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You can loop a video from a USB drive to YouTube Live with FFmpeg on a Raspberry Pi, provided the board can sustain the chosen output settings and your network, power, storage, and restart handling remain reliable. Get the ingest URL and stream key in YouTube Studio, test the complete setup, and plan shorter broadcasts if you need YouTube to archive each segment: YouTube says streams under 12 hours are automatically archived, not that a single 24-hour stream will be saved as one complete replay.
What you need to decide before you start
This setup sends a prerecorded file as a live, real-time-paced stream; it is not a camera broadcast. The exact Raspberry Pi model, operating system, installed FFmpeg build, USB mount path, and file format all affect whether a particular command will work. The official references do not establish a universal Pi configuration, so verify the encoder and protocol options on your own installation rather than assuming every Pi can encode every format.
- A Raspberry Pi and power supply appropriate for the board and attached USB storage.
- A USB drive holding a readable video file. A flash drive is the simplest source-media option; a USB SSD may suit a larger library if the board, power arrangement, and installation support it. No particular capacity, filesystem, or model is established here.
- FFmpeg installed with the output protocol and any encoder you intend to use.
- A YouTube channel with livestreaming enabled, plus the stream’s server URL and key from Live Control Room.
- A stable upload connection with spare capacity above the stream’s target bitrate.
Configure the YouTube live stream and protect its key
- In YouTube Studio, open Live Control Room and create or open the live stream. Follow YouTube’s encoder setup flow to find the server URL and stream key.
- Choose the ingest endpoint shown by Studio. YouTube recommends RTMPS, its secure extension to RTMP; its guidance calls for a correct RTMPS URL and ingestion endpoint on port 443. Confirm that the installed FFmpeg build supports the selected protocol before relying on it. See YouTube’s encoder settings and RTMPS ingestion guide.
- Treat the stream key like a password. Do not publish it in a script, screenshot, image, or repository. Keep it out of files shared with others, and rotate it in Studio if it is exposed.
- Set the stream to private or unlisted for testing if you do not want a public test broadcast, then check Studio’s preview and health messages.
Choose an output your Pi and connection can sustain
YouTube Help, current when checked on October 3, 2026, lists RTMP/RTMPS transport, H.264, H.265 and AV1 video, frame rates up to 60 fps, constant bitrate (CBR), and a recommended two-second keyframe interval (not over four seconds). Those are YouTube ingestion recommendations; they do not show that an unspecified Raspberry Pi can encode a given codec, resolution, or frame rate.
| H.264 target | YouTube-recommended bitrate | Practical decision |
|---|---|---|
| 720p30 | 3 Mbps (YouTube Help, 2026) | Choose it if the Pi can produce it consistently and the connection has reliable headroom above the target. |
| 1080p30 | 5 Mbps (YouTube Help, 2026) | Use it only after confirming the selected Pi can sustain encoding and upload without health warnings. |
These figures are for YouTube’s recommended H.264 settings, not guaranteed quality or a performance benchmark for a Pi. If the source is already encoded, test whether your intended FFmpeg path can pass it through or must transcode it; transcoding increases the work the board must sustain. FFmpeg’s available encoders and options depend on the installed build.
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- Set CBR when configuring the encoder.
- Set the keyframe interval to 2 seconds; do not exceed 4 seconds, per YouTube Help (2026).
- Use a resolution and frame rate supported by the source and verified on the Pi.
- Compare bitrate with the connection’s sustained upload capacity, leaving headroom for normal variation rather than targeting the link’s maximum.
Mount the USB drive and verify the file
- Connect the drive and confirm that the operating system has mounted it. The correct mount path and steps vary by OS image and configuration; no single path or filesystem is guaranteed.
- Check that the video file exists at the path you will pass to FFmpeg and that the account running FFmpeg can read it.
- Play or inspect the file locally before streaming. Resolve missing-file, permission, or unreadable-media problems before opening a live broadcast.
- For unattended restarts, make sure the USB drive is mounted before FFmpeg starts. A service that launches too early can fail even if the drive mounts later.
