For an FFmpeg stream sent to YouTube Live over RTMP, use FFmpeg’s fifo output muxer recovery options—not the -reconnect flags documented for HTTP connections. The FIFO pattern can attempt to recover after a temporary output failure, but it does not guarantee gap-free playback or that YouTube will resume the same live event.
First identify which connection dropped
FFmpeg can be reading from one source and sending to another. A network failure on the input side is different from a failure in FFmpeg’s output connection to YouTube’s RTMP ingest server.
- HTTP input failed: HTTP protocol reconnect options may apply to that input connection.
- RTMP output to YouTube failed: FFmpeg’s documented recovery example uses the FIFO output muxer.
The HTTP options -reconnect, -reconnect_at_eof, -reconnect_on_network_error, -reconnect_on_http_error and -reconnect_streamed are documented for HTTP protocol connections. They are not a general RTMP-output reconnect switch. See the FFmpeg protocols documentation.
Set up recovery for an RTMP output
FFmpeg’s documentation shows this generic FIFO pattern for attempting recovery after a temporary output failure:
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ffmpeg -re -i ...
-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_nameThis is an example to adapt, not a verified YouTube command. Replace the example destination with the RTMP ingest address configured for your live event, and retain the input, stream mapping, codecs and other settings your workflow requires. The FIFO muxer options and recovery example are in the FFmpeg documentation.
What the options do
-f fifoselects the FIFO output muxer, and-fifo_format flvsets the format used for the queued output.-attempt_recovery 1enables attempts to recover after an output failure.-recovery_wait_time 1sets the wait between recovery attempts to one second in this example. FFmpeg describes the example as attempting recovery every second indefinitely.-drop_pkts_on_overflow 1allows packets to be dropped if the FIFO queue overflows. That means recovery behavior does not guarantee that every packet produced during an outage will be preserved.
Adapt it to your command before running
- Check the installed FFmpeg version and build, and confirm that its FIFO muxer exposes the options used above.
- Start from your existing command. Keep the input URL or file, maps, codecs, bitrate, resolution and other output settings appropriate to your stream.
- Change the output muxing section to use
-f fifo -fifo_format flvand add the recovery options before the RTMP destination. - Use the actual ingest destination configured for the YouTube live event instead of the example URL.
- Run the command and inspect FFmpeg’s output logs if a disconnect occurs. A recovery attempt is not proof that YouTube accepted the reconnect or continued the same event.
The exact final command depends on your installed build and current command. Without those details, the documented pattern is safer than assuming a one-size-fits-all copy-and-paste command.
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Use HTTP reconnect flags only for an HTTP input
If FFmpeg reads a source over HTTP, the protocol documentation describes options for reconnecting that HTTP connection: reconnect retries after a disconnect before EOF; reconnect_at_eof treats EOF as an error and reconnects, which can be useful for live or endless streams; reconnect_on_network_error covers TCP or TLS errors during connection; reconnect_on_http_error retries selected HTTP response codes; and reconnect_streamed permits reconnects for streamed or non-seekable inputs.
These options address HTTP input behavior. They do not replace FIFO recovery for an RTMP output to YouTube. The HTTP implementation also has default reconnect-delay limits, but those are HTTP implementation details and must not be treated as FIFO or RTMP settings. The current implementation source is on the rolling FFmpeg master branch; verify any defaults against your installed release before relying on them.
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Know what recovery can and cannot do
The FIFO example is generic RTMP guidance from FFmpeg, not a YouTube-specific guarantee. It describes attempts to recover output after a temporary failure; it does not establish that YouTube will preserve the live event, accept the reconnect into the same session, or provide uninterrupted audio and video. Expect that an internet drop may create a gap or interrupt the event even when FFmpeg retries.
Also, -re is not a reconnect option. FFmpeg documents it as reading input at its native frame rate (a read rate of 1), commonly useful for pacing file input as a simulated live stream. The command-line documentation warns against using it with an actual capture device or live input because it may cause packet loss. Check the FFmpeg command-line documentation before including it in a live-input workflow.
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Troubleshoot a failed reconnect
- You added
-reconnectbut the YouTube output still stops: Check whether the failed connection is RTMP output. The documented HTTP flags apply to HTTP connections; use the FIFO recovery pattern for RTMP output attempts. - FFmpeg rejects a FIFO option: Check the installed version and build, then inspect the options available for that build’s FIFO muxer. Do not assume a rolling documentation page exactly matches an older installation.
- FFmpeg retries but the YouTube event does not continue: The retry is an output recovery attempt, not a promise that YouTube resumes the same event. Check the live event and ingest settings in YouTube, then determine whether the event needs to be restarted.
- The stream has a gap or missing packets after an outage: The example enables packet dropping on FIFO overflow. Recovery does not promise preservation of all packets while the connection is unavailable.
- A file-based stream runs too fast or too slowly: Review input pacing.
-rereads at native frame rate; it does not reconnect the output, and FFmpeg warns against using it on actual live or capture inputs. - The source itself is HTTP and fails before output: Apply relevant HTTP reconnect options to the input connection, not as a substitute for RTMP output recovery.
For command-specific help, gather your FFmpeg version/build, operating system, input type and complete command (remove or redact stream keys before sharing). Those details determine whether the syntax and recovery options fit your setup.
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