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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsTo loop one local video into YouTube Live with FFmpeg and NVIDIA hardware encoding, use -stream_loop -1 before the input and -c:v h264_nvenc for video encoding. The command below is an adaptable template, not a tested recipe: it assumes 1080p30 input, and its bitrate must be changed to match your intended output and YouTube’s current guidance.
Command: loop a video file to YouTube Live
ffmpeg -re -stream_loop -1 -i input.mp4
-c:v h264_nvenc -preset p4
-rc cbr -b:v 14M -maxrate 14M -bufsize 14M
-g 60
-c:a aac -b:a 128k -ar 44100
-f flv "rtmps://a.rtmp.youtube.com:443/live2/STREAM_KEY"Replace input.mp4 with your file and STREAM_KEY with the stream key shown for your broadcast in YouTube Live Control Room. Keep the key private; anyone who obtains it may be able to send video to your stream. The example’s 14 Mbps video bitrate follows YouTube’s current H.264 recommendation for 1080p30, and -g 60 means a 60-frame GOP, or two seconds at 30 fps. Change those values for your actual output.
This command uses RTMPS, which YouTube recommends for encrypted transport. It loops one input file repeatedly; it is not a playlist or multi-file transition recipe. The combination shown here has not been tested as a complete command, so verify it with your own FFmpeg build, GPU, driver, operating system, and source file before relying on it for a long broadcast.
What to change for your video and stream
Input and loop behavior
-stream_loop -1 tells FFmpeg to repeat the input indefinitely; put it before the -i input it applies to. -re reads the file at its native rate rather than sending it as fast as possible. This setup repeats the same picture and audio each time the file ends.
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Resolution, frame rate, bitrate, and keyframes
The template does not scale or change frame rate: it encodes the input as supplied. Choose a bitrate for the resolution, frame rate, and codec YouTube will receive. The following are YouTube Help’s H.264 recommendations, accessed 2026-10-03; they are platform settings, not independent quality measurements.
| Output | Recommended bitrate | Minimum bitrate |
|---|---|---|
| 720p30 | 8 Mbps | 3 Mbps |
| 720p60 | 8 Mbps | 3 Mbps |
| 1080p30 | 14 Mbps | 5 Mbps |
| 1080p60 | 17 Mbps | 6 Mbps |
| 1440p30 | 21 Mbps | 7 Mbps |
| 1440p60 | 34 Mbps | 8 Mbps |
| 2160p30 | 42 Mbps | 11 Mbps |
| 2160p60 | 50 Mbps | 14 Mbps |
Use the matching row rather than treating the sample value as universal. Set -b:v and -maxrate to the chosen target; the example makes them equal and sets -bufsize to the same value. YouTube calls for constant bitrate (CBR), recommends a two-second keyframe interval, and allows a maximum interval of four seconds. Since -g is a frame count, calculate it from the frame rate: use 60 at 30 fps or 120 at 60 fps for a two-second interval. If the source rate differs, adjust accordingly.
Video and audio encoding
-c:v h264_nvenc selects NVIDIA’s H.264 encoder when your GPU and FFmpeg build support it. -preset p4 is the example preset; available options depend on the installed encoder and build, so inspect your local help rather than assuming every version exposes the same settings. The audio options encode AAC stereo at 128 Kbps and 44.1 kHz, matching YouTube’s published stereo AAC guidance.
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Ingest protocol, codec, and destination
YouTube lists RTMP and RTMPS ingest and supports H.264, H.265, and AV1 video. This command specifically sends H.264 in an FLV container to YouTube’s RTMPS endpoint. Keep the endpoint and stream key together as the output URL, but do not publish or share the key.
Check FFmpeg and NVIDIA support first
-
In a terminal, run
ffmpeg -encodersand check whetherh264_nvencappears. -
Run
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Confirm that the NVIDIA GPU and driver on the machine running FFmpeg support NVENC. NVENC is hardware encoding on supported NVIDIA GPUs; the cited guidance does not establish a required model for this command.
-
Start the command and watch FFmpeg’s output for encoder errors or connection failures. In YouTube Live Control Room, verify that the incoming stream is detected and that the preview, resolution, frame rate, and audio are as expected before depending on a long-running broadcast.
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FFmpeg options and encoder availability vary by build and version. NVIDIA’s FFmpeg guide demonstrates file-to-file transcoding; a live broadcast additionally requires an appropriate live input and output destination, such as the YouTube RTMPS URL above.
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Troubleshooting
“Unknown encoder” or “h264_nvenc” unavailable
Check ffmpeg -encoders and ffmpeg -h encoder=h264_nvenc, then verify that the installed build and NVIDIA hardware support NVENC. Do not change unrelated bitrate or audio settings to address an unavailable encoder.
YouTube does not detect the stream or rejects the ingest
Check that the RTMPS URL and stream key are correct, and that the key belongs to the intended YouTube broadcast. Then compare the sent codec, resolution, frame rate, CBR bitrate, audio format, and keyframe interval with YouTube’s current encoder settings guidance.
The stream is unstable or the output does not match expectations
Confirm the source file’s resolution and frame rate, then choose the corresponding bitrate and GOP length. Make sure the system can encode and upload continuously at the selected settings; this varies with the source, hardware, network, drivers, and FFmpeg build. Inspect FFmpeg’s live output and YouTube’s incoming preview rather than assuming that a command launching successfully guarantees an uninterrupted stream.
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You need multiple videos or transitions
-stream_loop -1 repeats one file. A playlist, multiple inputs, or seamless transitions require a different input construction; the command here does not configure or validate those cases.
Copyright and YouTube channel rules
Technical compliance does not grant rights to broadcast a video. Before looping a documentary or other recording, confirm that you own the required rights or have permission for the live use, including its audio. YouTube may detect copyrighted material in live broadcasts. Review YouTube’s current policies and the permissions for each source before streaming; a looping command does not bypass copyright enforcement or guarantee monetization.
Likewise, repeating a file indefinitely does not by itself establish eligibility for monetization or compliance with YouTube’s channel policies. Check current YouTube rules for reused or repetitive content and ensure your channel and stream meet them. No command setting can guarantee acceptance, monetization, or continuous availability.
Or let it run in the cloud
If you want a prerecorded video to keep a YouTube channel live without leaving a computer at home running FFmpeg, StreamNeo is a cloud service made by Yorker Media. Upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key once, and go live; StreamNeo loops uploaded videos from the cloud. It does not go live from a camera and streams to YouTube only.
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