Start with a playlist URL
iptv-org/iptv collects public live-TV stream links in M3U playlists. To use it, copy a playlist address into a compatible player such as VLC. You can start with the full list below, or choose a language list if you already know what you want to watch.
https://iptv-org.github.io/iptv/index.m3uThe links point to broadcasts hosted by other providers. Availability depends on those providers and your location. A channel appearing in the list does not guarantee that its stream will play on your device.
This guide was checked against the project’s documentation on September 7, 2026. The playlist checks below cover downloading and parsing the list files. Individual broadcasts were not playback-tested.
Which iptv-org playlist should you choose?
The official PLAYLISTS.md directory contains grouped URLs. These examples are copied from that directory:
| Starting point | Playlist URL | When to choose it |
|---|---|---|
| All channels | https://iptv-org.github.io/iptv/index.m3u | Broad browsing or testing a player’s playlist handling |
| English | https://iptv-org.github.io/iptv/languages/eng.m3u | Narrowing the list by broadcast language |
| Chinese | https://iptv-org.github.io/iptv/languages/zho.m3u | Starting with channels classified as Chinese |
| News | https://iptv-org.github.io/iptv/categories/news.m3u | Browsing one programme category across languages |
A language group and a country group answer different questions. Choose language for what you understand; consult the country section when the broadcaster’s location matters. The directory lists Chinese and Mandarin Chinese separately, so check its labels before assuming one list contains every relevant broadcast.
For troubleshooting, start with a smaller list. It is easier to distinguish a playlist-loading failure from one unavailable channel when you have fewer entries to inspect. Returning to the full list later avoids turning the first test into a search through thousands of names.
Open the M3U list in VLC
VideoLAN’s desktop instructions describe the Windows/Linux interface:
- Open Media → Open Network Stream.
- Paste the complete playlist URL into the Network tab.
- Choose Play, then select a channel from the player’s playlist.
Menu names vary by platform. Use your player’s network-URL opening control; pasting the address into a browser may display or download the text file instead of starting television playback. The GitHub page URL containing blob/master/PLAYLISTS.md is a directory page. Copy the actual address ending in .m3u from it.
You do not need to clone the repository or install its development dependencies for this viewing workflow. The repository’s scripts are for maintaining and checking stream data.
A loaded playlist and a working channel are separate checks
On September 7, 2026, GhTrends fetched the four URLs above and checked for the #EXTM3U header and channel entries. A successful list download only establishes that the playlist file is reachable. The media requests go to different hosts.
Use this sequence when playback fails:
| What you see | Next useful check |
|---|---|
| No channels load | Recheck the complete .m3u address and whether the player can download it |
| Channels appear, but one stays black | Try another entry, then inspect that channel’s stream error |
| A channel works briefly and stops | Observe it for at least a minute and restart it, as the project requests |
| A stream works on a provider’s website but fails in the player | Consult the project’s stream-testing notes about HTTP headers |
| A channel is in the database website but absent from the playlist | Check whether the database has a working stream for it |
The official testing guide points VLC users to Tools → Messages for errors on the documented interface. Preserve the exact failed URL and error message before changing settings. That gives a report enough detail to distinguish an expired stream from a local playback problem.
The same guide describes streams that need User-Agent or Referer information. Check the provider’s access requirements; a different player cannot make an unavailable or restricted broadcast universally accessible. The project also documents geographic availability.
Missing channel, wrong name, or missing EPG?
These problems belong to different parts of the project:
| Problem | Relevant source |
|---|---|
| A listed stream has stopped working | iptv stream contribution guide |
| The channel information itself is wrong | iptv-org/database |
| You need programme schedules | iptv-org/epg |
| You need machine-readable catalogue data | iptv-org/api |
An incorrect stream ID can also attach the wrong description to a valid stream. The contribution guide distinguishes that case from incorrect database information. Check the ID before reporting a channel-name problem to the database project.
The FAQ explains why the catalogue can list a channel that has no playlist entry: catalogue coverage includes channels without working stream links. Its suggested streams:>0 search on the catalogue website narrows results to channels with streams. EPG is maintained separately; importing an M3U list alone does not establish that your player has configured programme-guide data.
Limits to check before adopting it
This is useful input for personal viewing and player testing where you can tolerate changing availability. A service that promises particular channels or continuous uptime needs its own source and rights arrangements.
The repository uses the Unlicense for its material. Broadcast rights remain a separate question. The project’s legal statement describes user-submitted public links and a removal process; it does not grant a licence to redistribute every linked broadcast. Check the relevant provider’s terms for your intended use.
For reporting a broken link, confirm that the exact URL is still in the current repository and include that URL. The contribution guide asks reporters to distinguish a broken stream from geographic restrictions. Its FAQ excludes VOD and explains why unstable Xtream Codes links are not accepted.
Frequently asked questions
What is the iptv-org M3U URL? The full playlist is https://iptv-org.github.io/iptv/index.m3u. The official directory also lists language and category URLs.
Why does iptv-org load but show no video? Loading the playlist and fetching a broadcast are separate requests. Test a channel and inspect its error; the playlist’s successful download does not verify the stream.
Does iptv-org include films on demand? The project’s FAQ says VOD is outside its playlist scope.
Where do I get EPG? Start with iptv-org/epg and your player’s programme-guide configuration. Channel metadata and stream links have their own repositories.
Is a channel listed on the website always watchable? The website includes catalogue entries without working stream links. Use the FAQ’s stream filter and check actual availability.
For another maintained data directory, see public-apis. The daily archive shows the dated GitHub activity behind this site’s discovery lists.