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To rotate local videos continuously on YouTube Live from Windows, put their paths in an FFmpeg concat playlist, then use FFmpeg to loop and send that playlist to the YouTube ingest URL with your stream key. This works best when the files have compatible streams, codecs, and time bases; otherwise, normalize them or use a re-encoding workflow. Your Windows computer must remain on and connected while FFmpeg is streaming.
What you need before you start
- FFmpeg installed on a Windows computer and available in Command Prompt or PowerShell.
- The local video files you want to rotate, in the intended playback order.
- A YouTube Live stream and its server URL and stream key from YouTube Studio.
- A stable internet connection and a computer capable of encoding the selected output in real time.
YouTube’s encoder setup instructions say to enter the Live server URL and stream key into the encoder. Treat the key like a password: do not post it in screenshots, scripts shared publicly, or logs. See YouTube’s encoder setup instructions.
Prepare the video files and choose a concat method
Use the concat demuxer for compatible files
The concat demuxer reads a text script and presents the listed files as one virtual input, in order. It is suitable for a copy-based workflow when the files have the same streams, codecs, and time base. A mismatch can cause errors or playback problems. FFmpeg also uses file durations to position each next segment, so inaccurate duration metadata—for example, in a truncated file—can introduce artifacts.
If your sources differ substantially, normalize or transcode them to compatible formats first, or use FFmpeg’s concat filter, which is designed for concatenation when re-encoding is needed. The filter requires a different command and should not be treated as a drop-in replacement for the playlist command below. See the FFmpeg concat demuxer documentation and FFmpeg concat filter documentation.
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Keep the files and playlist organized
Create a dedicated folder such as C:/livestream/, put the clips there, and decide their order. Using forward slashes in the playlist’s Windows paths avoids backslash escaping issues.
Create the playlist file
- Open Notepad and enter one
fileline for each video, in playback order:file 'C:/livestream/clip01.mp4' file 'C:/livestream/clip02.mp4' file 'C:/livestream/clip03.mp4' - Save the file as
playlist.txtinC:/livestream/. In Notepad’s Save As dialog, choose All files if needed to prevent it being saved asplaylist.txt.txt. - Check every path and filename carefully. The playlist should reference the actual files, not a folder name or a YouTube URL.
FFmpeg’s concat demuxer defaults to safe-path checking. The command below uses -safe 0 so it can read absolute Windows paths. That setting permits arbitrary filenames and directives, so use it only with a playlist you created and trust. The concat demuxer documentation describes the safe option and playlist syntax: FFmpeg concat demuxer.
Get the YouTube Live destination
- In YouTube Studio, select Create → Go Live.
- Use the Stream tab to create or select a stream. For a scheduled broadcast, open Manage → Schedule stream and set its metadata and privacy.
- Copy the server URL and stream key shown for that stream. Keep the key private; you will insert it into FFmpeg’s output destination.
Keep the Live Control Room open so you can check whether YouTube receives the feed and displays a preview. For a scheduled broadcast, the preview appearing does not itself start the public stream; click Go live in Studio when you are ready.
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Start the playlist rotation from Windows
Run an H.264/AAC re-encoding command
Open Command Prompt or PowerShell and run this pattern, replacing the output destination with the ingest URL and stream key from YouTube:
ffmpeg -re -stream_loop -1 -f concat -safe 0 -i "C:/livestream/playlist.txt" -c:v libx264 -preset veryfast -c:a aac -f flv "rtmp://YOUR_INGEST_URL/YOUR_STREAM_KEY"This is a starting pattern, not a universal or tested preset. It re-encodes video with H.264 and audio with AAC, which is more tolerant of differing source encodings than stream-copying, but input stream layouts and compatibility still matter. Encoding also uses computer resources; confirm that your machine can encode the chosen output in real time. YouTube’s current encoder settings vary with resolution and frame rate, so check YouTube’s live encoder settings for the values applicable to your stream. The available guidance here does not establish fixed bitrate or resolution numbers for every setup.
Understand the important options
-repaces prerecorded input at its native rate instead of sending the file as quickly as the computer can read it. It appears before the input it applies to.-stream_loop -1repeats the input indefinitely.-f concattells FFmpeg to read the playlist using the concat demuxer.-safe 0allows the absolute paths used in the example; only use it with a trusted playlist.-c:v libx264and-c:a aacencode the outgoing video and audio.-preset veryfastis an encoder preset, not a guarantee that a particular computer can keep up.-f flvselects the output container used in this RTMP command pattern.
Do not paste a real stream key into a command that you plan to share. If the key is exposed, replace or reset it in YouTube Studio before streaming again.
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When stream-copy may fit
If all listed files already have compatible streams, codecs, and time bases, stream-copying may avoid re-encoding. The concat demuxer is the relevant approach for that case. However, the command above deliberately uses H.264/AAC re-encoding; changing it to -c copy is not a general fix for mismatched media. Review FFmpeg’s concat demuxer requirements before choosing copy mode.
Check the preview, go live, and stop cleanly
- After FFmpeg starts, watch its console for errors and confirm that YouTube Live Control Room receives the feed and shows a preview.
- For a scheduled stream, select Go live in Studio after the preview appears. For other stream setups, follow the status and start controls shown in Live Control Room.
- To stop the rotation, stop FFmpeg’s output, then use End Stream in Studio where appropriate.
YouTube says streams under 12 hours are automatically archived. That statement does not establish an archive guarantee for streams lasting 12 hours or longer; see YouTube’s encoder setup guidance.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Choose RTMP or HLS only for the requirement you have
The command in this tutorial uses RTMP. HLS is a separate YouTube ingestion option for supported encoders and use cases, including certain HDR or codec requirements; it needs HLS-specific segment and playlist settings, and YouTube says it has higher latency than RTMP. Do not add HLS settings to the RTMP command. YouTube’s HLS requirements include TS segments of 1–4 seconds, a rolling playlist with no more than five outstanding segments, HTTPS POST/PUT, and no byte-range support. See YouTube’s HLS ingestion instructions.
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Troubleshoot common problems
FFmpeg cannot open the playlist or a video
- Check that the playlist is in the location named after
-iand that it is really calledplaylist.txt. - Verify each quoted path against the file’s actual location and spelling. Forward slashes such as
C:/livestream/clip01.mp4are suitable for the playlist. - Confirm the playlist uses the expected
file 'path'syntax and that the files are accessible to the Windows account running FFmpeg.
The output has gaps, artifacts, or errors at clip transitions
- Check whether each file has the same streams, codecs, and time base; the concat demuxer expects those to match.
- Check for truncated files or inaccurate duration metadata. Because FFmpeg uses durations to position the next segment, incorrect values can disrupt transitions. The concat script format supports a
durationdirective for an override. - If the files are not compatible, normalize or transcode them, or use the concat filter with a re-encoding workflow instead of assuming stream-copy will work.
YouTube does not show a preview or the stream fails to connect
- Confirm that the server URL and stream key belong to the selected stream and were copied correctly.
- Check that FFmpeg is still running and has not printed an input, encoding, or output error.
- Check the encoder settings against YouTube’s current guidance for the selected resolution and frame rate rather than relying on an unverified bitrate or keyframe value.
- If the key was shared or exposed, replace it in Studio and update the command with the new key.
The computer cannot sustain the encode
The example encodes with libx264, so its workload depends on the files and output settings as well as the computer. Verify that encoding keeps pace in FFmpeg’s console. Use compatible sources with an appropriate stream-copy workflow if possible, or adjust encoding choices to a level the machine can sustain while remaining within YouTube’s current recommendations.
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