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A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11First identify what you are giving FFmpeg: a single media file, a local concat-demuxer list, or a YouTube playlist URL. To repeat one local file indefinitely, put -stream_loop -1 before its -i: ffmpeg -stream_loop -1 -i input.mp4 …. A finite list or a YouTube playlist is a different input and needs a different workflow.
Find out what “playlist file” means in your command
Look at the argument immediately after -i. It determines why FFmpeg stops and which fix applies.
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What follows -i |
What FFmpeg is processing | What to do |
|---|---|---|
A media file such as input.mp4 |
One input source | Use -stream_loop -1 before that input’s -i to repeat it indefinitely. |
| A text file used as a concat-demuxer list | A finite sequence of listed media files | FFmpeg processes the entries in order and stops after the last one. Decide whether you want a one-time concatenation or to repeat the sequence. |
| A YouTube playlist URL | A web playlist with multiple entries | Use a playlist-aware downloader such as yt-dlp to process its entries; FFmpeg’s input-loop option is not a substitute for playlist handling. |
FFmpeg’s command-line documentation describes -stream_loop as an input option, with -1 meaning infinite looping. The concat demuxer, by contrast, reads the entries in a list. See the FFmpeg command-line documentation and FFmpeg formats documentation.
Loop one local media file forever
Place the loop option before the -i it applies to:
ffmpeg -stream_loop -1 -i input.mp4 …
Replace input.mp4 with your file and … with the output options and destination for your actual task. The ellipsis is explanatory, not a literal command argument. The critical placement is -stream_loop -1 before -i; it tells FFmpeg to repeat that input indefinitely.
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If your command has more than one input, put the option before the -i for the source you intend to repeat. Check the installed FFmpeg documentation if your version behaves differently; command-line options can be version-sensitive.
Understand a local concat list
A concat-demuxer list describes files to read sequentially. Reaching the end of its entries is normal: the list is finite. FFmpeg’s documentation describes the concat demuxer and its supported formats at ffmpeg.org/ffmpeg-formats.html.
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If the task is simply to process the listed files once, let the sequence finish. If you need the same sequence repeated, that is not the same as making FFmpeg watch the list for new entries. The documented loop option applies to an input; the reviewed documentation does not establish that it re-reads lines appended to a list while FFmpeg is already running. Do not assume a changing list will be detected automatically.
Process a YouTube playlist
A YouTube playlist URL is not a local media file or a concat-demuxer list. Use a playlist-aware workflow to extract or download its entries. The yt-dlp project documentation covers playlist handling, including --concat-playlist. Its FAQ explains that FFmpeg can be used to merge separate audio and video formats downloaded from sites such as YouTube.
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That workflow is distinct from asking FFmpeg to repeat one local input indefinitely. Decide whether you want yt-dlp to process playlist entries, or want FFmpeg to loop a file you already have; the tools and commands are not interchangeable.
If the playlist changes while FFmpeg runs
“Repeat what is already listed” and “notice entries added later” are separate requirements. The exact behavior depends on the playlist format and command; the documentation cited here does not establish that -stream_loop -1 makes FFmpeg detect newly appended lines. Before choosing a workaround, establish:
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- What exact file or URL appears after
-i? - Is it one media file, a concat-demuxer list, or a YouTube playlist URL?
- Should the existing items repeat, or must new items added during playback be discovered?
- What is the exact FFmpeg command and installed version?
For a changing list, test against the actual format and local FFmpeg version rather than relying on the single-file loop option.
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- It still stops after one file: Check that
-stream_loop -1appears before the relevant-i, and that you are applying it to the intended input. - It stops after the last listed file: If
-ipoints to a concat-demuxer list, reaching the last entry is expected for a finite list. Decide whether you need one pass or a repeating workflow. - FFmpeg does not process a YouTube playlist as expected: A playlist URL is not a local input loop. Use playlist-aware handling such as yt-dlp, and consult its documentation for playlist and format-merging behavior.
- Newly added list entries are not picked up: Do not assume input looping reloads the list. Confirm the format, command, and version, then test a workflow designed for the required update behavior.
Or let it run in the cloud
If your goal is to keep uploaded videos playing live on a YouTube channel around the clock, StreamNeo is a separate option from running FFmpeg yourself: upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key, and go live. StreamNeo loops the uploaded videos from the cloud, so your computer and home connection do not have to stay on. It supports the uploaded quality up to 4K 60fps at one flat price per slot, and automatically recovers if YouTube drops the stream. The first day is free with no card. Monthly pricing is $9.99 per month. See StreamNeo, or start the free day.
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