To loop a playlist of local videos into YouTube Live, put the filenames in an FFmpeg concat-demuxer playlist, then run FFmpeg with -stream_loop -1 and your YouTube ingest URL and stream key. Use the concat demuxer with stream copy only when the files’ streams and parameters are compatible; otherwise encode them to a consistent output. The command below is a starting point, not a guarantee for every file or FFmpeg build.
What you need before running FFmpeg
- An installed FFmpeg build with the encoders you plan to use. The example below uses
libx264and AAC. - Local video files FFmpeg can read, and a playlist whose paths point to those files.
- A YouTube channel with live streaming enabled, plus the server URL and stream key shown in Live Control Room.
- A sustained upload connection that can carry the selected video and audio bitrate.
YouTube’s encoder setup guide explains how to create a live stream and obtain the server URL and stream key. Treat the key like a password: do not publish it in a script, screenshot, or log.
Create the concat playlist
Save a UTF-8 text file named playlist.txt alongside the videos, or use paths that correctly point to their locations:
ffconcat version 1.0
file 'clip-01.mp4'
file 'clip-02.mp4'
file 'clip-03.mp4'When using the explicit ffconcat format, the version header must be the first line. Filenames and paths must be accessible to FFmpeg; paths with quotes or special characters require correct escaping. FFmpeg’s documentation also describes optional per-file directives such as duration and inpoint. Add these only if your playlist needs them and the media supports the intended behavior.
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Run a looped YouTube Live stream
Replace the two environment-variable values with the server URL and stream key supplied by YouTube. Keep the key private.
ffmpeg -re -stream_loop -1 -f concat -safe 0 -i playlist.txt
-c:v libx264 -preset veryfast -pix_fmt yuv420p
-c:a aac -b:a 128k -ar 44100
-f flv "$YOUTUBE_RTMPS_URL/$YOUTUBE_STREAM_KEY"-rereads file input at real-time speed rather than sending it as fast as possible.-stream_loop -1asks FFmpeg to repeat the input indefinitely.-f concatselects the concat demuxer;-safe 0relaxes its path restrictions. Use that option only with a playlist you control.-c:v libx264and-c:a aacencode video and audio; the other options set a preset, pixel format, audio bitrate, and sample rate.-f flvselects the output container commonly used for RTMP-style ingest. Use the secure RTMPS server URL provided in YouTube’s setup flow.
This example encodes the files to a common output format. It may need adjustment for your FFmpeg build, shell, media, and stream settings. For the concat demuxer’s stream-copy route, replace the encoding options with -c copy only after verifying that the input streams, codecs, and parameters are suitable for continuous muxing and YouTube ingest. FFmpeg’s FAQ distinguishes the concat demuxer, a candidate for concatenation without re-encoding, from the concat filter, which is used when re-encoding is needed.
Configure and start the stream in YouTube
- In YouTube Live Control Room, create or select the live stream and copy its encoder server URL and stream key.
- Place those values in the command or environment variables, taking care not to expose the key.
- Start FFmpeg and check that YouTube receives the signal and displays a preview.
- When the scheduled stream is ready and awaiting confirmation, use Live Control Room’s Go live control.
- Watch the stream-health indicators while it runs, and check the beginning, transitions between clips, and audio as well as the preview.
YouTube’s encoder settings recommend RTMPS, constant bitrate, and a two-second keyframe interval that should not exceed four seconds. The guide lists H.264, H.265/HEVC, and AV1 for RTMP/RTMPS, frame rates up to 60 fps, and bitrate recommendations that vary by codec, resolution, and frame rate. Choose settings your encoder and sustained upload can maintain, and consult the current guide for the appropriate bitrate rather than treating the example command as a complete settings prescription. YouTube transcodes ingested video for viewer formats.
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Choose the right concatenation method
Use the concat demuxer when stream copy is practical
The demuxer reads a list of files as one input. If the files have compatible streams and parameters, stream copy may avoid a new encode. Compatibility is not automatic: mismatched codecs, stream layouts, or parameters can cause errors or poor transitions. Test the actual playlist rather than assuming any MP4 files can be joined unchanged.
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Encode to a consistent output when the inputs differ
The command above encodes video and audio as it streams. If you need to normalize inputs using more involved filtering, FFmpeg’s concat filter is the documented alternative when re-encoding is required. Encoding adds processor load; confirm the machine can keep up at the chosen resolution and frame rate.
Do not confuse input concat with YouTube HLS ingest
The text playlist in this tutorial is an FFmpeg input list, not an HLS media playlist. YouTube has a separate HLS setup path with its own segment and rolling-playlist requirements; YouTube Help describes HLS as higher latency than RTMP. See also Google’s HLS ingestion documentation.
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Plan for continuous operation and archives
YouTube says streams under 12 hours are automatically archived, according to its encoder setup guidance. Do not assume one longer continuous session will be archived in full under that rule. If you need a run longer than 12 hours, plan the stream lifecycle and archive separately, and verify current behavior for your channel.
For an unattended run, the computer running FFmpeg and its network connection must stay available. A process ending, machine restart, or network interruption can stop the feed; plan how you will monitor and restart it. The command itself does not require a hosted server, but hosted compute is one possible workflow choice when a local machine cannot remain on.
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FFmpeg cannot find a playlist file or a video
Check the working directory and each path in playlist.txt. Use paths accessible from the machine running FFmpeg, and correct the escaping for quotes or special characters. The ffconcat version 1.0 header, when used, must be the first line.
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The concat input fails or clips do not transition cleanly
Check whether the files have compatible streams, codecs, and parameters. Stream copy cannot make incompatible inputs consistent; encode them to a common output or use the concat filter when your workflow requires re-encoding.
YouTube does not show an incoming preview
Confirm that the server URL and stream key came from the intended Live Control Room stream, that the key has not been mistyped or exposed, and that the encoder is sending to the supplied RTMPS endpoint. Check FFmpeg’s output for connection or encoding errors, then inspect YouTube’s stream-health status.
The stream buffers or reports poor health
Check that the upload connection can sustain the chosen bitrate and that the encoder can maintain the selected resolution and frame rate. Follow YouTube’s current bitrate recommendations for the codec and output settings, and verify constant bitrate and the keyframe interval in the encoder configuration.
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The stream stops when left unattended
Look for a terminated FFmpeg process, machine sleep or restart, or loss of network access. A local setup depends on the computer and connection remaining available; provide appropriate monitoring and a restart plan if the stream must continue without supervision.
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