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FFmpeg’s -stream_loop -1 repeats an input file indefinitely—but only when the option is placed before the -i for the file you want to repeat. If the video keeps playing in FFmpeg but YouTube Live appears to stop, the cause may instead be an audio input ending, incorrect real-time pacing, an encoder or network issue, or a YouTube ingest interruption. Without your command and logs, there is no single cause to identify.
First, determine what actually stopped
There are two different failures that can look alike: FFmpeg may have exited, or FFmpeg may still be running while YouTube is no longer receiving usable media. Check the process and YouTube status separately before changing options.
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- FFmpeg exited: note its exit status and final error lines. Check the input files, option placement, stream mappings, and any output-duration or shortest-stream options.
- FFmpeg is still running, but YouTube stalled: check the preview, live indicator, and stream-health messages in YouTube Live Control Room, along with the stability of your upload connection.
YouTube advises testing with audio and movement similar to the planned stream, then monitoring stream health and messages during the event. See YouTube’s live encoder settings and troubleshooting guidance.
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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsCheck that the loop option applies to the video
FFmpeg options generally apply to the next input or output. Put -stream_loop -1 immediately before the -i for the video file. Here, -1 requests infinite repetition:
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-stream_loop -1 -i input.mp4If the option appears before a different input, it loops that input instead. If it appears after the video’s -i, it does not configure that earlier input. The FFmpeg documentation describes the option’s scope and behavior.
Check every input, especially separate audio
Looping the video does not automatically prove that every other input repeats. If your command uses a separate audio file, inspect its duration and its own input options. Also review stream mappings and options such as output duration or shortest-stream behavior, which can affect when output ends.
A September 2022 post to the FFmpeg-user archive describes a user’s setup involving looping video, a separate MP3 input, CPU load, and loss of YouTube’s live indicator. It is an example of symptoms in a multi-input setup, not evidence that separate audio or CPU load is generally the cause. See the original archive post.
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Pace prerecorded media for a live stream
A file can be looped and still be sent at the wrong rate for a live output. FFmpeg’s -re reads an input at its native frame rate (equivalent to -readrate 1), which can be useful when output packet flow must behave like live streaming. Place it before the prerecorded input’s -i:
-re -stream_loop -1 -i input.mp4Do not blindly apply -re to an actual live-capture input. Confirm the exact options supported by your installed FFmpeg build in the FFmpeg manual.
Compare the output with YouTube’s current encoder guidance
Looping and delivery are separate issues. For the selected codec, resolution, and frame rate, use the matching row in YouTube’s current live encoder guide; a bitrate that is suitable for one setting may not be suitable for another. The figures below are YouTube recommendations accessed on October 3, 2026, not guarantees of a successful stream:
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| 720p at 30 fps | 3 Mbps minimum; 8 Mbps recommended |
| 1080p at 30 fps | 5 Mbps minimum; 14 Mbps recommended |
| 1080p at 60 fps | 6 Mbps minimum; 17 Mbps recommended |
YouTube’s encoder page specifies RTMP or RTMPS, supports H.264, H.265, and AV1 video, and allows up to 60 fps. It recommends constant bitrate (CBR) and a two-second keyframe interval; the interval should not exceed four seconds. For stereo audio, its recommended bitrate is 128 Kbps, with AAC or MP3 listed as audio formats. Check the guide for the applicable codec and output row rather than treating these figures as universal settings.
Use a command shape that keeps option order clear
This illustrates input pacing and looping; it is not a complete, tested command. The mappings, encoders, bitrate, keyframe interval, and ingest address must match your files and chosen output settings:
ffmpeg -re -stream_loop -1 -i input.mp4 [mapping and encoding options] -f flv "RTMP(S) ingest URL/STREAM_KEY"Use the ingest URL and stream key supplied by YouTube, and keep the key private. For separate audio and video, configure and map each input deliberately; looping the video alone does not ensure the audio repeats. Refer to the FFmpeg manual and YouTube’s encoder guide for the options and delivery settings relevant to your setup.
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Troubleshoot by symptom
| What you see | What to inspect |
|---|---|
| FFmpeg exits when the video reaches its end | Verify that -stream_loop -1 is immediately before the intended video input’s -i. Read the final error and exit status. |
| Video repeats, but output ends when audio finishes | Check whether audio is a separate, finite input; inspect its loop options, duration, mapping, and output-duration or shortest-stream options. |
| FFmpeg runs, but YouTube preview or live indicator stalls | Check Live Control Room stream-health messages and connection stability, then compare codec, resolution, frame rate, bitrate, and keyframe interval with YouTube’s applicable guidance. |
| Playback reaches YouTube too quickly or packet flow is unsuitable for live output | For prerecorded input, check whether -re belongs before its -i. Do not apply it automatically to a live-capture input. |
The exact diagnosis depends on the command, FFmpeg logs, input inventory, and YouTube’s status. These checks distinguish option-scope and file-duration problems from delivery interruptions without assuming one cause.
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