For an HTTP sleep-sounds source, place FFmpeg’s reconnect options before the source URL’s -i. For an endless or live source that may close at EOF, enable reconnecting at EOF as well as reconnecting after a disconnect:
ffmpeg
-reconnect 1
-reconnect_streamed 1
-reconnect_at_eof 1
-reconnect_on_network_error 1
-reconnect_on_http_error 5xx
-reconnect_delay_max 30
-i 'SOURCE_URL'
...OUTPUT_OPTIONS...This is an HTTP-specific starting point, not a guarantee of uninterrupted playback. The 30-second delay is an illustrative choice, not a universal recommendation; test against your source and check the options available in your installed FFmpeg build.
Where to put the reconnect options
FFmpeg options are applied in context. Put these HTTP input options before the -i that introduces the sleep-sounds URL. If the command has more than one input, place them before the -i for the HTTP input they should configure.
Keep your existing output options after the input. The example uses SOURCE_URL and ...OUTPUT_OPTIONS... as items to replace with your actual source and output configuration; they are not literal FFmpeg arguments.
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What each reconnect option handles
| Option | What it does | When it matters |
|---|---|---|
-reconnect 1 |
Reconnects after a disconnection before EOF. | Use for a connection that drops before the input ends. |
-reconnect_streamed 1 |
Allows reconnects on streamed, non-seekable inputs. | Relevant when the HTTP source is streamed rather than a seekable file. |
-reconnect_at_eof 1 |
Treats EOF as an error and reconnects; FFmpeg describes it as useful for live or endless streams. | Use when a source is expected to continue but the server or connection may close it at EOF. |
-reconnect_on_network_error 1 |
Retries TCP or TLS errors during connection. | For transient connection-establishment failures. |
-reconnect_on_http_error 5xx |
Retries the selected HTTP status codes. The option accepts individual codes and groups such as 4xx or 5xx. |
A 5xx response may be temporary. Avoid retrying every 4xx by default: many indicate a persistent authorization or request problem. |
These are separate failure cases: enabling a network-error retry does not set an HTTP-status policy, and neither setting turns reconnect behavior on for every protocol. FFmpeg documents these HTTP options in its HTTP protocol reference.
Choose retry bounds deliberately
Reconnect switches determine which failures can trigger another attempt. Delay and attempt limits determine how long FFmpeg keeps trying. Set bounds to suit the source service and your tolerance for an interruption; there is no universally correct delay for every sleep-sounds stream.
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-reconnect_delay_max Nsets the maximum reconnect delay before giving up.-reconnect_max_retries Ncaps the number of attempts. FFmpeg’s documentation says its default is unset.-reconnect_delay_total_max Nbounds the total reconnect delay.-respect_retry_after 1makes FFmpeg honor a server’sRetry-Afterheader when encountered; the documentation notes its relevance to 429 and 503 responses.
These controls are not interchangeable: a per-delay maximum, a retry-count cap, and a total-delay cap constrain different aspects of recovery. Add only the limits that match your intended policy and the behavior of the source service. The 30 used in the example is a sample setting, not an FFmpeg recommendation or a measured ideal.
Confirm protocol and build compatibility
The flags above are HTTP protocol options. Do not assume they control RTSP, a local file loop, or every HLS demuxing case. Before relying on them, check the actual input protocol and inspect the help for the FFmpeg build you run:
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ffmpeg -h protocol=httpIf an option is rejected or behaves differently, the installed build’s help is the relevant check. Upstream source declarations on the moving master branch show defaults for some fields, including a 120-second reconnect_delay_max and a 256-second reconnect_delay_total_max; those values do not establish the defaults for every released build. Do not treat them as a substitute for checking your version.
Test the failure you want to recover from
Run the command with the real HTTP source and output, then verify that the chosen options address the source’s actual failure modes. A connection drop, an EOF, a TCP/TLS connection error, and an HTTP error response are distinct events. A retry policy cannot fix a persistent bad URL, expired credentials, or a source service that will not resume the stream. The FFmpeg documentation describes option behavior; it does not promise seamless playback for listeners after a reconnect.
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Keep the 24/7 process running
HTTP reconnect options handle only the HTTP reconnect path. FFmpeg can still exit for another reason, so a 24/7 setup also needs monitoring and an outer process supervisor if the process must be restarted after it exits. That supervision is separate from these FFmpeg options; the protocol reference does not prescribe a particular supervisor or hosting service.
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