For a finite local video or FFmpeg concat playlist, put -stream_loop -1 before the relevant -i input. That tells FFmpeg to repeat that input indefinitely. Use -re as well when sending a file to a live output so FFmpeg reads it at its native rate; -re paces playback but does not make it loop.
Loop a local file or concat playlist
For a text file such as playlist.txt that lists local media files, try this general pattern:
ffmpeg -re -stream_loop -1 -f concat -safe 0 -i playlist.txt
-c:v libx264 -preset veryfast -c:a aac -f flv
'rtmp://YOUR_YOUTUBE_INGEST_URL/YOUR_STREAM_KEY'Replace the destination with the current ingest URL and stream key shown in YouTube Live Control Room. Keep the stream key private: anyone with it may be able to broadcast to your channel. This example re-encodes video with libx264 and audio with AAC; adapt codecs and other settings to your files, installed FFmpeg build, and YouTube’s current encoder guidance. It is a general command pattern, not a tested command for every file, FFmpeg build, or account.
Why the option order matters
-stream_loop is an input option: FFmpeg documents -1 as infinite looping and 0 as no looping. Place it before the -i it should affect. If you have separate audio and video inputs, apply looping to the finite input that is reaching EOF; another unlooped input or output behavior may still end the overall stream. See the FFmpeg documentation.
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What -re does
-re reads an input at its native frame rate (equivalent to -readrate 1). It is useful when the output should flow at a live-like pace, but it does not repeat a file or playlist. Looping and pacing solve different problems.
Check what “playlist” means in your command
Local concat text file or finite media file
The command above is intended for a finite file or a local concat-demuxer script. The concat demuxer reads a text script and processes its listed files in sequence. For reliable transitions, the files need compatible streams, codecs, and time bases; inaccurate durations or mismatched media can cause gaps or artifacts. Consult the concat demuxer documentation and inspect the actual files if the loop starts but transitions are faulty.
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HLS .m3u8 input
An HLS URL ending in .m3u8 is not the same thing as a local concat playlist. If it is a live HLS feed, repeatedly playing a finite input at EOF may not be the right remedy; check whether the playlist is updating and review FFmpeg’s logs. Likewise, HLS muxer flags such as omit_endlist concern generated HLS output playlists, not looping a finite concat input. See the FFmpeg formats documentation.
Diagnose other reasons the stream may stop
- Confirm the input type. Determine whether the input is a local concat text script, a single file, or an HLS
.m3u8URL. Only apply this looping pattern to the finite local input it is meant to repeat. - Verify option placement. Put
-stream_loop -1before the applicable-i. With separate inputs, check which one reaches EOF first and how your filters and output options handle it. - Inspect playlist paths and media compatibility. Make sure every listed file is readable and that streams, codecs, and time bases are compatible. Review durations if the picture or sound jumps at file boundaries. The concat demuxer requirements are documented in the FFmpeg manual.
- Look for explicit output limits. Options such as
-t,-to, or-shortestcan stop writing or end output when a stream finishes. Review the complete command rather than assuming EOF looping is the only cause; definitions are in the FFmpeg documentation. - Separate source looping from YouTube ingest settings. YouTube’s HLS ingest guidance requires TS segments, HTTPS POST/PUT, a rolling playlist with no more than five outstanding segments, and segments between one and four seconds. YouTube describes HLS as higher latency than RTMP. Those HLS requirements do not make a finite local FFmpeg input loop. Check the current YouTube HLS setup guidance if you are using HLS ingestion.
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