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Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →To repeat one local video file on YouTube Live, use FFmpeg’s -stream_loop -1 before the file’s -i option, and add -re before the input so FFmpeg reads the file at its normal frame rate. Then send the output to the server URL and stream key from YouTube Studio. The command below is a starting point—not a guarantee of a working broadcast: check the file’s streams, match YouTube’s current ingest settings, confirm upload capacity, and verify the preview before going live.
Loop a local video file with FFmpeg
FFmpeg documents -stream_loop as an input option; -1 means repeat indefinitely. Put it before the -i for the file you want to loop. For a prerecorded file being sent live, -re also belongs before the input: it reads at the file’s native frame rate (equivalent to -readrate 1), which FFmpeg says is useful when output packet timing matters, such as live streaming. See the FFmpeg command-line documentation.
This illustrative command transcodes video to H.264 and audio to AAC. It assumes the input contains both video and audio and that the example output settings suit your chosen resolution, frame rate, and YouTube ingest requirements. Replace the final URL with the RTMPS server URL and stream key supplied by YouTube; do not paste a real key into a public script, screenshot, or article.
ffmpeg -re -stream_loop -1 -i input.mp4
-c:v libx264 -preset veryfast -b:v 4500k -maxrate 4500k -bufsize 9000k
-g 60 -keyint_min 60 -c:a aac -b:a 128k -ar 44100
-f flv 'rtmps://SERVER-URL/STREAM-KEY'The sample’s 4,500 kb/s video rate and 60-frame GOP are illustrative only, not universal recommendations. Choose the video bitrate for the codec, resolution, and frame rate you plan to send using YouTube’s current settings table. The example’s keyframe interval is two seconds only if the output is 30 fps; at another frame rate, calculate the GOP length accordingly. YouTube recommends a two-second keyframe interval and says it must not exceed four seconds. Keep a stable upload rate above your actual outgoing bitrate so network variation does not consume all available headroom.
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Check the input before choosing codecs or maps
Confirm that FFmpeg can read the file and determine whether it has audio, video, or both. The example uses automatic stream selection and will not produce the intended result if the file lacks one of those stream types. If you add explicit -map options, map only streams that are present and that you intend to broadcast. Also check that the required encoder is available in your FFmpeg build; for example, a build without libx264 cannot use the sample’s video encoder setting.
Transcode or stream-copy?
The sample transcodes so you can set codecs, bitrate, and keyframes. Transcoding uses CPU resources; choose a preset and output your machine can sustain without dropped frames. Stream-copy mode (-c copy) avoids re-encoding, but it is appropriate only when the file’s codecs, timestamps, and stream layout are compatible with YouTube’s ingest requirements. The command’s shape alone cannot certify an arbitrary file for stream copy. If you use it, verify the file and resulting stream rather than assuming every MP4 is suitable.
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Match the output to YouTube’s ingest settings
YouTube’s current encoder guidance lists H.264, H.265, and AV1 video for RTMP/RTMPS ingestion, up to 60 fps, and AAC or MP3 audio. It recommends constant bitrate (CBR), a two-second keyframe interval, and a maximum interval of four seconds. Recommended bitrates vary with codec, resolution, and frame rate, so use the applicable row in YouTube’s encoder settings, bitrates, and resolutions guidance rather than treating the sample rate as a rule for every stream. FFmpeg’s documentation describes the command options; YouTube’s table defines the target ingest settings.
YouTube recommends RTMPS, a secure extension of RTMP, for standard encoder ingestion. It also documents HLS as an alternative in cases such as HDR or codecs not supported by RTMP, with higher latency. This tutorial uses RTMPS with an FLV output container; use a different protocol and output format only when your encoder and YouTube’s requirements call for them.
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Set up the YouTube Live event and start the encoder
- Create or select a stream. In YouTube Studio, open the Live Control Room and create a live stream or select the scheduled stream you intend to use. Check the stream’s visibility, scheduling, and other event settings before broadcasting. YouTube’s encoder workflow explains the current setup.
- Copy the server URL and stream key. Copy both values shown for that stream into the FFmpeg output URL. Treat the stream key like a password: keep it private and use a placeholder in any saved example. If it is exposed, reset it in the Live Control Room.
