To loop a playlist of local videos on YouTube Live, put the filenames in an FFmpeg concat-demuxer list, then use -stream_loop -1 to repeat that list indefinitely. The direct route works best when the files have compatible stream layouts and parameters; mismatched clips may need normalization or a re-encoding workflow first.
Choose the right way to join your files
FFmpeg’s concat demuxer reads a playlist as one virtual input. It is the straightforward choice when your clips have compatible streams and parameters. The concat filter is intended for workflows that require decoding and re-encoding, which lets you normalize differences such as resolution, frame rate, codec, audio layout, or time base. Do not assume that a playlist of mismatched files will join seamlessly without preparation. See the FFmpeg FAQ.
- Use the concat demuxer: source files are sufficiently compatible and you want a simpler input workflow.
- Normalize or use a filter/re-encode workflow: the files differ in ways that prevent a consistent output, or you need scaling, frame-rate conversion, or audio handling. Re-encoding requires encoding work and may introduce generation loss.
Build the playlist file
Create a plain-text file named playlist.txt in a location the account running FFmpeg can access. List one media file per line:
file 'clip-01.mp4'
file 'clip-02.mp4'
file 'clip-03.mp4'Use paths that are valid from the FFmpeg process’s working environment. If a filename or path contains spaces or punctuation, quote it correctly in the concat-file format and test a short run before going live.
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Send the repeating playlist to YouTube Live
For compatible inputs, this command is a starting template. Replace the output URL with the RTMP or RTMPS server address and stream key shown for your broadcast in YouTube Studio:
ffmpeg -re -stream_loop -1 -f concat -safe 0 -i playlist.txt
-c:v libx264 -preset veryfast -b:v 6M -maxrate 6M -bufsize 12M
-g 60 -r 30 -c:a aac -b:a 128k
-f flv 'rtmps://SERVER/APP/STREAM_KEY'-rereads the file input at its native rate, so FFmpeg simulates a live source rather than sending the file as fast as possible.-stream_loop -1repeats the input indefinitely.-f concat -safe 0 -i playlist.txtselects the concat demuxer and reads the playlist.-safe 0permits paths the demuxer would otherwise reject as unsafe; only use a playlist you control.-c:v libx264encodes video as H.264. The example uses a veryfast preset and sets a 6 Mbps target and maximum video bitrate with a 12 Mbps buffer.-r 30sets output frame rate to 30 fps.-g 60sets a 60-frame GOP, or two seconds at 30 fps.-c:a aac -b:a 128kencodes audio as AAC at 128 Kbps.-f flvselects the output container commonly used for RTMP/RTMPS ingest.
FFmpeg options apply to the next input or output in command order: input options such as -re and -stream_loop go before -i; encoding and muxer options go after the input and before the output address. The loop flag does not make incompatible clips compatible. Also, this example does not scale video, and files without audio may require silence synthesis or another method to provide a consistent audio stream.
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Match encoder settings to YouTube’s ingest guidance
Use the current YouTube Live encoder settings for the codec, resolution, and frame rate you plan to send. YouTube’s guidance supports RTMP/RTMPS ingest, H.264, H.265, or AV1 video, AAC or MP3 audio, up to 60 fps, constant bitrate (CBR), and a recommended keyframe interval of two seconds, no longer than four seconds. YouTube Help recommends streaming with RTMPS for encryption in transit.
The following are YouTube-published H.264 ingest recommendations, accessed in 2026—not guarantees of the quality viewers will receive:
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| Output setting | YouTube-recommended bitrate |
|---|---|
| 1080p at 30 fps | 10 Mbps |
| 1080p at 60 fps | 12 Mbps |
| 720p at 30 fps | 6 Mbps |
| Stereo audio | 128 Kbps |
The command template’s bitrate is not a universal recommendation: select settings for your actual output and check YouTube’s official table before broadcasting because guidance may change. Check that your upload connection can sustain the stream bitrate with headroom; YouTube advises choosing settings suited to a reliable connection.
Set up and test before relying on a long stream
- Create or select the broadcast: In YouTube Studio, open Live Control Room and create or select the stream. Copy its stream URL and key into the FFmpeg output address. The key is a credential; do not expose it in a public script, screenshot, or log. If it is compromised, reset it in Live Control Room as described in YouTube’s live encoder guidance.
- Check playlist access and compatibility: Run FFmpeg as the same account and environment that will handle the broadcast. Confirm it can read every listed path. If streams differ incompatibly, normalize them or switch to a filter/re-encoding workflow before sending the feed.
- Run a representative short test: Include typical motion and audio, then verify the stream appears in Live Control Room. YouTube recommends testing before going live and monitoring stream health and messages during the event.
- Plan for interruptions: Decide how you will notice missing files, network failures, or a stopped FFmpeg process, and how you will restart it. FFmpeg’s behavior should not be treated as a guarantee of automatic reconnection in every failure mode.
Troubleshoot common failures
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to check or change |
|---|---|---|
| FFmpeg cannot open a playlist entry | The path is wrong or unavailable to the account running FFmpeg; quoting may also be malformed. | Check each path from that account’s environment, correct the concat-file quoting, and test with a short playlist. |
| The transition between clips fails or output parameters change | Source streams are not compatible for demuxer concatenation. | Inspect the differing stream properties; normalize the clips or build a filter/re-encoding workflow with consistent output streams. |
| YouTube does not receive the feed | The output address, stream key, or ingest connection may be wrong. | Copy the current URL and key from the selected Live Control Room stream, verify the RTMPS address, and check Live Control Room messages. |
| Stream health reports bitrate or connection trouble | The chosen output settings may not suit the connection, or the connection may not have enough sustained upload capacity. | Use the matching YouTube bitrate guidance, check upload capacity with headroom, and test before a longer broadcast. |
| Audio is absent or inconsistent | One or more files may lack audio or use a different audio layout. | Check every source file. Synthesize silence or otherwise normalize audio if the output needs a consistent audio stream. |
| The stream stops and does not resume | The FFmpeg process, host, source files, or network may have failed; automatic recovery is not assured for every failure mode. | Monitor the process and Live Control Room, identify the failure, then restart or repair the workflow as needed. |
Or let it run in the cloud
If you want a YouTube playlist to stay live without leaving a computer or home connection running, StreamNeo runs uploaded videos from the cloud. Upload your recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key once, and go live. It is for uploaded video playback to YouTube, not a camera-based live feed.
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