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To loop one local video indefinitely on YouTube Live, put -stream_loop -1 before the input’s -i option, and use -re to send the file at its native frame rate. Then send the encoded output to the exact RTMPS URL and stream key shown in YouTube Live Control Room. The command below is a starting pattern, not a tested or guaranteed configuration; check your FFmpeg build, media, upload capacity, and YouTube stream health before relying on it.
Before you start
- Install an FFmpeg build that can read your video, encode with
libx264and AAC, and connect to the RTMPS URL YouTube provides. Exact capabilities vary by build. - Have the local video file ready and know its path. Test the file’s picture and audio before streaming.
- In YouTube Studio, open Live Control Room and create or select a stream. Copy the stream URL and stream key. YouTube treats the key like a password; do not publish it or share it.
- Check YouTube’s current encoder recommendations for the resolution and frame rate you intend to send, and make sure your upload connection can sustain the chosen bitrate.
FFmpeg command to loop the video
Replace input.mp4 with your file path and replace the destination placeholder with the exact RTMPS URL and stream key from Live Control Room. Keep -stream_loop -1 before -i; it is an input option and applies to the input that follows it.
ffmpeg -re -stream_loop -1 -i input.mp4
-c:v libx264 -preset veryfast
-b:v 4500k -maxrate 4500k -bufsize 9000k -g 60
-c:a aac -b:a 128k
-f flv "rtmps://YOUR_YOUTUBE_INGEST_URL/YOUR_STREAM_KEY"-stream_loop -1 means repeat the input indefinitely, until you stop FFmpeg or the process ends. FFmpeg documents this in its command-line documentation. -re paces a local file at its native frame rate (equivalent to -readrate 1), rather than letting FFmpeg read the file as quickly as possible. It is useful for sending a file to a live output; do not apply real-time pacing indiscriminately to a live capture input.
The example explicitly encodes video as H.264 and audio as AAC rather than assuming the input’s codecs can be passed through unchanged. Its bitrate and GOP values are illustrative, not universal recommendations. Choose them for your resolution and frame rate using YouTube’s current guidance and your available upload bandwidth.
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Choose compatible YouTube encoder settings
YouTube recommends RTMPS, the encrypted form of RTMP, and says to use the server URL and stream key supplied through Live Control Room. Do not guess an ingest address. YouTube’s encoder settings page lists RTMP/RTMPS, H.264, H.265 (HEVC), and AV1 video; AAC or MP3 audio; constant bitrate encoding; and frame rates up to 60 fps. The command above uses H.264 and AAC.
| H.264 format | YouTube-listed minimum bitrate | YouTube-listed recommended bitrate |
|---|---|---|
| 1080p at 30 fps | 5 Mbps | 14 Mbps |
| 720p at 30 fps | 3 Mbps | 8 Mbps |
These are YouTube Help’s published settings, accessed October 3, 2026; they are platform recommendations, not test results, and may change. YouTube recommends a two-second keyframe interval, not exceeding four seconds. In the sample command, -g 60 sets a GOP of 60 frames: that is two seconds at 30 fps, but would be a different interval at another frame rate. Adjust it to match the intended output.
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For example, YouTube’s listed recommended H.264 bitrate is 14 Mbps for 1080p30 and 8 Mbps for 720p30. The sample’s 4.5 Mbps video bitrate is therefore not a match for either of those listed recommended settings. Do not copy it as a universal setting: set the bitrate and output format deliberately for your target, and verify that your connection can maintain the bitrate.
Start the stream and confirm it is live
- Run the command in a terminal. Watch FFmpeg’s output for errors indicating a missing file, unsupported codec, failed connection, or rejected stream.
- Open the stream in YouTube Live Control Room and wait for the incoming preview. Check the picture and listen for audio.
- For a scheduled stream, click Go live in Live Control Room after the preview appears. Starting FFmpeg sends the feed; it does not necessarily publish a scheduled broadcast by itself.
- Monitor YouTube’s stream health while it runs. Test with representative movement and audio before relying on the stream for an event.
- When finished, stop FFmpeg and end the stream in Live Control Room. YouTube says streams shorter than 12 hours are automatically archived.
Re-encode or stream copy?
Re-encode for a controlled output
The example re-encodes video and audio so you can select output codecs and encoding settings for YouTube ingest. Encoding uses local compute, and the suitable preset depends on the computer and media. If FFmpeg cannot encode smoothly, the outgoing feed may fall behind or fail to maintain its target settings.
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Use stream copy only after checking the file
Stream copy can reduce encoding work, but it is not a safe assumption for an arbitrary file. Confirm that its codecs, timestamps, audio, and output muxing are suitable for the target before replacing the encoding options with copy options. The official guidance cited here does not guarantee compatibility for any particular source file.
Troubleshooting
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to check or change |
|---|---|---|
| FFmpeg says it cannot open the input | The path is wrong, the file is unavailable, or the build cannot read its format. | Check the filename and path, including spaces and capitalization; confirm the file opens locally and that your FFmpeg build supports its container and codecs. |
| The feed stops instead of repeating | -stream_loop -1 is missing, misspelled, or placed after the input it should control. |
Put -stream_loop -1 before the corresponding -i option, then restart the process. |
| The feed races through the file or arrives too quickly | Real-time pacing is absent for a local file. | Add -re before the input’s -i option. It paces file reading at the native frame rate. |
| YouTube does not receive the feed | The destination URL or key is wrong, the key is inactive, or the FFmpeg build cannot connect using the selected protocol. | Copy the URL and key again from Live Control Room, keep the key private, and confirm the local build supports the supplied RTMPS destination. |
| The preview appears, but the scheduled broadcast is not public | The scheduled stream still needs to be started from Live Control Room. | After confirming the preview, click Go live there. |
| Video or audio is unstable, or stream health reports a problem | The selected bitrate may exceed available upload capacity, the output settings may not suit the source, or encoding may not keep up. | Check FFmpeg’s output and YouTube stream health; test with similar movement and audio, then choose compatible settings and a bitrate your connection can sustain. |
Copyright and YouTube rules still apply
Looping a file does not grant permission to use its music, video, or other material, and does not guarantee that YouTube will keep a stream available or eligible for monetization. Use material you own or have permission to stream, and check YouTube’s current rules before broadcasting. A repeating feed also does not make content original: consider whether the video provides distinct value rather than simply replaying the same material.
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Or let it run in the cloud
If your aim is to keep a pre-recorded video live on YouTube without leaving a computer running, StreamNeo is a cloud alternative: upload the recording, add your YouTube stream key, and go live. It loops uploaded videos; it does not stream from a camera.
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Monthly: $9.99 per month. Learn more at StreamNeo, or start the free day.
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