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You can loop a prerecorded video as a YouTube live feed by running FFmpeg on a remote Linux server. Use FFmpeg’s -stream_loop -1 before the input file to repeat it indefinitely and -re to read the file at its native frame rate, then send the output to the current RTMPS server URL and stream key shown in YouTube Studio. The server keeps the encoder running without your home computer, but you still need to manage the process, connection, stream key, and YouTube broadcast lifecycle.
Before you start
Check channel eligibility and content rights
YouTube says a channel must be verified, have had no live-streaming restriction in the previous 90 days, and the person streaming must be at least 16. Live content must comply with YouTube’s Community Guidelines and Terms of Service. Looping a file does not grant permission to stream it: use material you own or are authorized to broadcast. See YouTube’s live-streaming eligibility and policy guidance.
Choose a Linux server you can administer
A remote Linux server is simply where FFmpeg runs; YouTube does not prescribe a particular provider, distribution, or hosting plan. Choose a host with enough storage for your source file and a stable outbound connection. You will need shell access, FFmpeg, the media file, and a YouTube live event or stream. Server sizing, firewall configuration, and hosting costs vary by provider and workload.
Create the YouTube stream and protect its key
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Open YouTube Studio’s encoder setup instructions and create or select a live stream. Choose a private or unlisted test setting if appropriate for your channel and event.
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Copy the server URL and stream key shown for that stream. Use the current values from Studio rather than an endpoint copied from an old tutorial.
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Treat the stream key like a password. Do not put it in public scripts, screenshots, shared logs, or shell history. If it is exposed, reset it in Live Control Room before streaming again.
Prefer RTMPS when the provided endpoint supports it. YouTube’s RTMPS guide specifies the rtmps protocol, a valid server path, TLS on port 443, and hostname information used for server authentication through SNI. The endpoint supplied by Studio or the API should take precedence over a hard-coded address. See YouTube’s RTMPS ingestion guide.
Prepare and inspect the video on the server
Upload a file you are authorized to stream
Copy the recording to the server using a transfer method you trust, then confirm its path and permissions. Before starting an indefinite loop, inspect the file’s duration and streams so you know it has the video and audio you expect. For example, use ffprobe /path/to/video.mp4 if FFprobe is installed with FFmpeg; confirm the output identifies the intended video and audio streams.
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Do not assume one bitrate or resolution fits every file. YouTube’s current encoder table varies by resolution and frame rate and specifies recommended codecs, bitrates, and keyframe guidance. Match the output to the source and consult YouTube’s live encoder settings guide before choosing values. The example below uses H.264 video, AAC audio, a 2-second keyframe interval, and illustrative bitrate settings; change these values to suit the source and YouTube’s current table.
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Run FFmpeg as a live encoder
The command-line structure matters: -stream_loop and -re are input options, so place them before the corresponding -i. FFmpeg documents -stream_loop -1 as infinite looping and -re as reading at native frame rate, equivalent to -readrate 1. Real-time reading is appropriate for a media file being sent as a live feed; do not throttle an actual live capture or network input this way, because FFmpeg warns that a low read rate can cause packet loss. See the FFmpeg command-line documentation.
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Set shell variables for the input and YouTube values. Avoid entering the stream key directly as a command-line argument if shell history or process listings could expose it. The placeholder values below are not credentials:
INPUT='/path/to/video.mp4'
RTMPS_URL='rtmps://SERVER-URL-FROM-YOUTUBE-STUDIO/STREAM-PATH'
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Start with an output command such as the following, replacing the destination placeholders and adjusting settings to the video and YouTube’s current encoder guide:
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ffmpeg -stream_loop -1 -re -i "$INPUT" -c:v libx264 -preset veryfast -b:v 4500k -maxrate 4500k -bufsize 9000k -g 60 -keyint_min 60 -sc_threshold 0 -c:a aac -b:a 128k -ar 44100 -f flv "$RTMPS_URL/$STREAM_KEY"This example assumes a 30 fps source when using a 60-frame keyframe interval; for another frame rate, set the GOP/keyframe interval to follow YouTube’s current guidance, generally targeting a two-second interval. The bitrate values are examples, not universal recommendations. If the file’s resolution, frame rate, or codecs differ, adjust the encoding accordingly.
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Watch FFmpeg’s output for connection errors, encoding errors, and whether frames and audio are advancing. Keep the session open while testing. For long-running operation, use a process supervisor appropriate to your distribution and administration setup; systemd units, firewall rules, log rotation, reconnection settings, and restart policies depend on the server and were not verified as a universal configuration here.
Confirm the feed in YouTube Studio
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Return to Live Control Room and wait for the encoder preview to appear. YouTube’s setup flow says to wait for the preview before selecting Go live for a scheduled broadcast.
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Check the preview for the correct picture and sound, then inspect the stream-health indicators before making the event public. YouTube recommends monitoring audio and video quality while live; see YouTube live-streaming tips.
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After going live, monitor the server process and network connection as well as Studio. A remote machine removes dependence on your home computer, but it does not eliminate server, network, or YouTube-side interruptions.
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Understand looping, broadcasts, and archives
FFmpeg’s infinite loop repeats the input while the encoder process continues. YouTube’s live broadcast is a separate event from the inbound stream: its API documentation describes broadcasts and streams as distinct resources and gives an example of a 24/7 feed alongside a separate interview broadcast. That resource model is not a promise of uninterrupted delivery, monetization, account-specific availability, or archive retention. See YouTube Live Streaming API documentation on broadcasts and streams.
YouTube’s encoder setup help states that streams shorter than 12 hours are automatically archived. Do not assume the same archive outcome for a stream that lasts 12 hours or longer. An indefinitely looping FFmpeg process and the lifecycle or archive behavior of a YouTube broadcast are separate concerns.
Troubleshoot common failures
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YouTube does not accept the feed: check that the channel meets live-streaming eligibility requirements, that the event is ready, and that the server URL and key are copied from the matching Studio stream. If the key may have been exposed, reset it.
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RTMPS connection or TLS errors: verify the current endpoint and path, use the protocol supplied by Studio, and confirm the server can make outbound TLS connections on port 443. Avoid substituting an old static ingestion address.
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The video plays too quickly or the feed behaves unlike a live stream: confirm
-reappears before-ifor the file input. Do not use file-rate throttling for a genuine live capture or network source. -
The file does not repeat: make sure
-stream_loop -1is before the relevant-i, and that FFmpeg can read the file to its end. A corrupt or unsupported input may stop the process before it can loop. -
Preview is blank, silent, or poor quality: check the source’s actual video/audio streams, output codec options, bitrate, resolution, frame rate, and keyframe interval against YouTube’s current encoder settings. Wait for Studio’s preview and check stream health before going live.
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The stream stops after a server or network interruption: inspect the FFmpeg process, host connectivity, and logs, then restart or configure an appropriate supervisor for your server. Automatic recovery behavior depends on your process and server configuration; no particular restart setup is guaranteed here.
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Or let it run in the cloud
If you do not want to administer a Linux server, StreamNeo is a cloud service for keeping a YouTube channel live from uploaded videos: upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key once, and go live. Nothing has to stay on at home; it loops uploaded files at the quality they were made, up to 4K 60fps, at one flat price per slot. It can automatically recover if YouTube drops the stream. The first day is free with no card, and the monthly option is $9.99 per month. Each slot includes 10 GB storage, pooled across active slots, and support from the StreamNeo team. See StreamNeo for details, then start your free first day.
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