If FFmpeg is reading a direct HTTP media stream, start by adding -reconnect 1 -reconnect_streamed 1 before the input’s -i. Set retry limits to suit the job. Add -reconnect_at_eof 1 only when the input is genuinely live or endless; on a finite video, EOF may simply mean playback is finished. A YouTube watch-page URL may involve an extractor such as yt-dlp, so first identify which stage is actually freezing.
Start with the input FFmpeg is actually reading
“YouTube stream” can describe two different inputs: a YouTube watch-page URL that an extractor resolves, or a direct media URL that FFmpeg reads over HTTP. The reconnect options below apply to FFmpeg’s HTTP input; they do not by themselves diagnose or repair a failure that occurs earlier in URL extraction or downloader launch. yt-dlp accepts YouTube URLs and can use FFmpeg as an external downloader or pass media through standard output, but those are distinct workflows. See yt-dlp’s usage and options documentation.
Check the complete command and logs to determine whether FFmpeg receives a direct media URL, an HLS/DASH playlist, or data from another process. If a picture pauses while FFmpeg keeps running, that symptom alone does not prove a network disconnect. Look for read errors, reconnect messages, EOF, HTTP status codes, timestamps, and whether packets continue to be processed.
Use reconnect options that match the failure
For a direct HTTP stream, this is a starting pattern, not a guarantee or a universal retry policy:
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ffmpeg -reconnect 1 -reconnect_streamed 1 -reconnect_delay_max 30 -reconnect_max_retries 10 -i 'HTTP_MEDIA_URL' -c copy output.mkvReplace HTTP_MEDIA_URL with the direct media URL. FFmpeg input options must appear before the -i they configure. The example’s 30-second maximum delay and 10 retries are illustrative tuning values, not recommended defaults. A long-running service may need a different retry budget from a one-shot download.
FFmpeg’s protocol documentation describes the reconnect controls and their roles. Confirm option availability against your installed build and its matching documentation. FFmpeg HTTP protocol documentation · FFmpeg HTTP implementation reference.
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| Option | What it does | When it may fit |
|---|---|---|
-reconnect 1 |
Reconnects automatically after a disconnect before EOF. | Media transfer drops mid-read. |
-reconnect_streamed 1 |
Allows reconnects for streamed or non-seekable inputs. | The HTTP input is streamed and cannot seek. |
-reconnect_at_eof 1 |
Treats EOF as an error and reconnects; documented as useful for live or endless streams. | A live input may temporarily report EOF. Do not use blindly with finite media. |
-reconnect_on_network_error 1 |
Reconnects after TCP/TLS errors during connection establishment. | Opening the connection fails; it is not a catch-all for a mid-stream freeze. |
-reconnect_on_http_error '5xx' |
Retries selected HTTP status codes or classes, such as 5xx. |
A response indicates a potentially transient server error. Scope retries to relevant statuses rather than retrying every HTTP error. |
-reconnect_delay_max |
Sets the maximum reconnect delay. | Limit the wait for an individual retry. |
-reconnect_max_retries |
Sets a retry-count limit. | Stop after a chosen number of attempts. |
-reconnect_delay_total_max |
Sets a total reconnect-delay limit. | Bound the overall time spent waiting to reconnect. |
Choose a command based on the failure stage
Connection drops while bytes are being read
Try -reconnect 1. If the input is streamed or non-seekable, include -reconnect_streamed 1. Keep both before -i.
A live input returns EOF
Consider -reconnect_at_eof 1 only if EOF should trigger another attempt for this live or endless source. A finite video normally ends at EOF, so reconnecting there may produce unwanted attempts.
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TCP or TLS connection setup fails
Consider -reconnect_on_network_error 1 when the failure occurs while establishing the connection. It addresses that setup stage, not every kind of network interruption.
The server returns an HTTP error
Read the logged status code first. If the response is plausibly temporary, configure -reconnect_on_http_error for the relevant code or class, such as '5xx'. Not all HTTP errors are transient, so broad retries can waste time without fixing the cause.
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The command begins with a YouTube watch-page URL
Find out whether yt-dlp or another extractor is resolving the URL, whether a downloader process is launched, and what input FFmpeg ultimately receives. Capture the complete command and logs from the first failing stage before changing FFmpeg protocol flags; the failure may occur before FFmpeg reads media.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Set retry limits for the job
Retries trade recovery opportunity for time spent waiting. Use -reconnect_delay_max to cap an individual delay, -reconnect_max_retries to cap attempts, or -reconnect_delay_total_max to bound total reconnect delay. Select values based on how long the job may wait and when it should fail; the example command’s numbers are not a promise of recovery time.
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Check version and troubleshoot errors
The online FFmpeg protocol documentation describes current behavior, and the HTTP implementation reference lists reconnect options and defaults. An older, customized, or differently built binary may not support the same options. If FFmpeg reports an unknown option, check ffmpeg -version and consult documentation for that build before relying on a newer command.
- Unknown reconnect option: Verify the installed FFmpeg version and the matching protocol documentation.
- No reconnect despite a mid-transfer drop: Confirm the input is HTTP, that the options precede the correct
-i, and that streamed/non-seekable input has-reconnect_streamed 1. - Repeated attempts after a video ends: Remove
-reconnect_at_eof 1if the source is finite. - Connection fails before media arrives: Inspect TCP/TLS errors and consider
-reconnect_on_network_error 1. - HTTP response prevents reading: Identify the status code; only retry statuses that are appropriate for the failure.
- Image freezes but process remains active: Check logs and packet progress to distinguish a stalled read from a source, extractor, or downstream playback issue.
- Using yt-dlp: Determine whether extraction, downloader startup, or FFmpeg’s resolved input is the first stage to fail.
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