To send a looping video to YouTube through Restream, run FFmpeg as the encoder and point it at Restream’s RTMP ingest URL and stream key. In Restream, enable your YouTube channel as a destination. The path is FFmpeg → Restream → YouTube: the FFmpeg output must use Restream’s credentials, not YouTube’s, for the first hop.
The command pattern below is a practical starting point, not a verified, one-size-fits-all command: check the flags against your installed FFmpeg version and use the exact ingest details Restream provides for your account.
Set up Restream and YouTube
- Connect YouTube in Restream. Sign in to Restream and connect the YouTube channel you want to use. If you are streaming to an existing scheduled YouTube event, see the event options below before starting.
- Create an encoder stream. In Restream, create an Encoder | RTMP stream. Enable the connected YouTube channel as an output, then copy the RTMP URL and stream key Restream displays. Restream’s guide describes this workflow for streaming software generally; it does not specifically certify FFmpeg. See Restream’s streaming-software guide.
- Keep the key private. A stream key is a credential that lets an encoder send a feed for acceptance by the service. Do not post it, include it in a public script, or share it in screenshots. If it is exposed, replace or reset it in the relevant service’s live settings. YouTube explains stream-key management at Manage live stream settings.
Prepare the loop and choose encoder settings
Looping and live pacing are separate jobs. The loop option repeats the input; real-time pacing prevents FFmpeg from reading and transmitting the file faster than its playback duration. Your output must also use a codec, resolution, frame rate, bitrate and keyframe interval that YouTube accepts.
- Codec: YouTube’s current encoder guidance supports H.264, H.265/HEVC and AV1 over RTMP/RTMPS. Choose the settings your installed FFmpeg build and output workflow support.
- Frame rate and keyframes: YouTube supports up to 60 fps and recommends a two-second keyframe interval; do not exceed four seconds.
- Bitrate: Use the current YouTube table for your codec, resolution and frame rate. Its H.264 examples include:
| Output | YouTube minimum | YouTube recommended |
|---|---|---|
| 720p at 30 fps | 3 Mbps | 8 Mbps |
| 1080p at 30 fps | 5 Mbps | 14 Mbps |
| 1080p at 60 fps | 6 Mbps | 17 Mbps |
These are YouTube’s published guidance figures, not measurements from a test of this setup. Restream separately says to have at least 10 Mbps upload and recommends 25 Mbps or higher for Full HD; treat that as general upload guidance, not a replacement for selecting an encoder bitrate from YouTube’s table. See Restream’s guide and YouTube’s encoder settings and bitrate guidance.
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Use RTMPS when the ingest details and encoder workflow support it. YouTube recommends its encrypted RTMP variant. Confirm whether the URL Restream gives you is RTMP or RTMPS and preserve its exact format.
Run FFmpeg to send the loop to Restream
Replace the placeholders with your input file and Restream ingest details. This example shows the command’s shape only; it does not include codec-specific encoding options because the right values depend on your selected output and FFmpeg build.
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ffmpeg -stream_loop -1 -re -i input.mp4 ... -f flv "<Restream-RTMP-URL>/<STREAM_KEY>"
- Verify that your installed FFmpeg supports the loop and real-time input options shown. The exact flags and output URL syntax should be checked against your version and Restream’s displayed ingest details.
- Replace
input.mp4with the local video path. Keep the file accessible for as long as the encoder runs. - Replace the URL and key placeholders with the values Restream supplies. Do not use YouTube’s ingest address here: FFmpeg sends to Restream, which forwards the feed to the enabled YouTube channel.
- Supply the encoding options appropriate for the codec, resolution, frame rate, bitrate and keyframe interval you selected. The ellipsis is not a literal option; a command with it will not run.
- Start FFmpeg and check Restream and YouTube for the incoming feed before relying on the loop. Test the actual audio and video, including motion similar to what will play during the stream.
The cited Restream documentation does not verify FFmpeg’s loop flags, and no tested command is established here. Treat this as a configuration pattern rather than a copy-and-paste guarantee.
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Choose how to attach an existing YouTube event
If you already scheduled a YouTube event, the way it is connected affects which controls and features are available.
| Route | When it fits | Important detail |
|---|---|---|
| YouTube account integration | The YouTube channel is connected to Restream and the scheduled event can be selected through the integration. | Prefer this native connection when it fits your event. Restream API-dependent features such as Chat and Analytics depend on using the integration. |
| Custom RTMP destination | You need to attach an existing event manually using its YouTube stream URL and key. | Restream’s guide says this route requires a paid Restream plan and has limitations, including for API-dependent features. Follow Restream’s Custom RTMP instructions. |
For an existing event, Restream documents both the YouTube integration and a manual Custom RTMP route. Check the event’s start and stop behavior before going live: with auto-start off, click Go live in YouTube after the feed arrives; with auto-stop off, end the stream in YouTube after stopping the feed. See Restream’s existing-event instructions.
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Verify the feed, go live and stop cleanly
- Open YouTube’s Live Control Room and check for the incoming preview. If the event does not start automatically, click Go live after the feed is ready.
- Monitor YouTube’s stream-health indicators and messages while live. YouTube advises testing audio and movement similar to the planned stream before the event, and monitoring health during it.
- To end the stream, stop the FFmpeg feed. If the event’s auto-stop setting is off, also end the stream from YouTube’s control room.
YouTube says streams shorter than 12 hours are automatically archived. That archive guidance does not remove the need to check the event’s manual start and stop settings. For YouTube’s encoder workflow, see Create a YouTube live stream with an encoder.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Troubleshoot common failures
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| YouTube shows no incoming video | FFmpeg is pointed at YouTube instead of Restream, the Restream URL or key is wrong, or the YouTube destination is not enabled. | Use the RTMP URL and key from the Restream encoder stream, confirm the YouTube output is enabled, and check Restream for the incoming feed. |
| The file races through or the stream ends after one pass | The input is not being paced at real time or the loop option is missing or unsupported. | Confirm the installed FFmpeg version accepts the loop and real-time flags, and verify that the command includes both the repeat and pacing behavior. |
| Feed arrives, but the event does not go live | The YouTube event may require a manual start. | Check the incoming preview and click Go live in YouTube if auto-start is off. |
| Video is unstable or stream health reports a problem | Encoder settings, network upload capacity or an incompatible output configuration may be responsible. | Recheck codec, resolution, frame rate, bitrate and keyframe interval against YouTube’s current guidance; test audio and motion and monitor stream health. |
| FFmpeg cannot open the file or connect | The input path may be wrong or inaccessible, or the destination details may not match Restream’s ingest information. | Check the file path and permissions, then compare the full output URL and key with the values shown in Restream. |
Copyright and YouTube policy checks
A video looping successfully is not a guarantee that it is permitted to stream or monetize. Before broadcasting, make sure you have the rights needed for every video and audio element, and review YouTube’s rules for live streams and reused content. Do not assume that repeating a recording makes it original or that permission to use one component covers the whole video. The supplied workflow documentation does not establish that any particular loop is eligible for monetization.
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