What is a .xspf file?
XML Shareable Playlist Format · Audio · Xiph.Org Foundation · 2005
An .xspf file (pronounced spiff) is an open, XML-based playlist format. It aims to be a portable, application-neutral way to share playlists, carrying richer metadata than M3U or PLS.
What is a .xspf file used for?
XSPF stores each track as XML with a location, title, creator and more, so it survives moving between players better than simpler formats. VLC uses it as a default playlist format.
It is plain XML, so it opens in any editor. Most modern media players read and write XSPF.
What opens a .xspf file?
The .xspf format opens in the following apps, grouped by operating system. If one app does not work, try another from the same list.
Windows
- VLC
- foobar2000
- any text editor
macOS
- VLC
- any text editor
Linux
- VLC
- Clementine
- any text editor
Open a .xspf file step by step
- Confirm the file really is a .xspf. Drop it into the WhatFileType identifier, which reads its signature in your browser without uploading anything.
- On Windows, open it with VLC or foobar2000.
- On Mac, use VLC or any text editor.
- On Linux, try VLC or Clementine.
- Still stuck? Convert the .xspf to m3u, which opens more widely.
Why can't I open my .xspf file?
Almost always because no installed app understands XSPF. 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 .xspf 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 .xspf file
You can convert a .xspf file to m3u, pls using a conversion tool or the export menu of an app that opens it.
What is the .xspf file signature (magic bytes)?
A .xspf file starts with the hex bytes 3C 3F 78 6D 6C, which read as <?xml in ASCII. Programs identify XSPF by those bytes, not by the filename, so a renamed file still gives itself away.
These are the documented signatures for XSPF. For a full breakdown, see the XML file signature page.
| Hex signature | Offset | ASCII | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3C 3F 78 6D 6C | 0 | <?xml | '<?xml' (XSPF is XML) |
See the full magic-numbers reference for every format.
Frequently asked questions
What is a .xspf file?
An .xspf file (pronounced spiff) is an open, XML-based playlist format. It aims to be a portable, application-neutral way to share playlists, carrying richer metadata than M3U or PLS.
How do I open an .xspf file?
Open it in VLC, which uses XSPF natively, or read the XML in a text editor. Most media players support it.
Why use XSPF over M3U?
XSPF is XML with richer, structured metadata and is application-neutral, so playlists move between players more reliably than a bare M3U.
How do you pronounce XSPF?
The spec calls it spiff. It stands for XML Shareable Playlist Format.
Related formats
Sources
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