How to use M3U8 Validator & HLS Checker
- 1
Paste the M3U8 URL
Enter the .m3u8 link you want to check into the player input.
- 2
Enable the CORS proxy
Turn on the smart CORS proxy so dead-segment detection can reach the .ts files; otherwise cross-origin rules block the checks.
- 3
Run the health report
Click Run health check to list all tracks, the average bitrate, encryption, live/VOD status, and any dead segments.
What the report checks
The validator expands a master playlist to list every variant, resolution, declared bandwidth, frame rate, and codecs, then analyzes the highest-quality media playlist for segment count, total duration, average segment length, encryption method, and whether it is live (no #EXT-X-ENDLIST) or VOD. It samples several segments and reports the measured average bitrate.
Why dead-link detection needs the proxy
Browsers block cross-origin requests to raw .ts segments, so without the CORS proxy every sampled segment fails and the report cannot tell a real dead link from a CORS block. With the proxy on, the checks reach the origin and the pass/fail counts become accurate, which is exactly what you want when testing a CDN node.
Frequently asked questions
What does the M3U8 validator check?
It lists every resolution track and bitrate, segment count and duration, encryption method, live vs VOD status, and detects dead .ts segments by sampling.
Why do all segments show as dead?
That usually means CORS is blocking the segment requests, not that the stream is broken. Enable the CORS proxy and run the check again for accurate results.
Can it tell if a stream is live or VOD?
Yes. The absence of an #EXT-X-ENDLIST tag marks a live stream; its presence marks video on demand.
Is the HLS checker free?
Yes, it is free, requires no sign-up, and runs entirely in the browser.