For one prerecorded video, use FFmpeg’s -stream_loop -1 to repeat the input and -re to send it at its normal playback rate. Those options keep the file playing; they do not fix a hard cut, audio jump, or other flaw where the end meets the beginning. To make the join feel seamless, edit and inspect the boundary in the video itself, then test the stream with YouTube before relying on it.
What you need before starting
- FFmpeg installed on a computer that can remain on and connected for the duration of the stream.
- A prerecorded video file, such as
input.mp4, with the video and any audio you intend to stream. - A YouTube channel with live streaming enabled and a stream key. Treat the key like a password: anyone who has it may be able to broadcast to your channel.
- A stable upload connection able to sustain the bitrate you select.
FFmpeg’s loop option repeats media; it does not make separate clips compatible or repair their timestamps. YouTube’s encoder recommendations depend on the output codec, resolution, and frame rate, so choose those settings for the stream you will actually send.
Stream one video file in a continuous loop
Use this as a starting template, not a universal preset. Replace the destination placeholder with your YouTube RTMP or RTMPS ingest URL followed by a slash and your stream key. Do not publish the completed command or expose the key in a screenshot or log you share.
ffmpeg -re -stream_loop -1 -i input.mp4
-map 0:v:0 -map 0:a?
-c:v libx264 -pix_fmt yuv420p -preset veryfast
-c:a aac -b:a 128k
-f flv "<YouTube ingest URL>/<stream key>"- Get the YouTube ingest details. In YouTube Studio, open the live-stream setup and copy the server URL and stream key for the broadcast. Keep the key private.
- Set the input path. Change
input.mp4to the path of your file. Quote paths that contain spaces, for example"/media/My loop.mp4". - Keep the input options in order.
-repaces the file input at its native rate.-stream_loop -1requests indefinite repetition and must appear before the corresponding-i. - Choose mappings and codecs.
-map 0:v:0selects the first video stream.-map 0:a?selects audio if present and makes that mapping optional; it does not create audio if the file has none. The example encodes video as H.264 and audio as AAC, but those choices and the illustrative128kaudio setting are not a guarantee of suitability for every source. - Set output quality for your source and connection. Select the resolution, frame rate, video bitrate, and rate-control settings that match the media, your encoding capacity, available upload bandwidth, and YouTube’s current guidance. The template deliberately does not specify a video bitrate.
- Start FFmpeg and check the result. Confirm the process continues to report progress and that YouTube Studio receives the stream. Watch the preview and stream-health messages before you make the broadcast public or rely on it.
FFmpeg’s -re option is useful for file input being sent as a live-style stream. Do not add it indiscriminately to a live capture input: pacing an already real-time source can cause problems. See the FFmpeg documentation for option behavior and the YouTube encoder settings for current ingest guidance.
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Make the repeat point sound and look seamless
Looping repeats the file as-is. If its last frame does not lead naturally into its first, or its sound ends abruptly before restarting, the same visible or audible jump will recur every time around.
- Inspect the boundary. Play the final seconds and first seconds back to back. Look for a flash, sudden change in camera movement, black frame, or action that visibly resets.
- Listen across the join. Check for a change in loudness, a clipped sound, silence, a music transient, or a rhythm that breaks at the restart.
- Edit or trim the media if needed. Use a video or audio editing workflow to create a more natural transition, then render a new file. A crossfade may help some material but is not a universal fix: the suitable transition depends on movement, musical timing, frame rate, and whether the exact clip duration must be preserved.
- Inspect the rendered result again. Test the new file at its loop boundary before using it for a long stream. FFmpeg’s loop option does not automatically crossfade or otherwise repair the seam.
Loop a playlist of multiple files
For compatible files, FFmpeg’s concat demuxer can read a playlist without re-encoding. The files need the same streams and compatible properties. Differences in stream layout, codecs, time bases, or inaccurate container durations can lead to timestamp gaps or artifacts.
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Create a trusted text file such as playlist.txt:
file '/media/part1.mp4'
file '/media/part2.mp4'Then use the playlist as the input and loop it:
ffmpeg -re -stream_loop -1 -f concat -safe 0 -i playlist.txt
-map 0:v:0 -map 0:a?
-c:v libx264 -pix_fmt yuv420p -preset veryfast
-c:a aac -b:a 128k
-f flv "<YouTube ingest URL>/<stream key>"-safe 0 allows paths outside the concat demuxer’s safe subset. Use it only with a playlist you trust. Check that all entries exist and that their actual durations are accurate. If inputs are incompatible or need normalization, use a concat filter workflow and re-encode instead. FFmpeg’s documentation describes concat demuxer requirements and duration caveats; its FAQ explains when to use the concat filter rather than the demuxer.
Match YouTube’s live encoder requirements
YouTube Help’s encoder guidance, accessed in 2026, lists RTMP/RTMPS ingest, H.264, H.265 (HEVC), or AV1 video, AAC or MP3 audio, constant bitrate (CBR), and video up to 60 fps. Its recommended keyframe frequency is two seconds and should not exceed four seconds. Follow the current table for the intended codec, resolution, and frame rate rather than treating one bitrate as suitable for every stream.
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For H.264, YouTube’s current table gives these examples:
| Output mode | Minimum bitrate | Recommended bitrate |
|---|---|---|
| 720p at 30 fps | 3 Mbps | 8 Mbps |
| 1080p at 30 fps | 5 Mbps | 14 Mbps |
| 1080p at 60 fps | 6 Mbps | 17 Mbps |
These are YouTube Help figures accessed in 2026, not independent measurements; YouTube may update its table. See YouTube’s encoder settings and bitrate guidance for the latest values and other output modes. Its instruction is: “Make sure to test before you start your live stream.” Use representative movement and audio in your preflight, then monitor stream health during the broadcast.
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Troubleshoot a loop that stops, stutters, or fails to reach YouTube
- FFmpeg exits or stops making progress at the repeat point: Check the console output and confirm the process is still running. Verify that
-stream_loop -1appears before the correct input’s-i, and that the input is readable. - There is no audio: Check whether the input actually contains an audio stream. The optional map
-map 0:a?avoids a mapping error when there is none; it does not add sound. Add an intentional audio source or configure the output to match your planned stream. - The stream is rejected or YouTube reports a configuration issue: Check the ingest URL and stream key, then compare output codec, bitrate, frame rate, and keyframe cadence with YouTube’s current recommendations. Review stream-health information in Live Control Room and the YouTube Live API health messages.
- The picture or sound jumps between playlist items: Confirm that the files have compatible stream layouts and properties. Check their durations for inaccuracies. Normalize or re-encode incompatible files, or use a concat filter workflow when re-encoding is needed.
- Playback is smooth but the loop is visibly or audibly jarring: That is a content seam, not a looping failure. Edit or trim the file, render it, and listen and watch across the revised boundary.
- The stream drops or becomes unstable: Check the encoder’s continuing output and the stream-health messages, then verify that the connection can sustain the selected bitrate. Test the actual file, destination, and channel before scheduling or relying on a long-running broadcast.
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