Use FFmpeg on an Ubuntu server to read an MP4 in real time, loop it indefinitely, and send it to YouTube Live. The core options are -re and -stream_loop -1; the rest of the command must suit the MP4’s codecs, your server’s upload capacity, and YouTube’s current ingest settings. You will need a YouTube stream key, a server that stays online, and a way to monitor the stream.
What you need before starting
- An Ubuntu server that can stay online for the duration of the broadcast, with enough sustained upload capacity for the selected video bitrate.
- The MP4 file stored on that server and readable by the account that will run FFmpeg.
- A YouTube channel with live streaming enabled. YouTube says initial live-stream enablement may take up to 24 hours.
- FFmpeg installed with the encoders you intend to use. The example below uses
libx264and AAC; not every FFmpeg build includes every encoder.
This method publishes a prerecorded file as a live stream; it does not send a camera feed. You remain responsible for having the rights to rebroadcast both the video and its audio.
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Get the YouTube ingest URL and stream key
- Open YouTube Studio and go to the Live Control Room.
- Create or select a stream, then open its stream settings.
- Copy the server URL and stream key shown there. Use that exact server URL rather than assuming a fixed ingest endpoint.
- Keep the key private. Do not put a real key in a public script, repository, screenshot, or log. Anyone with access to it may be able to broadcast to your channel.
YouTube recommends RTMPS, which encrypts the stream in transit to its servers. The server URL shown in Studio determines the destination to use.
Inspect the MP4 and choose copy or re-encoding
Before building the command, determine whether the file has audio and which codecs it contains. FFmpeg stream copy passes already-encoded packets through without decoding and re-encoding them, so it avoids another encoding generation and uses less CPU. It is only suitable when the file’s streams and container are compatible with the output YouTube accepts. If they are not, transcode the incompatible stream instead.
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When to re-encode
Use re-encoding when the input codec, audio format, or stream/container combination is unsuitable, or when you need to control output bitrate and keyframe cadence. It costs CPU and can affect quality, so choose settings the server can encode continuously. Confirm that your FFmpeg build includes the selected video encoder before relying on it.
When stream copy may work
Stream copy is a reasonable option only after checking the MP4’s codecs and confirming that the output muxing requirements are met. It is not a universal shortcut: an MP4 that plays locally may still contain streams that cannot be copied into the chosen live output as-is.
Set the output to YouTube’s ingest guidance
YouTube’s RTMP/RTMPS encoder guidance lists H.264, H.265/HEVC, and AV1 video; AAC or MP3 audio; CBR video bitrate; frame rates up to 60 fps; and a recommended keyframe interval of two seconds, not exceeding four seconds. For stereo audio, it recommends 44.1 kHz and 128 Kbps.
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| H.264 example | YouTube minimum video bitrate | YouTube recommended video bitrate |
|---|---|---|
| 1080p at 30 fps | 5 Mbps | 14 Mbps |
| 720p at 30 fps | 3 Mbps | 8 Mbps |
These are YouTube ingest recommendations, not a promise of viewer quality or proof that your server can sustain the rate. YouTube recommends testing upload speed and choosing a quality your connection can maintain. Leave headroom for network variation rather than setting the encoder at the maximum the server connection sometimes reaches.
Keyframe interval is expressed in frames in the sample command. At 30 fps, 60 frames is two seconds; at 60 fps, 60 frames is one second. Set the GOP length to match the source frame rate and intended interval. A fixed value copied from an example may be wrong for a different frame rate.
Run an MP4 loop with FFmpeg
The following is an illustrative H.264/AAC command shape, not a verified universal recipe. Replace the file path, ingest URL, and key locally, and adjust resolution, frame rate, bitrate, and GOP for your source and upload capacity.
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ffmpeg -re -stream_loop -1 -i /path/to/video.mp4
-c:v libx264 -preset veryfast -b:v 4500k -maxrate 4500k -bufsize 9000k
-g 60 -keyint_min 60 -sc_threshold 0
-c:a aac -b:a 128k -ar 44100
-f flv 'rtmps://YOUR_YOUTUBE_INGEST_URL/YOUR_STREAM_KEY'-remakes FFmpeg read the file at its native rate rather than sending it as fast as it can process it.-stream_loop -1is an input option that requests infinite looping. FFmpeg documents loop-1as infinite; loop0means no loop.-iidentifies the input file. Put both input options before it, as shown.-c:v libx264and-c:a aactranscode video and audio. The bitrate values in this example are illustrative only; select values appropriate to the output format and connection.-gand-keyint_minset GOP/keyframe spacing in frames. The sample value of 60 is two seconds only at 30 fps.-f flvselects the output muxer for the RTMP-style destination. Use the exact ingest URL and key from Studio.
