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Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →To loop a local video file as a YouTube Live stream, copy the stream URL and key from YouTube Live Control Room, then run FFmpeg with real-time input pacing, a supported video and audio format, and an RTMP or preferred RTMPS output. The command below is a starting point: use your own endpoint and key, match the bitrate and keyframe interval to the output format, and confirm the feed in YouTube’s preview before going live.
Before you start
- A YouTube channel eligible for live streaming. YouTube requires a verified channel with no live-streaming restrictions in the past 90 days.
- FFmpeg installed with the encoders and network protocol support you plan to use. Available options can differ by build.
- A local video file and a stable internet connection with enough upload capacity for the outgoing bitrate.
- Access to YouTube Studio’s Live Control Room so you can retrieve the correct destination and monitor the incoming feed.
YouTube’s encoder workflow is available from Create → Go Live in YouTube Studio. You can set up an encoder stream or schedule one from the Manage tab. Check current channel eligibility and live-stream settings in YouTube Help: Create a YouTube live stream with an encoder.
Find the YouTube stream URL and key
- In YouTube Studio, select Create → Go Live, then create an encoder stream or open the scheduled stream you intend to use.
- In the stream settings, copy the displayed Stream URL and Stream key. Use the pair shown for that specific stream; do not assume an endpoint path or combine a URL from one stream with another stream’s key.
- For RTMPS, open the lock icon in Live Control Room to view the secure endpoint. YouTube may show an ordinary RTMP URL by default. Use RTMPS when your FFmpeg build and network support it.
YouTube treats the stream key as the encoder’s credential. Keep it private, and never paste it into a public script, forum post, screenshot, or log. See Manage live stream settings and YouTube’s RTMPS encryption instructions.
Prepare the loop command
This illustrative command reads loop.mp4 at real-time speed, loops it indefinitely, encodes H.264 video and AAC audio, and sends an FLV output to the RTMPS endpoint:
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ffmpeg -re -stream_loop -1 -i "loop.mp4"
-c:v libx264 -preset veryfast
-b:v 2500k -maxrate 2500k -bufsize 5000k
-pix_fmt yuv420p -g 60
-c:a aac -b:a 128k -ar 44100
-f flv "rtmps://SERVER/APP/STREAM_KEY"Replace the filename, destination, and key with your own values. Follow the URL and key format YouTube presents for your stream. The example is untested and is not guaranteed to work unchanged with every FFmpeg build, input file, or ingest endpoint. Confirm that your build includes the selected encoder and transport, and that the file has the expected streams. FFmpeg documents command option order and input handling in its documentation; its protocol documentation covers RTMP and RTMPS.
What the important options do
-repaces file input in real time. Without it, FFmpeg can process a file faster than its playback rate rather than sending it as a live feed.-stream_loop -1requests indefinite looping of the input. Check your installed version’s local help output to confirm option support; FFmpeg’s online documentation follows the newest revision.-i "loop.mp4"selects the input file. Input options such as-rebelong before-i; output encoding options belong after the input and before the destination.-c:v libx264and-c:a aacselect H.264 video and AAC audio, formats listed in YouTube’s live encoder guidance.-f flvexplicitly selects the FLV output muxer used for this RTMP-style output.-g 60sets a 60-frame GOP. That is a two-second interval only if the output is 30 frames per second; choose the GOP based on the actual output frame rate.
Choose settings that fit the video and connection
YouTube’s live encoder guidance lists H.264, constant bitrate (CBR), and a two-second keyframe interval, with a maximum recommended interval of four seconds. Its recommended bitrate depends on resolution and frame rate, so the command’s 2,500 kb/s video bitrate is only an example—not a universal YouTube setting. Check YouTube’s current encoder settings, bitrates, and resolutions for your target format, then make sure your available upload capacity can sustain the outgoing stream.
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- Resolution and frame rate: Choose an output your computer can encode reliably and your connection can upload. The command does not force a resolution or frame rate; FFmpeg may use the input’s properties unless you add explicit output settings.
- Bitrate: Set a suitable target for the chosen resolution and frame rate. If the connection cannot sustain it, reduce bitrate or output quality and test again.
- Keyframes: Set the GOP to roughly two seconds of frames. For example, 60 frames represents two seconds at 30 fps, but not at other frame rates.
- Audio: The sample command expects an audio stream it can encode to AAC. Inspect the file before running it. If the video has no audio, omit the audio encoding options or provide an intentional audio input; do not assume every setup will accept a silent feed identically.
Start the encoder and verify the feed
- Run the command and check FFmpeg’s output for connection or encoding errors.
- Open the stream in YouTube Live Control Room and wait for the preview to appear. For a scheduled stream, start the encoder first, inspect the preview and stream health, then select Go live when ready.
- Test in advance using representative motion and audio, not just a still frame. YouTube recommends testing the stream and checking health before an event.
- When finished, stop FFmpeg and select End Stream in Live Control Room where applicable. YouTube says streams shorter than 12 hours are automatically archived; do not assume that behavior for a stream lasting 12 hours or more.
Troubleshoot common problems
No preview appears
- Confirm FFmpeg is still running and sending data.
- Check that the stream URL and key came from the same YouTube stream.
- Verify whether you selected RTMP or RTMPS and that your local FFmpeg build supports the chosen protocol.
RTMPS or TLS connection error
Confirm you copied the RTMPS URL shown through the Live Control Room lock icon rather than using the default RTMP URL. If the endpoint looks correct but an SSL error persists, YouTube’s RTMPS guidance says port 443 may help. Use the endpoint provided for your stream rather than constructing one yourself.
Connection works, but video quality is poor or data drops
Check YouTube’s stream-health indicators and compare the chosen bitrate with your real upload capacity. Lower the bitrate or resolution as needed, then test again using YouTube’s current recommendations for the target format.
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The key was exposed
Reset the stream key in Live Control Room and replace the old key in your FFmpeg command. Treat the replacement as a secret as well.
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