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Use FFmpeg to send a local video to YouTube Live, looping it with -stream_loop -1 and pacing playback with -re. You’ll need a verified, eligible YouTube channel, the event’s server URL and stream key from Live Control Room, and a Linux system with a suitable FFmpeg build. The example below is a starting point: test it with your own file and stream settings before using it for a long-running broadcast.
What you need before starting
- A channel that can livestream: YouTube requires channel verification and no live-streaming restrictions in the previous 90 days. The minimum age to livestream is 16. See YouTube’s live-streaming eligibility requirements.
- A video file on the Linux machine: Make sure you have the rights needed to stream its picture and audio.
- FFmpeg: Install it from a trusted source for your Linux distribution. Available encoders and options depend on the build; check the version and whether it includes
libx264before using the example. - A reliable upload connection: Choose output settings that fit both your source file and the connection’s sustained upload capacity.
The steps below are for sending a prerecorded file as a live feed, not broadcasting a camera or a live input.
Create a YouTube Live stream and get its credentials
- Open YouTube Studio and go to Create > Go live to open Live Control Room. Create a stream or select the scheduled stream you intend to use. YouTube’s encoder setup guide describes this flow.
- In the stream settings, copy the server URL and stream key for the selected stream. Use the values YouTube displays; do not assume every event or endpoint uses the same URL format.
- Keep the stream key private. YouTube Help says, “Stream keys are like your YouTube stream’s password and address.” If a key is exposed, reset it in Manage live stream settings and update the encoder’s credentials.
Sending video from FFmpeg and making a scheduled event public can be separate steps. Unless you have deliberately enabled auto-start, wait for the encoder preview in Live Control Room and use its Go live action when you are ready.
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Check FFmpeg and its encoder
Run ffmpeg -version to see the installed build. Check the video encoder list with ffmpeg -encoders and confirm that libx264 is available if you plan to use the H.264 command below. If your distribution’s build lacks it, install a suitable trusted FFmpeg build or adapt the command to an encoder that is available.
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Store the URL and key outside the script
Do not put credentials in the script file or commit them to source control. Export them in a protected shell session, or use an appropriate secret store. For example, in a private terminal session:
export YOUTUBE_RTMPS_URL='paste the server URL shown in Live Control Room here'
export YOUTUBE_STREAM_KEY='paste the stream key here'Use the actual values from Live Control Room. Limit access to any environment file or secret used to set them, and do not share terminal output that reveals the key.
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Loop the file with FFmpeg
Save this as youtube-loop.sh and make it executable with chmod +x youtube-loop.sh. The script accepts a filename argument and defaults to loop.mp4.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute#!/usr/bin/env bash
set -euo pipefail
: "${YOUTUBE_RTMPS_URL:?Set the stream URL from YouTube Live Control Room}"
: "${YOUTUBE_STREAM_KEY:?Set the stream key privately}"
INPUT=${1:-loop.mp4}
exec ffmpeg -re -stream_loop -1 -i "$INPUT"
-c:v libx264 -preset veryfast -pix_fmt yuv420p
-r 30 -g 60 -keyint_min 60 -sc_threshold 0
-b:v 2500k -maxrate 2500k -bufsize 5000k
-c:a aac -b:a 128k -ar 44100
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What the example’s output settings mean
-c:v libx264encodes video as H.264;-preset veryfasttrades compression efficiency for lower encoding workload.-pix_fmt yuv420pselects a widely supported pixel format.-r 30sets output to 30 frames per second.-g 60and-keyint_min 60set a 60-frame keyframe interval at 30 fps, or two seconds.-sc_threshold 0prevents scene-change detection from inserting extra keyframes.-b:v,-maxrateand-bufsizeconfigure video bitrate and rate control. The example’s 2,500 Kbps video target is illustrative, not a universal YouTube requirement; select a bitrate and resolution appropriate to the source and your sustained upload speed.-c:a aac -b:a 128k -ar 44100encodes AAC audio at 128 Kbps and 44.1 kHz. If the source has no audio, consider adding an intentional audio track or adapting the command and checking the resulting preview.-f flvselects the output container commonly used for RTMP/RTMPS ingest. The final argument joins the displayed URL and key in the format shown by the example; check the URL form for your selected stream before relying on it.
