Will editing my playlist break it?

Not if you keep the structure: the first line #EXTM3U, then each channel’s #EXTINF line directly followed by its stream address. Remove channels in pairs of lines, never one line on its own.

Do my edits survive a playlist refresh?

Edits made inside an app (hidden groups, favourites, order) usually survive, because the app stores them separately. Edits to a downloaded file are replaced if the app reloads the original link. Playlist editor services keep your edits and give you a new link to use instead.

Can I edit an Xtream Codes login?

Not directly, because the app builds the list from the server each time. Use the app’s own options to hide groups and set favourites, or use a playlist editor that accepts Xtream Codes logins.

How to Edit an IPTV Playlist: Remove, Sort and Rename

How to edit an IPTV playlist

A long playlist full of channels you never watch is slow to load and hard to browse. Editing it, whether that means hiding groups, reordering favourites or fixing names, makes every device faster and easier to use. There are three ways to do it, from the simplest to the most flexible.

Updated 27 September 2026 · 2 min read

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Choose the right method

Method	Best for	Keeps edits after refresh?
In your player app	Hiding groups, favourites, reordering	Yes, in most apps
In a text editor	Full control over a downloaded M3U file	No, if the app reloads the original link
A playlist editor service	Big lists, several devices, fixing names and guide IDs	Yes: you get a new link that includes your edits

Start with the app. It’s the easiest option and usually enough.

Method 1: edit inside your player app

Most players let you tidy the list without touching the file:

Hide groups you never watch. Sport, news or film groups in languages you don’t speak are the usual candidates.
Mark favourites so the channels you watch sit in one group.
Reorder favourites or whole groups.
Lock adult or unsuitable groups with a PIN.

The menus differ by app. Look in the playlist, groups or channel list settings. Our parental controls guide covers locking groups.

Method 2: edit the M3U file in a text editor

This works when you use a downloaded .m3u file, or a link you can download once and host yourself.

Download the playlist by opening the link in a browser on a computer. Save the file.
Open it in a plain-text editor (Notepad on Windows, TextEdit in plain-text mode on a Mac, or any code editor). Word processors can damage the file.
Understand the pairs. After the first line, #EXTM3U, every channel takes two lines: an #EXTINF line with its name and details, then the stream address.

#EXTM3U
#EXTINF:-1 tvg-id="news.example" tvg-logo="https://…/news.png" group-title="News",Example News
http://example-server.tv:8080/live/USER/PASS/1234.ts

Remove a channel by deleting both of its lines.
Rename a channel by changing the text after the last comma on its #EXTINF line.
Move a channel into another group by changing its group-title.
Save as UTF-8, then load the file into your app.

The meaning of each tag is in our M3U tags reference.

Method 3: use a playlist editor

Playlist editor services load your list (from an M3U link or, with some, an Xtream Codes login), let you pick groups and channels in a web page, and give you a new link that includes your changes. They’re the most practical option when the list is large or you use it on several devices. Check what an editor supports before relying on it: whether it keeps the guide IDs and catch-up details, and how often it refreshes from your provider’s list.

Because these services see your login details, only use ones you trust, and check what they do with your data.

Keep it working

Keep a copy of the original link, so you can always go back.
Refresh from the source regularly if you edit a downloaded file. Stream addresses can change, and an old file stops working. See playlist not working.