# Native MPEG-Dash + HLS Playback

> Allow the browser to play HLS (m3u8) or MPEG-Dash (mpd) video urls 'natively'. This is a fork of Native HLS with additional features. Click on any m3u8 or mpd link inside Firefox to play it directly in a new tab

Canonical page: [https://chrome-stats.com/d/native-mpeg-dash-hls-playback](https://chrome-stats.com/d/native-mpeg-dash-hls-playback)

## Overview

- **ID:** `native-mpeg-dash-hls-playback`
- **Platform:** Firefox
- **Type:** Firefox add-on
- **Status:** Available
- **Publisher:** David Cavar
- **Category:** web-development,photos-music-videos
- **Daily users:** 4,886
- **Weekly downloads:** 100
- **Rating:** 4.14 / 5 (22 ratings)
- **Version:** 5.0.7
- **Last updated:** 2024-05-07
- **First published:** 2017-11-26
- **Size:** 810 KB
- **Data as of:** 2026-09-10
- **Store listing:** [Firefox Add-ons Store](https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/native-mpeg-dash-hls-playback/)
- **Website:** [https://github.com/Palethorn/nas-extension/issues](https://github.com/Palethorn/nas-extension/issues)

## Description

Native MPEG-Dash + HLS Playback is a Firefox extension that enables native playback of HLS (m3u8) and MPEG-Dash (mpd) video streams directly within the browser. Instead of downloading these streaming playlist files by default, this extension detects such links and opens them in a new tab using reliable open-source video players, hls.js and dash.js. This allows users to instantly play live or on-demand streaming video content natively without additional software.

The extension acts as a lightweight wrapper, enhancing the Firefox browsing experience by integrating seamless support for popular streaming formats, ideal for users who frequently encounter m3u8 or mpd video URLs. It does not contain advertisements or sales features, focusing purely on media playback functionality. For support and any issues, users can refer to the GitHub repository's issue tracker.

## Rankings

- #1,199 — Overall
- #127 — Web Development
- #196 — Photos, Music & Videos
- #49 — play
- #93 — give
- #214 — sale

## Permissions and access

### Permissions

- `tabs`
- `declarativeNetRequest`
- `storage`
- `contextMenus`

### Host permissions

- `<all_urls>`

## Safety

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

### Analysis details

- Grants access to browser tabs, which can be used to track user browsing habits and history, presenting a privacy concern.
- This extension has low 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

Users praise the add-on for effectively playing HLS videos with a functional quality changing feature and good AAC audio support. However, multiple reviews highlight limitations such as inability to skip video using keyboard arrows or NumPad, poor support for MPEG Audio (MP2) codec causing some videos not to play, and the absence of shortcuts for adjusting play speed, impacting usability.

### Pros

- Supports HLS playback with quality changing feature that works well.
- Plays AAC audio without issues.
- Offers playback functionality not available in other Firefox add-ons.

### Cons

- Does not support skipping video with arrow or NumPad keys.
- Fails to play all HLS videos, especially those using MPEG Audio (MP2) codec.
- Lacks keyboard shortcuts for play speed adjustment.

## Similar extensions and apps

- [Play HLS](https://chrome-stats.com/d/play-hls) — 144 users, 4.00 / 5
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- [Reproductor HLS & DASH](https://chrome-stats.com/d/reproductor-hls-dash) — 392 users, 3.00 / 5
- [Native HLS](https://chrome-stats.com/d/native_hls_playback) — 4,758 users, 3.90 / 5
- [VideoPlayer MPD/M3U8/IPTV/EPG](https://chrome-stats.com/d/videoplayer-mpd-m3u8-iptv-epg) — 3,116 users, 4.33 / 5
- [OUI9 HLS PLAYER M3U8](https://chrome-stats.com/d/oui9-hls-player-m3u8) — 7 users
- [Manifest Viewer (DASH/HLS)](https://chrome-stats.com/d/manifest-viewer-dash-hls) — 18 users
- [Live Stream Downloader](https://chrome-stats.com/d/live-stream-downloader) — 17,253 users, 3.68 / 5
- [HLS Downloader](https://chrome-stats.com/d/hls-downloader-extension) — 3,786 users, 2.78 / 5
- [Play HLS](https://chrome-stats.com/d/play-hls-native) — 1 users
- [Native FLV Playback](https://chrome-stats.com/d/native-flv-playback) — 104 users
- [Media Downloader Unleashed!!](https://chrome-stats.com/d/file-downloader-unleashed) — 13,536 users, 4.17 / 5

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Source: [Chrome-Stats](https://chrome-stats.com/d/native-mpeg-dash-hls-playback)