What does the M3U checker validate?

tvg-id coverage and duplicates, channel names, group-title and logo coverage, URL schemes, per-channel headers and Kodi DRM properties, and whether the playlist declares an EPG source at all.

Why does my guide show nothing even though the playlist plays?

Usually missing or mismatched tvg-id values. The guide joins on that key, so without it you have channels but no programmes.

How large a playlist can it handle?

Playlists with tens of thousands of channels are fine, because the file is streamed rather than loaded whole.

Can it tell me which channels are offline?

Not here. That is the bulk checker, which requests each channel URL and reports which ones answer.

Does it read per-channel headers?

Yes. EXTVLCOPT lines and Kodi properties are parsed, so you can see which channels carry their own user agent, referrer or DRM settings.

M3U checker

Check an IPTV playlist for the metadata problems that break channel guides.

No analysis yet.

Enter a m3u playlist url above, or paste the content, to see results here.

What this checks

tvg-id coverage and duplicates — the join key to your programme guide
Duplicate channels, missing names, and unplayable URL schemes
Logo and group-title coverage across the whole playlist
Per-channel user agent, referrer and Kodi DRM properties
Whether the playlist declares an EPG source at all

How to read the results

tvg-id coverage decides whether a guide can work at all: a channel without it can never be matched to XMLTV.
Duplicates matter more than they look. Two channels sharing a tvg-id make the guide attach to whichever loads last.
Group titles and logos are what a viewer sees before anything plays, so gaps there are the complaints users actually send.
Unplayable URL schemes are listed apart from dead links, because the fix is different: one needs a new format, the other a working origin.

What it does not do

It reads the playlist, not the streams inside it. Test individual channel URLs with the HLS analyzer.
Counts come from the file you point at. A provider that serves a different playlist per user agent will not match what your app sees.
It makes no judgement about whether you are licensed to carry a channel.

Privacy

Results are never shared. Choose “This browser” and the fetch and the analysis both happen on your machine — the URL, any headers you set and the results never reach our servers, which is also how you test a stream on a private network or behind a login. Pasted content is always analysed locally.

Common IPTV playlists findings, explained

Every finding links to a write-up on what it means and how to fix it.

Frequently asked questions

What does the M3U checker validate?: tvg-id coverage and duplicates, channel names, group-title and logo coverage, URL schemes, per-channel headers and Kodi DRM properties, and whether the playlist declares an EPG source at all.
Why does my guide show nothing even though the playlist plays?: Usually missing or mismatched tvg-id values. The guide joins on that key, so without it you have channels but no programmes.
How large a playlist can it handle?: Playlists with tens of thousands of channels are fine, because the file is streamed rather than loaded whole.
Can it tell me which channels are offline?: Not here. That is the bulk checker, which requests each channel URL and reports which ones answer.
Does it read per-channel headers?: Yes. EXTVLCOPT lines and Kodi properties are parsed, so you can see which channels carry their own user agent, referrer or DRM settings.