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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsTo loop a prerecorded video to YouTube Live with FFmpeg, use -stream_loop -1 to repeat the input and -re to send it at real-time speed. For a standard SDR H.264 stream at 3840×2160 and 60 fps, YouTube’s English Help page recommends 50 Mbps, CBR, and a two-second keyframe interval. The command below is a starting template—not a guarantee that a particular computer, FFmpeg build, or connection can sustain the stream.
FFmpeg command for a looping 4K 60fps YouTube stream
This template is for a local video file with audio, streamed as SDR H.264. Replace input.mp4 and the final placeholder with the filename and ingest URL/stream key assigned to your YouTube Live event. Do not expose a real stream key in a script, screenshot, or public post.
ffmpeg -re -stream_loop -1 -i "input.mp4"
-map 0:v:0 -map 0:a:0?
-vf "scale=3840:2160:force_original_aspect_ratio=decrease,pad=3840:2160:(ow-iw)/2:(oh-ih)/2"
-r 60 -c:v libx264 -pix_fmt yuv420p -preset veryfast
-b:v 50M -maxrate 50M -bufsize 100M -x264-params "nal-hrd=cbr"
-g 120 -keyint_min 120 -sc_threshold 0
-c:a aac -b:a 128k -ar 44100
-f flv "<YOUTUBE_INGEST_URL>/<STREAM_KEY>"-stream_loop -1repeats the input indefinitely; it is placed before-i.-repaces file input for a live output. Looping and real-time pacing are separate: a repeat flag by itself does not ensure real-time delivery.- The scale-and-pad filter creates a 3840×2160 frame while preserving the input aspect ratio. Depending on the source, this can add letterboxing; inspect the result before using it live.
-r 60sets the output frame rate. If the source is not 60 fps, FFmpeg may convert it; check whether that conversion is acceptable and confirm the actual outgoing resolution in Live Control Room.-g 120and-keyint_min 120target a 120-frame GOP, or two seconds at 60 fps.-sc_threshold 0disables scene-cut-driven keyframe changes.-map 0:a:0?makes audio mapping optional so FFmpeg can start when the input has no audio. It does not make an audio-free stream suitable: YouTube expects an audio stream, so deliberately supply one and verify ingestion.
The example uses libx264; confirm your FFmpeg build includes it. -preset veryfast is a starting point, not a promise of real-time performance. If the encoder cannot keep up with 60 fps, use an encoder/preset the machine can sustain or lower the output target.
Set the YouTube Live event and stream settings
- In YouTube Studio, create or open the intended Live event and choose the streaming software workflow. Copy the ingest URL and stream key for that event into your private FFmpeg configuration. The YouTube API describes the combined form as
STREAM_URL/STREAM_NAME; use the values assigned to your event rather than copying a generic endpoint. - Use the RTMPS ingest URL supplied for the event when your FFmpeg build and FLV workflow support it. Endpoint/build combinations can vary, so test the exact setup instead of assuming every RTMPS destination works.
- In Live Control Room, check the target resolution and frame rate, stream health, and any current encoder guidance. The YouTube API documents valid 2160p and 60 fps ingest selections.
- For the command’s SDR H.264 output, YouTube’s opened English Help page recommends Rec. 709 and 8-bit video. The example sets
yuv420p; verify the source and output color characteristics if color accuracy matters. - Keep the stream key private. If it is exposed, replace it in the event settings before relying on the stream.
Bitrate, codec, keyframes, and audio for 4K
The following figures are from the English YouTube Help page as read on 2026-10-03. They are YouTube ingest recommendations and minimums, not measured upload speeds or guarantees for a particular stream.
