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To loop a prerecorded video on a VPS and send it live to YouTube, run FFmpeg with -stream_loop -1 to repeat the input, -re to read it at its native rate, and the RTMPS URL and stream key shown in YouTube Live Control Room. Match the encoding settings to YouTube’s current guidance, test the stream, and monitor both FFmpeg and YouTube’s stream health. A running command is not proof of uninterrupted 24/7 operation or policy approval for continuous prerecorded broadcasts.
What you need before you start
- A VPS with the authorized video file on disk and enough sustained CPU capacity to encode it, if you choose to re-encode.
- FFmpeg installed on the VPS. Confirm the file can be read and contains the audio and video streams you expect.
- A YouTube channel and a stream created or selected in Live Control Room, where you can copy its stream key and RTMPS URL.
- Outbound network capacity that can sustain the bitrate you select. The necessary CPU and network capacity depend on your encoding settings; there is no universal VPS minimum established here.
Use only media you have permission to broadcast. Keep the stream key private: anyone who obtains it may be able to publish to the configured stream.
Get the YouTube RTMPS destination
- Open YouTube Live Control Room and create or select the stream you intend to use.
- Copy the stream key for that stream. YouTube Help says the RTMPS address can be displayed by clicking the lock icon beside Stream URL.
- Use the exact RTMPS URL presented for that stream configuration. Do not substitute an ingestion address copied from an unrelated tutorial. YouTube’s ingestion configuration supplies the destination; the stream key must match the selected stream.
Use rtmps on port 443 with the valid YouTube ingestion host and application path. RTMPS protects the connection with TLS/SSL. See YouTube’s RTMPS instructions and Google’s RTMPS delivery documentation.
Build and run the FFmpeg loop
Start with the command pattern
FFmpeg’s -stream_loop -1 repeats an input indefinitely. The -re option reads it at its native frame rate, avoiding a file being sent as fast as the VPS can read it. Input options belong before the input they apply to.
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ffmpeg -re -stream_loop -1 -i /path/to/authorized-video.mp4 [encoding and audio/video options] -f flv 'rtmps://HOST:443/APP/STREAM_KEY'This is a template, not a ready-to-run command: replace the file path and destination with your own, and choose audio/video options appropriate to the source and YouTube’s current encoder guidance. The RTMPS URL format is supplied by Live Control Room; do not publish or expose the real key in a public script, log, or article.
Choose whether to encode
Your encoding options determine the outgoing codec, resolution, frame rate, keyframe interval, and bitrate. If you re-encode, choose a setting combination the VPS can sustain while maintaining the required upload bitrate. A VPS that cannot encode quickly enough can fall behind or drop frames. If you stream without re-encoding, check that the source’s codecs and parameters are accepted by the selected ingestion configuration; do not assume every file will work unchanged.
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FFmpeg documents looping and input timing in its documentation. For protocol support and connection behavior, consult the FFmpeg protocols documentation.
Launch and verify
- Run the command in a shell on the VPS and watch FFmpeg’s output for connection or encoding errors.
- Check Live Control Room to confirm YouTube is receiving the signal and that stream health is acceptable before relying on the broadcast.
- Monitor the process and stream during a test. A service manager or process supervisor may restart FFmpeg after a crash, but a restart alone does not prove an uninterrupted broadcast or preserve the same live session.
Choose settings YouTube can accept
Use YouTube’s current encoder table for the resolution and bitrate you plan to send. Its guidance covers RTMP/RTMPS, H.264/H.265/AV1 video, AAC or MP3 audio, frame rates up to 60 fps, and a recommended two-second keyframe interval that should not exceed four seconds. Check the current table rather than relying on settings copied from an old example: supported combinations and recommendations can change.
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YouTube advises choosing a quality that is reliable for the available connection, testing before going live, and monitoring stream health during the event. Its encoder guide also recommends running a speed test to test upload bitrate. Read Choose live encoder settings, bitrates, and resolutions for the current values associated with your resolution.
- Resolution and bitrate: A higher-resolution stream needs more sustained upload capacity. Select a bitrate within YouTube’s current recommendation and below what the VPS can reliably send.
- Frame rate and keyframes: Keep the frame rate within the source and encoder capabilities; configure keyframes to the current recommendation, with an interval no longer than YouTube’s stated maximum.
- CPU and codec: Encoding workload varies by codec, resolution, frame rate, and settings. Confirm the VPS has enough sustained CPU for your chosen software encoding; no minimum CPU specification is established for all VPS plans.
- Protocol: YouTube lists RTMP, RTMPS, HLS, and DASH ingestion. RTMPS is the straightforward default for this FFmpeg file-loop workflow. Consider HLS or DASH only where their specific capabilities and implementation requirements fit your use case; protocol choice can affect latency.
YouTube transcodes incoming live streams for viewers, but that does not remove the need for a stable, correctly configured input stream. See Google’s ingestion protocol comparison.
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Protect the key and account for YouTube rules
Do not commit a stream key to a public repository, include it in a public command example, or leave it in logs that others can access. If it is exposed, replace or reset it in YouTube’s stream settings before using it again.
Technical success is separate from permission and policy compliance. Use media you are entitled to stream, and review YouTube’s current copyright and live-streaming rules for your specific content. The available technical guidance does not establish whether a particular continuous loop is allowed, set a maximum live duration, or guarantee that a restarted process will continue the same broadcast. Do not treat an FFmpeg loop as confirmation of platform approval or uninterrupted 24/7 availability.
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Troubleshoot common failures
| Symptom | Likely check | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Connection timeout or SSL/TLS error | Destination, protocol, port, or encoder RTMPS support | Copy the RTMPS URL from the correct Live Control Room stream again. Verify it uses rtmps, port 443, the correct host and application path, and an FFmpeg build that supports RTMPS. |
| YouTube receives no signal | Stream key or selected stream mismatch | Confirm that the key and URL belong to the same selected stream configuration, then check FFmpeg’s output for authentication or connection errors. |
| FFmpeg cannot open the input | File path, permissions, or media readability | Check that the path is correct, the VPS user can read the file, and the file plays with expected audio and video streams. |
| Stream health is poor or frames are dropped | Bitrate versus sustained network capacity, or encoding load | Run an upload speed test, lower the resolution or bitrate to a reliable level within YouTube’s current table, or use encoding settings the VPS CPU can sustain. |
| Video or audio is rejected or missing | Codec and source stream compatibility | Inspect the file’s audio/video streams and compare the output codec, resolution, frame rate, and keyframe interval with YouTube’s current encoder guidance. |
| Process stops after an error or server restart | Process supervision and VPS lifecycle | Use a process supervisor or service manager to detect and restart a failed process, then verify the new signal in Live Control Room. A restart mechanism does not establish that the broadcast remains uninterrupted or that YouTube accepts an ongoing stream. |
Or let it run in the cloud
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Quick Recap
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