# The Stream Detector

> This addon provides an easy way to keep track of manifests and subtitles used by various streaming protocols. Also allows for detecting custom file types and downloading media files.

Canonical page: [https://chrome-stats.com/d/hls-stream-detector](https://chrome-stats.com/d/hls-stream-detector)

## Overview

- **ID:** `hls-stream-detector`
- **Platform:** Firefox
- **Type:** Firefox add-on
- **Status:** Available
- **Publisher:** 54ac
- **Category:** download-management,photos-music-videos,other
- **Daily users:** 14,602
- **Weekly downloads:** 331
- **Rating:** 4.34 / 5 (159 ratings)
- **Version:** 2.11.7
- **Last updated:** 2023-07-13
- **First published:** 2016-06-03
- **Size:** 49 KB
- **Data as of:** 2026-09-08
- **Store listing:** [Firefox Add-ons Store](https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/hls-stream-detector/)
- **Website:** [https://github.com/54ac/stream-detector](https://github.com/54ac/stream-detector)

## Description

**The Stream Detector** is a powerful Firefox addon designed to simplify tracking and downloading media streams. It detects URLs to playlists and subtitles across popular streaming protocols like Apple HLS, Adobe HDS, MPEG-DASH, and Microsoft Smooth Streaming. Users can easily copy stream URLs or generate ready-to-use commands for tools such as yt-dlp, FFmpeg, and Streamlink, including necessary headers for seamless downloads.

Beyond common streaming types, the addon also monitors custom file extensions and Content-Type headers, making it versatile for media tracking and retrieval. Direct media file downloads are supported, with customizable options to tailor user experience. Note: Mainstream platforms like YouTube or Vimeo often use proprietary streaming methods which this addon does not support; dedicated tools are recommended for those.

## Rankings

- #613 — Overall
- #44 — Download Management
- #82 — Other extensions
- #95 — Photos, Music & Videos
- #1 — stream
- #3 — detect

## Permissions and access

### Permissions

- `<all_urls>`
- `clipboardWrite`
- `downloads`
- `notifications`
- `storage`
- `tabs`
- `webRequest`

## Safety

- **Risk impact:** High risk impact
- **Risk likelihood:** Low risk likelihood

### Analysis details

- Allows access to all websites, posing a significant security risk as it can monitor and modify data from any visited site.
- This extension has medium user count. Unpopular extensions may not be stable or safe.

> Some risk analysis details are omitted from this free response. [Upgrade to view the full analysis](https://chrome-stats.com/pricing).

## Review summary

The Stream Detector is generally praised for being useful and reliable, with strong stream-handling capabilities (detecting streams, m3u8 links, and Jellyfin-related downloads) and even generating ffmpeg commands when ffmpeg is installed. It’s viewed as a cleaner alternative to adware-like downloaders. A recurring downside is that the toolbar icon can be hard to find or invisible on some setups, requiring workarounds. Overall, most users report positive experiences with some UI accessibility caveats.

### Pros

- Widely praised for usefulness and reliability; reviewers describe it as 'works great', 'amazing', and a time saver.
- Handles media streams well, including detecting embedded streams, obtaining m3u8 links, and downloading transcoded media (e.g., with Jellyfin), with good support for external players.
- Can generate ffmpeg commands to download videos when ffmpeg is installed, even when the addon does not download directly.
- Seen as a cleaner, adware-free alternative to other download add-ons and not pushing companion apps.

### Cons

- Toolbar icon visibility/access issues: in some Firefox setups the icon is not visible or the button is hard to locate, requiring workarounds.

## Similar extensions and apps

- [The m3u8 Stream Detector](https://chrome-stats.com/d/the-m3u8-stream-detector) — 3,231 users, 3.96 / 5
- [StreamMonitor](https://chrome-stats.com/d/streammonitor) — 1 users
- [StreamWatch](https://chrome-stats.com/d/streamwatch) — 10 users
- [The Stream Detector PLUS](https://chrome-stats.com/d/the-stream-detector-plus) — 401 users, 5.00 / 5
- [Stream Detector Pro](https://chrome-stats.com/d/stream-detector-pro) — 451 users, 3.00 / 5
- [Stream Master Pro](https://chrome-stats.com/d/stream-master-pro) — 6 users, 5.00 / 5
- [Protocol Detective](https://chrome-stats.com/d/protocol-detective) — 1 users
- [Stream Detective](https://chrome-stats.com/d/stream-detective)
- [StreamSniffer Plus](https://chrome-stats.com/d/streamsniffer-plus) — 25 users
- [Stream Tracker](https://chrome-stats.com/d/stream-tracker) — 3 users
- [Stream Wizard Pro](https://chrome-stats.com/d/stream-wizard-pro)
- [Stream Detective Pro Max](https://chrome-stats.com/d/stream-detective-pro-max) — 2 users

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Source: [Chrome-Stats](https://chrome-stats.com/d/hls-stream-detector)