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| Ingest target | Codec | Minimum video bitrate | Recommended video bitrate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2160p at 60 fps | H.264 | 14 Mbps | 50 Mbps |
| 2160p at 60 fps | AV1 or H.265 | 10 Mbps | 35 Mbps |
| 2160p at 30 fps | H.264 | 11 Mbps | 42 Mbps |
| 2160p at 30 fps | AV1 or H.265 | 8 Mbps | 30 Mbps |
The same page recommends CBR, a two-second keyframe frequency, and sets a four-second maximum. For stereo audio it lists AAC or MP3 at 128 kbps and a 44.1 kHz sample rate. The command uses AAC at 128 kbps and 44.1 kHz.
There is a bitrate discrepancy among localized YouTube Help page variants: another search result showed a 10–40 Mbps range for 4K/60 H.264, while the English page read on 2026-10-03 listed 14 Mbps minimum and 50 Mbps recommended. Check the current guidance shown in your Live Control Room rather than combining the differing tables.
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Choosing a codec
H.264 is the codec used in the example. YouTube also lists H.265 and AV1; the opened page gives those codecs a 35 Mbps 4K/60 recommendation. Check that your FFmpeg build and hardware support the chosen encoder at the target resolution and frame rate, and that your upload connection can sustain the selected bitrate plus transport overhead. YouTube recommends running an upload-speed test; the reviewed guidance does not specify an exact overhead margin.
The example is SDR, not HDR. YouTube’s page recommends H.265 for HDR and says AV1 is not supported for HDR. Do not treat the SDR command as an HDR configuration.
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Test before relying on a continuous stream
- Inspect the input file and confirm it contains the intended video and audio streams. Check the local FFmpeg build for the selected encoder.
- Run the command against a private or otherwise appropriate test event. Confirm FFmpeg reports real-time speed and that Live Control Room receives both audio and video.
- Use representative motion and audio during the test, as YouTube advises. Monitor stream health rather than treating a still-running FFmpeg process as proof of a healthy broadcast.
- Confirm the received output is actually 2160p at 60 fps. The command requests those settings, but the event’s ingest status is what confirms what YouTube is receiving.
YouTube says its low-latency improvement option is unavailable for 4K; 4K streams use normal latency.
Troubleshoot common FFmpeg-to-YouTube failures
| Symptom or health message | What to check | What to do |
|---|---|---|
FFmpeg reports an unknown encoder or cannot initialize libx264 |
Your local FFmpeg build may not include that encoder. | Use a build with the selected encoder or change the command to an encoder available on your system; then test whether it sustains 4K/60. |
| YouTube reports missing audio or the stream is silent | The input may not contain an audio stream. The optional map only avoids a command-line mapping failure. | Provide a suitable audio input or configure one supported audio stream, then test that YouTube receives it. |
| Video stutters, drops frames, or health reports starvation | Encoding may not keep pace, or upload capacity may not sustain the video bitrate plus audio and transport overhead. | Check FFmpeg’s reported speed, run an upload-speed test, and choose an encoder/preset or bitrate the actual setup can sustain. |
| Health reports an unsupported codec, container, resolution, or keyframe interval | The outgoing settings may not match YouTube’s supported ingest requirements. | Check the event’s Live Control Room guidance; verify the codec, FLV/RTMP workflow, 2160p resolution, frame rate, and two-second keyframes. |
| FFmpeg runs but the YouTube event does not receive the stream | The event’s ingest URL or stream key may be wrong, or the endpoint may not work with the chosen FFmpeg/RTMPS workflow. | Copy the credentials again from the intended event, keep them private, and test the exact endpoint and build. |
| The stream is not truly 4K or the image has unexpected bars | The scale-and-pad filter preserves aspect ratio and may add bars; requested output settings are not proof of received settings. | Inspect the source and the received resolution in Live Control Room. Adjust the filter only if you understand the resulting crop or letterboxing. |
Copyright, looping, and YouTube policy checks
Only stream video and audio you have the rights or permissions to use. Replaying a file continuously does not grant permission to rebroadcast its music, footage, or other material. Check YouTube’s current copyright and live-stream rules before scheduling a long-running broadcast, and make sure the content complies with applicable monetization and reused-content requirements. A technically healthy ingest is not a rights or policy approval.
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