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On Linux, run FFmpeg under a systemd service with Restart=on-failure and a deliberate RestartSec= delay. That restarts FFmpeg after an eligible process exit; it does not fix every network/output failure or confirm that YouTube has made the intended broadcast live again. For those outcomes, you need the right recovery layer and a post-restart check in YouTube Live Control Room.
Choose recovery for the failure that occurred
“The stream stopped” can describe different problems. Identify whether the input disconnected, FFmpeg is still running but its output is failing, or the FFmpeg process exited. Each calls for a different recovery mechanism.
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| Failure | Recovery mechanism | What to verify |
|---|---|---|
| Input or network disconnect | FFmpeg protocol reconnect options, where supported for the specific protocol and direction | Whether the option applies to your input or output; reconnect options are not a universal process-restart feature |
| Output failure while FFmpeg remains running | FFmpeg FIFO muxer recovery, when configured and supported for the output | FFmpeg logs and whether media delivery resumes |
| FFmpeg exits after a crash or other eligible failure | An external supervisor such as systemd | Service status and logs, then the encoder and broadcast state in Live Control Room |
FFmpeg’s FIFO muxer documentation includes an RTMP example configured to attempt recovery every second indefinitely during a temporary network outage. That applies to failures handled through the configured FIFO output; it does not replace a supervisor for an FFmpeg process that exits. Check the options against your installed FFmpeg version and build, and test with your actual input and destination. FFmpeg formats documentation
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Set up systemd to restart FFmpeg after it exits
This example is for a Linux host using systemd. Other operating systems need an equivalent service supervisor or wrapper. Before creating the service, make sure FFmpeg runs correctly when launched directly, and arrange for the service to access its input and protected stream-key configuration.
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- Create a service unit. For example, create
/etc/systemd/system/ffmpeg-youtube.service. ConfigureExecStart=with the FFmpeg command that works on your host, including the intended input and output. Do not put a real stream key in a published example, shell history, screenshots, logs, or an exposed unit file. Use a protected configuration mechanism appropriate to your host. - Choose a restart policy. Set
Restart=on-failureif a nonzero FFmpeg exit should trigger a relaunch, and setRestartSec=to control the delay before the next attempt. For example,RestartSec=5requests a five-second delay; it is a configuration choice, not a guaranteed recovery time. Review your unit conditions and the behavior of your host’s systemd version. - Load and start the unit. After saving the unit, run
sudo systemctl daemon-reload, thensudo systemctl enable --now ffmpeg-youtube.service. Enabling the service configures it to start through systemd at boot; it does not prove that YouTube is receiving a usable stream. - Check service state and logs. Use
systemctl status ffmpeg-youtube.serviceandjournalctl -u ffmpeg-youtube.serviceto inspect the service and its output. Look for repeated failures rather than treating a successful relaunch as proof of a healthy stream.
The precise restart behavior depends on the full unit configuration and installed systemd version. Consult the systemd service documentation for the available restart settings and their conditions.
Configure output recovery separately when FFmpeg stays alive
A service manager generally sees a process that is still running as running—even if FFmpeg is failing to deliver output. For supported output failures, FFmpeg documents FIFO muxer options including -attempt_recovery 1 and -recovery_wait_time 1 in an RTMP example. The example’s one-second retry wait is a setting, not a measured performance guarantee. Consult the FFmpeg formats documentation and check option support in your installed build before adapting it.
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Protocol reconnect options are another distinct mechanism. Their applicability depends on the protocol and whether the option covers the input or output direction. Check the FFmpeg protocols documentation for the relevant protocol rather than assuming an input reconnect option repairs publishing to YouTube.
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Confirm YouTube received the stream after a restart
- In YouTube Live Control Room, check the current encoder setup and use the stream key assigned to the intended broadcast. Keep the key private; anyone who obtains it may be able to publish to that destination.
- Use RTMPS for the encoder connection, as YouTube recommends. Check YouTube’s current live encoder settings for supported settings. YouTube’s guidance specifies a two-second keyframe frequency and says not to exceed four seconds; adapt encoder settings to the stream’s resolution and frame rate.
- After systemd reports the service running, inspect FFmpeg’s logs for a successful connection and ongoing output, then check Live Control Room for encoder connection, stream health, and the intended event’s broadcast state.
A process restart proves only that a process started. It does not prove that the encoder connected successfully or that YouTube resumed the intended broadcast. Check the observed state rather than assuming the broadcast automatically returned to live.
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Troubleshoot common restart failures
- The service does not restart after FFmpeg exits: Check
systemctl status, the unit’sRestart=value, service conditions, and the exit status injournalctl. Confirm that the failure is one the configured policy treats as eligible. - The service is running but the stream is stalled: A supervisor may take no action while the FFmpeg process remains alive. Check FFmpeg’s output logs; consider FIFO recovery for supported output failures and deployment-specific monitoring if you need to detect a live process that is no longer delivering useful media.
- FFmpeg restarted but YouTube is not receiving the encoder: Check the destination, RTMPS configuration, stream-key source, and FFmpeg connection logs. Verify the encoder connection in Live Control Room.
- The encoder connects, but the event is not live: Inspect the intended broadcast and its state in Live Control Room. An encoder connection and a live broadcast are not the same confirmation.
- Recovery options appear unsupported or ineffective: Confirm the installed FFmpeg version and build, protocol direction, and whether the failure is handled by the configured FIFO output. Test changes against the actual input and output rather than relying on an option intended for a different failure layer.
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