First identify which connection failed. For a local relaxation file going to a network destination, loop the file with -stream_loop -1 and configure the output’s FIFO muxer to attempt recovery. For an HTTP source, use HTTP reconnect options before that source’s -i. Neither method relaunches FFmpeg if the process exits; that requires an external process supervisor.
These are separate controls: looping repeats media, input reconnect handles supported HTTP-source interruptions, and FIFO recovery attempts to restore a network output while FFmpeg is still running. Check that your installed FFmpeg build supports the options and that your destination accepts the chosen format.
Choose the recovery method for the failure point
| What failed | What to configure | Important limit |
|---|---|---|
| A local file reaches its end | Loop the input with -stream_loop -1. |
This repeats the media; it does not repair a network connection. |
| An HTTP input disconnects or ends unexpectedly | Use supported HTTP reconnect options before the source URL’s -i. |
These are HTTP input options, not general output recovery switches. |
| A network output drops while FFmpeg remains alive | Wrap the output format and destination with the FIFO pseudo-muxer recovery options. | Recovery attempts can fail; FIFO does not restart an exited process. |
| The FFmpeg process exits | Use an external service manager or restart loop to launch it again. | A new invocation may start a local file from the beginning unless position is preserved explicitly. |
FFmpeg’s online documentation is regenerated nightly for the newest revision, so option availability and defaults can differ from an older installed build. Check the documentation and your build before relying on a setting: FFmpeg documentation index.
Loop a local relaxation file and recover the network output
For a local recording being published to a network destination, looping and output recovery belong on different parts of the command. The following is a template, not a tested drop-in command. Replace the destination URL, format, and stream key with values supported by your service.
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ffmpeg -stream_loop -1 -re -i relaxation.mp4
-c:v copy -c:a copy
-f fifo
-attempt_recovery 1
-recovery_wait_time 5
-max_recovery_attempts 0
-fifo_format flv
'rtmp://DESTINATION/APP/STREAM_KEY'What the options do
-stream_loop -1is an input option; it repeats the input indefinitely. Put it before the corresponding-i. It does not reconnect the publishing output.-rereads a file at its native rate, commonly used when pacing file input like a live source. Confirm that this is appropriate for the source and destination.-f fifoselects FFmpeg’s FIFO pseudo-muxer for the output.-attempt_recovery 1enables recovery attempts,-recovery_wait_time 5sets the wait between attempts, and-max_recovery_attempts 0requests unlimited attempts. Choose a finite limit instead if indefinite retries are not suitable.-fifo_format flvspecifies the underlying output muxer in this example. The target URL shown is illustrative, not a real service endpoint.
Check compatibility before using stream copy
The example assumes that the file’s existing video and audio codecs can be copied directly and that the destination accepts FLV over RTMP. If either assumption is wrong, stream copy will not make the media compatible: choose codecs and encoding options that meet the destination’s requirements. FIFO options and their precise support should also be checked against the installed FFmpeg build. The command-line option placement rules are documented in the FFmpeg command-line documentation; FIFO recovery is described in the FFmpeg all-options documentation.
Reconnect an HTTP input
If FFmpeg reads the relaxation stream from an HTTP URL, put the relevant HTTP protocol options before that source’s -i. This example shows the shape of a command; select retry settings for the source and failure conditions rather than treating these values as universal.
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ffmpeg -reconnect 1 -reconnect_at_eof 1
-reconnect_streamed 1 -reconnect_delay_max 30
-i 'https://SOURCE/relaxation-stream' ...HTTP options to consider
reconnect: retry after a disconnect before end-of-file.reconnect_at_eof: treat end-of-file as an error and reconnect; useful for live or endless streams.reconnect_on_network_error: retry for TCP or TLS errors during connection.reconnect_on_http_error: retry for selected HTTP status codes or classes, such as4xxor5xx.reconnect_streamed: allow reconnect attempts for streamed, non-seekable inputs.reconnect_delay_max,reconnect_max_retries, andreconnect_delay_total_max: limit the maximum delay, number of attempts, or total retry delay.respect_retry_after: when enabled, honor the server’sRetry-Afterheader.
These controls do not guarantee uninterrupted playback. Recovery depends on the protocol, server, network, continuing availability of the stream, and the options supported by the installed build. Consult the FFmpeg Protocols Documentation for HTTP option details.
Restart FFmpeg if the process exits
FIFO recovery works inside a running FFmpeg process. If FFmpeg terminates because of an unrecoverable error, host failure, or another cause, an external supervisor must start a new process. Configure that supervisor to detect termination, wait as appropriate, and relaunch the command; the exact setup depends on your operating system and service manager.
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Plan for the restart position. A fresh FFmpeg invocation may begin a local file at its start, which can repeat part of the relaxation track. Input reconnect options and FIFO recovery do not preserve or restore the state of a process that has already exited.
Set a deliberate retry policy
For output recovery, decide whether attempts should be bounded or unlimited. In the template, -max_recovery_attempts 0 requests no maximum; a positive limit bounds the attempts. The FIFO muxer also provides recover_any_error, but enabling it indiscriminately can cause retries for errors that are not transient. Prefer a policy matched to the errors and the destination rather than assuming every failure will clear on retry. FFmpeg describes FIFO recovery as especially useful with network output because it can restart streaming transparently, but that is a capability description, not a guarantee that every interruption will recover.
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Troubleshoot common failures
The file plays once and stops
Confirm that -stream_loop -1 appears before the local file’s -i. It loops that input only; it does not reconnect the output.
The HTTP source does not reconnect
Confirm the input is actually HTTP, place protocol options before its -i, and check that the server remains available and the installed build supports the selected options. Retry settings cannot make an unavailable source return.
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The network output still stops
Verify that the FIFO pseudo-muxer wraps the output, that the underlying muxer and URL match the destination, and that the chosen FIFO options are supported by the installed build. Recovery can fail permanently, including when the cause is not transient.
The command fails with a codec or format error
The template’s -c:v copy, -c:a copy, FLV, and RTMP choices are assumptions, not universal requirements. Check the destination’s accepted protocols, container, and codecs; encode to compatible settings if stream copy is unsuitable.
It does not come back after FFmpeg closes
Use an external process supervisor. In-process input reconnect and FIFO recovery cannot launch a process that has exited.
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