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First identify where the connection fails: HTTP input reconnect options recover a dropped HTTP source, while FFmpeg’s FIFO pseudo-muxer can attempt to recover a network output while FFmpeg is still running. If the process exits, neither mechanism starts it again; use an external process supervisor. For a local relaxation video that should repeat, add -stream_loop -1 separately before its -i input.
Choose the recovery setting for the failure
| What failed | What to configure | Important limit |
|---|---|---|
| An HTTP source used as FFmpeg input | HTTP reconnect options before that source’s -i. |
These are HTTP input options, not universal output recovery switches. |
| The network publishing destination | FIFO pseudo-muxer recovery options on the output. | Recovery is attempted only while FFmpeg remains running. |
| The FFmpeg process itself | An external service manager or restart loop. | FIFO does not relaunch a terminated process. |
| A local track reaches its end | -stream_loop -1 before the input’s -i. |
It repeats the media; it does not reconnect the publishing output. |
FFmpeg’s command-line options apply in relation to their inputs and outputs, so position matters. Confirm that your installed build supports the options you use; the online documentation reflects the newest revision and is regenerated nightly (FFmpeg documentation index).
Loop a local relaxation file and recover the network output
For a local file sent to a network publishing URL, looping and output recovery are separate controls. The following is a template, not a verified drop-in command. Replace the destination format and URL with values required by your service, and check option support in your FFmpeg build.
ffmpeg -stream_loop -1 -re -i relaxation.mp4
-c:v copy -c:a copy
-f fifo
-attempt_recovery 1
-recovery_wait_time 5
-max_recovery_attempts 0
-fifo_format flv
'rtmp://DESTINATION/APP/STREAM_KEY'-stream_loop -1is an input option, so it appears before-i. It repeats the local input indefinitely.-rereads a file at its native rate, which is commonly appropriate for live-paced output. Check that this behavior suits the source and destination.-f fifoselects the FIFO pseudo-muxer.-attempt_recovery 1enables output recovery attempts, and-recovery_wait_time 5sets the wait between attempts.-max_recovery_attempts 0requests unlimited attempts. Choose a finite limit instead if indefinite retries are not appropriate.-fifo_format flvidentifies the underlying output muxer in this RTMP-shaped example.
The example assumes the file’s codecs and the destination accept stream copy and FLV/RTMP. That may not be true. If the service requires transcoding or different codecs, select encoding settings compatible with its requirements. FFmpeg describes FIFO recovery as especially useful with network output because it can “restart streaming transparently”; this describes an attempted recovery feature, not a guarantee that every interruption is recovered (FFmpeg FIFO pseudo-muxer documentation).
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Reconnect an HTTP input
If FFmpeg reads the relaxation stream from an HTTP URL, put the supported HTTP options before that input’s -i. For example:
ffmpeg -reconnect 1 -reconnect_at_eof 1
-reconnect_streamed 1 -reconnect_delay_max 30
-i 'https://SOURCE/relaxation-stream' ...This shows option placement, not recommended universal retry values. Select retry limits for the source and use case. FFmpeg’s HTTP protocol documentation describes these options:
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-reconnect: reconnect after a disconnect before EOF.-reconnect_at_eof: treat EOF as an error and reconnect, which can suit live or endless streams.-reconnect_on_network_error: reconnect for TCP or TLS errors during connection.-reconnect_on_http_error: reconnect for specified HTTP status codes or classes, such as4xxand5xx.-reconnect_streamed: permit retries for streamed or non-seekable inputs.-reconnect_delay_max,-reconnect_max_retries, and-reconnect_delay_total_max: bound the delay between retries, retry count, or total retry delay.-respect_retry_after: honor a server’sRetry-Afterheader when enabled.
HTTP reconnect behavior depends on the protocol, server, network, stream availability, and installed FFmpeg build; the options do not ensure uninterrupted playback. They apply to HTTP input behavior, not arbitrary output connections (FFmpeg Protocols Documentation).
Restart FFmpeg if the process exits
FIFO recovery handles output errors while the FFmpeg process is alive. If FFmpeg terminates, an external supervisor must start a new invocation. A restart may begin a local file from its beginning unless the command and source explicitly preserve playback position. Choose a supervisor and restart policy appropriate to your operating system or hosting environment; the FFmpeg settings above are not a process manager.
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Troubleshoot a stream that still stops
- The source drops, but FFmpeg does not reconnect: confirm it is an HTTP input and that reconnect options appear before its
-i. Check that the installed build supports those options and that the source becomes available again. - The destination drops and FFmpeg exits: FIFO cannot relaunch the process. Configure an external supervisor as well as any in-process output recovery you need.
- FFmpeg stays up but output does not recover: verify that the output uses the FIFO pseudo-muxer, that
fifo_formatmatches the underlying muxer, and that the target URL, credentials, codecs, and format are valid. - The file loops but the broadcast does not resume: looping only repeats input media. Configure output recovery separately.
- Retries stop sooner than expected: inspect retry limits. FIFO’s
max_recovery_attemptsand HTTP retry controls are distinct; use a finite or unlimited policy deliberately. - The command rejects an option: check the installed FFmpeg build and its matching help or documentation. Online FFmpeg documentation is for the newest revision and may not match an older binary.
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