You can stream a prerecorded video from a USB drive to YouTube Live by mounting the drive on your Raspberry Pi and having FFmpeg read the file in real time, then send it to YouTube over RTMPS. This is a live feed, not a normal YouTube video upload. To repeat the file continuously, use FFmpeg’s -stream_loop -1 option.
What you need before you start
- A Raspberry Pi with FFmpeg installed, a working internet connection, and enough upload capacity for the stream.
- A USB drive containing a video file that your FFmpeg build can read.
- A YouTube channel with livestreaming enabled, plus the current RTMPS ingestion address and stream key for the intended stream.
You do not need a camera, capture card, or microphone to send an existing video file. YouTube treats the incoming feed and the viewer-facing event as separate objects: the live stream is the feed sent to YouTube, and the live broadcast is the event viewers watch. See Google’s documentation for live streams and live broadcasts.
A stream key works like a credential. Keep it private: do not put it in a public post, screenshot, or log. Avoid leaving it in shell history where other users of the Pi can access it.
Prepare a YouTube Live stream
- Open YouTube Studio and create or select the live event you intend to show.
- Locate the stream’s current RTMPS ingestion address and stream key in the live setup or control room. Copy the values shown for that stream; do not rely on an endpoint or key copied from an old tutorial.
- Check that livestreaming is enabled for your channel. If the channel is not permitted to go live, FFmpeg cannot bypass that restriction. YouTube documents permission-related errors in its live streaming API errors.
- Keep the live control room available so you can verify the incoming picture and sound before making the broadcast public.
YouTube describes RTMPS as “a regular RTMP (RealTime Messaging Protocol) video stream tunneled through an SSL connection.” Its guidance requires a valid endpoint and port 443. For this ordinary low-latency workflow, RTMPS is the practical choice; consult the YouTube RTMPS guide if you need protocol details.
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Mount the USB drive and confirm the video path
Connect the drive and use your desktop file manager or command line to find where your Raspberry Pi’s operating system mounted it. There is no single path that applies to every Pi installation. Before streaming, confirm the file exists and that the account running FFmpeg can read it. For example, substitute your actual mounted path and filename:
ls -l "/path/to/usb/video.mp4"Use quotation marks around a path containing spaces. FFmpeg reads regular files, but it will not mount or locate a removable drive for you. Its command-line documentation explains input handling.
Check your FFmpeg build
Codec encoders and output protocols vary between FFmpeg builds. Check what is installed on this Pi before choosing a command:
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ffmpeg -version
ffmpeg -encoders
ffmpeg -protocols- Look for
libx264if you plan to encode video with the example below. - Check that AAC encoding is available for the example audio settings.
- Confirm that the build supports RTMPS output. A build lacking the required encoder or protocol will not run the template as written.
Copying the source audio and video with -c:v copy and -c:a copy avoids re-encoding, but only works when the source codecs and container are acceptable for the selected YouTube ingest. If they are not, transcode to suitable output codecs instead.
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Send the file to YouTube with FFmpeg
This is a command template, not a guarantee that a particular Raspberry Pi can encode a particular file in real time. Replace the quoted file path and destination with the values for your setup. Keep the key private and check that the installed build supports the selected encoders and RTMPS before running it.
ffmpeg -re -stream_loop -1 -i "/path/to/usb/video.mp4" \
-c:v libx264 -preset veryfast -pix_fmt yuv420p \
-c:a aac -b:a 128k \
-f flv "<RTMPS_INGESTION_URL>/<STREAM_KEY>"Replace <RTMPS_INGESTION_URL> and <STREAM_KEY> with the current values YouTube provides for your stream. The destination URL is the final argument.
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-rereads the file at its native rate instead of sending it as fast as possible.-stream_loop -1repeats the input indefinitely. Omit this option for one play-through; when the file ends, FFmpeg exits and the live ingest may stop.-iidentifies the input file. Input options belong before the corresponding-i; output options belong after the input and before the destination.-c:v libx264,-preset veryfast,-pix_fmt yuv420p, and the AAC settings are example choices, not a universal Pi configuration.
FFmpeg documents -stream_loop -1 for infinite input looping. The command syntax and options are described in its official command-line reference.
Set output quality for your Pi and source
Choose output resolution, frame rate, video bitrate, keyframe interval (GOP), and audio settings to suit the source, the Pi’s encoding capacity, the available upload bandwidth, and YouTube’s current encoder guidance. The appropriate values are not universal. Performance depends on the Pi model, video resolution and codec, FFmpeg build, and network; a command that works on one setup may overload another. Do not assume that the example’s encoder settings will sustain your file in real time.
Check the incoming feed before going public
Watch the live preview or control room for incoming video and audio. Confirm that the image is moving, audio is present when expected, and the broadcast is set to the intended visibility before sharing it with viewers.
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Troubleshoot a missing feed or interrupted stream
- No incoming feed: Confirm livestreaming is enabled for the channel, then recheck the exact current ingestion address and stream key. A wrong or outdated value prevents FFmpeg from connecting.
- Connection or RTMPS error: Check the spelling of the RTMPS endpoint, the port and network access to port 443, and whether your FFmpeg build supports the output protocol. YouTube’s RTMPS guide covers the endpoint and port requirements.
- Input file not found or permission denied: Recheck the USB mount location, exact filename, quotation marks around paths with spaces, and read permission for the account running FFmpeg.
- Encoder or protocol not found: Review
ffmpeg -encodersandffmpeg -protocols. Install or use a build with the needed support, or adjust the command to encoders and protocols that are available. - Choppy video, slow encoding, or Pi overload: The Pi may not keep up with the selected resolution, codec, frame rate, or encoding settings. Try a less demanding output configuration that still suits the source and YouTube’s current guidance, and check that the upload connection can sustain the stream.
- Stream stops at the end of the file: If you want a repeating feed, include
-stream_loop -1. Without it, FFmpeg makes one pass and exits when the input ends. - FFmpeg connects but the preview is wrong or silent: Check the selected input file and its audio/video streams, then confirm the output codec and settings are suitable for the ingest. Watch the preview rather than assuming a successful connection means the intended content is coming through.
Copyright and YouTube policy for prerecorded streams
Having a video file does not establish that you have the right to rebroadcast it. Use material you created or are authorized to stream, including its music and other embedded content. A live feed is still subject to YouTube’s copyright and channel rules; check the current guidance in YouTube Studio before scheduling or starting a public broadcast. Repeating a file does not change those obligations.
Or let it run in the cloud
If your goal is a YouTube channel that keeps a prerecorded video or playlist running, StreamNeo is a cloud alternative to keeping this Raspberry Pi and its USB drive on. Upload the recording, add your YouTube stream key once, and go live. StreamNeo loops uploaded videos from the cloud; it does not stream from a camera.
- Nothing has to stay powered on at home for the stream to continue.
- Each slot streams the uploaded file as made, up to 4K 60fps, at one flat price per slot, with no re-encode or quality tiers.
- It automatically recovers if YouTube drops the stream.
- The first day is free with no card required, one free day per account.
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StreamNeo is for YouTube streaming from uploaded videos. See StreamNeo, or start the free first day.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I stream once without looping the file?
Yes. Leave out -stream_loop -1; FFmpeg will read the file once and exit when it reaches the end.
Does the Raspberry Pi upload the video to my YouTube channel library?
No. FFmpeg sends a live feed to YouTube Live; it is not the normal video-upload process.
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