You can use a Raspberry Pi to send a pre-recorded video from an external drive to YouTube as a live encoder feed: mount the drive, check the file, then have FFmpeg send it to the RTMPS address and stream key shown in YouTube Studio. This is different from uploading a video as a regular YouTube video. The example below can loop a compatible file, but it is illustrative—not a tested command—and your drive path, FFmpeg build, media format and internet connection all need checking.
What you need before starting
- A Raspberry Pi running Raspberry Pi OS, with FFmpeg installed.
- An external hard drive, SSD or USB stick containing a video file.
- A YouTube channel with live streaming enabled and access to its Live Control Room.
- A reliable upload connection capable of sustaining the chosen stream bitrate.
- A video you have the rights to stream. YouTube’s encoder requirements do not grant permission to broadcast copyrighted material.
YouTube accepts encoder feeds over RTMP or RTMPS and recommends RTMPS. Its current guidance lists H.264, H.265/HEVC and AV1 video; AAC or MP3 audio; frame rates up to 60 fps; constant bitrate encoding; and a recommended two-second keyframe interval, not exceeding four seconds. See YouTube’s encoder settings and live streaming with an encoder.
1. Connect and mount the external drive
Attach the drive and confirm that Raspberry Pi OS can read it. Raspberry Pi documentation says popular filesystems such as FAT, NTFS and HFS+ are automatically mounted by default under /media/pi/<HARD-DRIVE-LABEL>. Raspberry Pi OS Lite does not implement automounting. The actual label and path depend on your setup, so do not copy the example path below without verifying it. See Raspberry Pi’s USB storage documentation.
For an unattended broadcast, make sure the drive reliably mounts at the path you intend to use after a restart. If it does not automount, configure and verify a stable mount point using the instructions for your Raspberry Pi OS version. A command that points to a path that changes or is unavailable will not be able to read the video.
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2. Check the file and YouTube ingest settings
FFmpeg stream copy can avoid re-encoding, but only when the existing video and audio streams are suitable for YouTube’s ingest and the chosen output container. Copying does not convert codecs, resize video or fix keyframe spacing. Inspect the file’s codecs, resolution, frame rate, bitrate and keyframe interval before deciding whether to copy or transcode. You can use FFmpeg’s local inspection tools, such as ffprobe, if they are installed.
YouTube’s currently published H.264 bitrate figures are:
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| Video format | Minimum bitrate | Recommended bitrate |
|---|---|---|
| 720p at 30 fps | 3 Mbps | 8 Mbps |
| 720p at 60 fps | 3 Mbps | 8 Mbps |
| 1080p at 30 fps | 5 Mbps | 14 Mbps |
| 1080p at 60 fps | 6 Mbps | 17 Mbps |
These are the figures YouTube Help currently lists for those H.264 formats; they are not a guarantee that a particular Pi, file or network will sustain a stream. Choose a bitrate your upload connection can maintain, and leave headroom for normal network variation. YouTube recommends testing upload speed and testing before going live with movement and audio similar to the planned stream. Check its live stream health and messages during the event.
3. Get the YouTube stream address and key
In YouTube Studio, open the Live Control Room and create or select the stream. Copy the server URL and stream key YouTube provides for that stream; use the exact address and ingest settings shown there. YouTube describes the key as the credential-like information that lets an encoder send a feed for YouTube to accept. Keep it private: do not publish it, include it in a public script or share it in screenshots. If it is exposed, replace or reset it in YouTube Studio. See YouTube’s encoder setup instructions.
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4. Send the file with FFmpeg
For a file whose existing audio and video streams already suit YouTube ingest and FLV output, this illustrative command reads the file in real time, loops it indefinitely and copies the encoded streams without re-encoding:
ffmpeg -re -stream_loop -1
-i "/media/pi/DRIVE/video.mp4"
-c:v copy -c:a copy
-f flv "rtmps://a.rtmp.youtube.com/live2/STREAM_KEY"Replace /media/pi/DRIVE/video.mp4 with the verified path to your file. Replace the example RTMPS address and STREAM_KEY with the exact server URL and private key from YouTube Studio. The address shown in Studio takes precedence over the example. FFmpeg documents -stream_loop -1 as infinite input looping, -re as real-time input pacing, and copy as stream copy. See the FFmpeg command-line documentation and FFmpeg protocol documentation.
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This command is a documentation-based starting example, not a tested Raspberry Pi configuration. Check that your installed FFmpeg build supports the secure protocol you plan to use; build options and FFmpeg versions vary. If the stream-copy attempt is rejected, diagnose the source codecs and container rather than assuming FFmpeg will make them compatible automatically.
If the source needs transcoding
When the file’s codecs or other stream properties do not meet the ingest requirements, encode compatible output instead of using -c:v copy -c:a copy. Encoding consumes more Pi resources than stream copy, and the required capacity depends on the Pi model, resolution, frame rate and encoder settings. No specific model’s sustained encoding performance is established here, so verify that your Pi can maintain the chosen settings before relying on it.
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For an H.264 transcode, set a constant video bitrate appropriate to the resolution and frame rate, use a two-second keyframe interval that does not exceed YouTube’s four-second limit, and select an audio codec YouTube accepts, such as AAC. Confirm the resulting settings and stream health in YouTube Studio; do not treat any generic command as a substitute for checking the file and local FFmpeg build.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.5. Test the stream and watch its health
- Start with a short test using the intended video, audio, bitrate and resolution.
- Confirm in YouTube Studio that the incoming feed is detected and inspect stream health messages.
- Listen for audio problems and watch for stalls, dropped frames or an unstable connection.
- Check that the video loops as expected and that the drive remains mounted and readable.
- Only rely on a longer broadcast after the test succeeds under conditions similar to the planned stream.
YouTube Help’s guidance is explicit: “Make sure to test before you start your live stream.” The stream-health view is important because a process running on the Pi does not by itself prove YouTube is receiving a healthy feed.
Troubleshooting common problems
- FFmpeg says the input file cannot be found: verify the drive is mounted and the file path matches its actual label and directory. This is especially important on Raspberry Pi OS Lite, which does not implement automounting.
- Authentication or connection fails: check the exact stream URL and key in YouTube Studio, confirm the key has not been replaced, and verify that the installed FFmpeg build supports RTMPS.
- YouTube rejects the feed or reports stream problems: inspect the source’s codecs, bitrate, frame rate, resolution and keyframe interval. Stream copy preserves the existing encoded streams; it does not make them compliant.
- The stream stutters or drops: compare the video bitrate with sustained upload capacity, test the connection, and review YouTube’s stream health messages. If transcoding, also check whether the Pi can keep up with the selected settings.
- The stream stops after a restart: confirm that the drive has mounted at the expected path and that FFmpeg was started again. The example command does not configure automatic startup or process recovery.
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