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To stream a folder of videos to YouTube in sequence, create a text file that lists the clips in playback order, then use FFmpeg’s concat demuxer as the input to an RTMP or RTMPS live stream. This works directly only when the files have matching streams, codecs, and time bases; mixed files may need to be normalized first.
Before you start
- Install FFmpeg and make sure its
ffmpegcommand is available in a terminal or command prompt. - Your YouTube channel must be eligible to livestream. YouTube Help says the channel must be verified, have no live-streaming restriction in the prior 90 days, and the user must be at least 16. Check YouTube’s current eligibility rules and any account-specific restrictions before starting: YouTube live-streaming eligibility.
- Check that the clips are compatible for concat demuxer use. FFmpeg requires the files to have the same streams, codecs, and time bases. A folder containing dissimilar formats or encodings may need a conversion workflow tailored to those files.
- Plan for a stable upload connection that can sustain the selected output bitrate for the full stream. YouTube recommends testing the stream and monitoring its health.
Prepare an ordered concat list
The concat demuxer reads an explicit list of files in order; it does not choose the order of a folder for you. Put a text file named list.ffconcat beside the videos and use simple relative filenames when possible:
ffconcat version 1.0
file 'clip-01.mp4'
file 'clip-02.mp4'
file 'clip-03.mp4'The first line must be exactly ffconcat version 1.0. The listed order is the playback order. Keep names simple and use the correct spelling and extension. Paths containing whitespace or special characters require escaping or quoting according to FFmpeg’s concat script syntax; the safest starting point is to keep the list beside the media and use portable filenames.
If you generate the list from a folder
Sort filenames deterministically before writing entries. For example, ordinary alphabetical sorting may put clip-10.mp4 before clip-2.mp4; zero-padded names such as clip-02.mp4 avoid that ambiguity. Escape paths for FFmpeg’s concat syntax rather than copying arbitrary folder paths into the file.
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Safe mode is enabled by default and rejects unsafe paths and directives. Prefer relative paths with simple characters. Use -safe 0 only when you trust the list and every referenced path and understand why the default rejects it; do not use it to make an untrusted list work.
Get the YouTube ingest URL and stream key
- In YouTube Studio, create or select the live stream and open its Live Control Room.
- Copy the stream URL and stream key shown for that stream. YouTube’s encoder setup workflow is documented in Set up your encoder for live streaming.
- Prefer the RTMPS URL if your FFmpeg build and chosen workflow support it. YouTube describes RTMPS as RTMP over TLS/SSL and explains how to reveal and copy the RTMPS URL: Use RTMPS for live streaming.
Treat the key as a password. YouTube puts it plainly: “Stream keys are like your YouTube stream’s password and address.” Do not put it in a public script, screenshot, repository, or example command. YouTube documents resetting a compromised key in Live Control Room: Manage live stream settings.
Choose output settings that fit your files and connection
The concat demuxer joins compatible input packets; it does not make arbitrary sources match. When inputs differ in stream count, codecs, or time bases, direct concatenation can fail or produce broken output. Compare the files first, then normalize the mismatched sources to a consistent set of streams and encoding parameters before using the list. There is no reliable one-command conversion for every folder because the correct output depends on the source media and the quality you want.
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YouTube’s encoder guidance, checked on 2026-10-03, recommends CBR and keyframes every 2 seconds, with no more than 4 seconds between keyframes. It lists H.264, H.265/HEVC, and AV1 video options and AAC or MP3 audio; exact compatibility depends on the ingestion protocol and current YouTube support. For H.264, YouTube lists 10 Mbps for 1080p30 and 4 Mbps for 720p30. Its page gives separate minimum and maximum ranges for AV1 and H.265. These are current platform recommendations, not guarantees of stream quality or timeless requirements. See YouTube’s encoder settings for current guidance.
Choose a profile that the source material can support and your upload connection can sustain. A higher bitrate is not automatically better if the connection cannot maintain it. Test with representative footage, including motion and audio, and monitor YouTube’s stream health during the broadcast.
Start the FFmpeg stream
From the directory containing list.ffconcat and the clips, run the command below. Replace the example URL and key with the values from Live Control Room, and use an RTMPS URL if supported. The example encodes video as H.264 and audio as AAC to set common output parameters; set the bitrate and resolution for your actual source, connection, and YouTube’s current recommendations.
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ffmpeg -re -f concat -i list.ffconcat
-c:v libx264 -preset veryfast -b:v 10M -maxrate 10M -bufsize 20M
-r 30 -g 60 -pix_fmt yuv420p
-c:a aac -b:a 128k -ar 44100
-f flv "RTMPS_URL/STREAM_KEY"Here -re reads the file input at its native rate rather than sending it as fast as the machine can process it. -f concat -i list.ffconcat selects the concat demuxer and its ordered list. The video options request H.264 at 30 fps with a 60-frame GOP, which corresponds to a 2-second keyframe interval; the 10 Mbps example matches YouTube’s listed H.264 recommendation for 1080p30 checked on 2026-10-03. The audio options request AAC at 128 kbps and 44.1 kHz. These example encoding options are not a universal profile; change them when the source resolution, frame rate, audio, or available upload capacity calls for a different configuration.
Do not paste a real stream key into a command you intend to share or save in a public location. A shell command can also remain in terminal history. For a scheduled stream, wait until YouTube shows the encoder preview, then select Go live in Live Control Room. To finish, stop FFmpeg and use the Live Control Room’s end-stream workflow where applicable.
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FFmpeg says streams do not match, or the result is broken
Compare each input’s stream count, codecs, and time bases. The concat demuxer’s direct packet-level approach requires those properties to match. Normalize files that differ before concatenating; the conversion settings depend on the files and desired output.
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There are gaps, timestamp jumps, or artifacts between clips
The demuxer calculates the next file’s timestamp from the preceding file’s duration. An inaccurate or missing duration estimate can cause timestamp problems. If you know a file’s correct duration, a duration directive in the concat list can override the estimate. Check the media’s actual duration before adding one; do not use an arbitrary value.
FFmpeg rejects a path
Safe mode is on by default and may reject absolute paths or names containing unsafe characters. Move the list beside the files and use simple relative names where practical. Only use -safe 0 for a trusted list when you have a specific need for those paths.
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Check that the stream URL and key were copied from the correct Live Control Room stream, that the key has not been reset, and that the URL protocol matches what the encoder supports. YouTube’s RTMPS guidance notes that some encoders may not support RTMPS; if yours does not, use a supported ingest option offered for your stream.
YouTube reports poor stream health
Confirm that the connection can sustain the configured bitrate, the video and audio are present, and the frame rate and keyframe interval match the intended output. Test representative clips before the live event and monitor YouTube’s stream-health indicators while it runs.
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