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FFmpeg’s concat demuxer has no documented option to silently skip a missing input file. The dependable fix is to check the playlist entries before launching FFmpeg and omit files that are not present. If files can disappear while a stream is running, use a supervisor to detect the failure, rebuild the list, and restart FFmpeg—knowing that the restart may interrupt the YouTube stream.
Why a missing file stops the concat playlist
The concat demuxer reads a script of files in sequence and presents them as though their packets had been joined. When FFmpeg tries to open a listed path that is missing, the input list is not a documented missing-file recovery mechanism. There is no documented concat-demuxer onfail=ignore switch.
That setting is sometimes confused with options in other FFmpeg contexts, including the tee muxer. Those options concern output failures; they do not solve a missing local input in a concat script.
Build a valid playlist before starting FFmpeg
1. Check and filter the paths
Have the script or application that creates the playlist test each path, then write only existing files to the ffconcat script. This is the simplest reliable approach when the playlist is known before the stream starts. The following shows the expected script format, not a complete file-checking program:
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ffconcat version 1.0
file 'video-01.mp4'
file 'video-02.mp4'ffconcat version 1.0 must be the exact first line for automatic format recognition: do not put a space or byte-order mark before it. Quote or escape paths containing spaces or special characters. The concat demuxer’s safe option defaults to 1 and rejects paths it considers unsafe; -safe 0 accepts any file name, but use it only when the playlist is trusted because it relaxes those path restrictions.
2. Confirm the remaining inputs are compatible
Before starting the broadcast, verify that selected files have the same streams, including codecs and time base. Check their durations too: incorrect or truncated-file durations can lead to timestamp artifacts or gaps. Explicit -map options can help control which streams enter the output, but incompatible selected streams or output handling can still make FFmpeg abort.
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Recover when a file goes missing during a stream
A check performed before launch cannot account for a file disappearing later. For that case, run FFmpeg under an external supervisor. Have it monitor the process exit status and logs; when an input failure occurs, rebuild the playlist using files that remain available and relaunch FFmpeg with the valid list. Test this behavior before relying on it for a broadcast: restarting FFmpeg can interrupt the live output, and the available FFmpeg guidance does not establish a seamless in-process skip-and-continue mechanism.
Choose the right concatenation method
| Method | Use it when | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Concat demuxer | Inputs already have compatible streams and avoiding re-encoding matters. | Streams must match, durations need to be reliable, and missing entries should be removed before FFmpeg opens the list. |
| Concat filter | Inputs need processing or re-encoding to standardize them. | It adds a filter and re-encode workflow. FFmpeg’s FAQ recommends the concat filter when re-encoding is needed. |
| External supervisor with a regenerated playlist | Files may be missing or disappear at runtime. | It can relaunch FFmpeg with a valid list, but recovery may interrupt the live stream. |
Use the concat demuxer when compatible streams let you avoid re-encoding; use the concat filter when you need to re-encode. Neither choice makes a missing local path into a guaranteed seamless skip.
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What YouTube Live can—and cannot—change
The failure starts when FFmpeg opens or reads a local input, so the remedy belongs in the input-list or process-supervision layer. YouTube Live is the destination, not a control for how FFmpeg handles a missing file.
YouTube’s surfaced official guidance on HLS discusses live playlists and media segments, including unique segment names across encoder restarts. Those HLS details should not be applied to an RTMP workflow without checking the current guidance for that ingestion protocol. They do not provide a fix for a missing local concat entry.
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Troubleshoot a stream that still stops
- FFmpeg fails immediately: check that every path in the generated script exists and is readable before launch; ensure the script’s first line is exact.
- A path with spaces or unusual characters fails: quote or escape it correctly. Check whether the default
-safe 1rejects the path. Only consider-safe 0for a trusted playlist. - The failure happens after playback begins: a file may have disappeared or become unreadable after the initial check. Inspect FFmpeg’s exit status and logs, then have the supervisor rebuild the list and relaunch.
- The list opens but playback has gaps or timestamp artifacts: inspect the files’ durations and stream layouts. Incorrect or truncated durations can affect the timeline, and concat-demuxer inputs must have matching streams, codecs, and time base.
- One file’s streams do not match the others: do not rely on stream-copy concatenation. Normalize or re-encode through the concat filter, and use explicit
-mapoptions when you need to control selected streams.
Or let it run in the cloud
If the goal is simply to keep a YouTube channel live from uploaded videos, StreamNeo is a separate cloud-based option—not a fix for FFmpeg’s local missing-file handling. Upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key, and go live. StreamNeo loops the uploaded videos from the cloud, so nothing has to stay on at home. Each slot streams the uploaded quality up to 4K 60fps at one flat price, includes automatic recovery if YouTube drops the stream, and the first day is free with no card. Monthly pricing is $9.99 per month. See StreamNeo or start the free first day.
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