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Use a systemd service with Restart=on-failure and a deliberate RestartSec= delay to relaunch FFmpeg after it exits unsuccessfully. This recovers from process failures; it does not detect every stalled stream or fix bad input, encoder settings, network problems, or YouTube ingest errors.
Create the systemd service
Create /etc/systemd/system/ffmpeg-youtube.service. This example assumes a video file that should loop; replace its paths, account, and FFmpeg arguments with those for your setup.
[Unit]
Description=FFmpeg YouTube live stream
Wants=network-online.target
After=network-online.target
StartLimitIntervalSec=300
StartLimitBurst=5
[Service]
Type=simple
User=stream
WorkingDirectory=/srv/stream
ExecStart=/usr/bin/ffmpeg -hide_banner -re -stream_loop -1 -i /srv/stream/input.mp4 -c:v libx264 -c:a aac -f flv rtmp://a.rtmp.youtube.com/live2/REPLACE_WITH_STREAM_KEY
Restart=on-failure
RestartSec=10s
[Install]
WantedBy=multi-user.targetAdjust the example safely
-stream_loop -1is for a file intended to loop. For a camera, capture card, or other live input, use the appropriate FFmpeg input arguments instead.- Keep FFmpeg in the foreground as the
ExecStartprocess. Do not background it from a shell; systemd needs to observe its exit. - Run the service as an unprivileged account with access only to the required inputs and directories. Confirm that
/usr/bin/ffmpegis the executable path on your system. - Replace the example stream key with your YouTube stream key. Treat it as a credential: do not commit it to a public repository or expose it in shared logs. If you use an environment file or another secret mechanism, restrict its permissions so other users cannot read it.
Restart=on-failure asks systemd to restart the service after an unsuccessful exit or other applicable failure. RestartSec=10s sets the delay before a restart. The sample StartLimitIntervalSec=300 and StartLimitBurst=5 are example guardrails against rapid restart loops, not universal settings. Automatic restarts are subject to systemd start-rate limiting; tune the values for your deployment. systemd.service documentation
Load, enable, and inspect the service
-
After creating or editing the unit, reload systemd’s unit files:
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sudo systemctl daemon-reload -
Enable the service at boot and start it now:
sudo systemctl enable --now ffmpeg-youtube.service -
Check its current state and follow its logs:
systemctl status ffmpeg-youtube.service journalctl -u ffmpeg-youtube.service -f -
After later unit-file edits, run
sudo systemctl daemon-reloadagain, then restart the service:sudo systemctl restart ffmpeg-youtube.service
Know what systemd can—and cannot—recover
When FFmpeg exits
Systemd can restart FFmpeg when the service process exits unsuccessfully, is terminated abnormally, or meets applicable timeout or watchdog failure conditions. RestartSec provides a pause, while the start-rate limit prevents unlimited rapid retries. If repeated attempts exceed that limit, automatic starts can stop until the underlying problem is addressed. systemd.unit documentation
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When FFmpeg stays alive but the stream is broken
A running process is not proof that YouTube is receiving useful media. Restart=on-failure does not detect every stalled output or ingest-side problem. Check FFmpeg’s output and YouTube Live Control Room’s stream health. YouTube advises testing before going live and monitoring stream health during the event: “Make sure to test before you start your live stream.” YouTube Help: Choose live encoder settings, bitrates, and resolutions
Choose encoder quality your connection can reliably sustain. Restarting the process alone will not correct an unsuitable encoder configuration, an unstable connection, or a YouTube ingest problem.
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Systemd restart versus FFmpeg output recovery
These are separate recovery layers. Systemd relaunches the entire FFmpeg process after a qualifying failure. FFmpeg also documents output-side recovery features, including recovery options in its FIFO muxer for supported network-output cases. Their suitability depends on the muxer and output configuration; check the documentation for your installed FFmpeg version before adding options. FFmpeg formats documentation
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Troubleshoot a service that will not stay live
- The service fails immediately: Run
systemctl status ffmpeg-youtube.serviceand inspectjournalctl -u ffmpeg-youtube.service. Check the FFmpeg error, executable and input paths, account permissions, network availability, and stream-key validity. - It keeps restarting and then stops: Read the logs to find the original failure and systemd’s restart decisions. Fix the cause before clearing the rate limit; otherwise it may fail again in the same way.
- It is rate-limited or shows failed: After investigating and correcting the cause, clear the recorded failure state and counters, then start it again:
sudo systemctl reset-failed ffmpeg-youtube.service sudo systemctl start ffmpeg-youtube.servicereset-failedclears the failed state and resets restart and start-rate-limit counters; it does not repair the underlying error. systemctl documentation - FFmpeg is active but YouTube reports a problem: Check FFmpeg output, ingest connectivity, encoder configuration, and YouTube stream health. Test the setup before relying on it for an event.
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