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Use FFmpeg’s concat demuxer to list compatible video files in playback order, then pass that playlist to FFmpeg with -stream_loop -1 and pace it with -re. Encode the result as a live feed and send it to the RTMPS server URL and stream key from YouTube Studio. The example below is a starting point—not a tested command for every set of files or FFmpeg build—so test it in YouTube’s Live Control Room before relying on it.

Before you start: enable YouTube live streaming

Your YouTube channel must be verified and must not have had a live-streaming restriction in the previous 90 days. Check eligibility and start setup in YouTube’s live-streaming guide.

  1. Open YouTube Studio and go to the Live Control Room.
  2. Create or select a live stream and locate its server URL and stream key in the stream settings. YouTube’s stream settings guide explains the available settings.
  3. Keep the stream key private: it functions like a password. If it is exposed, reset it in YouTube Studio before using the stream again.

You will need FFmpeg installed on the computer that has the files, local access to those files, and an upload connection capable of sustaining the bitrate you choose.

Check that the videos can be joined cleanly

The concat demuxer is the simplest route when the files have compatible media streams. FFmpeg requires matching streams, codecs, and time bases; files with different resolutions, frame rates, codecs, or audio layouts may fail or produce poor transitions. See the FFmpeg concat demuxer documentation.

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  • If your files are already compatible, use the concat demuxer playlist below. It can join them without re-encoding the source files before the live encode.
  • If they differ materially, normalize them to a common profile first, including a consistent audio stream. FFmpeg’s media concatenation FAQ recommends the concat filter when re-encoding is needed.
  • Incorrect duration metadata or truncated files can cause artifacts or gaps when FFmpeg advances from one file to the next. Review the inputs and test the transitions rather than assuming a playlist will conceal source problems.

Create the playlist file

In a plain-text editor, create a UTF-8 or plain-text file named playlist.txt. Put one file entry per line in the order you want them to play:

file '/path/to/first.mp4'
file '/path/to/second.mp4'
file '/path/to/third.mp4'

Replace the example paths with real local paths. Use the concat demuxer’s documented quoting or escaping syntax for paths containing special characters, and verify that every path exists before starting. The playlist controls order; the loop option will repeat that entire ordered input.

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Start the looping YouTube stream

Run this illustrative baseline, replacing the destination with the exact RTMPS URL and stream key shown in your Live Control Room:

ffmpeg -re -stream_loop -1 -f concat -safe 0 -i playlist.txt 
  -c:v libx264 -preset veryfast -b:v 5M -maxrate 5M -bufsize 10M 
  -r 30 -g 60 -keyint_min 60 -sc_threshold 0 
  -c:a aac -b:a 128k -ar 44100 
  -f flv 'rtmps://SERVER_URL/STREAM_KEY'

Do not publish or share a command containing your real key. Anyone with it may be able to stream to your channel.

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What the main options do

  • -re reads file input at its native rate so FFmpeg sends it as a real-time stream rather than as fast as it can process.
  • -stream_loop -1 requests indefinite repetition of the input. It is an input option, so it appears before the -i it affects; with the concat input, it repeats the playlist.
  • -f concat selects the playlist demuxer; -safe 0 permits the example’s local paths, so use it only with a playlist you control.
  • -c:v libx264 encodes video as H.264; -c:a aac encodes audio as AAC. The example uses FLV output over RTMPS, a common SDR starting point.
  • -b:v, -maxrate, and -bufsize set video bitrate behavior. The sample uses a 5 Mbps target and is aligned with YouTube’s current H.264 recommendation for 1080p at 30 fps, not a universal setting.
  • -r 30 sets the output frame rate. -g 60 and -keyint_min 60 target a 60-frame GOP at 30 fps—about two seconds—and -sc_threshold 0 disables scene-cut keyframes in this example.
  • -b:a 128k -ar 44100 set the example audio bitrate and sample rate. Confirm that the resulting audio is present and plays correctly in the YouTube preview.

Choose settings your connection and stream can sustain

YouTube’s encoder guidance accessed October 3, 2026, lists RTMP/RTMPS, H.264, H.265, or AV1, AAC or MP3, and frame rates up to 60 fps, with supported combinations depending on protocol and stream settings. YouTube recommends CBR and a two-second keyframe frequency that should not exceed four seconds. RTMPS is its recommended secure extension to RTMP. Check the current encoder settings, bitrates, and resolutions for the exact configuration you plan to use.

For H.264, YouTube’s current table lists 5 Mbps for 1080p at 30 fps and 14 Mbps for 1080p at 60 fps. These are platform recommendations, not guarantees of a good stream: select a resolution and bitrate your upload connection can sustain reliably, then test upload capacity. The command above is 1080p30-oriented; change the frame rate, bitrate, and keyframe interval together if you choose another output profile.

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Test the playlist before relying on it

  1. Start FFmpeg and check its log for missing files, decoding errors, or connection failures.
  2. Open the stream preview in YouTube’s Live Control Room. Check that video appears, audio is audible, and transitions between files work as intended.
  3. Check YouTube’s stream-health messages and watch for unstable upload or encoder warnings. YouTube recommends testing in advance with audio and video movement similar to the planned stream.
  4. Only rely on a longer run after the test passes. An indefinitely repeated input does not by itself supervise FFmpeg, restart a failed process, monitor disk space, or verify that YouTube is still receiving the feed; those safeguards depend on the host operating system and setup.
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Troubleshoot common failures

FFmpeg cannot open a playlist file

Check that you launched FFmpeg from the directory containing playlist.txt, or provide the playlist’s full path. Confirm the file is plain text and each listed media path points to a readable local file.

The stream fails or breaks at a file transition

Check that the playlist entries use valid concat syntax and that the files have compatible streams, codecs, and time bases. Mixed resolutions, frame rates, codecs, or audio presence may require preprocessing to a common profile and a concat-filter workflow that re-encodes. Truncated files or inaccurate duration metadata can also cause transition artifacts.

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YouTube shows no picture or audio

Check the FFmpeg log for encoder errors, verify the stream URL and key against the current Live Control Room settings, and inspect the preview before going live. Confirm the files contain the expected tracks and that the output codecs and protocol match YouTube’s current guidance.

The stream drops or reports unstable health

Reduce bitrate or resolution to a level the upload connection can sustain, then test again. YouTube advises testing upload bitrate; a wired connection is optional, not a guarantee against drops. Check both YouTube’s health messages and FFmpeg’s output for the point of failure.

The loop does not repeat as expected

Confirm -stream_loop -1 appears before the playlist’s -i, then test with the installed FFmpeg version and inspect its logs as the playlist reaches its end. The option is input-scoped, and this command is an illustrative baseline rather than a guarantee for every build.

Or let it run in the cloud

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