FFmpeg’s -stream_loop -1 repeats one input indefinitely, but it must appear before the -i for the file you want to loop. If FFmpeg is still running while YouTube’s preview stalls, the problem may instead be real-time pacing, another input such as audio ending, or an ingest issue. The exact cause depends on the command, FFmpeg’s final log output, and YouTube’s stream-health status.
First determine what “stopped” means
There are two different failures to separate: FFmpeg may have exited, or FFmpeg may still be sending data while YouTube stops receiving usable media. Check the process and the Live Control Room before changing encoding settings.
- FFmpeg exited: note its exit status and final error lines. Check that the input files are readable and that options and mappings apply to the intended streams.
- FFmpeg is still running, but YouTube stalls: inspect the stream-health messages in YouTube Live Control Room and check the connection to YouTube’s ingest. YouTube recommends testing with similar audio and movement before the event, then monitoring stream health and messages while live (YouTube’s encoder settings and live-stream guidance).
Without the command, logs, input details, and YouTube status, it is not possible to identify one cause reliably.
Check the loop option’s position
-stream_loop is an input option. FFmpeg applies most options to the next input or output, so put the loop setting immediately before the relevant input:
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-stream_loop -1 -i input.mp4-1 means to repeat that input infinitely. If the option comes before a different -i, it applies to that other input. If it comes after the target -i, it does not configure that earlier input. See the FFmpeg documentation for option scope and loop behavior.
Check every input, not just the video
When a command reads video and audio from separate files, looping the video does not automatically prove that the audio repeats too. Inspect each input’s duration and options, along with stream maps and any duration or shortest-output settings. A finite audio input or output limit can affect how long the resulting stream continues.
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A September 2022 FFmpeg-user post describes a setup involving a looping video, a separate MP3 input, CPU load, and loss of YouTube’s live indicator. It is one user’s report, not evidence that separate audio or CPU load is a general cause (FFmpeg-user archive post).
Pace prerecorded media in real time
A file can be read faster than its intended playback rate unless the input is paced. FFmpeg documents -re as reading at the input’s native frame rate, equivalent to -readrate 1; this can be useful when output packet flow speed matters, as in live streaming. Put it before the prerecorded input’s -i:
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-re -stream_loop -1 -i input.mp4Do not add -re indiscriminately to an actual live-capture input. Consult the FFmpeg manual for these input options.
Use a command shape that keeps options attached to the right input
This is an option-order illustration, not a complete or tested command for every file or FFmpeg build:
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ffmpeg -re -stream_loop -1 -i input.mp4 [mapping and encoding options] -f flv "RTMP(S) ingest URL/STREAM_KEY"Supply the ingest URL and stream key shown by YouTube, and keep the key private. Add stream mapping and encoding options that fit the source, output quality, and YouTube’s current requirements. Verify which flags your installed FFmpeg build supports.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Check YouTube’s ingest and encoder settings separately
A correctly looping input does not guarantee successful delivery. Compare your output to the matching row in YouTube’s live encoder settings, taking codec, resolution, and frame rate into account. The figures below are YouTube recommendations accessed October 3, 2026—not guarantees that a stream will work:
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| Output setting | YouTube-published bitrate figures |
|---|---|
| 720p at 30 fps, H.264 | 3 Mbps minimum; 8 Mbps recommended |
| 1080p at 30 fps, H.264 | 5 Mbps minimum; 14 Mbps recommended |
| 1080p at 60 fps, H.264 | 6 Mbps minimum; 17 Mbps recommended |
For live encoding, YouTube specifies RTMP or RTMPS ingest, H.264, H.265, or AV1 video, up to 60 fps, and CBR. It recommends a two-second keyframe interval and says not to exceed four seconds. For stereo audio, it recommends 128 Kbps; its accepted audio codecs include AAC and MP3. Use the matching current guide row rather than treating one bitrate as suitable for every format.
YouTube’s stated testing advice is: “Make sure to test before you start your live stream. Tests should include audio and movement in the video similar to what you’ll be doing in the stream. During the event, monitor the stream health and review messages.”
Diagnose by symptom
| What you observe | What to check next |
|---|---|
| FFmpeg exits when the file ends | Confirm -stream_loop -1 is before the intended input’s -i; inspect the final error and any output-duration or shortest-output options. |
| Video repeats but audio stops or changes | Check whether audio is a separate input, whether it has its own loop behavior, and how stream mapping and durations are configured. |
| FFmpeg remains active, but YouTube’s preview or live indicator stalls | Check Live Control Room stream-health messages, connection stability, and whether the output matches the applicable encoder settings. |
| Playback races through the file or packet flow is uneven | For prerecorded input, check whether -re is placed before its -i to pace reading at the native frame rate. |
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