You can loop a video file into YouTube Live from Ubuntu with FFmpeg by enabling live streaming for your channel, getting the ingest URL and stream key from YouTube Studio, then running FFmpeg with real-time input pacing and a loop. That sends the file repeatedly; it does not guarantee uninterrupted broadcasting. You still need enough sustained upload bandwidth, a healthy source file, monitoring, and a plan for encoder or network failures.
Before you start: enable YouTube Live and get your stream details
- In YouTube Studio, open the Live Control Room and create or select a stream. YouTube provides the ingest URL and matching stream key there. Follow the current setup flow and confirm the exact RTMPS URL format shown for that stream.
- If this is the first time the channel is enabled for live streaming, allow up to 24 hours for activation. The channel must be verified and must not have had a live-stream restriction in the previous 90 days, according to YouTube Help: YouTube live-streaming requirements.
- Treat the stream key like a password. Do not publish it in a script repository, screenshot, article, or public log. If it is exposed, reset it in YouTube Studio and update the encoder.
YouTube recommends RTMPS, which encrypts data in transit to Google’s servers. Use the URL supplied in the current Live Control Room rather than assuming a URL format: YouTube encoder settings.
Choose resolution, frame rate, and bitrate
Choose settings that suit both the video and your measured, sustained upload capacity. YouTube’s published H.264 recommendations include the following examples; they are recommendations, not a guarantee of quality for a particular file or connection.
| Output format | YouTube H.264 bitrate recommendation |
|---|---|
| 480p at 30 fps | 5 Mbps |
| 1080p at 30 fps | 10 Mbps |
| 1080p at 60 fps | 17 Mbps |
YouTube also lists AV1/H.265 recommendations of 3 Mbps for 480p30, 10 Mbps for 1080p30, and 12 Mbps for 1080p60. These values apply to the listed formats and codecs; consult the current YouTube encoder settings when choosing a different format.
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- For the documented RTMP/RTMPS settings, YouTube lists H.264 video and AAC or MP3 audio, with constant bitrate (CBR).
- YouTube recommends a keyframe interval of 2 seconds and says not to exceed 4 seconds. For a 30 fps output, a 2-second GOP is 60 frames; at 60 fps it is 120 frames.
- YouTube recommends 20% upload headroom. Its guidance says the total stream bitrate cannot exceed the available upload bandwidth, and shared network traffic can reduce what your stream gets. See encoder settings and streaming tips.
Test upload performance under the conditions you expect to stream in, including other household or office traffic. If capacity varies, reduce the bitrate or resolution rather than planning around a brief speed-test peak. Include audio bitrate when accounting for total stream bitrate.
Prepare the video and install or verify FFmpeg
Use a media file with usable video and audio streams, and check that it plays correctly before setting up a long broadcast. The example below assumes a file named video.mp4. The exact Ubuntu release and installed FFmpeg package version are not specified here, so verify FFmpeg availability and option support for your system before relying on a version-specific installation command. The official FFmpeg manual documents the options used below.
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Run FFmpeg and loop the file
FFmpeg’s protocol documentation shows real-time input pacing with -re and RTMP output; its main manual documents input looping. This illustrative command combines those mechanisms. It has not been executed or tested, so check input compatibility and RTMPS handling with your FFmpeg build before using it for a continuous broadcast.
ffmpeg -re -stream_loop -1 -i video.mp4
-c:v libx264 -preset veryfast
-b:v 4500k -maxrate 4500k -bufsize 9000k -g 60
-c:a aac -b:a 128k
-f flv "$YOUTUBE_RTMPS_URL/$YOUTUBE_STREAM_KEY"Set YOUTUBE_RTMPS_URL to the ingest URL supplied by YouTube and YOUTUBE_STREAM_KEY to its matching key. The illustrative 4,500 kbps video bitrate is not a universal YouTube recommendation: replace it with an appropriate value for your chosen resolution and frame rate, and confirm that video plus audio fits your upload capacity with headroom.
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The example’s -g 60 corresponds to a 2-second GOP only when the output is 30 fps. If you choose another frame rate, adjust the GOP so the keyframe interval remains 2 seconds, without exceeding YouTube’s 4-second maximum. The example does not force a specific output resolution or frame rate; its actual output depends on the input and encoder behavior. Choose and verify the output format deliberately if the source does not already match your target.
In this command, -re paces reading in real time, -stream_loop -1 repeats the input indefinitely, and -f flv selects the container used for this RTMP-style output. FFmpeg’s official references are the protocol documentation and main manual. A loop repeats the same file; it does not create a playlist, add a backup source, or repair a broken input.
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Verify the broadcast in YouTube Studio
- Start the FFmpeg command and open the stream’s Live Control Room.
- Wait for the preview and check that both picture and audio are present and that YouTube reports healthy stream status.
- Test the complete path before relying on it for a scheduled or long-running broadcast. YouTube recommends testing and monitoring stream health: YouTube streaming tips.
Keep the stream key private throughout setup and operation. YouTube explains how to manage or reset it in its stream-key guidance.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Keep a long-running stream observable
An indefinitely looping input is not an end-to-end uptime guarantee. The FFmpeg process, Ubuntu machine, network, ingest connection, and YouTube broadcast can each fail. A process supervisor can restart FFmpeg if it exits, but a restart alone will not fix a wrong key, unsupported media, a YouTube restriction, insufficient upload bandwidth, or a continuing network outage.
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- Monitor the process and YouTube’s Live Control Room rather than assuming the loop is still reaching viewers.
- Arrange a way to detect a stopped encoder or unhealthy stream and investigate the cause before restarting repeatedly.
- Keep a recovery path for network or source-file problems; restarting cannot correct either underlying issue.
- Plan stream sessions with YouTube’s archive behavior in mind. YouTube says streams under 12 hours are automatically archived; do not assume one unbroken stream longer than 12 hours will be archived as a single complete video. Check current platform behavior and plan session management accordingly: YouTube live-stream guidance.
The total bitrate you’re streaming cannot exceed the amount of upload bandwidth available. — YouTube Help, Streaming tips.
Common problems and what to check
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| No preview or stream does not start | Live streaming is not enabled yet, or the ingest URL and key do not match. | Check channel eligibility and activation status in YouTube Studio; confirm the current URL/key pair and reset the key if it may have been exposed. |
| FFmpeg exits or reports an input error | The file path is wrong, the file is unsupported, or the media lacks a usable stream. | Confirm the file exists and plays; inspect its video and audio streams, and verify the options against your installed FFmpeg build. |
| Stream health is poor or playback stutters | Upload capacity is inadequate or varies under shared network load. | Measure sustained upload in representative conditions, allow YouTube’s recommended 20% headroom, and lower bitrate or resolution if needed. |
| Video arrives but audio is missing | The source audio may be absent or incompatible with the chosen encoding path. | Check that the input contains usable audio and that AAC or MP3 settings match YouTube’s documented encoder guidance. |
| Stream stops after a process or connection failure | The input loop does not restart an exited encoder or restore a failed network path. | Use monitoring and a supervisor for process exits, then diagnose the key, input, network, or YouTube status before attempting recovery. |
Or let it run in the cloud
If you do not want an Ubuntu computer and home connection to stay on, 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; StreamNeo loops the video from the cloud. It does not stream from a camera or to platforms other than YouTube.
- Nothing has to stay on at home.
- Uploaded video streams as made, up to 4K 60 fps, at one flat price per slot; there are no quality tiers or re-encoding.
- Automatic recovery if YouTube drops the stream.
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Monthly pricing: $9.99 per month. See StreamNeo for service details, then start your free day.
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