Keep the real stream key out of material other people can read. For a persistent service, place sensitive configuration in a file or environment accessible only to the service account, and restrict permissions. Avoid printing the key in diagnostic output or sharing full command lines in public support requests.
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Start the broadcast and verify it in YouTube Studio
- Run FFmpeg and watch its output for input, encoder, and network errors.
- Open the stream in YouTube Studio’s Live Control Room and wait for the preview and stream-health information.
- Check that the picture moves, the audio is present and at a sensible level, and the stream remains stable before relying on it as a continuous broadcast.
- Monitor stream health and the server’s network and CPU use. YouTube recommends testing before going live and monitoring stream health.
If you transcode, CPU capacity matters as well as bandwidth. If the video is copied, CPU demand is lower, but compatibility still needs to be confirmed. In either case, sustained upload interruptions can disrupt the broadcast.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Keep the Ubuntu process running
The FFmpeg command only runs while its process and host remain available. For an always-on broadcast, run it on a server intended to stay online and use an operating-system service manager such as systemd to start it after reboot and restart it after an unexpected process exit. A restart policy helps recover from a process failure; it does not guarantee that YouTube, the network, or the host will always be available.
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- Keep the stream key in a protected configuration file or environment, with access limited to the service account.
- Retain service logs and check them for FFmpeg errors, connection drops, or repeated restarts.
- Watch CPU load when transcoding and upload stability throughout the broadcast.
- Use YouTube’s stream-health messages to distinguish encoder or connection problems from local process issues.
A rented Ubuntu VPS is one way to keep the process online if you do not maintain a physical server. Provider, price, region, and plan suitability depend on your needs; no particular VPS plan is established here.
Know the archive and HLS limits
YouTube archives
YouTube says live streams under 12 hours are automatically archived. Do not assume a continuous stream longer than 12 hours will have a complete archive. If a complete recording matters, plan to end and restart within the documented duration, then verify the current behavior in Studio.
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YouTube offers HLS as a separate option for HDR or codecs not supported by RTMP. It uses an HTTPS stream URL and has its own packaging and transport requirements, including TS segments, a rolling playlist with no more than five outstanding segments, HTTPS POST/PUT, and segment durations of 1–4 seconds. YouTube notes that HLS has higher latency because it sends video in segments. It is not a drop-in alternative URL for the FLV/RTMPS FFmpeg command above.
Troubleshoot common failures
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to check or change |
|---|---|---|
| FFmpeg cannot open the input | Wrong path, permissions, or an unreadable file. | Check the full path and ensure the service account can read the MP4. Test that FFmpeg can probe the file before starting the live process. |
| Encoder not found or initialization fails | The FFmpeg build may not include the selected encoder, or the host may lack enough capacity. | Check encoder availability in the installed build. Choose a supported encoder or a compatible stream-copy path; reduce encoding demands if CPU is saturated. |
| YouTube does not receive the stream | Incorrect server URL or key, an inaccessible network destination, or a rejected connection. | Re-copy the URL and key from the selected stream’s Studio settings, verify outbound connectivity, and inspect FFmpeg’s connection errors. Treat the key as compromised and replace it if it was exposed. |
| Stream health reports unstable bitrate or dropped frames | The configured rate may exceed what the server can sustain, or the connection may be fluctuating. | Run an upload speed test, choose a lower sustainable output rate or resolution, and monitor again. Do not treat a momentary speed peak as sustained capacity. |
| Video or audio is missing or incompatible | The MP4 may lack audio, use an incompatible codec, or fail output muxing when copied. | Inspect the input streams, omit audio output if the file has no audio, or re-encode the incompatible stream to an accepted format. |
| The loop does not repeat or the broadcast stops after a reboot | The loop option may be misplaced, or the FFmpeg process is not managed as a service. | Place -stream_loop -1 before the input option and configure a service manager to start the process after reboot. |
Or let it run in the cloud
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