M3U8 / MPD Downloader

What is This Tool?

The M3U8 / MPD Downloader is a free browser-based tool that downloads streaming videos from both HLS (HTTP Live Streaming) M3U8 playlists and DASH (Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over HTTP) MPD manifests. It processes streaming video links and converts them into downloadable MP4 files that you can save and watch offline. All processing happens directly in your browser - no uploads to external servers.

Key Features

• Dual Format Support: Download videos from both M3U8 (HLS) and MPD (DASH) streaming formats
• Auto-Detection: Automatically detects the streaming format from the URL
• Built-in CORS Proxy: No need for browser extensions - select our built-in proxy to bypass CORS restrictions
• Automatic Proxy Failover: If one proxy fails, automatically switches to the next available proxy
• Signed URL Support: Works with CloudFront and other CDNs that use signed URLs
• Video Preview: Watch your downloaded video directly in the browser before saving
• Real-time Progress: See download speed, ETA, and segment completion status
• Auto-Retry: Failed segments are automatically retried up to 10 times
• MP4 Output: Videos are converted to widely-compatible MP4 format
• Fast Caching: FFmpeg engine is cached locally for faster subsequent downloads
• API Support: Direct URL parameters for automation and integration

Supported Formats

API / URL Parameters

You can pre-fill the streaming URL and select a CORS proxy using URL parameters. This is useful for automation, bookmarklets, or integrating with other tools.

Parameters

Available Proxy Values

Example URLs

• HLS with proxy:
  https://www.coontool.com/m3u8-downloader?q=https%3A%2F%2Fexample.com%2Fplaylist.m3u8&p=coontool
• DASH/MPD with proxy:
  https://www.coontool.com/m3u8-downloader?q=https%3A%2F%2Fexample.com%2Fmanifest.mpd&p=coontool
• Direct connection:
  https://www.coontool.com/m3u8-downloader?q=https%3A%2F%2Fexample.com%2Fplaylist.m3u8&p=none

What is M3U8 and HLS?

M3U8 is a playlist file format used by HLS (HTTP Live Streaming), a streaming protocol developed by Apple. Instead of delivering video as a single file, HLS breaks content into small segments (typically 2-10 seconds each) and lists them in an M3U8 playlist file.

What is MPD and DASH?

MPD (Media Presentation Description) is a manifest file format used by DASH (Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over HTTP), an international standard for adaptive streaming. DASH is used by major platforms like YouTube, Netflix, and many others. Like HLS, DASH breaks video into segments but uses XML-based MPD files to describe the available streams.

How to Use This Tool

Step 1: Find the Streaming URL

To download a streaming video, you first need to find its M3U8 or MPD URL. Here are common methods:

• Browser Developer Tools: Press F12 → Network tab → Filter by "m3u8" or "mpd" → Play the video → Copy the URL
• View Page Source: Right-click → View Source → Search for ".m3u8" or ".mpd"
• Browser Extensions: Use extensions like "Video DownloadHelper" or "HLS Downloader" to detect streaming URLs

Step 2: Paste the URL

Copy the M3U8 or MPD URL and paste it into the input field on this tool. The tool will automatically detect the format.

Step 3: Select CORS Proxy (if needed)

If the video server blocks direct downloads, select "Bypass CORS 1 (Recommended)" from the dropdown. This built-in proxy bypasses CORS restrictions without requiring any browser extensions.

Step 4: Start Download

Click the download button. The tool will:

1. Initialize the FFmpeg engine (cached after first use)
2. Fetch and parse the M3U8/MPD manifest
3. Download all video segments with progress display
4. Combine segments into a single MP4 file
5. Show a video preview for verification

Step 5: Preview and Save

Once processing is complete, preview your video to verify it downloaded correctly, then click "Save Video" to download the MP4 file.

CORS Proxy Options

This tool includes multiple built-in CORS proxy options to bypass server restrictions:

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Supported Formats and Sources

This tool works with standard HLS and DASH streams including:

• Video Codecs: H.264, H.265/HEVC, VP9, AV1
• Audio Codecs: AAC, MP3, Opus, Vorbis
• Container Formats: TS, fMP4, WebM
• Output Format: MP4 (most compatible)
• Resolutions: All resolutions from 360p to 4K (depends on source)

Tips for Best Results

• Use the built-in proxy - It is faster and more reliable than browser extensions
• Use a stable internet connection - downloading many segments requires consistent connectivity
• Close other tabs - this tool uses browser memory; close unnecessary tabs for large videos
• Use the API for automation - integrate with scripts or bookmarklets for quick downloads
• Be patient with long videos - longer videos have more segments and take more time to process
• Keep the browser tab active - do not minimize or switch away during processing

Privacy and Security

• Browser-Based Processing: All video processing happens in your browser using WebAssembly - we do not store or transmit your videos
• Proxy Privacy: Our CORS proxy only forwards requests and does not log or store any video content
• Local Caching: The FFmpeg engine is cached in your browser IndexedDB for faster loading
• No Account Required: Use the tool freely without registration

Legal Notice

Only download content you have the right to access. This tool is intended for:

• Downloading videos you own or have permission to save
• Saving educational content for offline study
• Archiving publicly available content
• Personal backup of your own uploaded content

Do not use this tool to download copyrighted content without authorization. Respect content creators and their rights.

Browser Compatibility

This tool works best with modern browsers:

• Google Chrome (recommended) - Best performance
• Microsoft Edge - Full support
• Firefox - Full support
• Safari - Supported on macOS