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FFmpeg

How to Keep an FFmpeg YouTube Stream Running After SSH Disconnects

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Run FFmpeg inside a named tmux session on the remote server, then detach from that session before closing SSH. The encoder keeps running when the SSH client disconnects. Add FFmpeg’s -nostdin option to prevent it from checking terminal input in the background; that option does not, by itself, keep the process alive.

Start FFmpeg in a persistent tmux session

  1. Connect to the server over SSH and create a named session:

    tmux new -s youtube-live

  2. Inside the tmux session, start FFmpeg with -nostdin before the input and output arguments. Replace the bracketed portion with the media input and the RTMP or RTMPS output options for your YouTube stream:

    ffmpeg -nostdin [input and output options]

    Use the live server URL and stream key shown in YouTube Studio’s current Live Control Room. Do not put a real stream key in a public script, screenshot, or article example.

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  3. After confirming FFmpeg is running, detach from tmux by pressing Ctrl-b, then d. You can now close SSH; the tmux session and its running program remain on the server.

  4. To check or interact with the encoder later, reconnect to the server and run:

    tmux attach -t youtube-live

tmux is designed to detach its client while leaving programs in the session running, including to protect remote programs from connection drops. See the tmux Getting Started guide (last edited August 14, 2026).

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Why -nostdin matters—and what it does not do

FFmpeg checks console input by default. In background use, those checks can cause it to be suspended. The -nostdin global option suppresses console input checks; place it before the relevant input and output arguments. On Linux and macOS, redirecting standard input from /dev/null is a documented alternative. Consult the FFmpeg FAQ and check the local documentation for your installed build if option availability is uncertain; FFmpeg’s documentation is regenerated nightly and older builds may differ.

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-nostdin is not a persistence mechanism. tmux handles the SSH-terminal disconnect; neither option guarantees recovery if FFmpeg exits, the server reboots, or the server or network loses service.

Protect the YouTube stream key

YouTube’s encoder setup requires the live server URL and stream key from the Live Control Room. The key functions as a credential that directs the feed to your YouTube channel, so treat it as a secret. If it is exposed, reset it in Live Control Room and replace it in FFmpeg’s output settings. Refer to YouTube’s current encoder setup instructions and stream settings help for the labels and controls in the interface.

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Detaching is not the same as ending the broadcast

Detaching from tmux only disconnects your terminal from the session; it does not stop FFmpeg or end the YouTube feed. To end a broadcast, stop sending content from the encoder and, where applicable, end the scheduled stream in Live Control Room. The exact workflow depends on the stream’s settings, so verify its current state in YouTube Studio rather than treating tmux detach as an end-stream action. YouTube’s encoder instructions describe stopping the encoder feed.

Choose the right approach for the failure you need to prevent

Approach Useful for What it does not establish
tmux Starting an encoder over SSH and detaching or reattaching to it later. Automatic restart after FFmpeg exits or recovery after a server reboot.
Service or process supervision Potentially restarting an unattended process or starting it at boot. A universal setup: configuration and behavior depend on the operating system and the restart policy you want.

These solve different problems. If the concern is only that closing SSH will terminate the encoder, tmux is the straightforward interactive solution. If the stream must recover from process failure or host reboot without intervention, a supervisor may be appropriate, but its configuration needs to be chosen and verified for your server and desired failure behavior.

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Troubleshoot by identifying what actually stopped

  • FFmpeg stops when SSH closes: Check that you launched it inside the remote tmux session, not directly in the SSH shell. Start or reattach to youtube-live, then detach with Ctrl-b followed by d.

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  • FFmpeg suspends in the background: Include -nostdin before the input and output arguments. Redirecting standard input from /dev/null is the documented Linux/macOS alternative.

  • You cannot reattach: Reconnect to the same server and use tmux attach -t youtube-live. If the named session no longer exists, tmux cannot restore the process; determine whether FFmpeg exited or the host restarted.

  • The process is gone after a reboot or server/network outage: tmux protects a process from an SSH-client disconnect, not host or service failures. Use a separately configured and tested process supervisor if unattended restart is required.

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  • YouTube is not receiving the feed: Confirm the current server URL and stream key in Live Control Room, and verify that the key has not been reset since you configured FFmpeg. If compromised, reset it in YouTube and update the encoder.

Or let it run in the cloud

If you want a YouTube stream of uploaded video without maintaining an FFmpeg process on your server, StreamNeo runs the loop in the cloud:

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  3. Go live; StreamNeo keeps the uploaded video playing from the cloud, so nothing has to stay on at home.

Each slot supports any uploaded quality up to 4K 60fps at one flat price, with no re-encoding or quality tiers, and automatically recovers if YouTube drops the stream. The first day is free with no card. The monthly option is $9.99 per month. StreamNeo is for YouTube streams of uploaded videos, not camera broadcasting. See StreamNeo or start your free first day.

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