To loop a playlist on YouTube Live with FFmpeg, put compatible video files in a concat-demuxer playlist, pass that playlist to FFmpeg with -stream_loop -1, and send the encoded output to the YouTube server URL using your stream key. The loop can repeat indefinitely, but your computer, power, internet connection, FFmpeg process, and YouTube ingest must keep working for the stream to stay live.
What you need before you start
- A current FFmpeg build with the encoders you plan to use. Check available encoders with
ffmpeg -encoders. - Video files you own or have permission to stream, with compatible stream layouts and media properties.
- A YouTube channel enabled for live streaming and a stream URL and key from YouTube Studio.
- A computer with enough processing capacity for your chosen encoding settings, plus a stable internet connection with sustained upload headroom above the stream bitrate.
For a large library, an external SSD or hard drive can provide local storage; the capacity you need depends on the size of your media files. You do not need a hardware encoder for this FFmpeg workflow.
Get the YouTube server URL and stream key
- In YouTube Studio, open Create → Go Live and create or schedule an encoder stream.
- Copy the server URL and stream key shown for the stream. YouTube describes stream keys as “like your YouTube stream’s password and address.” Keep the key private: do not publish it in a script, screenshot, or source repository.
- If you think the key has been exposed, reset it in Live Control Room and update the FFmpeg destination before reconnecting.
Choose the stream’s visibility and other Live Control Room settings as appropriate. YouTube documents the encoder connection and stream lifecycle in its encoder live-stream setup guide and explains stream-key settings in Manage live stream settings.
Prepare the rotating playlist
FFmpeg’s concat demuxer joins media inputs as streams. It is most reliable when each file has the same stream layout and compatible codecs, time bases, and parameters. Mixed resolutions, codecs, frame rates, or audio layouts can cause errors or poor transitions. Normalize mismatched files before streaming, or build and test a filter-and-re-encode workflow for the library.
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- Create a file named
playlist.txtin your working directory. - List each video in the order it should play, with one
fileline per input. For example:ffconcat version 1.0 file 'video-01.mp4' file 'video-02.mp4' file 'video-03.mp4' - Use relative paths within the working directory where practical. The concat demuxer defaults to safe path checks; absolute paths and other forms may be rejected unless you change the
safeoption. Consult FFmpeg’s formats documentation before relaxing that check, and only use a trusted playlist. - Test the playlist from beginning to end, including transitions and audio, before leaving it unattended.
If your sources differ substantially, FFmpeg’s FAQ explains the distinction between the concat demuxer and concat filter: the filter is useful when re-encoding is needed to make inputs consistent.
Choose YouTube-compatible stream settings
Use YouTube’s current encoder guidance for the resolution and codec you actually plan to send. Its recommendations include H.264 video, AAC audio, constant bitrate (CBR), and a two-second keyframe interval; YouTube says not to exceed four seconds. At 30 fps, a two-second GOP is 60 frames; at 60 fps, it is 120 frames. YouTube recommends 128 kbps for stereo AAC audio. See its encoder settings, bitrate, and resolution guidance for the current bitrate table and codec-specific values.
For 1080p at 30 fps, the YouTube page accessed in 2026 lists an H.264 recommended bitrate of 10 Mbps. Its separate AV1/H.265 range for that resolution and frame rate is 3–8 Mbps; do not treat that range as the H.264 recommendation. Use the row for your selected codec and resolution rather than applying one bitrate to every stream.
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Your chosen bitrate also has to fit your real sustained upload capacity. YouTube advises choosing quality that is reliable on the available connection; leave headroom rather than setting the output equal to a speed-test peak. YouTube recommends RTMPS, which it describes as a secure extension of RTMP. Prefer it when the server URL supplied for your stream supports it.
Start FFmpeg and send the playlist to YouTube
This example re-encodes video to H.264 and audio to AAC for predictable output. Replace the destination with the server URL and stream key from your account. The bitrate is illustrative, not a universal setting.
ffmpeg -re -stream_loop -1 -f concat -safe 0 -i playlist.txt
-c:v libx264 -preset veryfast -b:v 4500k -maxrate 4500k -bufsize 9000k
-r 30 -g 60 -pix_fmt yuv420p
-c:a aac -b:a 128k -ar 44100
-f flv 'rtmps://SERVER-URL/STREAM-KEY'-rereads file input at playback speed rather than sending it as fast as possible.-stream_loop -1repeats the specified input indefinitely; FFmpeg documents-1as infinite looping. It does not restart a failed FFmpeg process or restore a failed computer, network, or YouTube connection. See the FFmpeg documentation.-f concatselects the concat demuxer.-safe 0permits paths outside its default safe subset; omit it when safe relative paths work.-c:v libx264and-c:a aacre-encode the streams. Encoding uses compute resources, with the exact load depending on the build and selected encoder.-b:v,-maxrate, and-bufsizeset illustrative rate-control values; adjust them to your codec, resolution, frame rate, content, and sustainable upload capacity.-r 30sets output frame rate and-g 60sets a 60-frame GOP, a two-second keyframe interval at 30 fps.-f flvselects the output container used for this RTMP(S) ingest example.