- Confirm the command matches the event. Check the input filename, selected codecs, resolution and frame rate, bitrate, and keyframe interval. Ensure your stable upload capacity can sustain the outgoing rate.
- Start FFmpeg and inspect its output. Watch for input or encoder errors and confirm that the process is sending data rather than exiting immediately. FFmpeg’s output is useful for diagnosing the encoder, but it does not replace YouTube’s preview or stream-health indicators.
- Check the preview, then go live. For a scheduled stream, wait for the preview in Live Control Room and verify picture and sound before selecting Go live. YouTube recommends testing before an event and monitoring stream health while it is running.
Check rights and understand YouTube’s archive and monetization rules
Copyright checks can interrupt a live stream
YouTube scans live streams for third-party content. A detected match can replace the live image with a placeholder; if the content remains, YouTube may interrupt or terminate the stream. Having a license does not necessarily prevent an interruption: the rights holder may need to add your channel to its Content ID allowlist. Review YouTube’s copyright guidance for live streams and confirm that your rights cover the recording and any included music, footage, or other material.
Permission does not guarantee monetization eligibility
YouTube’s reused-content review is separate from copyright enforcement. Permission or a fair-use position by itself does not determine whether a channel meets monetization policies. A license can address the right to use material without establishing that a repetitive broadcast qualifies for monetization. Check YouTube’s channel monetization policies before relying on a repeated stream as monetized content.
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Do not count on an automatic archive for a 12-hour-or-longer stream
YouTube’s encoder setup instructions say streams under 12 hours are automatically archived. They do not promise automatic archiving for streams lasting 12 hours or longer. If keeping a recording matters, plan an independent recording or other backup instead of assuming a long-running broadcast will appear in the channel archive. See YouTube’s encoder setup instructions.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Troubleshoot the common failure points
- FFmpeg cannot open the file: Check the path, spelling, file permissions, and format support. Use the full path if the file is not in the working directory.
- The command reports an unknown encoder: Your FFmpeg build may not include the selected encoder. Check available encoders and select one compatible with your build and YouTube’s supported ingest codecs.
- There is picture but no sound, or the command errors on audio: Inspect the input’s streams. The example assumes an audio stream; adjust mapping and audio encoding to the actual file rather than asking FFmpeg to encode a nonexistent stream.
- YouTube does not show a preview: Recheck the server URL and stream key, confirm FFmpeg is still running and sending data, and check that the output protocol, codecs, bitrate, and keyframe interval fit the event’s ingest settings. Reset the stream key if you suspect it was exposed.
- The preview stutters or stream health degrades: Compare the actual outgoing bitrate with stable upload capacity, then check whether the encoder can sustain the selected resolution and frame rate. Lower the output bitrate or workload only in a way that stays within YouTube’s recommendations for the chosen settings.
- FFmpeg stops when the video ends: Confirm that
-stream_loop -1is before the correct input’s-i. It applies to an input; placing it after that input does not set that file’s loop behavior. - The stream is interrupted after a content match: Review YouTube’s copyright notice and resolve the rights issue; where a licensed work is claimed through Content ID, contact the rights holder about allowing your channel. Do not assume restarting FFmpeg will resolve a rights-based interruption.
Or let it run in the cloud
If you want the repeated video to keep running without leaving your own computer on, StreamNeo is a cloud service for keeping a YouTube channel live from uploaded videos. Upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key once, and go live. It loops the uploaded video in the cloud, with automatic recovery if YouTube drops the stream.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Where does -stream_loop -1 go in an FFmpeg command?
Before the -i for the input file you want to repeat.
How do I find the YouTube Live RTMP URL and stream key?
Open the stream in YouTube Studio’s Live Control Room and copy the server URL and stream key shown for that stream. Keep the key private; reset it in the Live Control Room if it is exposed.
Will YouTube archive a 24/7 livestream automatically?
YouTube’s encoder instructions specify automatic archiving for streams under 12 hours, not for streams lasting 12 hours or longer. Plan a separate recording if you need a dependable archive.
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