To loop an MP4 on YouTube Live from Ubuntu, run FFmpeg with -re and -stream_loop -1 before the input file, then send the output to the RTMPS server URL and stream key shown in YouTube Studio. You’ll need an enabled YouTube live-streaming channel, a stable internet connection, and video and audio settings compatible with both your file and YouTube’s ingest guidance.
Before you start
- An Ubuntu server that can remain online for the duration of the stream, with enough sustained upload capacity for your chosen bitrate.
- An MP4 file you have permission to broadcast, including its audio. You are responsible for rights to both; technical compatibility does not establish permission.
- FFmpeg installed on the server and able to read the file. The encoder you select for any re-encoding must be available in your FFmpeg build.
- A YouTube channel with live streaming enabled. YouTube says first-time enablement may take up to 24 hours.
YouTube’s encoder guidance recommends RTMPS, which encrypts data in transit to YouTube. Use the server URL supplied in your stream settings rather than assuming an ingest endpoint.
Enable YouTube Live and get the stream key
- Open YouTube Studio and go to the Live Control Room. Enable live streaming if it is not already enabled; first-time enablement may take up to 24 hours, according to YouTube Help.
- Create or select a stream, then open its stream settings and copy the server URL and stream key.
- Keep the key private. Do not put a real key in a public script, repository, screenshot, or log. Anyone with access to it may be able to broadcast to your stream.
Inspect the MP4 and choose how to send it
Before choosing stream copy or transcoding, find out which video and audio streams the MP4 contains. For example, run ffprobe -hide_banner /path/to/video.mp4 and review the listed stream codecs, resolution, frame rate, and whether an audio stream exists.
Stream copy
Stream copy passes encoded packets through without decoding or encoding, so it avoids re-encoding work and preserves the encoded quality. It is suitable only when the input codecs and output muxing requirements are compatible. A file that plays locally can still fail when sent in the chosen output format.
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Re-encoding
Re-encode when the MP4’s codecs or format do not suit the output, or when you need to set a specific bitrate, frame size, or frame rate. It uses CPU resources; confirm that your FFmpeg build includes the encoder you choose. The example below uses H.264 video and AAC audio, but is not a universal recipe.
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Run FFmpeg with an infinite input loop
FFmpeg documents -stream_loop as an input option: -stream_loop -1 requests an infinite loop. The -re option makes FFmpeg read the file at its native frame rate rather than sending it as fast as the server can process it. Put both options before -i, the input file.
ffmpeg -re -stream_loop -1 -i /path/to/video.mp4
-c:v libx264 -preset veryfast -b:v 4500k -maxrate 4500k -bufsize 9000k
-g 60 -keyint_min 60 -sc_threshold 0
-c:a aac -b:a 128k -ar 44100
-f flv 'rtmps://YOUR_YOUTUBE_INGEST_URL/YOUR_STREAM_KEY'Replace the file path and the RTMPS URL with the values for your server and stream. Do not publish a command containing your real key. The values shown are illustrative: the 4,500 Kbps video rate is not appropriate for every resolution or frame rate, and the 60-frame GOP corresponds to two seconds only at 30 fps. Match the GOP to the video frame rate and YouTube’s keyframe guidance. Your sustained upload capacity must support the output rate; YouTube recommends testing upload speed and choosing a quality the connection can sustain.
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Match the output to YouTube’s ingest guidance
YouTube’s current RTMP/RTMPS guidance lists H.264, H.265/HEVC, and AV1 video; AAC or MP3 audio; constant-bitrate (CBR) encoding; frame rates up to 60 fps; and a recommended two-second keyframe interval that should not exceed four seconds. It recommends stereo audio at 44.1 kHz and 128 Kbps. Check the current YouTube encoder settings when configuring a stream.
| H.264 example | YouTube minimum video bitrate | YouTube recommended video bitrate |
|---|---|---|
| 720p at 30 fps | 3 Mbps | 8 Mbps |
| 1080p at 30 fps | 5 Mbps | 14 Mbps |
These are YouTube ingest recommendations, not guarantees of viewer quality or a substitute for testing the server’s actual upload connection. In the sample command, FFmpeg uses -b:v and -maxrate with matching values as a starting point, but a complete CBR configuration and the appropriate bitrate depend on your encoding setup. Choose a rate your host can sustain without interruption.
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The sample’s -g 60 -keyint_min 60 settings are for a 30 fps video when targeting a two-second interval; at another frame rate, adjust the frame count. YouTube recommends a two-second keyframe interval and says not to exceed four seconds. If your MP4 has no audio, or uses a codec that needs conversion, adjust the audio options rather than assuming the sample applies unchanged.
Check the preview and stream health
- Start FFmpeg and open the stream in YouTube Studio’s Live Control Room.
- Wait for the preview, then check that the video moves and the audio is present and correctly paced.
- Review YouTube’s stream-health messages and the FFmpeg output. Test before relying on the stream, as YouTube recommends.
- Watch server CPU use if transcoding, network stability, and logs for encoder or connection errors.
Keep the Ubuntu stream running
The FFmpeg process needs an online host and stable outbound capacity for the whole broadcast. A rented Ubuntu VPS is one possible host, but server provider, region, plan, and price depend on your requirements; no particular VPS plan is established here.
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For a server you manage, a process manager such as systemd can start FFmpeg after a reboot and restart it if the process exits. This is an operational safeguard, not a YouTube guarantee. Store the stream key in a protected configuration file or environment, restrict access, and check that automatic restarts do not leave multiple competing FFmpeg processes running.
Understand the archive limit
YouTube says live streams under 12 hours are automatically archived. Do not assume YouTube will preserve a complete archive of one continuous stream lasting longer than 12 hours. If an archive matters, end and restart within the documented duration, then verify the current behavior in Studio.
Troubleshoot common failures
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| YouTube does not show a preview | Incorrect server URL or stream key, a connection failure, or an FFmpeg error. | Copy the current URL and key from the stream settings; inspect FFmpeg output and confirm the server can reach the ingest endpoint. |
| FFmpeg reports an encoder or codec error | The selected encoder is unavailable in the build, or the media/output combination is incompatible. | Check the installed FFmpeg encoders and the file’s streams with ffprobe. Use compatible stream copy or re-encode with an available encoder. |
| The stream connects but video or audio is missing | The MP4 may not contain the expected stream, or the selected output options may not match its codec. | Inspect the file’s video and audio streams, then adjust the output options. Confirm the result in the Live Control Room preview. |
| Stream health reports interruptions or instability | The server’s connection may not sustain the configured bitrate, or the network may be dropping. | Run an upload speed test, lower the output bitrate or quality if necessary, and monitor the server connection and stream-health messages. |
| Stream stops after a server reboot or process exit | FFmpeg was running only in an interactive session, or no restart policy is configured. | Use a process manager such as systemd to start the job at boot and restart it after exit; review logs and prevent duplicate processes. |
Or let it run in the cloud
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