Run FFmpeg as a real-time live output
FFmpeg documents -re for reading input at real-time pace in its protocol examples. RTMP-family output is commonly carried in an FLV container. The following is a template, not a tested command for every Pi: replace the file path, endpoint, key, codec settings, and output options to match your source and FFmpeg build. Keep the key private.
ffmpeg -re -i "/path/to/video.mp4" -c:v libx264 -b:v 5M -maxrate 5M -bufsize 10M -r 30 -g 60 -keyint_min 60 -sc_threshold 0 -c:a aac -b:a 128k -f flv "rtmps://YOUR_INGEST_ENDPOINT/YOUR_STREAM_KEY"This example illustrates a 1080p30-style H.264 target: 5 Mbps video and a 60-frame GOP gives a two-second keyframe interval at 30 fps. It is not proof that libx264, AAC encoding, or the requested load is available or sustainable on your Pi. The endpoint must be the one supplied for your stream; do not paste a real key into public notes or a shared command history. If using 720p30, adjust the video bitrate to YouTube Help’s 3 Mbps recommendation and make sure the source or a deliberate scaling filter produces 720p.
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For RTMPS, use the exact RTMPS URL provided or specified by the selected YouTube ingest workflow and verify port 443 and protocol support. Do not convert an RTMP endpoint to RTMPS by merely changing its prefix unless the service supplies that endpoint.
Test the whole broadcast before leaving it unattended
- Start FFmpeg while watching its output for file, encoder, and connection errors.
- Check that Live Control Room receives the signal and inspect its preview, stream health, and messages.
- Test representative picture movement and audio, not just a static opening frame. YouTube advises checking representative content and monitoring stream health.
- Confirm the viewer-facing result using the chosen privacy setting, including audio and playback continuity.
- Test a restart after a temporary network interruption and after a process failure. FFmpeg documents output FIFO options that can attempt recovery after temporary errors, but option availability and behavior depend on the build; this is not a guarantee of uninterrupted service. See the FFmpeg documentation.
Plan around YouTube’s 12-hour archive condition
YouTube Help states, “All streams under 12 hours will be automatically archived.” That statement supports automatic archiving for streams shorter than 12 hours; it does not promise that one uninterrupted 24-hour broadcast will be saved as a single complete replay. If preserving replays matters, plan intentional shorter broadcast segments under 12 hours and verify the current behavior in Studio before depending on it. A segment plan also requires a way to stop and start broadcasts and reconnect FFmpeg at the right time.
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Keep the stream running reliably
A looped source and a successful first connection do not make a 24/7 installation self-maintaining. Continuous operation depends on power, the USB drive staying mounted and readable, the network remaining available, FFmpeg continuing or restarting, and YouTube’s broadcast lifecycle. FFmpeg’s recovery features address some temporary errors, not every outage or failure.
- Use process supervision or an equivalent restart mechanism, configured for the Pi’s OS; test that it restarts FFmpeg after a crash.
- Ensure the USB mount is ready before the supervised process starts, and decide what should happen if the source file disappears.
- Check that the Pi does not overheat or lose power under the sustained workload; no endurance testing for a particular board is established here.
- Monitor Studio stream health and the Pi’s logs. A process can remain active while the stream is no longer reaching YouTube.
- Test behavior after a YouTube disconnect, network loss, and reboot rather than assuming automatic recovery will cover every case.
Common problems and fixes
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| FFmpeg cannot open the input | Wrong USB mount path, drive not mounted, permissions, or unreadable file. | Confirm the mount and exact file path; run as an account that can read the file. |
| FFmpeg rejects the codec or option | The installed build lacks that encoder or option. | Check the local FFmpeg build’s available encoders and documentation; choose a supported path and retest. |
| Studio reports poor stream health | Unstable upload, an unsuitable bitrate, or encoder output that does not match the target. | Check Studio diagnostics, verify CBR and keyframe interval, then lower resolution or bitrate to a sustainable target. |
| Connection or RTMPS handshake fails | Incorrect ingest URL/key, unsupported protocol, or endpoint/port mismatch. | Copy current values from Studio, verify RTMPS support and port 443 where applicable, and keep the key confidential. |
| Stream stops after reboot or disconnect | FFmpeg has no restart supervision, the mount is not ready, or the YouTube broadcast lifecycle needs attention. | Check service logs and mount ordering; test the full restart and reconnect sequence. |
| Replay is missing or incomplete after a long broadcast | The stream ran 12 hours or longer. | Use planned segments under YouTube’s stated 12-hour automatic-archive condition when replay preservation matters. |
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