To loop a local video indefinitely with FFmpeg, put -stream_loop -1 before that file’s -i input option. For file-based live output, add -re before the same input so FFmpeg reads it at its native frame rate. Then send the output to the ingest URL and protocol selected for your YouTube Live event.
“Playlist” can mean either a program assembled from media files or an HLS .m3u8 manifest. The command below loops one input file; it does not by itself turn a changing HLS playlist into a repeatable program. Treat the command as an illustrative shape, not a tested, universal configuration.
Loop a local file for YouTube Live
For a single local file and an RTMP-style ingest, the general command shape is:
ffmpeg -re -stream_loop -1 -i input.mp4
-c:v libx264 -c:a aac
-f flv "YOUR_YOUTUBE_INGEST_URL/YOUR_STREAM_KEY"Replace the input path and output destination with your own. Select the event’s ingest details in YouTube Live Control Room and use the matching output protocol and settings. The example assumes an RTMP-style FLV output. It is not suitable for an HLS event simply by changing the file extension.
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What each option does
-rereads a file at its native frame rate, pacing it for live-style output. FFmpeg documents it as equivalent to-readrate 1. It is intended for file-style inputs; do not add it automatically to a live capture or network stream.-stream_loop -1repeats the selected input indefinitely. It is an input option, so place it before the corresponding-i. A value of0means no looping.-i input.mp4identifies the input being read. If you have a sequence of clips, make sure the input actually represents that sequence before applying the loop.-c:v,-c:a,-f, and the output URL define encoding, muxing, and delivery. The example’s H.264, AAC, and FLV choices are not guaranteed to suit every source or ingest event.
FFmpeg’s documentation explains input looping and read pacing in its advanced options. YouTube’s Live Streaming API describes the event’s ingestion address and backup address; use the current values for the event rather than copying an example destination. See the YouTube Live Streams API documentation.
Decide what “playlist” means
A program made from several files
If you mean a sequence of documentaries, clips, or other media, -stream_loop repeats the input you give FFmpeg; it does not create a multi-file program list on its own. First use an input representation that contains the desired sequence, then confirm that it behaves as expected at the end of the sequence and when it repeats. Do not assume the transition will be seamless without checking your source and workflow.
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An HLS manifest
If you mean an HLS .m3u8 playlist, distinguish a fixed program from a playlist that changes as a live source advances. The FFmpeg input-loop documentation defines how to repeat an input, but it does not establish that an evolving live HLS manifest can be replayed as a finite program. Do not promise that -stream_loop -1 will make every live manifest repeatable.
Match FFmpeg output to YouTube’s ingest mode
The output muxer and destination must match the protocol selected for the YouTube Live event. Check the event’s current Live Control Room settings before starting. A continuous RTMP-style FLV output and HLS ingestion use different delivery workflows.
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| Decision | RTMP-style file output | YouTube HLS ingest |
|---|---|---|
| Output shape | A continuous stream, as in the illustrative FLV/RTMP command | A media playlist and separate media segments sent to YouTube |
| Latency | Use the latency options available for the selected event and ingest mode | YouTube describes HLS ingestion as higher latency; ultra-low latency is unavailable when HLS is selected |
| Playlist handling | FFmpeg’s input loop and YouTube’s output protocol are separate concerns | YouTube requires rolling media playlists and ignores master playlists |
| Media requirements | Follow current YouTube settings for the event’s chosen ingest mode | Meet the HLS playlist, segment, container, codec, and HTTPS requirements |
| When it fits | A straightforward local-file loop into a typical live ingest | An HLS-specific workflow that justifies its additional constraints |
HLS requirements to check
YouTube’s current HLS ingestion help specifies segments of 1–4 seconds, TS segment format, a rolling playlist with no more than five outstanding segments, HTTPS POST or PUT, and no encryption other than HTTPS. The help page says the HLS URL starts with HTTPS.
YouTube’s HLS developer guide describes muxed audio and video in M2TS, names H.264 and HEVC as supported video codecs, supports frame rates up to 60 fps, requires a closed GOP, and lists AAC as a supported audio codec. It also says to send Media Playlists; Master Playlists are ignored. The help page’s audio-codec list differs from the developer guide, so check the current instructions for your specific HLS workflow rather than assuming the lists are interchangeable.
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HLS is not the ordinary command with a different output filename. It requires segment creation and delivery that meet YouTube’s HLS workflow. The official documentation describes it as a higher-latency option intended for premium streams requiring high quality and resolution.
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The loop options do not set your bitrate, resolution, keyframe spacing, audio configuration, or accepted transport. Choose those against the source media and the current settings for your YouTube event. The example’s libx264 and aac are illustrative codec choices, not a universal recommendation; the available evidence does not establish one bitrate or complete encoding command for every source and event.
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- Confirm the selected ingest protocol and event settings in Live Control Room before configuring FFmpeg.
- Make the output container, codecs, frame rate, and other encoding options compatible with that ingest mode.
- Use the event’s current ingestion address and stream key. Do not publish a key in scripts, screenshots, logs, or support posts.
- If you use HLS, follow its segment, playlist, container, codec, and HTTPS requirements rather than assuming the RTMP example applies.
Check YouTube’s live and content rules
Looping a file does not grant rights to stream its contents. Before broadcasting a documentary or playlist, make sure you have the necessary rights to its video, music, narration, and other included material. YouTube’s copyright and live-stream policies still apply to prerecorded content. Also consider whether a repetitive or minimally transformed broadcast complies with YouTube’s monetization policies; a live connection alone does not establish that content is eligible for monetization. Review the policies that apply to your channel and material before going live.
Troubleshoot common failures
- The video plays once and stops: Check that
-stream_loop -1appears before the relevant-i. It applies to that input, not automatically to every input in a multi-file workflow. - The output runs too quickly or behaves unlike a live stream: For a file input, add
-rebefore its-iso FFmpeg reads at native frame rate. Do not apply it blindly to a live capture or network input. - YouTube does not accept the connection: Verify the event’s selected ingest protocol, current ingestion URL, stream key, output muxer, and event settings. An RTMP-style FLV output does not satisfy an HLS event’s segmented HTTPS workflow.
- HLS segments or playlists are rejected: Check the segment duration and TS format, the rolling media-playlist behavior and outstanding-segment limit, the required HTTPS method, and the media/container constraints in YouTube’s current HLS documentation.
- A changing HLS playlist does not repeat as expected: Do not assume the loop option converts a live-updating manifest into a finite program. Use a source representation that contains the sequence you intend to replay and verify its behavior.
- The stream key appears in a log or screenshot: Treat it as exposed and replace or reset it through the relevant YouTube stream settings. Keep the replacement private.
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