Free online WPL to PLS converter

A device or media player may require PLS when it cannot open a Windows Media Player playlist. Converting the playlist changes only its list format; the referenced audio files remain in their original codecs, locations, and sizes.

What the WPL format is

WPL means Windows Media Player Playlist. Windows Media Player creates it as an XML-based format derived from the SMIL presentation standard, usually with the .wpl extension.

A WPL file contains references to media rather than the media itself. Entries can point to local Windows files, network shares, or streaming URLs, and the file can also contain ordering, titles, durations, and playlist metadata. WPL playlists may include video as well as audio.

What the PLS format is

PLS is a compact, INI-style playlist format originally associated with Winamp. It is supported by VLC, foobar2000, Winamp-compatible players, some internet-radio software, and selected automotive media systems.

A normal PLS file contains a [playlist] section with fields such as File1, Title1, Length1, NumberOfEntries, and Version=2. PLS is often accepted by simpler players and devices that do not recognize WPL, but it still stores only filenames or URLs. The target software must be able to access and decode every referenced item.

Convert the file on 101convert.com

1. Open the WPL-to-PLS converter on 101convert.com. It can convert the file for free without installing software.
2. Upload the .wpl playlist and choose PLS as the output format.
3. Start the conversion and download the resulting .pls file.
4. Open the PLS in the intended player and test several entries, including files on network shares and any streaming URLs.

Because a WPL can contain local folder names and network locations, check the privacy implications before uploading a playlist to any online service.

Convert locally with desktop software

VLC can often import WPL and export a playlist in PLS format:

1. Open VLC and choose Media → Open File, then select the .wpl file.
2. Confirm that the entries appear in VLC's playlist window and that the referenced files are available.
3. Choose Media → Save Playlist to File.
4. Select PLS in the file-type or playlist-format control, save with a .pls extension, and reopen the result to verify it.

VLC versions differ in the playlist formats offered by the save dialog. If PLS is not available, use the 101convert.com converter or a playlist utility that explicitly supports both WPL import and PLS export; renaming .wpl to .pls does not convert the format.

Compatibility limitations

• No audio conversion occurs. The operation does not change codecs, bitrate, quality, file size, or media locations.
• PLS supports basic file or URL references, titles, and durations, so WPL-specific metadata, synchronization instructions, ratings, and unsupported media entries can be lost.
• Relative paths can break when the converted playlist is moved. Keep the media in its expected relative location or edit the PLS paths after conversion.
• Windows paths such as C:\Music\track.mp3 work in many Windows players, but cross-platform software may require forward slashes or a file:/// URL.
• PLS text encoding is not handled consistently by every older player. If filenames contain non-ASCII characters, save the file in the encoding required by the target device; UTF-8 is supported by many current applications but not all legacy hardware.
• A valid PLS entry can still fail because the target player lacks permission to access a local or network path, does not support the media codec, or cannot reach the original stream URL.