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For one finite video file, add -stream_loop -1 before that file’s -i option. FFmpeg will keep reading the input in a loop instead of ending at the file’s end. That does not restart FFmpeg after a crash, make a playlist loop, or fix a broken YouTube connection—those need separate checks.
Loop a single input file
Use this structural example as a starting point:
ffmpeg -re -stream_loop -1 -i input.mp4
-c:v libx264 -c:a aac -f flv "$YOUTUBE_INGEST_URL"-stream_loop is an input option, and -1 means loop indefinitely. FFmpeg options apply to the next input or output and reset between files, so put the loop option before the -i for the file you want to repeat. See the FFmpeg command-line documentation.
This is not a production-ready command for every source. Choose codecs, bitrate, output URL, stream mapping, and audio handling for your actual file and YouTube stream configuration. Keep your stream key private; do not put it in published examples or logs.
First identify what ran out
“Ran out of input files” can describe different problems. Match the fix to what FFmpeg and YouTube are actually doing.
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One file reached its end
If FFmpeg is still running and one file has reached EOF, loop that input with -stream_loop -1 if repeating the same documentary or other recording is acceptable. Check that audio and video continue cleanly across the loop boundary.
A playlist ended
Looping one input does not make a multi-file playlist infinite. Configure the playlist or concat workflow to provide the next item or repeat as intended. Behavior depends on the demuxer and how the playlist is built; test the transition rather than assuming an input-loop option repeats the whole playlist. There is no single verified hot-reload recipe that applies to every playlist format.
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FFmpeg exited or failed
Check FFmpeg’s exit status and logs. An input loop cannot recover from an encoder crash, invalid media, lost storage, or a broken output connection. If the process itself must recover from a failure, use a suitable supervisor and alerting; restarting FFmpeg is a separate job from keeping its input from reaching EOF.
YouTube reports an unhealthy ingest
Check stream health and the specific error messages in YouTube Live Control Room before changing the input loop. A healthy, repeating input does not guarantee a healthy connection to YouTube. See YouTube’s stream-health guidance.
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Check output settings and stream health
YouTube’s encoder guidance lists RTMP and RTMPS as supported protocols and recommends constant bitrate (CBR). It recommends a 2-second keyframe frequency and says not to exceed 4 seconds. Recommended bitrates vary by ingestion codec, resolution, and frame rate, so choose a value from YouTube’s current table for your output mode rather than treating one bitrate as universal. RTMPS is an encrypted extension of RTMP. See YouTube’s encoder settings.
Test before scheduling the broadcast with audio and movement similar to the intended stream, then monitor stream health while it is live. YouTube’s encoder setup help says streams under 12 hours are automatically archived. That is an archive rule, not a guarantee that FFmpeg will run indefinitely or that YouTube will accept one uninterrupted feed indefinitely.
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Choose the right recovery approach
| Approach | Use it when | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
Loop one input with -stream_loop -1 |
The same file may repeat for the duration of the stream. | Simple, but repetition is audible or visible; validate the source’s timing and format. |
| Repeat a playlist or provide a next item | Several files should play in order. | Playlist and demuxer behavior varies; the playlist itself needs configuration and testing. |
| Send a fallback slate or loop | The primary feed may disappear or new media arrives asynchronously. | More complex; the fallback and primary feeds need compatible audio/video streams and process logic. |
| Supervise and restart FFmpeg | The process must recover after exiting or failing. | A supervisor can restart a failed process, but cannot make a finite input infinite by itself. |
Test the loop and prepare for a long broadcast
- Run the loop with the exact input file and FFmpeg build you plan to use before scheduling the stream.
- Watch and listen across the loop boundary. Confirm that both audio and video continue; source timing, codecs, or timestamps may require transcoding or other handling.
- For a playlist, verify that its last item transitions to the intended next item or fallback. Check the output at the boundary.
- Monitor FFmpeg’s exit code and logs, and YouTube Live Control Room’s stream health, as separate signals.
- If the host or process must survive failures, configure an appropriate supervisor and alerting in addition to input looping.
- Keep the stream key private. Prefer RTMPS when supported.
Copyright and repeat suitability
Looping is a technical choice, not permission to rebroadcast a recording. Before using a documentary, soundtrack, or other media, make sure you have the rights or permission needed for the live use. Repeated content should also be an intentional editorial choice: viewers may encounter the same scenes and audio again whenever the file reaches its end. Review the copyright safety checklist before broadcasting.
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