Because the example uses -safe 0, use it only with a playlist you trust. For safe relative entries, remove the option and let FFmpeg apply its default checks.
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When stream copy may work
Using -c:v copy -c:a copy can reduce encoding work, but only if all inputs already have compatible codecs and stream properties, the concat demuxer can join them cleanly, and YouTube accepts the resulting stream. Test with your actual media. Otherwise, normalize the files or re-encode as in the example.
When the playlist has audio-only files or images
The example expects inputs with compatible video and audio streams. Audio-only tracks or still images require suitable video/audio generation and explicit mapping options; this command does not create missing streams. Build and test that workflow separately before using it for a live broadcast.
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Test the broadcast before relying on it
- Run FFmpeg and open the stream’s preview in YouTube Live Control Room.
- Check that video and audio play correctly and inspect the stream-health indicators before starting or confirming the broadcast under your stream settings.
- Make a private or unlisted test first. YouTube recommends testing the encoder, checking the preview, monitoring stream quality, and testing encoder failover where applicable; its streaming tips also recommend checking upload speed.
- Keep the terminal visible or retain its logs. Watch for FFmpeg exits, input errors, dropped frames, and network failures.
What it takes to keep the stream running 24/7
The command loops the input, not the whole streaming system. Continuous delivery still depends on the host staying powered on, the operating system and FFmpeg process remaining healthy, the playlist files being available, the upload connection staying up, and YouTube ingest accepting the feed.
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A service manager or watchdog can be configured to restart a failed process, but that is a separate reliability measure to build and test. A restart may interrupt the broadcast or require a new ingest session. Power backup, network failover, and a fallback encoder add further complexity; consider them only if your continuity requirements justify the cost and maintenance.
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Only stream video and audio you have the rights to use. A live loop does not grant permission to rebroadcast music, performances, films, or other creators’ content. YouTube’s live-stream setup and settings pages explain stream controls and lifecycle, but rights clearance remains your responsibility.
A 24/7 playlist also does not by itself establish eligibility for monetization. YouTube can assess a channel’s content under its policies, including whether material is original or reused; repeating videos is not a substitute for meeting current channel and monetization requirements. Check YouTube’s current policies before relying on a loop for monetization.
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YouTube states that streams under 12 hours are automatically archived. That statement does not establish that an uninterrupted 24-hour broadcast will be archived in full. If retaining a complete copy matters, check YouTube’s current long-stream archive behavior and record a local copy as well.
Common problems and fixes
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to check or do |
|---|---|---|
| FFmpeg rejects a playlist path | The concat demuxer’s safe-path checks reject an entry. | Use relative paths in the working directory where possible. If another path form is necessary, review the safe option documentation and only relax checks for a trusted list. |
| Playback fails or breaks at a file boundary | Inputs have incompatible stream layouts, codecs, time bases, or parameters. | Inspect the files, normalize them to consistent properties, or use a tested re-encoding/filter workflow. Test every transition. |
| YouTube does not show an incoming preview | The URL or key may be wrong, the stream may not be started as configured, or the encoder may have failed to connect. | Recheck the server URL and key in Live Control Room, inspect FFmpeg output, and confirm the stream’s setup and lifecycle settings. |
| Video or audio is rejected or behaves unexpectedly | The output codec, bitrate, frame rate, keyframe interval, or stream layout may not match the selected setup. | Compare the actual output with YouTube’s current settings table for that codec and resolution; verify the two-second keyframe target and audio configuration. |
| Dropped frames or unstable stream health | The upload may not sustain the configured bitrate, or the host may not encode quickly enough. | Check sustained upload capacity and encoder load, lower output demands if needed, and test again with headroom. Do not size the stream to a speed-test peak. |
| The stream stops after running for a while | FFmpeg may have exited, the host or network may have failed, or YouTube ingest may have disconnected. | Inspect logs and Live Control Room health. Add and test process supervision or a fallback path if your uptime needs warrant it; looping alone does not recover these failures. |
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