To loop a prerecorded video from a VPS to YouTube Live, run FFmpeg with -stream_loop -1 and -re, then publish to the RTMPS URL and stream key shown in YouTube Live Control Room. This can repeat an authorized video while the process runs, but the command alone does not guarantee an uninterrupted 24/7 broadcast or establish that continuous looping complies with YouTube’s current rules.
What you need before you start
- A VPS with the video file stored locally and enough sustained CPU capacity for the encoding settings you choose.
- Sustained outbound bandwidth sufficient for the selected stream bitrate. There is no universal VPS minimum in the cited YouTube guidance; compare the server’s actual capacity with your planned workload and test it.
- FFmpeg installed, and a video you have permission to broadcast. Check that the file opens and contains the expected audio and video streams.
- A YouTube Live stream configuration, its stream key, and the RTMPS URL displayed in Live Control Room.
Get the YouTube RTMPS destination
- In YouTube Live Control Room, create or select the stream you intend to use.
- Copy the stream key and the RTMPS server URL for that stream configuration. YouTube Help says the URL can be shown by clicking the lock icon beside “Stream URL.” Use the destination provided for your broadcast rather than copying an address from an unrelated tutorial. YouTube Help: Encrypt your stream using RTMPS
- Keep the key private. Do not put it in a public script, repository, log, or screenshot. Anyone with access to it may be able to publish to your stream.
RTMPS carries RTMP over TLS/SSL. For YouTube, use the exact valid ingestion host and application path supplied in Live Control Room, the rtmps protocol, and port 443. The URL shown there is authoritative. Google for Developers: Delivering Live YouTube Content via RTMPS
Build the FFmpeg loop command
The basic command pattern is:
ffmpeg -re -stream_loop -1 -i /path/to/authorized-video.mp4 [encoding and audio/video options] -f flv 'rtmps://HOST:443/APP/STREAM_KEY'
This is a template, not a universal copy-and-paste command. Replace the file path and destination with your own values, and supply encoding options appropriate to the source and YouTube’s current encoder guidance. The RTMPS URL may include the stream key, so treat the complete destination as secret.
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Why the input options are placed first
-rereads the input at its native frame rate rather than sending a file as fast as the server can process it.-stream_loop -1tells FFmpeg to loop the input indefinitely.- Both are input-specific options, so place them before the
-ifor the file they apply to. FFmpeg options are order-sensitive.
See the FFmpeg documentation for option behavior. The command’s final -f flv selects the output format used by this RTMP-style publishing workflow; the destination must still be the exact RTMPS endpoint and key from Live Control Room.
Choose settings YouTube and the VPS can sustain
Check YouTube’s current encoder table for the resolution and bitrate you plan to send. Its guidance covers RTMP/RTMPS, H.264, H.265 and AV1 video, AAC or MP3 audio, and frame rates up to 60 fps. YouTube recommends a two-second keyframe interval and says it should not exceed four seconds. Choose settings that match the selected stream configuration and that the VPS can encode while maintaining the required outbound connection. YouTube Help: Choose live encoder settings, bitrates, and resolutions
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- Resolution and bitrate: Consult YouTube’s current table for the resolution you select; do not assume a VPS can sustain a particular bitrate without checking its network capacity.
- Encoding load: Software encoding uses server CPU. If the VPS cannot encode reliably at the chosen quality, lower the workload or use a server with suitable sustained capacity.
- Test first: YouTube recommends testing before going live and monitoring stream health. A speed test can help assess upload capacity, but it does not replace observing the actual stream.
YouTube transcodes incoming streams for viewers, but that does not remove the need for a stable, correctly configured input stream.
Start the stream and verify it
- Run the completed FFmpeg command on the VPS.
- Watch FFmpeg’s output for connection or encoding errors, then check Live Control Room to confirm that YouTube is receiving a healthy signal.
- Monitor both the process and stream health rather than assuming that a successful initial connection will persist.
- If you use a service manager or process supervisor, configure it to restart a crashed process and test the recovery path. A restart supervisor does not guarantee an uninterrupted broadcast, that YouTube will accept a continuous stream, or that a restarted process resumes the same broadcast.
Troubleshoot common connection and playback problems
Connection timeout or SSL error
Check that the copied destination uses rtmps, the exact host and application path shown in Live Control Room, and port 443. Confirm that the encoder and VPS network support the RTMPS connection. YouTube describes RTMPS as its recommended secure option for ordinary content. YouTube Help: Encrypt your stream using RTMPS
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YouTube does not receive a healthy signal
Check that the stream key belongs to the selected stream configuration, the destination URL is complete, and the VPS can sustain the configured upload bitrate. Recheck the video and audio settings against YouTube’s current encoder table, then test again while watching stream health.
The file does not loop or runs at the wrong speed
Confirm that -stream_loop -1 and -re appear before the relevant -i input. Verify the source path and that FFmpeg can read the file’s audio and video streams. A misplaced input option may not affect the file you intended.
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The process stops or the stream drops
Inspect FFmpeg output and the VPS process state to distinguish an encoding failure from a network or ingest interruption. A supervisor can restart a failed process, but the available technical guidance does not establish that any restart preserves the same YouTube broadcast or prevents a gap.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.RTMPS, HLS, and DASH: which should this workflow use?
YouTube lists RTMP, RTMPS, HLS, and DASH as ingestion protocols, with different capabilities. RTMPS is the straightforward default for this FFmpeg looping-file setup. Consider HLS or DASH only if their documented features meet a specific need, since protocol choice can change latency and implementation requirements. Google for Developers: YouTube Live Streaming Ingestion Protocol Comparison
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Continuous streaming, policy, and cost considerations
Running FFmpeg with an infinite input loop does not settle whether a continuously repeated prerecorded broadcast is allowed for your content, how long a live broadcast may run, or whether YouTube will accept a process restart as the same broadcast. Check YouTube’s current rules and requirements for your intended use; technical ingestion documentation alone does not answer those policy questions.
Budget for the VPS and its network capacity, as well as any operational time needed to monitor and recover the process. No specific provider, server minimum, cost, uptime, or reliability level is established here. A working command proves only that the chosen setup can connect under the conditions tested.
Or let it run in the cloud
If your goal is a continuously looping prerecorded YouTube stream without keeping a VPS or home computer running, StreamNeo is the cloud alternative: upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key once, and go live. It runs the loop from the cloud, supports the uploaded quality up to 4K 60fps at one flat price per slot, and automatically recovers if YouTube drops the stream. The first day is free with no card. Monthly pricing is $9.99 per month. It plays uploaded videos and streams to YouTube only. Start your free day with StreamNeo.
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