What is a .pls file?
A .pls file is an MP3 ShoutCast playlist. Its registered MIME type is audio/x-scpls, which places it in the audio family of formats.
PLS is a binary format: the contents are not readable text, so opening it in a text editor shows scrambled characters.
Files of this type usually begin with the bytes 5B 70 6C 61 79 6C 69 73 74 5D. That signature is how programs recognise the format even when the extension is wrong or missing.
PLS file format details
| Extension | .pls |
|---|---|
| Format | MP3 ShoutCast playlist |
| MIME type | application/pls+xml, audio/x-scpls, application/pls |
| Category | Audio |
| Text or binary | Binary |
| File signature | 5B 70 6C 61 79 6C 69 73 74 5D |
| Registered with IANA | No |
| Other extensions | None |
How to open PLS files
| Windows | VLC media player is free and plays almost every audio and video format, PLS included in most cases. Media Player and Films and TV handle the common ones. |
|---|---|
| Mac | QuickTime Player plays formats Apple supports. VLC or IINA play most others. |
| iPhone and iPad | The Files app plays formats Apple supports. VLC for iOS plays most others. |
| Android | Most gallery and music apps play common formats; VLC for Android plays almost everything. |
Can you convert a .pls file?
TapToConvert does not convert PLS files yet. If you can export the file from its program as a common audio format, the audio converter can turn it into anything else.
PLS file FAQ
What is a .pls file?
A .pls file is an MP3 ShoutCast playlist, with the MIME type audio/x-scpls.
How do I open a .pls file?
VLC media player plays most audio and video formats on Windows, Mac, iPhone and Android.
Is a .pls file safe to open?
PLS files hold data rather than programs, but any file from an unknown source can be crafted to exploit the software that opens it. Keep that software up to date. The viewer on this page only reads the bytes and never runs anything.
What is the MIME type of .pls?
audio/x-scpls, and it is also seen as audio/x-scpls or application/pls. Web servers send this type so browsers know how to handle the file.
Is PLS a text or binary format?
Binary. Its contents are not readable as text.
File type facts come from the IANA media type registry, the mime-db project and the freedesktop.org shared MIME database.