What is a .pls file?
PLS Playlist · Audio · Nullsoft (Winamp) · 1996
A .pls file is a playlist, like M3U but in an INI-style format. It usually begins with [playlist] and lists each entry's file or stream URL, title and length. It is common for internet radio stations.
What is a .pls file used for?
PLS uses numbered keys (File1, Title1, Length1) under a [playlist] header, which lets it carry a bit more metadata than a basic M3U. Internet radio directories often hand out .pls files to launch a stream.
Media players like VLC and Winamp open PLS. Like any playlist, it only references media, so the tracks must still be reachable.
What opens a .pls file?
The .pls format opens in the following apps, grouped by operating system. If one app does not work, try another from the same list.
Windows
- VLC
- Winamp
- foobar2000
macOS
- VLC
- Music (iTunes)
Linux
- VLC
- Rhythmbox
- any text editor
Open a .pls file step by step
- Confirm the file really is a .pls. Drop it into the WhatFileType identifier, which reads its signature in your browser without uploading anything.
- On Windows, open it with VLC or Winamp.
- On Mac, use VLC or Music (iTunes).
- On Linux, try VLC or Rhythmbox.
- Still stuck? Convert the .pls to m3u, which opens more widely.
Why can't I open my .pls file?
Almost always because no installed app understands PLS. Install one of the apps above, or convert the file to a format your existing software already reads. If double-clicking opens the wrong program instead of nothing at all, the file association is set to the wrong app rather than the file being broken.
The other possibility is that the file is not really a .pls at all. Drop it into the file identifier to check it by its bytes instead of its name. Nothing is uploaded.
How to convert a .pls file
You can convert a .pls file to m3u, xspf using a conversion tool or the export menu of an app that opens it.
What is the .pls file signature (magic bytes)?
A .pls file may start with the hex bytes 5B 70 6C 61 79 6C 69 73 74 5D, which read as [playlist] in ASCII. Those bytes are a hint rather than a guarantee, so PLS cannot be identified by its header alone.
These are the documented signatures for PLS.
| Hex signature | Offset | ASCII | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5B 70 6C 61 79 6C 69 73 74 5D | 0 | [playlist] | '[playlist]' (usually) |
See the full magic-numbers reference for every format.
Frequently asked questions
What is a .pls file?
A .pls file is a playlist, like M3U but in an INI-style format. It usually begins with [playlist] and lists each entry's file or stream URL, title and length. It is common for internet radio stations.
How do I open a .pls file?
Open it in a media player like VLC or Winamp, which loads the listed tracks or radio stream. A text editor shows the entries.
What is the difference between PLS and M3U?
Both are playlists. M3U is a simple line list; PLS uses an INI-style [playlist] structure with numbered keys and is common for internet radio.
Why does a radio station give me a .pls file?
The .pls holds the stream URL and station details. Opening it in a media player starts the live stream.
Related formats
Sources
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