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.pls

PLS Playlist

Audio

PLS lists media locations in entries such as File1, often including radio URLs. It does not contain audio; inspect references before playback.

Main use
List tracks or radio-stream entries
Data type
Text data
All sections, questions and sources

Content reviewed： · Editor：Kai

Opening steps

Choose your environment or purpose to see its steps.

VLC or another PLS player

Preserve the original and inspect a working copy in a compatible application.

  1. Inspect [playlist] and File entries as text.
  2. Open a copy in a supporting player.
  3. Check each destination and displayed title.
Inspect the received file and its requirements

Establish dependencies and settings before proceeding.

  1. Identify local media versus streaming URLs.
  2. Check entry numbering and NumberOfEntries.
  3. Check media directories and streaming access.

Menu labels and support vary by app, OS and version. Preserve the original before making changes.

Troubleshooting by symptom

  • Cannot connect: inspect expiry, stopped streams or changed URLs.
  • Missing track: compare File paths.
  • Only one entry: check numbering and player support.
  • Unknown duration: streams may have unspecified length.

PLS → another supported playlist

  1. Save/export another supported playlist and inspect all entries.
  2. Reopen the output and check it against the preservation points in this guide before handoff.

Playlist conversion does not record or download stream audio.

Treat it as a reference list

A familiar station title does not authenticate its actual destination host.

Source for these steps：VideoLAN · PLS playlist parser / VideoLAN · VLC playlist format definitions

Worked example: checks before handoff

Example: obtain the station’s current official playlist rather than guessing replacement URLs.

Source for these steps：VideoLAN · PLS playlist parser / VideoLAN · VLC playlist format definitions

Related-format differences

Related-format differences
Format / methodPurpose and preserved information
.plsList tracks or radio-stream entries
M3UA different playlist syntax.
PLS → another supported playlistPlaylist conversion does not record or download stream audio.

Handling and security

Protect URL credentials and inspect destinations.

Questions and answers

Convert directly to MP3?

The playlist contains no audio payload.

Does Length=-1 mean corruption?

It can indicate unknown stream length.

Can a text editor open it?

It can inspect contents; use a player for playback.

Format facts: name, steward and MIME type
Formal name
PLS Playlist
Steward / specification
VideoLAN
MIME type
Consult the producer or delivery system. The extension alone does not establish a MIME type.

Primary and official sources

  • Project documentationPLS playlist parser

    PLS entry parsing implementation.

    VideoLAN · Link checked：
  • Software documentationVLC playlist format definitions

    Implementation listing M3U, PLS, CUE and other playlists.

    VideoLAN · Link checked：