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Load an M3U or M3U8 playlist and this checker reads every entry, flags format errors and duplicates, then tests each stream link from our server. When it's done you can download a clean copy with the dead links removed.
We fetch the URL once from our server so your browser can read it. Nothing is stored.
Load the playlist. Paste the playlist URL, upload the .m3u file, or paste the text. Uploaded and pasted playlists stay in your browser.
Read the report. You get the channel count, groups, EPG coverage and a list of format problems with line numbers.
Test the links. Press Test links. Each stream is probed from our server and marked online, offline, timed out or blocked.
Export. Download a cleaned playlist without dead links and duplicates, or a CSV report.
There are two kinds of problems in a playlist, and they need different fixes. Format problems are in the file itself: a missing #EXTM3U header, an #EXTINF line with no URL after it, unbalanced quotes that scramble the channel name, or spaces inside a URL. Those break the whole file or a single entry in every app. Link problems are on the server side: the stream is gone, the server is down, or it refuses to answer.
The first pass runs in your browser in a fraction of a second. The link test sends a small request to each stream (a few kilobytes, not the video) and reads the answer. A link counts as online when the server returns a working HLS playlist, an MPEG-TS stream or another valid response.
| Result | What happened | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Online | The server answered with stream data. | Nothing. If it still won't play in your app, the problem is the app or the codec. |
| Offline | HTTP error (404, 500...), a web page instead of video, or the connection was refused. | The link is dead. Remove it or ask whoever gave you the playlist for an updated one. |
| Timed out | No answer within 7 seconds. | Often an overloaded server. Test again later before deleting it. |
| Blocked / login | HTTP 401 or 403. | The stream may be locked to a country, need a login, or only answer IPTV apps. It can still work at home. |
One honest limit: we test from a data center in Ireland. A channel that's geo-locked to the US or that blocks data center addresses can show as blocked here and still play fine on your TV. Treat "blocked" as "check on your device", not "dead".
After a test you can export a copy without the offline links and without duplicates. Timed-out and blocked links are kept by default, since they often work from home. For bigger changes (dropping whole groups, renaming channels, merging two lists), open the same file in our M3U editor. If you're not sure what the attributes in the file mean, our guide to M3U vs M3U8 explains the format.
Uploaded or pasted playlists are parsed in your browser. When you test links, only the stream URLs are sent to our server, one batch at a time, and we don't store them. Playlist URLs often contain a username and password, so never share them publicly, and check that you're allowed to use every stream in the file. We only help with playlists you have the right to watch; see is IPTV legal if you're unsure.
Last updated October 16, 2026 by the IPTVTips team. Free to use, no account needed. Found a bug? Tell us.
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