The most common command-line mistake is placing -stream_loop -1 after the video’s -i. FFmpeg treats it as an input option, so put it immediately before the -i for the file you want to repeat. If FFmpeg keeps running but YouTube’s preview stalls, investigate pacing, other inputs, and stream health instead. Without your command and logs, there is no way to identify one specific cause.
First, determine what “stops”
There are two different failures to separate:
- FFmpeg exits: the process has ended. Check its exit status and final log lines for an input, mapping, encoding, or connection error.
- FFmpeg continues, but YouTube stalls: the process may still be sending data, while YouTube is not receiving usable media. Check the Live Control Room preview, stream-health messages, and connection stability.
This distinction matters: a loop option controls input reading; it does not guarantee a continuous, healthy connection to YouTube. YouTube recommends testing with similar audio and movement before going live, then monitoring stream health and messages during the event (YouTube live encoder settings and guidance).
Check the loop option and every input
Put the option before the intended input
FFmpeg applies most options to the next input or output. -stream_loop -1 means repeat the following input indefinitely, so its position relative to -i matters. For one video file, use this option order:
-stream_loop -1 -i input.mp4If the option appears after that file’s -i, it does not configure the input already opened. If it appears before a different -i, it applies to that next input instead. See the FFmpeg documentation for option scope and -stream_loop semantics.
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Loop separate audio deliberately
A looping video does not make a separate audio input repeat. If your command reads a video and an MP3, inspect both input durations and options, the stream mappings, and any output-duration or “shortest” options. A finite audio input can end while the video continues; how that affects output depends on the rest of the command.
An FFmpeg-user post from September 20, 2022 describes a setup involving looping video, separate MP3 audio, CPU load, and loss of YouTube’s live indicator (the archived post). It is one user’s report, not proof that separate audio or CPU load causes this problem generally.
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Make prerecorded input run at live speed
For a file being sent as a live stream, FFmpeg’s -re reads the input at its native frame rate, equivalent to -readrate 1. That can be useful when output packet flow needs to be paced like live delivery. Put it before the prerecorded file’s -i:
-re -stream_loop -1 -i input.mp4Do not blindly apply -re to an actual live capture input. Consult the FFmpeg documentation for the option’s behavior and scope.
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Compare the command with YouTube’s encoder guidance
Looping and delivery are separate problems. YouTube’s live encoder guidance lists RTMP/RTMPS ingest; H.264, H.265, or AV1 video; up to 60 fps; constant bitrate (CBR); and a recommended two-second keyframe interval that should not exceed four seconds. Its bitrate recommendations depend on codec, resolution, and frame rate, so use the row matching your output rather than treating one number as universal. The figures below are YouTube recommendations, not guarantees of successful delivery; they were accessed October 3, 2026.
| H.264 output | YouTube-listed minimum bitrate | YouTube-listed recommended bitrate |
|---|---|---|
| 720p, 30 fps | 3 Mbps | 8 Mbps |
| 1080p, 30 fps | 5 Mbps | 14 Mbps |
| 1080p, 60 fps | 6 Mbps | 17 Mbps |
YouTube also recommends 128 Kbps for stereo audio and lists AAC or MP3 audio. Check the current YouTube settings page for the applicable codec and output row. Your available upload capacity and connection stability also affect delivery.
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A useful command shape—and its limits
For a local prerecorded video, the option order can look like this:
ffmpeg -re -stream_loop -1 -i input.mp4 [mapping and encoding options] -f flv "RTMP(S) ingest URL/STREAM_KEY"This illustrates placement; it is not a complete, tested command. You must supply stream mapping, encoding settings, and the ingest URL and key provided by YouTube, appropriate to your source and chosen output. Keep the stream key private, and check the flags supported by your installed FFmpeg build. For option behavior, consult the FFmpeg manual; for ingest and encoder settings, consult YouTube’s guide.
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Troubleshoot by symptom
| What you see | What to check | Next step |
|---|---|---|
| FFmpeg exits when the file ends | Whether -stream_loop -1 is before the intended input’s -i. |
Move the option immediately before that input, then check the exit status and final log lines. |
| Video repeats, but audio ends or changes unexpectedly | Whether audio is a separate finite input; its own input options, duration, and mapping; and any output-duration or “shortest” setting. | Review the audio input and output options independently of the video loop. |
| FFmpeg runs, but the YouTube preview or live indicator stalls | Live Control Room stream-health messages, connection stability, and whether the input is paced with -re. |
Check pacing and ingest status separately; avoid assuming that an active FFmpeg process means YouTube is receiving usable media. |
| Stream health reports delivery trouble | Codec, resolution, frame rate, CBR, keyframe interval, bitrate row, audio settings, and available upload capacity. | Compare the actual output with the matching row in YouTube’s current encoder guidance and test before the event. |
| Symptoms vary between attempts | Input readability, option placement, stream mappings, connection conditions, and the final FFmpeg log lines. | Record the full command with the stream key redacted, FFmpeg’s exit status and last error, the input inventory, and YouTube’s stream-health messages. |
These checks distinguish likely categories; without the command, logs, input files, and YouTube status, they cannot establish a single cause.
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