Use two recovery layers: FFmpeg’s FIFO muxer can retry a failed network output while the FFmpeg process is still running; a separate supervisor must restart FFmpeg if it exits. Neither layer alone handles both failures. For 4K at 60 fps, also match YouTube’s current bitrate and keyframe guidance to the ingest codec, then verify recovery in Live Control Room.
First identify what stopped
“The stream stopped” can describe three different failures, and each needs a different response:
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- Output or network failure: FFmpeg remains alive but cannot deliver packets to YouTube. FIFO output recovery can retry this kind of failure.
- FFmpeg exited: The process is gone. FIFO cannot restart it; an operating-system service manager, container orchestrator, or other supervisor must relaunch it.
- FFmpeg is alive but stalled: A basic restart-on-exit policy may not notice. If this failure matters, add a separate liveness or progress check.
Check the process status and FFmpeg logs before changing settings. A process that is still running but blocked is not equivalent to one that exited.
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Use FFmpeg’s FIFO muxer for temporary output failures
The current FFmpeg FIFO muxer documentation describes output recovery for network failures. Its example below is an illustrative RTMP command from the manual, not a tested YouTube command. Replace the input, output URL, codecs, and stream maps with the values for your setup.
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ffmpeg -re -i INPUT
-c:v libx264 -c:a aac
-f fifo -fifo_format flv
-drop_pkts_on_overflow 1
-attempt_recovery 1
-recovery_wait_time 1
-map 0:v -map 0:a
rtmp://example.com/live/stream_nameKeep your actual YouTube stream key private: do not publish it in a script, screenshot, or log. Use the correct YouTube server URL and stream key in the output configuration.
What the recovery options do
-attempt_recovery 1enables attempts to recover a failed output.-recovery_wait_time 1sets a one-second wait between recovery attempts in this example. The documented default is five seconds.-drop_pkts_on_overflow 1allows queued packets to be dropped rather than blocking the encoder when the FIFO fills. That can keep processing moving, but it means some content may be omitted.- The documented default for
max_recovery_attemptsis unlimited (0);restart_with_keyframedefaults to false.
Option support and behavior can vary with the installed FFmpeg build. Check locally with ffmpeg -h muxer=fifo and consult the manual matching your version before relying on a setting.
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Restart an exited process with a supervisor
FIFO output recovery cannot relaunch an FFmpeg process that has exited. Configure a supervisor suited to your deployment—for example, systemd on Linux, Windows service or task tooling, launchd on macOS, or a container orchestrator. The right configuration depends on the operating system and how FFmpeg is deployed; there is no single universal service definition for every host.
Set an intentional restart delay or backoff, define restart limits, and retain logs that show why FFmpeg exited. If a process that remains alive but stops making progress is also in scope, add an independent health check that detects that condition. A simple shell loop can relaunch on exit, but without safeguards it may restart rapidly, miss a stalled process, or make exit diagnostics harder to find.
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Match YouTube’s 4K/60-fps ingest settings
YouTube’s encoder settings page, accessed in 2026, publishes different bitrate guidance for 4K/2160p at 60 fps depending on the ingest codec:
| Ingest codec | Minimum bitrate | Recommended bitrate |
|---|---|---|
| H.264 | 14 Mbps | 50 Mbps |
| AV1 or H.265 | 10 Mbps | 35 Mbps |
YouTube lists frame rates up to 60 fps, recommends CBR, and recommends a two-second keyframe interval, which should not exceed four seconds. Supported protocols listed include RTMP and RTMPS; YouTube recommends RTMPS. These are published encoder settings, not a guarantee that a particular computer can encode continuously or that its upload connection can sustain the stream.
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At an actual output frame rate of 60 fps, a two-second GOP is 120 frames, so -g 120 is the corresponding frame-count value when configuring an encoder that uses that option. Confirm the output really is 60 fps before using it; a 30-fps output would require a different frame count for the same interval. YouTube detects encoder settings automatically by default and recommends testing with representative audio and motion, then monitoring stream health and messages.
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Configure and verify the YouTube stream
YouTube’s encoder setup guide instructs creators to enter the YouTube Live server URL and stream key in their encoder. When restarting, use the intended stream and encoder configuration, and keep the key secure.
- Confirm from process status and logs whether FFmpeg exited, is stalled, or is still running while output has failed.
- For a failing output with a live process, confirm that your FFmpeg build supports the FIFO options and test recovery behavior.
- For process exit, configure a host-appropriate supervisor with a deliberate restart delay or backoff, restart limits, and retained logs. Add a liveness check if stalled processes must be recovered too.
- Check the output resolution is 3840×2160 and the actual frame rate is 60 fps; confirm the codec, CBR target, keyframe interval, server URL, and stream key against your intended YouTube setup.
- Test recovery before an important broadcast. In YouTube Live Control Room, confirm the expected preview and stream health return. For the scheduled-stream workflow in YouTube’s guide, wait for the preview and then click Go live; do not assume every scheduled or unscheduled stream uses identical live-state behavior after a restart.
Troubleshoot a stream that does not recover
| Symptom | What to check | Next step |
|---|---|---|
| FFmpeg exited and stays down | Exit status, FFmpeg logs, and supervisor logs | Fix the underlying command or environment error, then verify the supervisor’s restart policy and limits. |
| FFmpeg is running but output has failed | FFmpeg output logs, network path, FIFO option support, and destination configuration | Test FIFO recovery with the installed build; verify the YouTube URL and key. |
| FFmpeg is running but appears stuck | Whether the process is making progress, not only whether it exists | Add a separate liveness or progress check; restart-on-exit alone may not detect a hang. |
| YouTube does not show the expected preview or healthy stream | Live Control Room messages, server URL, stream key, resolution, frame rate, codec, bitrate, and keyframe interval | Correct the encoder configuration and confirm the stream state in Live Control Room. |
| Recovery continues but content skips | Whether the FIFO overflow option is dropping queued packets | Account for the continuity trade-off; dropping packets avoids blocking when the FIFO fills but omits content. |
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