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For an endless HTTP input, put FFmpeg’s HTTP reconnect options before the matching -i. A useful starting point is -reconnect 1, -reconnect_streamed 1, and -reconnect_at_eof 1, with additional network-error and HTTP-status retries if they suit your source. These flags retry an HTTP input; they do not loop a finished local playlist, restart a crashed FFmpeg process, or guarantee that YouTube keeps one live event running indefinitely.

Configure reconnect options for an endless HTTP input

Use this as an illustrative starting pattern when FFmpeg reads an endless or live HTTP stream and sends its output to YouTube:

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 "INPUT_URL" 
  ...OUTPUT_OPTIONS...

Replace INPUT_URL with the actual input URL and ...OUTPUT_OPTIONS... with your chosen output settings and destination. This is not a tested universal command: choose the retry policy and delay cap for your source, and check that your installed FFmpeg build supports each option. Protocol options belong before the input they govern; options placed after -i may apply to a different input or not have the intended effect.

Check available HTTP protocol options with:

ffmpeg -h protocol=http

FFmpeg releases and builds differ. Consult the FFmpeg Protocols documentation and confirm support in your local build before relying on an option.

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What each reconnect option handles

Option Effect When it may help
-reconnect 1 Reconnects after a disconnect that happens before EOF. A connection to the HTTP source drops unexpectedly.
-reconnect_streamed 1 Allows reconnecting for streamed or non-seekable input. The input cannot be resumed by seeking.
-reconnect_at_eof 1 Treats EOF as an error and reconnects. The source is meant to be live or endless, but the HTTP response ends unexpectedly.
-reconnect_on_network_error 1 Reconnects on TCP or TLS errors during connection. The connection attempt fails at the network or transport layer.
-reconnect_on_http_error 5xx Retries selected HTTP response codes. FFmpeg accepts explicit codes and classes such as 4xx or 5xx. The source returns a server-error status; choose response classes appropriate to the service.
-reconnect_delay_max 30 Sets the maximum delay, in seconds, before giving up on an individual reconnect attempt. You want to cap the wait between attempts; adjust the value for your operational needs.
-reconnect_max_retries N Limits the number of reconnect attempts. You need a bounded attempt count rather than the build’s default.
-reconnect_delay_total_max N Caps total reconnect delay in versions that provide the option. You need an overall time limit for reconnect waiting.
-respect_retry_after 1 Honors a server’s Retry-After request when retrying; current FFmpeg documentation says this is enabled by default. The HTTP server asks clients to wait before retrying.

Check the protocol documentation for option behavior and syntax. Do not use -reconnect_at_eof 1 as a general-purpose loop switch for an ordinary finite file or playlist, where EOF is expected.

Choose retry limits with your FFmpeg version in mind

Defaults are version-dependent. In the FFmpeg 8.1 HTTP implementation, the default maximum delay for one reconnect attempt is 120 seconds, the retry-count implementation default is -1, and the total reconnect-delay cap is 256 seconds. FFmpeg’s option documentation describes the retry-count default as unset. These are FFmpeg 8.1 values, not timeless defaults; check the version you installed. The example command overrides the per-attempt delay cap with 30 seconds but leaves retry count and total delay at the build’s defaults.

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The FFmpeg 8.1 HTTP implementation is available at the versioned source reference. Do not assume that every build has the same options or defaults.

Keep the four reliability layers separate

1. HTTP input interruptions

The reconnect flags apply to FFmpeg’s HTTP input behavior. Depending on the options enabled, they can retry supported disconnects, TCP/TLS connection errors, selected HTTP responses, or EOF. They do not repair every kind of source failure.

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2. Playlist completion and looping

Reconnect behavior does not automatically repeat a completed local file, loop a finite concat list, or turn a finite playlist into an endless one. Configure repetition at the playlist or demuxer layer appropriate to the format you are actually reading. Treat an endless HTTP source and a finite local playlist as different input cases.

3. FFmpeg process and host recovery

These protocol options do not restart FFmpeg after the process exits and do not bring a host back after a reboot. Process supervision and machine recovery are separate operational layers; plan and test them independently.

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4. YouTube ingest and event lifecycle

YouTube’s encoder setup requires the YouTube Live server URL and stream key in the encoder. The stream key is sensitive: treat it like a password. FFmpeg’s HTTP input retry is separate from YouTube’s ingest connection and event controls. YouTube says streams under 12 hours are automatically archived; reconnect flags do not guarantee one continuous YouTube event beyond that behavior.

YouTube recommends setting up ahead of time, checking the preview, testing encoder failover, monitoring stream health, and verifying that a local archive grows. Its backup-encoder guidance suggests testing by stopping the primary encoder or disconnecting its Ethernet cable. Follow the current instructions in YouTube Help’s encoder setup guidance.

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Do not confuse HTTP input retries with YouTube HLS output

The reconnect flags above concern FFmpeg reading an HTTP input. YouTube HLS ingestion requirements apply to the output protocol instead. YouTube’s HLS guidance specifies HTTPS POST/PUT, TS segments lasting between one and four seconds, and a rolling playlist with no more than five outstanding segments. Those constraints are not settings for reconnecting an HTTP input. If you use HLS output, follow YouTube Help’s HLS setup guidance.

Troubleshoot the common failure cases

Symptom Likely cause What to check or change
FFmpeg rejects an option or reports it is unknown. The installed build or version does not provide that option, or the syntax differs. Run ffmpeg -h protocol=http and compare with the documentation for your release. Remove or revise unsupported options.
FFmpeg stops when a local playlist reaches its end. HTTP reconnect options do not loop a finite playlist. Configure looping at the playlist or demuxer layer for that input format; do not treat expected EOF as a network failure.
The input retries, but output to YouTube still fails. Input recovery and YouTube ingest are separate connections and failure layers. Check the YouTube server URL and stream key in the encoder, inspect YouTube preview and stream health, and test the complete path.
Retries continue longer or shorter than expected. Retry count, delay, total-delay caps, and defaults depend on options and build version. Set an explicit retry policy where supported and confirm the installed build’s defaults rather than assuming another release’s values.
The stream stops after FFmpeg exits or the host restarts. HTTP protocol retries do not supervise the FFmpeg process or recover the host. Address process supervision and host recovery separately, then test those layers as well as input reconnects.

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