Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors-stream_loop -1 repeats an input that FFmpeg can read; it does not restart FFmpeg when a local file error makes the process exit. For recovery, diagnose the failure and run FFmpeg under an external supervisor or wrapper that logs the exit, waits, validates the file, and launches a known-good fallback when necessary. Restarting the same broken file repeatedly will not repair it.
First identify what failed
“File error” can describe several different events, and they need different responses. Check FFmpeg’s final log lines and exit status before changing flags.
- Normal end of file: the input reached EOF. An input loop may replay it.
- Corrupt packets: FFmpeg may report damaged data and continue, or fail later. Packet-discard handling may help with some supported formats.
- Local file cannot be opened or demuxed: a missing, unreadable, or seriously damaged file can make FFmpeg exit. A loop option does not supervise or relaunch the process.
- HTTP source interruption: this is a network-input issue; HTTP-specific reconnect options may apply.
- Output or YouTube publishing failure: this is separate from reading the input. Do not assume an input retry flag will restore the outgoing stream.
FFmpeg’s command-line documentation defines -stream_loop -1 as infinite input looping. The option applies to an input and should appear before the -i it controls.
Loop a readable local file
For a single local file, the command shape is:
ffmpeg -nostdin -stream_loop -1 -re -i input.mp4
-c:v libx264 -c:a aac -f flv "$YOUTUBE_RTMP_URL"This is an illustrative command shape, not a tested restart wrapper. Supply the current YouTube server URL and stream key securely; do not put a stream key in a public script or log. YouTube explains that a stream key tells the encoder where to send the feed and allows YouTube to accept it in its stream settings guidance.
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-stream_loop -1goes before-i input.mp4, because it is an input option.-rereads the file at its native rate, a typical shape for file-based live output.-nostdinprevents terminal input checks from suspending a background invocation; it does not restart a failed process. See the FFmpeg FAQ.- The video and audio codecs and output format shown are examples. Use YouTube’s current encoder requirements for protocol, codec, resolution-specific bitrate, and keyframe interval.
FFmpeg’s online documentation is regenerated for the newest revision. Compare documented options with the FFmpeg build installed on your system.
Choose the response for the failure
| Situation | Suitable mechanism | What it does not do |
|---|---|---|
| A readable file reaches EOF | -stream_loop -1 before -i |
It does not recover an unreadable file or relaunch a process that exits. |
| Some damaged packets in a supported input | -fflags +discardcorrupt |
It does not repair the container, guarantee continued decoding, or open a file FFmpeg cannot read. |
| FFmpeg exits after a persistent local-file failure | An external supervisor or wrapper, with a delay, validation, logging, and a fallback or stop condition | This is not automatic recovery provided by FFmpeg itself. |
| HTTP input disconnects or receives configured retryable errors | HTTP protocol reconnect options | They are not local-file retry controls and do not prove that RTMP/RTMPS output will recover. |
| YouTube output is unstable | Check encoder settings, upload capacity, stream health, and failover separately | These checks do not fix an unreadable input file. |
For damaged packets
FFmpeg’s component documentation describes discardcorrupt as discarding corrupted packets. It may let processing continue past some damaged packets, but it is not a general file-repair feature. If the process exits, an external restart policy is still needed.
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For a process that exits
Put FFmpeg under a service manager or wrapper that captures the exit status and stderr, waits a bounded interval, checks whether the intended file is still valid, and then either retries, switches to known-good media, alerts an operator, or stops. The exact syntax depends on the operating system and supervisor; there is no universal restart command. A persistent failure should not trigger a rapid, unbounded restart loop.
For an HTTP input or YouTube output interruption
FFmpeg documents HTTP reconnect-on-disconnect, reconnect-at-EOF, network-error reconnect, selected HTTP status-code retries, and retry limits as HTTP protocol behavior. Those options concern HTTP connections; they should not be presented as local-file recovery or as a guarantee that YouTube publishing resumes. YouTube ingestion settings list RTMP/RTMPS, so treat input recovery and output reconnection as distinct problems. See FFmpeg protocol documentation and YouTube encoder settings.
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Build a restart policy that avoids repeating the same failure
- Capture the evidence. Save stderr and the exit status for each run. Note whether the failure occurred while opening, reading, decoding, or writing.
- Wait before relaunching. Use a bounded delay so a persistent failure cannot create a rapid restart cycle.
- Validate the media. Check that the file exists and can be opened and decoded before selecting it again.
- Choose an explicit failure path. Retry a transient issue, switch to a known-good fallback, notify an operator, or stop. Do not blindly retry a file that remains unreadable.
- Keep logs and keys safe. Record useful diagnostics without exposing the YouTube stream key.
- Test the whole path. Confirm both local-file behavior and YouTube ingestion before relying on unattended operation.
This supervisor design follows from the documented scope of FFmpeg’s options; it is an operational recommendation, not a built-in FFmpeg guarantee.
Check YouTube’s ingest settings separately
YouTube’s encoder guidance lists RTMP/RTMPS ingestion and CBR, and recommends a 2-second keyframe interval that does not exceed 4 seconds. Its bitrate guidance depends on resolution and other encoding choices, so use the current table rather than lifting one bitrate out of context. YouTube also recommends testing and monitoring stream health. See YouTube encoder settings.
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For broader operational reliability, YouTube recommends about 20% upload-bandwidth headroom and testing encoder failover in its streaming tips. These checks address the outbound stream, not whether the local media file is readable.
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