To loop a prerecorded video on YouTube Live from Windows, use FFmpeg with -stream_loop -1 to repeat the file and -re to send it at normal playback speed. Encode to a YouTube-compatible format, then send the output to the current server URL and stream key shown in YouTube Live Control Room. The command below is a configurable template, not a tested command.
Before you start
- An eligible YouTube channel: YouTube says the channel must be verified and must not have had live-streaming restrictions in the past 90 days. First-time live-stream activation can take up to 24 hours, according to YouTube Help pages accessed in 2026. YouTube encoder setup and live-stream eligibility.
- FFmpeg available in Command Prompt: Confirm
ffmpegruns and that your Windows build includes thelibx264encoder used below. This guide does not specify a download provider. - A video file and reliable upload: Choose output settings supported by your source, and leave upload capacity beyond the stream bitrate. YouTube recommends keeping 20% of upload bandwidth available beyond the total stream bitrate. YouTube streaming tips.
- Your current YouTube ingest credentials: A server URL and stream key for the stream you intend to broadcast. Treat the key like a password.
Set up YouTube Live and get the stream key
- Open YouTube Studio and enter Live Control Room. Create or select the stream you want to use.
- In the encoder setup, copy the server URL and the matching stream key. Use the values shown for that stream; do not assume a URL format or reuse credentials from a different event. YouTube recommends RTMPS for encoder ingest. YouTube encoder setup and YouTube encoder settings.
- Keep the key private. If it is exposed, reset it in YouTube Studio and replace it in your FFmpeg command. YouTube stream-key guidance.
Prepare the FFmpeg command
Replace the example file path and destination with your own. The bitrate and GOP shown are examples for 1080p30 H.264, not universal settings. YouTube’s current encoder guidance recommends H.264 at 5–14 Mbps for 1080p30, CBR, and a two-second keyframe interval; do not exceed four seconds. Select values from YouTube’s table for your actual codec, resolution, and frame rate. YouTube encoder settings.
ffmpeg -re -stream_loop -1 -i "C:Videosprerecorded.mp4" -c:v libx264 -preset veryfast -b:v 6000k -maxrate 6000k -bufsize 12000k -pix_fmt yuv420p -g 60 -c:a aac -b:a 128k -f flv "rtmps://SERVER/APP/STREAM_KEY"At 30 frames per second, -g 60 sets a 60-frame GOP, or two seconds between keyframes. If you use a different frame rate, change -g so the interval remains about two seconds. Replace the destination placeholder with the complete server URL and stream key supplied by Live Control Room; the example URL is not a real destination.
What the options do
-rereads the file at its native rate instead of sending it as fast as the computer can process it.-stream_loop -1repeats the input indefinitely. It is an input option, so it appears before the associated-i.-iselects the prerecorded file.-c:v libx264encodes H.264 video, provided your FFmpeg build includes that encoder.-b:vsets the target video bitrate.-maxrateand-bufsizeshape rate control in this example; verify the full configuration against YouTube’s current guidance.-pix_fmt yuv420pselects a commonly used pixel format for compatibility.-gsets GOP spacing in frames; set it in relation to your frame rate.-c:a aac -b:a 128kencodes audio as AAC at the example bitrate. If the source is silent or has no audio stream, adapt the command accordingly.-f flvselects the output container used with RTMP-family ingest. YouTube recommends RTMPS; use the destination supplied in Live Control Room.
FFmpeg documents -stream_loop and -re as input options for looping and real-time pacing. FFmpeg command-line documentation.
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Start, check, and stop the broadcast
- Open Command Prompt, enter the completed command, and press Enter. Watch FFmpeg’s output for input, encoder, or connection errors.
- Wait for the stream preview to appear in Live Control Room. Before broadcasting to an audience, test with representative movement and audio, inspect the preview, and monitor stream health. YouTube says, “Make sure to test before you start your live stream.” YouTube encoder settings.
- For a scheduled broadcast, use the controls in Live Control Room to start the event after the preview is present. Keep monitoring the stream while it runs.
- To finish, end the event in YouTube when applicable, then stop FFmpeg in the Command Prompt window. YouTube states that streams under 12 hours are automatically archived; its guidance does not establish the same behavior for longer streams. YouTube archive guidance.
Make the loop sound and look right
Looping the input does not guarantee a seamless transition. Listen and watch at the file boundary during a test. If the audio clicks, drops, or restarts awkwardly, or the picture visibly jumps, edit or re-encode the source and test the revised loop. Copying a file without re-encoding may save CPU, but compatibility depends on its codecs, timestamps, container behavior, and stream parameters; it is not a reliable assumption for every file.
Confirm the file contains the audio you expect. A silent source may need a different command, and neither FFmpeg’s loop option nor YouTube’s guidance guarantees gapless audio at each repeat.
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Copyright and YouTube live-stream rules
Only broadcast video and audio you have the rights or permission to use. A prerecorded file being sent through an encoder does not make copyrighted music, footage, or other material safe to rebroadcast. Check YouTube’s applicable copyright rules and any licenses or permissions covering the complete recording before going live. Repeating a video also does not change whether you are entitled to use it.
Check YouTube’s current live-stream eligibility and content policies for your channel and broadcast. Eligibility can be affected by channel status, and YouTube says a channel with live-streaming restrictions in the prior 90 days is not eligible under its stated requirements. YouTube live-stream eligibility.
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Troubleshoot common FFmpeg-to-YouTube problems
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to check or do |
|---|---|---|
| No preview or connection error | Wrong, outdated, or mismatched server URL or stream key. | Copy the current values from the intended stream in Live Control Room. If needed, obtain a new key there and update the command. YouTube encoder setup and stream-key guidance. |
| YouTube rejects the stream or reports poor health | Incompatible protocol or encoding settings, or insufficient upload capacity. | Check RTMPS, codec, CBR, resolution, frame rate, bitrate, and keyframe spacing against YouTube’s current settings. Leave the recommended 20% upload headroom and watch stream health. Encoder settings and streaming tips. |
| Video loops but audio is missing or wrong | The source has no intended audio stream, or the command does not match its audio. | Check the source file and adapt the audio options, then test the entire repeat boundary. Do not assume the loop will be gapless. |
| The stream stops unexpectedly | FFmpeg input or encoder failure, network interruption, or an issue with the YouTube event. | Read the FFmpeg console output, check the connection and source file, and inspect Live Control Room. -stream_loop -1 repeats the input; it does not guarantee continuous internet access or an uninterrupted YouTube event. |
Unknown encoder 'libx264' |
The available FFmpeg build does not include the encoder used in the template. | Use a Windows FFmpeg build that includes libx264, or adapt the command to an encoder available in your build and verify its output settings. |
| The key may have been exposed | Someone else could use the stream credential. | Reset the key in YouTube Studio and update the command with the replacement before streaming again. YouTube stream-key guidance. |
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