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.PLS file extension

To open .PLS files on Windows, try opening the .PLS file directly in your preferred media player (many players can import playlists).

To open a .PLS file, use a media player that supports PLS playlists (commonly used for internet radio and local playlists). If it won’t play, open the file in a text editor to check which audio file paths or stream URLs it contains.

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Last updated: June 11, 2026 · Reviewed by Julian Stricker

What “reviewed” means on this page
  • Format fit: whether the “what is this file?” description matches common real-world use of the extension, including category, typical MIME types, and aliases.
  • Opening paths: whether Windows / macOS / Linux steps read plausibly for current OS dialogs and default apps; we remove fantasy menus and unsafe shortcuts.
  • Security framing: whether risk notes match the extension class (for example executables vs plain data) and whether affiliate wording does not contradict the security section.
  • Sources and further reading: whether external links point to vendors, standards bodies, or other primary references where possible; we avoid inventing details we cannot ground.
  • Limits: this is clarity and safety-messaging QA, not a guarantee that every statement is exhaustive or that every binary you download is harmless.

Full methodology in the Imprint — The Imprint also states where AI is used and what that does—and does not—replace.

Open on your device

Choose your operating system for a dedicated step-by-step opening guide.

How to open .PLS files

Use these platform-specific instructions to open .PLS files safely.

Windows

  1. Try opening the .PLS file directly in your preferred media player (many players can import playlists).
  2. If it opens in the wrong app, right-click the file → Open with → choose your media player.
  3. If playback fails, open the .PLS in Notepad to copy/check the File1= URL or path, then open that URL/file directly in your player.
Full Windows guide

Mac

  1. Open the .PLS file in a media player that supports playlist files (if your player has an “Open File” or “Open Playlist” option, use that).
  2. If nothing happens, open the .PLS in TextEdit (as plain text) to find the referenced URL/path (e.g., File1=...) and try opening that target directly in your player.
Full Mac guide

Linux

  1. Open the .PLS file with a media player that supports playlists, or use “Open With” from your file manager to pick one.
  2. If it fails, open the .PLS in a text editor and use the File1= (and subsequent File2=, etc.) entries to open the actual stream URL or local audio file.
  3. If your desktop misidentifies the file type, ensure your system MIME database recognizes .pls as audio/x-scpls (as per shared-mime-info).
Full Linux guide

iOS

  1. iOS may not handle .PLS playlists directly; open the file in Files and view it as text to copy the stream URL/path, or transfer the playlist/URL to a desktop media player.
Full iOS guide

Android

  1. Android support varies by player; if it won’t open, view the .PLS as text to copy the stream URL (File1=...) and open that URL in a streaming-capable media app or on a desktop.
Full Android guide

Security notes

  • A .PLS file is plain text, but it can point your player to remote URLs; review the FileN= entries before opening if the playlist came from an untrusted source.
  • Be cautious with playlists that reference unexpected network locations (e.g., unknown domains or local network IPs), as opening them may reveal your IP address to the streaming host.
  • Treat unusually large or corrupted .PLS files with caution: like any file parsed by an app, malformed input could trigger bugs in playlist parsers—prefer well-known media players and keep them updated.

Complex decoders and untrusted media

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Can't open this file?

These are the most common causes and fixes when .PLS files fail to open.

Common reasons

  • It opens as text or in the wrong app (no playback)
  • Playlist loads but nothing plays
  • Entries are missing or the playlist is malformed
  • Wrong file type detection on Linux desktops

Fix steps

  1. Use “Open with” to choose a media player that supports playlist import.
  2. If needed, open the .PLS in a text editor and manually open the File1= URL/path in your media player.

OS-specific troubleshooting

What is a .PLS file?

A PLS file is an INI-style text playlist format commonly identified by a leading "[playlist]" header. It typically contains entries like File1=..., Title1=..., Length1=..., plus NumberOfEntries and Version, and can reference either local audio files or streaming URLs. On many systems it is associated with the MIME type audio/x-scpls (with common aliases such as application/pls and audio/scpls).

Background

PLS is a simple, human-readable playlist format widely used by media players and streaming workflows, especially in the context of internet radio playlists. Rather than containing audio data, it lists where audio can be found (for example, a local file path or an http(s) stream URL).

Because it is plain text, you can inspect a .PLS file in any text editor to understand what it does. Typical content includes a "[playlist]" header and numbered fields such as File1, Title1, and Length1.

On Linux and other freedesktop.org-aligned desktops, .pls is commonly recognized via the shared-mime-info database as audio/x-scpls, and detection can use both the filename extension and a content “magic” check for the "[playlist]" header.

Common MIME types: audio/x-scpls

Further reading

Authoritative resources for more details on the .PLS format.

Common .PLS issues

It opens as text or in the wrong app (no playback)

A .PLS is a playlist, so it may default to a text editor or an app that doesn’t import playlists.

  1. Use “Open with” to choose a media player that supports playlist import.
  2. If needed, open the .PLS in a text editor and manually open the File1= URL/path in your media player.

Playlist loads but nothing plays

The referenced stream URL may be offline, blocked, or the local file paths no longer exist on your device.

  1. Open the .PLS in a text editor and check the File1= (and other FileN=) entries for valid URLs/paths.
  2. If it’s a local path, confirm the audio files exist in the same location on your current device; if it’s a URL, try opening the URL directly in your player or a browser to confirm it’s reachable.

Entries are missing or the playlist is malformed

Some tools expect the INI-style structure (including the [playlist] header and numbered fields) and may ignore incorrectly formatted lines.

  1. Verify the file starts with [playlist] and includes File1=... (and optionally NumberOfEntries=...).
  2. If you edited it, keep the numbering consistent (File1, File2, etc.) and save it as plain text.

Wrong file type detection on Linux desktops

Desktop environments often rely on shared-mime-info globs and “magic” (e.g., the [playlist] header) to classify files.

  1. Confirm the file really is a PLS playlist by checking for the [playlist] header.
  2. Update/refresh your MIME database if your environment is outdated or customized, so .pls maps to audio/x-scpls.

FAQ

Is a .PLS file an audio file?

Usually no. PLS is a playlist format that references audio files or stream URLs; the audio is located elsewhere.

How can I see what a .PLS file contains?

Open it in a text editor. Look for lines like File1=..., Title1=..., and Length1=... under the [playlist] header.

What MIME type is used for .PLS?

Commonly audio/x-scpls. The freedesktop.org shared-mime-info database also lists aliases such as application/pls and audio/scpls. The “x-” prefix indicates it is not an IANA-registered standard type.

Can I convert a .PLS playlist into audio by renaming it?

No. Renaming does not create audio. To get audio, you must access the referenced files/streams listed in the playlist.

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