To loop a prerecorded video on YouTube Live with FFmpeg, put -stream_loop -1 before the input file, read it at real-time speed with -re, and send a compatible output to the RTMPS URL and stream key shown in YouTube Studio. The command below is a 720p30 H.264/AAC example; adjust its bitrate and frame rate to your stream, test it from the computer and network you will use, and keep the stream key private.
Before you start: enable YouTube Live and get the stream details
- Check live-stream access. In YouTube Studio, choose Create → Go Live and create or schedule a stream in Live Control Room. First-time activation may take up to 24 hours, so do not leave this check until broadcast time. YouTube’s encoder setup guide describes the workflow.
- Copy the ingest URL and stream key. Open the stream settings in Live Control Room and copy the RTMPS stream URL and key. YouTube may show an ordinary RTMP URL by default; choose or retrieve the RTMPS endpoint. The URL and stream name/key are the details an encoder needs to transmit a stream. YouTube’s RTMPS instructions explain where to find the endpoint.
- Protect the key. Treat it like a password: anyone who gets it can broadcast to your channel. Do not place a real key in a public script, screenshot, or article. If it is exposed, replace it in Live Control Room before the next broadcast.
- Install an FFmpeg build that supports your chosen protocol and encoder. The command uses RTMPS and
libx264; availability of encoders and protocol support can depend on how FFmpeg was built.
The official YouTube setup sources describe the general encoder workflow; they do not prescribe a different FFmpeg command or ingest URL for India. Use the values shown for your own channel and test on the actual network you plan to broadcast from.
Loop a local video with this FFmpeg command
For a local MP4 with an audio track, this template encodes a 720p30-style stream as H.264 video and AAC audio. Replace the filename and the full RTMPS URL/key with your own values; do not remove the quotes if either contains spaces or shell-sensitive characters.
ffmpeg -re -stream_loop -1 -i "input.mp4" \
-c:v libx264 -preset veryfast -pix_fmt yuv420p \
-b:v 6000k -maxrate 6000k -bufsize 12000k -g 60 \
-c:a aac -b:a 128k -ar 44100 \
-f flv "rtmps://YOUR_INGEST_HOST/YOUR_STREAM_KEY"Here, -stream_loop -1 is an input option that means loop indefinitely, so it belongs before -i. -re reads the file at its native timing rather than pushing it as fast as the computer can encode. FFmpeg’s documentation defines both input looping and stream copy.
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The example assumes 30 fps, so -g 60 sets a nominal 60-frame GOP, or two seconds. The 6 Mbps video bitrate falls within YouTube’s published 720p30 H.264 range of 3 Mbps minimum and 8 Mbps recommended. It is not a guarantee of stability: choose a bitrate your sustained upload connection can handle.
Use your own file and endpoint
- Change
input.mp4to the actual local file path. On Windows, quote a path such as"C:\Videos\loop.mp4". - Replace the final placeholder with the complete RTMPS ingest URL and stream key supplied by Live Control Room. Do not publish that command with a live key in it.
- If FFmpeg reports that
libx264or RTMPS is unavailable, use a build that includes the needed encoder or protocol support; verify the URL scheme isrtmps://and the endpoint is the one YouTube supplied.
If the video has no audio
This exact command expects an audio stream in the input. For a silent source, do not assume the command will work unchanged: add an audio source or configure a silent audio stream, then test that YouTube receives both video and audio. YouTube’s encoder guidance accepts AAC or MP3 audio but does not provide an FFmpeg-specific silent-audio command. YouTube’s encoder settings guidance lists the supported audio recommendations.
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Choose bitrate, frame rate, and other encoder settings
YouTube’s current encoder guidance recommends RTMPS, constant bitrate (CBR), a two-second keyframe interval (not more than four seconds), and H.264, H.265/HEVC, or AV1 video for RTMP/RTMPS. The example uses H.264 for broad compatibility. YouTube recommends AAC or MP3 audio; for stereo it lists 44.1 kHz and 128 kbps. Automatic resolution detection is the default recommendation; a custom stream key can be used for manual resolution. See YouTube’s encoder settings, bitrates, and resolutions.
YouTube-published H.264 bitrate recommendations
These are the figures in YouTube Help’s current H.264 recommendation table; the page does not state a publication year. Match the row to the actual resolution and frame rate rather than treating one bitrate as universal.
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| Output | Minimum bitrate | Recommended bitrate |
|---|---|---|
| 720p30 | 3 Mbps | 8 Mbps |
| 720p60 | 3 Mbps | 8 Mbps |
| 1080p30 | 5 Mbps | 14 Mbps |
| 1080p60 | 6 Mbps | 17 Mbps |
YouTube’s bitrate guidance also distinguishes AV1 and H.265 from H.264, so use the row for the codec you actually send. Higher resolution or frame rate needs a different bitrate and GOP calculation; for a fixed frame rate, a two-second GOP is approximately twice the frames per second.
Test the broadcast and watch stream health
- Start the FFmpeg command before the scheduled broadcast and check that it connects without errors.
- Open the stream preview in Live Control Room. Confirm that both picture and sound arrive and that playback is not visibly stuttering.
- Test with motion and audio resembling the material you plan to stream. YouTube Help says: “Make sure to test before you start your live stream.”
- Watch stream-health status and warnings during the event. YouTube’s API describes incoming stream states including
active,inactive,ready, anderror; an active input can still have configuration or health warnings. See YouTube Live Streams API documentation.
Troubleshoot common FFmpeg-to-YouTube problems
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to check or change |
|---|---|---|
| FFmpeg cannot connect | Wrong endpoint, mistyped key, or incorrect RTMP/RTMPS protocol. | Copy the URL and key again from the selected stream’s Live Control Room settings. For RTMPS, verify the full endpoint is correct and that your FFmpeg build supports RTMPS. YouTube identifies an incorrect RTMPS URL or protocol as a cause of SSL and connection errors. See its RTMPS troubleshooting guidance. |
| Connection succeeds, but YouTube reports poor stream health | Bitrate, keyframe interval, codec, or upload capacity does not match the target. | Check YouTube’s warning text, compare your output against its codec and bitrate recommendations, and lower the bitrate if the connection cannot sustain it. |
| Video arrives without sound | The source may lack an audio track, or the output audio stream may not be reaching YouTube. | Inspect the source and FFmpeg output; add or configure audio if needed, then repeat the preview test. |
| The stream plays too quickly or the input option has no effect | -re or -stream_loop -1 may be placed after the input. |
Put both options before the relevant -i; they apply to the input file. |
| Stream stops when the file ends | The loop option is missing, misspelled, or attached to the wrong input. | Confirm -stream_loop -1 appears before the input’s -i and that the command is using the intended file. |
FFmpeg re-encoding versus stream copy
The command above re-encodes video and audio, giving you control over output codec, bitrate, and keyframe interval at the cost of CPU use. If the source already has suitable codecs and settings, FFmpeg stream copy (-c:v copy, and potentially -c:a copy) can reduce CPU load. Copy mode does not change the codec, resolution, bitrate, or keyframes, so inspect the source and verify that its properties fit YouTube’s ingest recommendations before relying on it.
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Copyright and channel-policy checks before looping
Looping a file does not grant rights to its music, footage, or other material. Use content you own or are authorized to broadcast, and check the rules that apply to your channel and the content. Repeatedly streaming prerecorded material is also not a substitute for meeting YouTube’s channel monetization policies; eligibility and review depend on YouTube’s current rules, not on the encoder command. For a practical preflight, use StreamNeo’s copyright safety checklist.
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