺 How to Recover Files and Folders After Sending Them to the Recycle Bin and Deleting? (Windows 11)

🧺 How to Recover Files and Folders After Sending Them to the Recycle Bin and Deleting? (Windows 11)

By no means should you think that the only way to recover a ".M3U8" file is always to create it once more.

Use programs for recovering ".M3U8" files if a file was lost after accidental or deliberate deleting, formatting the memory card or the internal storage, cleaning the storage device, after a virus attack or a system failure.

Programs to recover ".M3U8" files

Looking for a way to get files back? In cases when files were deleted and they cannot be restored by using standard operating system tools, use Hetman Partition Recovery.

Partition Recovery™ 4.9
The tool recovers data from any devices, regardless of the cause of data loss.
Download

Follow the directions below:

  1. Download Hetman Partition Recovery, install and start the program.

  2. The program will automatically scan the computer and display all hard disks and removable drives connected to it, as well as physical and local disks.

    File Recovery Software

  3. Double-click on the disk from which you need to recover ".M3U8" files, and select analysis type.

    Hetman Partition Recovery - Analysis Type

  4. When the scanning is over, you will be shown the files for recovery.

    Hetman Partition Recovery - Files that Can be Restored

  5. To find a file you need, use the program’s interface to open the folder it was deleted from, or go to the folder "Content-Aware Analysis" and select the required file type.

    Hetman Partition Recovery - Deep Scan

  6. Select the files you have been looking for and click "Recovery".

    File Recovery Software - Files List for Recovery

  7. Choose one of the methods for saving the files and recover them.

    Saving recovered files in Hetman Partition Recovery

How to open file with ".M3U8" extension?

Looking for how to open a stereo uTF-8 M3U Playlist File image file file?

Programs that open ".M3U8" files

Windows
Nullsoft Winamp Nullsoft Winamp
Roxio Creator NXT Pro 7 Roxio Creator NXT Pro 7
Apple iTunes Apple iTunes
RealNetworks RealPlayer Cloud RealNetworks RealPlayer Cloud
Microsoft Windows Media Player Microsoft Windows Media Player
VideoLAN VLC media player VideoLAN VLC media player
Foobar2000 Foobar2000
Songbird Songbird
Mac
Apple iTunes Apple iTunes
RealNetworks RealPlayer Cloud RealNetworks RealPlayer Cloud
VideoLAN VLC media player VideoLAN VLC media player
CocoModX CocoModX
Songbird Songbird
Linux
XMMS XMMS
VideoLAN VLC media player VideoLAN VLC media player

Additional Information

  • File type: UTF-8 M3U Playlist File

  • File extension: .M3U8

  • Developer: N/A

  • Category: Audio Files

  • Format: Text

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Comments (1)

  • Hetman Software: Data Recovery
    Hetman Software: Data Recovery 18.12.2019 11:58 #
    Leave a comment if you have any questions about Recovering lost .M3U8 files after deleting, cleaning or formatting!
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Vladimir Artiukh

Author: Vladimir Artiukh, Technical Writer

Vladimir Artiukh is a technical writer for Hetman Software, as well as the voice and face of their English-speaking YouTube channel, Hetman Software: Data Recovery for Windows. He handles tutorials, how-tos, and detailed reviews on how the company’s tools work with all kinds of data storage devices.

Oleg Afonin

Editor: Oleg Afonin, Technical Writer

Oleg Afonin is an expert in mobile forensics, data recovery and computer systems. He often attends large data security conferences, and writes several blogs for such resources as xaker.ru, Elcomsoft and Habr. In addition to his online activities, Oleg’s articles are also published in professional magazines. Also, Oleg Afonin is the co-author of a well-known book, Mobile Forensics - Advanced Investigative Strategies.

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Questions and answers

  • What are the common causes of .M3U8 file corruption and the need for repair?

    The .M3U8 file format is commonly used for streaming video playlists and is associated with the HTTP Live Streaming (HLS) protocol. Like any other file format, .M3U8 files can become corrupted due to various reasons. Some common causes of .M3U8 file corruption include:

    1. Incomplete or interrupted downloads: If the .M3U8 file is being downloaded from the internet and the process is interrupted or incomplete, it can result in file corruption.
    2. Malware or virus infection: If the system containing the .M3U8 file is infected by malware or viruses, it can lead to file corruption.
    3. Software or hardware issues: Problems with the media player, streaming software, or the device itself can cause corruption in the .M3U8 file.
    4. Improper file transfer: If the .M3U8 file is transferred from one device to another using an unreliable method or if the transfer process is interrupted, it can result in corruption.

    The need for repair arises when a corrupted .M3U8 file cannot be properly opened or played by the media player or streaming software. Repairing the file is necessary to restore its functionality and enable smooth streaming of video content.

  • How can I repair a corrupted .M3U8 file and ensure its compatibility with media players?

    To repair a corrupted .M3U8 file and ensure its compatibility with media players, you can try the following steps:

    1. Rename the file: Change the file extension from .M3U8 to .TXT. This will allow you to open and edit the file using a text editor.
    2. Open the file in a text editor: Use a simple text editor like Notepad (Windows) or TextEdit (Mac) to open the .TXT file.
    3. Check for errors: Look for any syntax errors or missing information within the file. The .M3U8 file should contain a list of URLs or file paths to the media files. Make sure each URL or file path is correct and accessible.
    4. Fix the errors: Correct any errors you find in the .TXT file. Ensure that each URL or file path is accurate and properly formatted.
    5. Save the file: After making the necessary corrections, save the file with the original .M3U8 file extension.
    6. Test the file: Try opening the repaired .M3U8 file with a media player, such as VLC Media Player or iTunes. If the file still doesn't work, proceed to the next step.
    7. Use a specialized tool: If the manual repair process doesn't work, you can try using specialized software designed to repair corrupted .M3U8 files. These tools can automatically detect and fix errors in the file structure. Some popular options include Playlist Repair Tool and M3U8 Downloader.
    8. Convert the file: If all else fails, you can convert the media files referenced in the .M3U8 file to a different format that is compatible with your media player. Tools like FFmpeg or VLC Media Player can assist you in converting the media files.

    Remember to always keep backups of your original files before attempting any repairs or conversions.

  • Are there any specialized software or tools available for .M3U8 file repair, and what are their features and effectiveness?

    Yes, there are specialized software and tools available for .M3U8 file repair. Some of the popular ones are:

    1. Video Repair Software: These tools are designed specifically for repairing corrupted or damaged video files, including .M3U8 files. They use advanced algorithms to fix various issues like header corruption, synchronization problems, and damaged segments. Some examples include Stellar Repair for Video, Remo Repair MOV, and Digital Video Repair.
    2. FFmpeg: FFmpeg is a powerful command-line tool that can be used to repair and manipulate multimedia files. It supports various video formats, including .M3U8 files. It can be used to fix issues like missing segments, incorrect timestamps, or broken playlists. However, it requires some technical knowledge to use effectively.
    3. VLC Media Player: VLC is a popular media player that can also be used to repair .M3U8 files. It has built-in features to fix broken playlists and can also repair damaged segments by re-indexing the file. VLC is easy to use and can be a convenient option for basic repairs.

    The effectiveness of these tools may vary depending on the specific issue and the severity of the file corruption. It's recommended to try multiple tools and techniques to increase the chances of successful repair. Additionally, it's important to note that not all .M3U8 files can be repaired, especially if the corruption is extensive or irreparable.
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