.vlc Media playlist
Audio
| MIME type | audio/x-mpegurl |
|---|---|
| Description | Media playlist |
| Category | Audio |
| Signature (magic bytes) | 23 45 58 54 4D 33 55 (#EXTM3U) |
| Based on | text/plain |
| Other extensions | .m3u, .m3u8 |
Frequently asked questions
What is a .vlc file?
A .vlc file is a “Media playlist” (MIME type audio/x-mpegurl).
How do I open a .vlc file?
With a media player such as VLC, which plays almost every audio format; on Windows also Media Player, on macOS Music or QuickTime. To edit it, use Audacity for example.
How can you tell a genuine .vlc file?
By the bytes at the start of the file, the signature (magic bytes): 23 45 58 54 4D 33 55 (#EXTM3U). On Linux and macOS, file --mime-type example.vlc checks the real type regardless of the extension.
Which format is .vlc based on?
Technically a .vlc file is a subtype of “Plain text document” (text/plain), so programs for that base format can often read it too.
Which MIME type belongs to .vlc?
The MIME type is audio/x-mpegurl. In the Apache web server: AddType audio/x-mpegurl .vlc; in nginx: types { audio/x-mpegurl vlc; }.