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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsIf FFmpeg stops when a finite playlist reaches its end and you want it to repeat, add -stream_loop -1 before that input’s -i. For example: ffmpeg -stream_loop -1 -re -i playlist.txt .... The option loops an input; it does not fix every kind of playlist stoppage, so first identify whether your source is finite media, a live HLS feed, or HLS being sent to YouTube.
Loop a finite playlist input
FFmpeg normally finishes when a finite input reaches end of file (EOF). To have that input repeat indefinitely, put -stream_loop -1 before its -i:
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ffmpeg -stream_loop -1 -re -i playlist.txt
-c:v libx264 -c:a aac -f flv "$YOUTUBE_INGEST_URL"This is an illustrative command pattern, not a tested, drop-in command. Replace playlist.txt with the input your workflow actually uses, and supply the correct stream mapping, codecs, output format, and private YouTube ingest URL. Do not publish your stream key or ingest URL.
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Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallFFmpeg documents -stream_loop as an input option: 0 means no loop and -1 means infinite loop. Place it before the -i for the input you want to repeat. If multiple inputs need independent looping, put the option before each corresponding -i. See FFmpeg’s command-line documentation.
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First identify what “playlist” means in your command
The right fix depends on what FFmpeg is reading or publishing. A finite input ending naturally, a live HLS playlist that stops refreshing, and an HLS output rejected or mishandled by an ingest endpoint are different problems.
| Workflow | What to check | Likely direction |
|---|---|---|
| Finite file or concat-style playlist used as input | Does FFmpeg finish cleanly at the same media duration each time? | Loop that input with -stream_loop -1 before its -i. |
| Live HLS URL used as input | Is the remote media playlist still changing, and can FFmpeg retrieve its segments? | Diagnose playlist refresh and segment retrieval; looping a finished snapshot is not the same fix. |
| HLS output sent to YouTube Live | Are you publishing HLS, and does the output follow YouTube’s ingest requirements? | Check YouTube’s HLS playlist and segment requirements; these are separate from looping finite input. |
If the input is a live HLS URL
A live HLS playlist is expected to refresh as new segments become available. If it stops, check whether the playlist at its source is still being updated and whether segment requests are failing. FFmpeg’s HLS demuxer has controls related to playlist reloads, holds, and segment retries, but those address refresh and retrieval behavior—not replaying a finite local playlist. Consult the FFmpeg formats documentation for the HLS demuxer options relevant to your version and input.
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If you are publishing HLS to YouTube
Do not apply the finite-input loop fix as though it corrected HLS ingest formatting. YouTube’s HLS guidance says its ingest accepts media playlists and ignores master playlists, and sets requirements involving sequence numbers and outstanding segments. Check the current YouTube Live HLS ingestion guidance against the output your workflow actually sends.
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reconnect_at_eof is for network recovery
FFmpeg documents reconnect_at_eof as treating EOF like an error and reconnecting. That can be appropriate for network sources intended to continue, but it is not the same as instructing a finite local input to replay. For replay, use input looping on the relevant input.
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omit_endlist changes HLS output metadata
The HLS output flag omit_endlist suppresses the #EXT-X-ENDLIST tag in an HLS output playlist. It does not loop the source media, so it is not a general fix for a finite input ending.
Diagnose a stream that still stops
- Identify the input. Determine whether the
-ipoints to a finite file or playlist, a live HLS URL, or another network source. - Check when and how FFmpeg exits. If it exits cleanly at the same point in the media each time, natural EOF is likely. If it stops at varying times or logs HTTP, network, or segment errors, investigate transport or HLS refresh instead.
- For finite media, check option placement. Put
-stream_loop -1before the-ifor the specific input that should repeat. An option placed after that input may not apply to it. - For live HLS, inspect both sides. Confirm the source playlist keeps updating and that its referenced segments remain retrievable; do not blindly loop a stale finite playlist.
- For HLS output to YouTube, verify ingest mode and format. Compare the actual output with YouTube’s current HLS requirements rather than treating an input EOF option as an ingest fix.
- Check your FFmpeg build and input behavior. If the option is unavailable or the input behaves unexpectedly, consult the command’s help and documentation for the FFmpeg version you are running.
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