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To send a prerecorded video to YouTube Live using Docker and FFmpeg, run FFmpeg in a container with the video mounted into it, pace playback with -re, and send the output to the RTMPS URL and stream key shown in YouTube Studio. The audience sees a live broadcast event, but the source is a recording. The example below is a template: use media you have permission to broadcast, and check that its codecs and container are compatible with YouTube ingest.
What you need before starting
- A YouTube channel enabled for live streaming. YouTube says initial enablement may take up to 24 hours.
- A video file you are authorized to broadcast, plus a machine with Docker and network access to YouTube’s ingest service.
- A Docker image containing FFmpeg. Choose an image appropriate to your deployment and pin its version or digest rather than relying on an unpinned tag.
- The stream URL and key from the YouTube event settings. Treat the key as a credential: anyone who obtains it may be able to send a feed to your event.
Create the YouTube broadcast and get its ingest details
- In YouTube Studio, open Create → Go live. Create a stream or use Manage to schedule one.
- Set the title, audience, privacy, and other event details deliberately. Confirm that the event is the one you intend to feed.
- Open the stream settings in Live Control Room and copy the stream URL and stream key. Prefer the RTMPS URL YouTube displays; do not rely on an endpoint copied from an old tutorial.
- Keep the key out of source code, Dockerfiles, shell history where possible, and logs. If it is exposed, reset it in Live Control Room and update the runtime configuration.
Run FFmpeg in Docker
This is a general template, not a tested command for a particular container image. Replace YOUR_PINNED_FFMPEG_IMAGE with an image you selected and pinned. The image must include FFmpeg with RTMPS support. Provide the URL and key through protected runtime configuration or your deployment’s secret mechanism; do not bake them into the image.
docker run --rm
--mount type=bind,src="$PWD/video.mp4",dst=/media/video.mp4,readonly
--env YOUTUBE_RTMPS_URL
--env YOUTUBE_STREAM_KEY
YOUR_PINNED_FFMPEG_IMAGE
sh -c 'ffmpeg -re -i /media/video.mp4 -c:v copy -c:a copy -f flv "$YOUTUBE_RTMPS_URL/$YOUTUBE_STREAM_KEY"'Before running it, set YOUTUBE_RTMPS_URL to the RTMPS URL from YouTube and YOUTUBE_STREAM_KEY to the event’s key in the protected runtime environment. Check the exact URL/key arrangement shown by Live Control Room. The command assumes the image has a shell and that its FFmpeg build supports the protocol.
What the important options do
--mount ... readonlymounts the local file at/media/video.mp4for reading without allowing the container to modify it. Change the source path and destination if your file is elsewhere.-reis an input option placed before-i. It reads the file at its native frame rate so the output is paced like a live feed; without pacing, FFmpeg can process a file faster than real time.-c:v copy -c:a copyasks FFmpeg to copy the video and audio streams without decoding and re-encoding. It only works when the source streams and output muxing are compatible with the destination.-f flvselects the output container commonly used for RTMP/RTMPS ingest. It does not make unsupported codecs compatible by itself.
A finite file reaches the end and FFmpeg exits. The example does not loop the recording. Add repeat behavior only if you explicitly want it and have verified the appropriate option for your FFmpeg build and operating needs.
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Choose compatible video and audio settings
Use YouTube’s current encoder guidance for the resolution, frame rate, codec, bitrate, keyframe interval, and audio format you plan to send. These are platform recommendations, not guarantees of a successful stream. The applicable bitrate depends on resolution, frame rate, and codec.
| Setting | YouTube guidance for RTMP/RTMPS |
|---|---|
| Video codecs | H.264, H.265/HEVC, or AV1 |
| Frame rate | Up to 60 fps |
| Rate control | CBR |
| Keyframe interval | 2 seconds recommended; do not exceed 4 seconds |
| Audio | AAC or MP3; 5.1 audio over RTMP/RTMPS is supported only for AAC |
| 1080p30 video bitrate | H.264: 5 Mbps minimum, 14 Mbps recommended. AV1/H.265: 4 Mbps minimum, 10 Mbps recommended. |
For compatible source media, stream copy can reduce CPU load because it avoids transcoding. If YouTube rejects the input or the picture or sound is unstable, inspect the file’s streams and re-encode to a supported video/audio format with settings that match YouTube’s current table. Re-encoding gives you control over output settings but uses CPU or GPU resources and requires adequate upload bandwidth for the chosen bitrate.
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Bring the event live and end it cleanly
- Start the Docker command and watch the container output for connection or encoding errors.
- Wait for the stream preview and health information in Live Control Room. Starting FFmpeg sends the feed; it does not necessarily make a scheduled event public.
- When the preview is ready, click Go live in Live Control Room for a scheduled broadcast.
- When finished, end the event in Live Control Room and stop the containerized sender. YouTube Help states: “All streams under 12 hours will be automatically archived.”
Protect the stream key in Docker
Do not put the key in a Dockerfile ENV instruction or bake it into an image. Docker documents that ENV values persist in the resulting image. Use a secret facility appropriate to your deployment or protected runtime injection, and limit who can inspect runtime configuration. Docker’s ARG is a build-time value and is not available in the final container, but it is not a substitute for managing credentials safely. Secret handling differs across deployment environments, so use the mechanism documented for yours.
Troubleshooting
| Symptom | Likely checks and fixes |
|---|---|
| No preview in Live Control Room | Confirm the event’s current URL and key, verify the network path, and check that the FFmpeg build supports RTMPS. Inspect stream health and FFmpeg output for connection errors. |
| Preview appears, but viewers cannot see the event | For a scheduled broadcast, check whether you still need to click Go live in Live Control Room. |
| Video or audio is rejected or unstable | Inspect the input streams; verify codec/container compatibility; then use the current YouTube bitrate, keyframe, frame-rate, and audio guidance for the selected output. |
| Container exits after one play | This is expected for a finite input in the supplied one-pass command. Decide whether one pass or repeating playback is intended before changing it. |
| Stream key may have been exposed | Reset the key in Live Control Room and replace the protected runtime value. Do not continue using a compromised key. |
Or let it run in the cloud
If you want a prerecorded YouTube stream to keep running without maintaining a Docker host, StreamNeo is a cloud option: upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key once, and go live. Nothing has to stay on at home; your uploaded video streams at its original quality up to 4K 60fps for one flat price per slot, with automatic recovery if YouTube drops the stream. The first day is free with no card. The monthly option is $9.99 per month. StreamNeo is for prerecorded videos on YouTube, not camera broadcasts. See StreamNeo, or start the free day.
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