How to convert M3U8 to MP4?

The easiest way is using FFmpeg: ffmpeg -i "M3U8_URL" -c copy output.mp4. This downloads all segments and merges them into MP4 without quality loss.

Can I convert M3U8 to MP4 online free?

Yes, there are online M3U8 to MP4 converters available. However, for better privacy and speed, we recommend using FFmpeg locally.

Does M3U8 to MP4 conversion lose quality?

No, using -c copy parameter preserves original quality as it copies streams without re-encoding.

How long does M3U8 to MP4 conversion take?

With -c copy, conversion time depends on download speed, usually a few minutes. Re-encoding takes longer depending on video length.

M3U8 to MP4 Converter - Free Online M3U8 to MP4

Looking to convert M3U8 to MP4? M3U8 is a streaming playlist format where video is split into segments. This guide covers multiple methods to convert M3U8 files to MP4, from command-line tools to online converters.

⚡ Quick Answer

Fastest way to convert M3U8 to MP4:

ffmpeg -i "M3U8_URL" -c copy output.mp4

Method 1: FFmpeg (Recommended)

FFmpeg is the most powerful and reliable way to convert M3U8 to MP4. It's free, open-source, and works on Windows, Mac, and Linux.

Step 1: Install FFmpeg

Windows:

winget install FFmpeg

macOS:

brew install ffmpeg

Linux:

sudo apt install ffmpeg

Step 2: Convert M3U8 to MP4

# Basic conversion (recommended, fast)
ffmpeg -i "https://example.com/video.m3u8" -c copy output.mp4

# If above fails, try re-encoding
ffmpeg -i "https://example.com/video.m3u8" -c:v libx264 -c:a aac output.mp4

# With custom headers (if needed)
ffmpeg -headers "Referer: https://example.com" -i "M3U8_URL" -c copy output.mp4

💡 Parameters Explained

• -c copy - Copy streams without re-encoding (fast, lossless)
• -c:v libx264 - Encode video with H.264 (better compatibility)
• -c:a aac - Encode audio with AAC

Method 2: yt-dlp

yt-dlp is a popular video downloader that also supports M3U8 to MP4 conversion.

# Install
pip install yt-dlp

# Convert M3U8 to MP4
yt-dlp "M3U8_URL" -o "output.mp4"

# Force MP4 format
yt-dlp "M3U8_URL" --merge-output-format mp4 -o "output.mp4"

Method 3: N_m3u8DL-RE

A dedicated M3U8 downloader with multi-threaded support for faster downloads.

✅ Pros

• Multi-threaded download
• Auto-merge to MP4
• Supports encrypted streams
• Quality selection

📥 Download

github.com/nilaoda/N_m3u8DL-RE

N_m3u8DL-RE "M3U8_URL" --save-name "video"

M3U8 to MP4 Online Converters

While online converters exist, they have limitations and privacy concerns. We recommend local tools for better results.

⚠️ Warning

Online M3U8 converters send your video URL to third-party servers. For privacy and speed, use FFmpeg locally.

Troubleshooting

❌ Error: 403 Forbidden

Solution: Add Referer header

ffmpeg -headers "Referer: https://original-site.com" -i "M3U8_URL" -c copy output.mp4

❌ Output file won't play

Solution: Try re-encoding instead of copy

ffmpeg -i "M3U8_URL" -c:v libx264 -c:a aac output.mp4

Summary

FFmpeg is the best tool for M3U8 to MP4 conversion - it's fast, free, and preserves quality. Before converting, test your M3U8 link with our online player to make sure it works.

M3U8 to MP4 Converter - Complete Guide