If you mean a single local video file, put -stream_loop -1 before its -i option to make FFmpeg repeat that input indefinitely. If “playlist file” means a concat-demuxer list or a YouTube playlist URL, the fix is different: a concat list is finite, while a YouTube playlist needs a playlist-aware tool such as yt-dlp. First identify what FFmpeg is actually reading.
Identify the input FFmpeg is processing
“YouTube playlist file” can mean several different things. Look at the input immediately following -i in your command and match it to the case below.
| What you pass to FFmpeg | What happens by default | What to do |
|---|---|---|
One local media file, such as input.mp4 |
FFmpeg processes the file once and stops at its end. | Use -stream_loop -1 before that input’s -i. |
| A text list used with the concat demuxer | FFmpeg processes the listed entries in sequence, then stops at the last entry. | Decide whether to process the finite list once or build a workflow that repeats it. |
| A YouTube playlist URL | This is a playlist-extraction or download task, not a local input-loop task. | Use a playlist-aware tool such as yt-dlp; use FFmpeg where needed for media processing or merging. |
Loop one local file indefinitely
For a single input, use this pattern:
ffmpeg -stream_loop -1 -i input.mp4 [output options] output.extReplace input.mp4 and the output options with your actual source and destination. The crucial detail is position: -stream_loop is an input option, so it must appear before the -i for the input you want to repeat. FFmpeg documents -1 as infinite looping in its command-line documentation.
This repeats the specified input; it does not make FFmpeg watch a playlist for newly added entries. It also does not by itself configure a YouTube broadcast. If your goal is to send a continuous live stream to YouTube, the output and live-stream settings are a separate part of the command.
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Process a local concat-demuxer list
A concat-demuxer list describes a finite sequence of media files. FFmpeg reads the entries in order and reaching the last one is normal end-of-input behavior. See the FFmpeg Formats Documentation for the concat demuxer.
If you want to process the listed files once, let the command finish. If you want them to repeat, the requirement is to repeat the sequence—not merely to loop one unrelated file. Confirm that the inputs are suitable for the concat workflow and choose a method designed to repeat the complete sequence. The documentation cited here establishes sequential processing of the list; it does not establish that a running FFmpeg process will reread lines appended to that list.
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Handle a YouTube playlist URL with yt-dlp
FFmpeg’s input-loop option is not a substitute for extracting or downloading entries from a YouTube playlist. The yt-dlp project documentation covers playlist processing, including --concat-playlist. Its FAQ explains that FFmpeg may be used to merge separate audio and video formats downloaded from sites such as YouTube.
In other words, use yt-dlp for the playlist-aware step, then use FFmpeg for supported media operations such as merging or processing the resulting files. These are distinct workflows: downloading playlist entries is not the same as looping an already-downloaded local file or concat list.
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If the list changes while FFmpeg is running
Repeating existing entries and discovering entries added later are different behaviors. The FFmpeg documentation referenced above does not establish that -stream_loop -1 makes FFmpeg monitor a changing list or reread appended lines. Do not rely on that option for a live-updating playlist without testing the exact format and command.
For a format-specific answer, identify the list format, provide the full FFmpeg command, and clarify whether you need to repeat its current entries or detect new ones as they are added. Behavior may vary with the installed FFmpeg version and input format; check the documentation available for that version.
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Troubleshoot the common causes
- It still stops after one file: Check that
-stream_loop -1is before the relevant-i, not after it. - It stops after the last concat entry: That is the expected end of a finite list. Decide whether you need one pass, a repeated sequence, or a playlist-aware workflow.
- A YouTube playlist URL is treated like a normal input: Use a playlist-aware downloader such as yt-dlp rather than assuming FFmpeg’s local input loop will extract playlist entries.
- Newly appended entries do not play: The documented loop option does not establish live list monitoring. Verify the exact format and choose a workflow that explicitly supports discovering later entries.
- yt-dlp cannot merge separate audio and video: Consult its FAQ and ensure the FFmpeg dependency is available to yt-dlp for the merge step.
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