Guide · Updated October 9, 2026 · 2 min read
What is an M3U list? M3U, IPTV and Xtream explained
If this is the first time you hear about M3U lists, do not worry: it is a very simple format. Here are the basics and which part of all this Plei uses.
M3U and M3U8
An M3U list is a text file that enumerates video addresses, one per entry, with a name and sometimes a category and an image. M3U8 is the same thing encoded in UTF-8 (it handles accents and other alphabets). They usually end in .m3u or .m3u8, or are a web address that returns that text.
#EXTM3U #EXTINF:-1 group-title="Example",My video https://server.example/video.m3u8
A player like Plei reads the list, shows each entry with its name and plays it when you tap it.
IPTV
IPTV stands for Internet Protocol Television: television and video delivered over the internet instead of by antenna or cable. It is a technology, neither good nor bad. It is used by operators, companies, schools and hotels, and also by individuals playing their own videos. Whether its content is legal depends on the license of each source, not on the format.
Xtream
Some services do not hand you a list address but an access made of a server, a username and a password (the system is known as Xtream). Plei does not connect to that system: it works with M3U/M3U8 addresses, files and video links. If your provider gives you a username and password, check Support to see how to get the list address from your details.
EPG (program guide)
An EPG is a guide to what is broadcast and when. It normally comes as a separate file. Plei does not include a program guide: it is a playlist player, not a TV guide.
In short: what Plei uses
| Term | What it is | Does Plei use it? |
|---|---|---|
| M3U / M3U8 | Video list format | Yes |
| IPTV | Video delivered over the internet | Yes, it plays lists of that kind |
| Xtream | Access by server, username and password | No |
| EPG | Program guide | No |
What matters: the source
Neither M3U nor IPTV is illegal. What matters is where what you play comes from and whether you have the right to watch it. Read about it calmly in what you can play with Plei. Once you have your list, continue with how to play an M3U playlist on iPhone.