YouTube recommends RTMPS for secure ingest and lists H.264, constant bitrate (CBR), keyframes every two seconds (with a maximum interval of four seconds), AAC or MP3 audio, and stereo audio at 44.1 kHz and 128 Kbps in its encoder settings guidance. The sample follows several of those recommendations, but its bitrate and output resolution should not be treated as a prescribed universal combination. If you alter frame rate, adjust the keyframe interval to preserve the intended time between keyframes. HLS is another ingest option for some use cases, including HDR or codecs unsupported over RTMP, but segmented delivery has higher latency; use RTMPS for this straightforward H.264 shell-script setup unless you have a specific reason to choose otherwise.
Test the stream before publishing
- Start a controlled test stream and watch the FFmpeg output for errors. Confirm that the file opens, the video encodes, and the connection is accepted.
- In Live Control Room, wait for the preview. Check picture, audio, stream health, and the event’s visibility before making it public.
- For a scheduled stream, select Go live in Live Control Room if auto-start is not enabled. Encoder transmission alone does not necessarily activate the event for viewers.
- Monitor the stream after it starts. YouTube recommends testing and ongoing monitoring in its live-streaming tips.
Keep the loop running and end it safely
The script keeps running only while the FFmpeg process and the Linux machine remain available. Closing the terminal, logging out, a reboot, power loss, network failure, or process failure can interrupt it. For an unattended run on your own system, use a process manager or service supervisor and configure it to start after reboot; that improves process management but does not make the computer or connection failure-proof.
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FFmpeg’s formats documentation includes an RTMP FIFO output example with options to attempt recovery after a temporary failure. Such recovery configuration adds complexity and does not guarantee that every interruption will recover. See the FFmpeg formats documentation before adapting the output path.
To stop deliberately, interrupt the FFmpeg process, then end the broadcast using Live Control Room controls as appropriate. YouTube says streams under 12 hours are automatically archived. Do not assume a longer continuous loop will produce one complete archive; plan duration and recording separately. See the archive guidance in YouTube’s encoder setup page.
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Troubleshoot common failures
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Script exits before connecting | The URL or key environment variable is unset, or the file path is wrong. | Check that both variables are set in the same shell that launches the script, and verify the input filename and permissions. Do not print the key while debugging. |
Unknown encoder 'libx264' |
The installed FFmpeg build does not include that encoder. | Check ffmpeg -encoders; install a suitable trusted build or adapt the script to an available encoder and verify YouTube compatibility. |
| Connection rejected or no preview appears | The selected server URL or key may be incorrect, stale, or mismatched to the event; the URL concatenation may not match the displayed endpoint format. | Copy the URL and key again from the correct Live Control Room stream. Confirm how the displayed URL and key are meant to be supplied. Reset an exposed key and update the script environment. |
| FFmpeg is connected, but the scheduled event is not public | The encoder is sending, but the event still awaits activation. | Wait for preview and use Live Control Room’s Go live control unless you intentionally configured auto-start. |
| Stream health degrades or video stalls | The configured bitrate may exceed sustained upload capacity, or the machine may be unable to encode in real time. | Lower the output resolution or bitrate, use a faster preset or capable encoder, and test the sustained connection and system load before the next broadcast. |
| Audio is missing or sounds wrong | The source may lack an audio stream or use an unexpected format or sample rate. | Inspect the source streams, confirm the AAC output settings and preview audio in Live Control Room; adapt the command if the source has no audio. |
| Loop stops after an interruption | The FFmpeg process or host exited, or the connection was not recovered. | Inspect process and system logs, restart the process if needed, and consider a supervised process or FFmpeg’s documented FIFO recovery options. Recovery attempts are not guarantees. |
Copyright and YouTube policy checks
A looping file still needs the necessary rights for its video, music, and other included material. A live-stream encoder does not grant permission to rebroadcast content. Before scheduling a long loop, review the rights for every segment and check the event’s visibility and audience settings in Live Control Room. YouTube’s live-streaming eligibility and setup requirements can change, so confirm current rules in its eligibility guidance and encoder setup instructions.
Run the loop on your own Linux machine or in the cloud?
A local Linux desktop or server avoids a hosting bill, but it must stay powered on, connected, and able to encode throughout the broadcast. A hosted Linux instance can keep the process away from home power and internet interruptions, but you are responsible for setup, credentials, monitoring, and the host’s reliability and cost. The right choice depends on how much administration you want and how important continuity is; no particular hosting provider is required for this workflow.
Or let it run in the cloud
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