First, put -stream_loop -1 before the input it should repeat: ffmpeg -re -stream_loop -1 -i input.mp4 .... The option makes FFmpeg loop the file; it does not guarantee a seamless join. If the pause remains, find out whether it is audible, visible, or both, then test the local output before changing your YouTube stream settings.
1. Check the loop option’s position
FFmpeg’s -stream_loop is an input option. Most FFmpeg options apply to the next input or output, so place the loop flag before the matching -i. A flag after the input may not affect that file as intended. See the FFmpeg documentation for option scope and ordering.
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For a local file that plays three times total, use:
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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsffmpeg -stream_loop 2 -i input.mp4 -c copy output.mp4The number counts additional repeats after the first play. Use -stream_loop -1 for indefinite repetition. For a finite render from an indefinitely looping input, add an output stop condition such as -t, positioned for the output it limits.
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2. Separate a loop seam from a YouTube playback pause
Test a local output or preview first, then test the live stream separately. Note whether the seam is visible, audible, or both. A pause already present locally points toward the file, stream boundaries, or timing; a clean local result with a pause only in YouTube playback does not by itself show that YouTube caused it.
- Visible freeze or jump: investigate video packet boundaries and keyframes, especially if you use
-c copy. - Audio gap or click: inspect whether the audio runs longer than the video and test audio re-encoding.
- Only in YouTube playback: compare the local output, FFmpeg logs, and the received stream preview before changing settings.
3. Troubleshoot a visible freeze or jump
Test whether copied packet boundaries are involved
With -c copy, FFmpeg passes packets through without decoding and re-encoding. A loop can expose an unsuitable keyframe boundary. If your source is a phone MOV, try remuxing it to MP4, then loop the remuxed file:
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ffmpeg -i input.mov -c copy fixed.mp4
ffmpeg -stream_loop -1 -i fixed.mp4 -c copy output.mp4Remuxing changes the container without re-encoding the media. If the seam persists, compare this with a re-encoded local test. If re-encoding removes the problem, that is evidence to investigate packet boundaries and timestamps; it is not proof that re-encoding will fix every file.
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4. Troubleshoot an audible pause
Check audio duration and test AAC encoding
Compare the audio and video durations; audio that extends slightly beyond the video can contribute to a poor join. For a livestream test, try encoding audio as AAC while copying compatible video. A third-party looping guide reports that copied audio can have a short silence at segment boundaries in some files, but that is a possibility to test, not a universal cause.
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Keep the test controlled: compare the local result before and after changing audio encoding. If the gap remains, check the source’s audio timing and the FFmpeg logs rather than assuming YouTube adds silence.
5. Example pattern for a YouTube Live RTMP stream
This is a pattern from a third-party guide, not a tested command for your particular file, system, account, or YouTube ingest configuration. Adapt it to your media streams and verify current requirements in YouTube’s live-streaming instructions.
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ffmpeg -re -stream_loop -1 -i input.mp4
-c:v copy -c:a aac -b:a 128k -ar 44100
-f flv
-rtmp_playpath YOUR-STREAM-KEY
-rtmp_live live "rtmp://a.rtmp.youtube.com/live2"-rereads the file at its native rate rather than sending it as fast as possible.-stream_loop -1repeats the input indefinitely; it appears before-i.-c:v copycopies video packets;-c:a aacencodes audio as AAC.-b:a 128kand-ar 44100set the example audio bitrate and sample rate. They are example values, not a diagnosis or a guarantee of suitability for every source.-f flvselects the output container used in this RTMP example.
Keep your stream key private. Do not paste it into public logs, screenshots, or support posts. The example’s settings should not replace checking YouTube’s current ingest guidance for your stream.
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The available sources do not establish YouTube player buffering or ingest as the cause of a pause. Compare the generated local output with FFmpeg logs and the received stream preview, then check current YouTube ingest guidance and your network stability. Avoid changing codec or bitrate settings blindly when the symptom appears only in the player.
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7. Choose the next test by trade-off
| Approach | Useful for | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
Packet copy (-c copy) |
Testing a loop without doing video encoding work | A poor join may expose keyframe or packet-boundary problems. |
| Remux to another container | Testing a problematic container, such as a phone MOV | It does not re-encode the streams, so it may not resolve a bad stream boundary. |
| Re-encode a local test | Diagnosing whether copied packet boundaries or audio timing are involved | It uses more CPU than packet copying and is a diagnostic, not a guaranteed fix. |
8. Or let it run in the cloud
If the goal is a YouTube channel that stays live with uploaded videos, StreamNeo can loop them from the cloud rather than relying on FFmpeg running on a computer at home. The setup is: upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key once, and go live. StreamNeo plays uploaded videos; it does not stream from a camera.
- Nothing has to stay on at home; your computer and home connection are not needed to keep the stream running.
- Uploaded video streams as made, up to 4K 60fps, at one flat price per slot without re-encoding or quality tiers.
- StreamNeo automatically recovers if YouTube drops the stream.
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See StreamNeo for details, or start your free day.
9. If the first tests do not fix it
For a useful diagnosis, record the exact FFmpeg command with the stream key removed, identify whether the pause is audible or visible, and say whether it appears in a local output, the received stream preview, or only YouTube playback. A short sample of the source can help distinguish timing and boundary issues.
Quick Recap
- If a command fails, check the FFmpeg error output and confirm the loop option precedes the input it should repeat.
- If a copied stream freezes at the seam, compare a remuxed and re-encoded local test.
- If the audio alone pauses, compare audio and video duration, then test AAC encoding.
- If only YouTube playback pauses, check ingest guidance and network conditions before changing encoding settings.
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