To loop a local video into YouTube Live with an NVIDIA GPU, use FFmpeg’s h264_nvenc encoder and -stream_loop -1. The command below is an adaptable template, not a tested recipe: it assumes 1080p30 input, and its bitrate must be changed to match your intended output and YouTube’s current guidance.
FFmpeg command to loop a video to YouTube Live
ffmpeg -re -stream_loop -1 -i input.mp4
-c:v h264_nvenc -preset p4
-rc cbr -b:v 14M -maxrate 14M -bufsize 14M
-g 60
-c:a aac -b:a 128k -ar 44100
-f flv "rtmps://a.rtmp.youtube.com:443/live2/STREAM_KEY"Replace input.mp4 with the local video path and STREAM_KEY with the key for your YouTube broadcast. Keep the key private. The example uses 14 Mbps as YouTube’s recommended H.264 bitrate for 1080p30 and a 60-frame GOP, which is two seconds at 30 fps. If your output resolution or frame rate differs, change the bitrate and GOP to match the applicable settings below. YouTube recommends RTMPS for encrypted transport.
The template’s settings are starting points, not a guarantee that your GPU, driver, operating system, FFmpeg build and source file will work together. Check encoder availability and test the ingest in YouTube Live Control Room before relying on a long-running stream.
What the command options do
| Option | Purpose | What to check |
|---|---|---|
-re |
Reads the file at its native playback rate rather than sending it as fast as possible. | Useful for simulating a live feed from a local recording. |
-stream_loop -1 |
Repeats the input indefinitely. It appears before the input it applies to. | This example loops one file; multiple-file playlists and seamless transitions require different input construction. |
-i input.mp4 |
Selects the local source video. | Use a valid path and a file FFmpeg can read. |
-c:v h264_nvenc |
Selects NVIDIA’s hardware H.264 encoder. | Your GPU and FFmpeg build both need to support and expose NVENC. |
-preset p4 |
Chooses an NVENC preset. | Available options can vary with FFmpeg build and version; inspect the encoder help for your installation. |
-rc cbr |
Requests constant bitrate rate control. | YouTube’s published ingest guidance calls for CBR. |
-b:v, -maxrate, -bufsize |
Set target bitrate, maximum rate and rate-control buffer. | The template sets them equally; do not treat that bitrate as universal. |
-g 60 |
Sets GOP length in frames, controlling the interval between keyframes. | Calculate frames for about two seconds at your output frame rate; YouTube’s maximum keyframe interval is four seconds. |
-c:a aac -b:a 128k -ar 44100 |
Encodes stereo audio as AAC at 128 Kbps and 44.1 kHz. | These are the stereo AAC values in YouTube’s published guidance. |
-f flv |
Uses the FLV container for the RTMP-family live output. | The destination in this example is YouTube’s RTMPS ingest endpoint. |
Check FFmpeg and NVIDIA encoder availability
-
In a terminal, run
ffmpeg -encodersand look forh264_nvenc. FFmpeg options depend on the installed build and version. See the FFmpeg documentation.Recommended Free Tools
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Inspect encoder-specific options with
ffmpeg -h encoder=h264_nvenc. Confirm that the options used by your command are recognized. -
Confirm that the NVIDIA GPU supports NVENC. NVIDIA describes NVENC as a hardware encoder in supported GPUs, independent of the graphics and CUDA cores; the sources do not identify one GPU model that is required for this command. See NVIDIA’s NVENC Application Note.
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NVIDIA’s FFmpeg with NVIDIA GPU Hardware Acceleration guide documents the h264_nvenc encoder. Its examples demonstrate file-to-file transcoding; a live broadcast also needs an appropriate live input and destination.
Choose the right bitrate and keyframe interval
Use the row matching your intended ingest resolution, frame rate and codec. The following H.264 recommendations are from YouTube Help’s current settings page, accessed October 3, 2026. They are platform recommendations, not independent quality measurements.
