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First identify which connection is failing. FFmpeg’s documented reconnect options apply to HTTP input retrieval; they do not automatically repair a failed RTMP or RTMPS connection publishing your stream to YouTube. Check whether the log points to the source input or the YouTube output, then use the matching recovery steps below.
1. Find which connection failed
A 24/7 stream has two separate connections: FFmpeg reads a media source, then publishes the encoded stream to YouTube. A source disconnect or end-of-file (EOF) is not the same failure as a dropped YouTube publishing connection. FFmpeg’s protocol documentation describes the HTTP reconnect options as HTTP input options, while RTMP is a separate protocol. FFmpeg protocol documentation
- Input failure: The log reports a problem opening or reading the source URL or file. If the source uses HTTP, the HTTP retry options may apply.
- Output failure: The log reports a problem connecting to or writing to the publishing destination. Diagnose the RTMP/RTMPS output and the running FFmpeg process separately; HTTP input retry flags are not a general output-recovery mechanism.
- Process exit: If FFmpeg exits after an output error, input retry settings cannot restart the process. You need an operational plan to detect and restart it.
Read the log around the first error, rather than treating every later error as a separate cause. Protect your stream key: redact it before sharing logs, screenshots, or commands.
2. If an HTTP source is disconnecting or ending
FFmpeg documents these reconnect options for its HTTP protocol. They address different conditions, so select them according to what the source actually does. FFmpeg protocols: HTTP
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| Option | What it addresses | Important limit |
|---|---|---|
reconnect |
Retries automatically after a disconnection before EOF. | A retry does not guarantee that the server will accept it or that playback resumes at the same point. |
reconnect_at_eof |
Treats EOF as an error and retries. FFmpeg describes this as useful for “live / endless streams.” | Use it only when reaching EOF should lead to another attempt, not when the source is meant to end. |
reconnect_on_network_error |
Retries TCP/TLS errors during connection setup. | It does not cover every possible failure after a connection is established. |
reconnect_on_http_error |
Retries for configured HTTP status codes. | Configure the relevant status codes; do not assume every HTTP error is retried. |
reconnect_streamed |
Allows retries for streamed or non-seekable input. | It does not ensure the source can resume seamlessly. |
Retry behavior is also affected by reconnect_delay_max, reconnect_max_retries, and reconnect_delay_total_max, which bound delay, attempts, or total retry time as documented. Check the documentation and option support for your installed FFmpeg build before relying on defaults: FFmpeg documentation evolves, and builds can differ.
Choose based on the failure
- If the HTTP source drops before EOF, investigate
reconnect. - If an endless or live HTTP source reports EOF but should continue, investigate
reconnect_at_eof. - If connection setup reports TCP/TLS errors, investigate
reconnect_on_network_error. - If the server returns an HTTP status error, investigate
reconnect_on_http_errorand its configured status codes. - If the input is streamed or non-seekable, check whether
reconnect_streamedis needed.
These options do not make an unreachable source available, guarantee that a server permits retries, or promise to resume at the exact interrupted position.
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3. If YouTube’s publishing connection is failing
Check the output configuration rather than adding HTTP input flags. YouTube’s Live Control Room provides the RTMPS URL and the stream key for the intended broadcast. Confirm FFmpeg is using that URL and its associated key, with the correct broadcast selected. YouTube describes RTMPS as RTMP over TLS/SSL. YouTube Help: Encrypt your stream using RTMPS · Google for Developers: Delivering Live YouTube Content via RTMPS
- Open YouTube Live Control Room and verify the ingest URL and stream key for the broadcast you intend to use.
- Compare the destination configured in FFmpeg with the RTMPS URL shown there. Check for a wrong or outdated destination without posting the key publicly.
- Confirm the key is the one associated with that broadcast. If you share a command or log for help, remove the key first.
- Inspect FFmpeg’s output-side errors and determine whether FFmpeg remains running or exits. If it exits, arrange for monitoring and a controlled restart; do not expect HTTP input options to relaunch the process.
The cited documentation does not establish a universal FFmpeg command that guarantees recovery from every RTMPS output failure, nor does it establish that retrying will resume a YouTube stream seamlessly. Treat output recovery as a separate process-management problem.
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4. Test recovery before depending on a 24/7 stream
Validate the actual FFmpeg build and configuration in a controlled stream before relying on it continuously. Test source-input retries separately from output interruptions, then observe whether FFmpeg stays alive or exits and whether your monitoring and restart procedure behaves as intended. Verify the YouTube ingest behavior in that setup; do not infer uninterrupted recovery just because an option is enabled.
- Record which side failed: input or output.
- For HTTP input, confirm the selected reconnect option matches the observed condition and that retry bounds are understood.
- For output failures, verify the RTMPS destination and key, then test how your process is detected and restarted.
- Check the installed FFmpeg version’s option documentation rather than assuming defaults from another build.
5. Troubleshooting common reconnect problems
“Reconnect” is enabled, but YouTube still disconnects
Check whether the message concerns FFmpeg’s output to YouTube rather than an HTTP input. The documented HTTP reconnect options do not provide general RTMPS output recovery. Verify the Live Control Room URL and associated key, and check whether FFmpeg exits.
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FFmpeg retries, but the music source never resumes
Confirm the input is HTTP and that the option matches the event—disconnect before EOF, EOF, connection setup error, or HTTP status response. The source server may not accept the retry, and a retry does not guarantee recovery at the same playback position.
The stream stops when the input reaches EOF
If the source is an HTTP live or endless stream that should continue, check reconnect_at_eof. It specifically treats EOF as an error that causes reconnection; it is not a general instruction for YouTube output retries.
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Retries stop too soon or continue longer than expected
Review reconnect_delay_max, reconnect_max_retries, and reconnect_delay_total_max for the installed build. These options bound retry delay, number of attempts, or total retry time; verify their documented behavior and defaults for your version.
FFmpeg exits after an output error
Input retry options will not restart an exited process. Add a separate way to detect failure and restart the process, and test it with the actual output setup. No single command is established here as a guarantee for every RTMPS failure.
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