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For an HTTP(S) radio stream, put FFmpeg’s reconnect options before the input URL. Start with the core flags for disconnects and end-of-stream, then add network and HTTP-status retries if needed. This is not a universal recipe: first confirm that the source uses HTTP(S), and check which options your installed FFmpeg supports.
Start with this HTTP(S) example
The following command copies the incoming audio to an MP3 output while asking FFmpeg to reconnect after common interruptions:
ffmpeg
-reconnect 1
-reconnect_streamed 1
-reconnect_at_eof 1
-reconnect_on_network_error 1
-reconnect_on_http_error 5xx
-reconnect_delay_max 30
-reconnect_max_retries 20
-i "https://radio.example/stream"
-c copy output.mp3Replace the example URL with the station’s actual stream URL. The retry count and delay cap here are example policy choices, not universal recommendations. Copying the input with -c copy avoids audio re-encoding when the source codec is suitable for the chosen output container; if it is not, choose an appropriate output format and encoding options instead.
These are HTTP protocol options. Do not assume they configure RTSP, RTP, SRT, or another transport. Check the station’s documentation and identify the URL’s protocol before using them. The FFmpeg Project’s protocol documentation describes the HTTP options; inspect your local binary with ffmpeg -h protocol=http because option availability and behavior may vary by release.
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What each reconnect option does
| Option | Purpose | When it helps |
|---|---|---|
-reconnect 1 |
Reconnect after a disconnection before EOF. | A connection drops while the stream is still expected to continue. |
-reconnect_streamed 1 |
Allow reconnects on errors for streamed or non-seekable inputs. | Many live radio feeds are streamed and cannot be sought like a file. |
-reconnect_at_eof 1 |
Treat EOF as an error and reconnect. | A live endpoint closes its connection and FFmpeg reports EOF. The FFmpeg documentation says this is useful for “live / endless streams.” |
-reconnect_on_network_error 1 |
Retry TCP/TLS errors during connection establishment. | The failure occurs while opening a network connection. |
-reconnect_on_http_error 5xx |
Retry specified HTTP response codes or classes. | The server responds with a temporary HTTP error. FFmpeg accepts individual codes such as 503 and classes such as 5xx. |
-reconnect_delay_max 30 |
Set an example maximum retry delay in seconds under this option’s policy. | Use a deliberate ceiling for how long a retry may wait. |
-reconnect_max_retries 20 |
Limit the example to a set number of retry attempts. | Bound a job that should eventually stop or be supervised. The documentation says the default retry count is unset. |
Choose HTTP status codes that might recover. Retrying a permanent error, such as an invalid stream URL or rejected credentials, will not fix its cause.
Set retry limits for the job
Bound attempts and waiting time
The sample uses a 30-second delay cap and 20 retries only as example values. Adjust them to the interruption your workflow can tolerate and the station’s behavior. The optional -reconnect_delay_total_max N sets a cap, in seconds, on total retry delay; choose a value appropriate to the maximum outage you will tolerate.
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FFmpeg documents respect_retry_after as enabled by default. When supported and enabled, it honors a server’s Retry-After delay rather than using exponential backoff; the documentation identifies HTTP 429 and 503 as useful cases. Check the local HTTP protocol help if you need to confirm the option on your installed version.
Scope options to the input
Place each HTTP option before the -i URL it should configure. If a command has multiple inputs, put the relevant options before the intended input rather than assuming they apply to every source.
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Troubleshoot a stream that still stops
- Confirm the transport. Check the URL and the station’s service documentation. This recipe applies to HTTP(S) handled by FFmpeg’s HTTP protocol, not automatically to other transports.
- Check the local option list. Run
ffmpeg -h protocol=httpand confirm that the installed binary recognizes the options and values you plan to use. - Start with the core flags. Try
-reconnect 1,-reconnect_streamed 1, and-reconnect_at_eof 1before adding network-error or HTTP-status handling. - Read the logs during an interruption. Determine whether FFmpeg encountered EOF, a TCP/TLS connection failure, an HTTP response, an authentication problem, or a protocol mismatch. Then use the corresponding option where appropriate.
- Check the source and credentials. Retries cannot repair a permanently invalid URL, rejected credentials, or a stream endpoint that no longer exists.
- Choose a stopping policy. Set retry and delay limits deliberately if the process must terminate or be supervised rather than retry indefinitely.
ICY station and track metadata is separate
Reconnect settings do not by themselves make an application display station or track information. FFmpeg’s HTTP documentation says icy=1 requests ICY metadata by default when supported. An application that needs to use it must read icy_metadata_headers and icy_metadata_packet.
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