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| H.264 output | YouTube recommended bitrate | YouTube minimum bitrate | Two-second GOP length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 720p30 | 8 Mbps | 3 Mbps | 60 frames |
| 720p60 | 8 Mbps | 3 Mbps | 120 frames |
| 1080p30 | 14 Mbps | 5 Mbps | 60 frames |
| 1080p60 | 17 Mbps | 6 Mbps | 120 frames |
| 1440p30 | 21 Mbps | 7 Mbps | 60 frames |
| 1440p60 | 34 Mbps | 8 Mbps | 120 frames |
| 2160p30 | 42 Mbps | 11 Mbps | 60 frames |
| 2160p60 | 50 Mbps | 14 Mbps | 120 frames |
The GOP values in the last column are calculated for a two-second interval: multiply the output frame rate by two. For a frame rate other than 30 or 60 fps, set -g accordingly. YouTube recommends two-second keyframes and sets a maximum interval of four seconds. Confirm the current settings on YouTube’s encoder settings and bitrate page before a broadcast, since platform guidance can change.
NVIDIA’s streaming guidance uses CBR and shows equal -b:v, -maxrate and -bufsize for a one-second buffer. Its separate low-latency guidance describes a one-frame buffer, calculated as bitrate divided by frame rate. These are different buffer choices with different latency trade-offs; the template uses the one-second-style equal-value configuration rather than combining them.
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Start the YouTube broadcast and send the stream
-
In YouTube Live Control Room, create or open the broadcast and copy its stream key. The exact interface labels may change; use the key associated with the broadcast you intend to test.
-
Set the output resolution and frame rate to the values you have chosen, then select the corresponding bitrate and GOP values in the command. The source file’s properties and the encoded output are not necessarily identical, so verify the incoming stream in YouTube before depending on it.
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Run the command from a terminal where FFmpeg can access the input file. Watch FFmpeg’s output for encoding or connection errors, and check Live Control Room for the incoming preview and stream status.
-
When ready to end the broadcast, stop FFmpeg with
Ctrl+C, then end the stream in YouTube if the control room still shows it as live.
Troubleshooting common failures
| Symptom | Likely area to check | What to do |
|---|---|---|
Unknown encoder 'h264_nvenc' or encoder unavailable |
FFmpeg build or supported NVIDIA hardware | Run ffmpeg -encoders and ffmpeg -h encoder=h264_nvenc. Confirm GPU support before changing unrelated command options. |
| FFmpeg connects poorly or YouTube does not show an incoming stream | Ingest URL, key or broadcast selection | Check that the endpoint and key belong to the active YouTube broadcast, and ensure there are no accidental spaces or truncated characters. Keep the key private. |
| YouTube flags or rejects stream settings | Codec, CBR, resolution/frame rate, bitrate, audio or keyframes | Compare the actual incoming settings with YouTube’s current guidance. Select the bitrate row for the intended resolution, frame rate and codec; verify AAC stereo at 44.1 kHz and 128 Kbps and a keyframe interval within YouTube’s limits. |
| Loop stops or output is not the expected playlist | Input construction | -stream_loop -1 applies to the one input shown. A set of files, playlist, or transition-free sequence needs a different FFmpeg input arrangement; this single-file template does not establish one. |
| Stream starts locally but is unreliable over time | End-to-end hardware, driver, OS, build, source and network combination | Test the exact combination in a short broadcast and review both FFmpeg logs and Live Control Room status before using it for a long-running stream. The command alone cannot establish compatibility or continuity. |
Copyright and repeated-video considerations
A successful FFmpeg connection does not grant rights to the video or audio. Use material you own or are authorized to stream, and check YouTube’s applicable copyright rules and monetization policies before looping a recording. Repeating the same file also means repeating its audio and visuals; a technically continuous stream is not, by itself, evidence that content complies with YouTube policies.
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