To restart an FFmpeg stream after power returns, configure the Raspberry Pi to boot normally and run FFmpeg as an enabled systemd service. Set a restart policy for FFmpeg exits, then verify the input and destination separately: a service marked active does not prove that video is reaching viewers.
What has to recover
Power-loss recovery has separate layers. The Pi must regain power and boot; the boot-enabled service must launch FFmpeg; and FFmpeg must be able to reach its camera or other input and the streaming destination. A restart policy handles an FFmpeg process that exits while systemd supervises it, but it does not replace enabling the service at boot.
| Recovery layer | What it addresses | What it cannot establish |
|---|---|---|
| Boot-enabled systemd unit | Starts FFmpeg after the Pi reboots | That the input or destination is reachable |
Restart=on-failure or Restart=always |
Relaunches FFmpeg after qualifying process exits | That a still-running process has healthy video |
| Stream-aware monitoring | Can detect a missing or stalled feed when its signal is reliable | That the Pi has power or can boot |
| UPS | Can bridge an interruption within its supported load and runtime | Recovery after its battery is depleted or the system crashes |
Configure FFmpeg as a boot service
1. Create a systemd unit
Use the following as an illustrative template, not a drop-in configuration. Replace the user, working directory, executable path, FFmpeg arguments, input, and output with values that match your setup. Keep credentials such as a live stream key out of publicly readable files and avoid exposing them in logs.
[Unit]
Description=FFmpeg live stream
Wants=network-online.target
After=network-online.target
[Service]
Type=simple
User=streamer
WorkingDirectory=/home/streamer
ExecStart=/usr/bin/ffmpeg -nostdin -i INPUT -c copy -f flv OUTPUT
Restart=on-failure
RestartSec=10
[Install]
WantedBy=multi-user.targetSave it as /etc/systemd/system/ffmpeg-stream.service. The sample uses -c copy and an FLV output as an example only; the correct codecs, container, input options, and destination depend on the camera and receiving service. Use absolute paths and run FFmpeg in the foreground as the service’s main process. Do not append & to the command, which would put it in the background instead of letting systemd supervise it directly.
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2. Enable and start the service
Run:
sudo systemctl enable --now ffmpeg-stream.serviceThis enables startup at boot and starts the unit immediately. Check its state with:
systemctl status ffmpeg-stream.serviceRead messages from the current boot with:
journalctl -u ffmpeg-stream.service -bThe service must run under an account with access to the FFmpeg executable, any needed files, camera devices, and credentials. Make the working directory and any environment variables explicit if the command depends on them; a service does not automatically inherit the settings of your interactive login.
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3. Choose the restart behavior
Restart=on-failure retries after failures such as a non-zero exit, signal termination, timeout, or watchdog expiry, subject to systemd’s documented exceptions. Restart=always also restarts after a clean exit. Choose the latter only if a clean FFmpeg exit should start another attempt. Neither policy overrides an explicit systemd stop operation. Add a measured RestartSec= delay—10 seconds in the example—to avoid a rapid failure loop, and verify that your installed systemd release supports the options with the expected behavior.
The systemd service manual describes Restart=always this way: “If set to always, the service will be restarted regardless of whether it exited cleanly or not, got terminated abnormally by a signal, or hit a timeout.” See the systemd.service manual for the exact rules and exceptions.
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Account for network and camera availability
After=network-online.target orders the unit after that target; it does not prove that DNS, a camera, or the streaming destination is reachable. If FFmpeg exits when an endpoint is unavailable, systemd can retry it according to the chosen policy and delay. Set the delay to suit the failure pattern, or use a wrapper or health-check design that explicitly handles the transient condition. Avoid a tight, unbounded shell loop: it can obscure which process systemd supervises and make repeated failures harder to diagnose.
FFmpeg supports RTSP input and output, and its protocol options can be set on the command line or through AVOptions. Choose transport and reconnect options for the actual camera or server; no single transport setting resolves every reconnect problem. Consult the FFmpeg Protocols Documentation for protocol-specific options.
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Test the recovery path and diagnose failures
After configuring the service, test a controlled reboot before relying on it for unattended streaming. A running FFmpeg process is only one checkpoint; confirm the receiving platform reports an incoming, healthy stream as well.
- Check that the Pi boots. If it does not, investigate the power supply, board, and boot path before troubleshooting systemd.
- Check the unit state. Use
systemctl status ffmpeg-stream.serviceto see whether it is active, failed, or repeatedly restarting. - Read current-boot logs. Use
journalctl -u ffmpeg-stream.service -bto look for a missing executable, permission problem, invalid input, network failure, or output error. - Validate both ends. Confirm the source and destination settings, then check the receiving platform for the incoming feed. Local service status is not an end-to-end broadcast check.
- Investigate frozen video separately. If the process remains active but the picture stops, a process restart policy may not detect it. Add stream-aware monitoring only if the source or platform provides a reliable signal to check.
If the Pi loses power again
On Raspberry Pi 1 through 4, the red PWR LED indicates normal operation with a stable 5 V supply; it can be off or flicker under undervoltage. Raspberry Pi 5 also documents power and reset reason fields. Use these as model-specific clues alongside the board documentation, not as a complete diagnosis of every sudden shutdown. See the Raspberry Pi configuration documentation.
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When a UPS is worth considering
A UPS or Raspberry Pi UPS HAT may bridge a short interruption, but it does not replace boot startup or process supervision. Check compatibility with the exact Pi model and account for the camera, peripherals, total load, power output, and required ride-through duration before choosing hardware. Runtime depends on that combination; no particular UPS model or runtime is established here.
Or let it run in the cloud
If your goal is a prerecorded YouTube stream that keeps running after your home power goes out, StreamNeo is a different approach from operating FFmpeg on a Pi: upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key, and go live. StreamNeo loops uploaded videos from the cloud, so no computer or home connection has to stay on. It supports uploaded video up to 4K 60fps at one flat price per slot, automatically recovers if YouTube drops the stream, and the first day is free with no card. Monthly pricing is $9.99 per month. StreamNeo is for YouTube and uploaded videos, not a live camera feed. Learn more at StreamNeo, or start the free first day.
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