To stream a local playlist continuously, put compatible video files in an FFmpeg concat manifest, then use the concat demuxer with -stream_loop -1 and send the output to the stream URL and key from YouTube Live Control Room. The method works best when the files have matching streams, codecs, and time bases; test the transitions and loop boundary before making the stream public.
What you need before you start
- FFmpeg installed on a computer that can stay on and connected to the internet for the stream’s duration.
- Local video files you have the right to broadcast. This workflow is for your own local media; it does not cover downloading or rebroadcasting videos from YouTube.
- A YouTube channel set up for live streaming, plus the current stream URL and stream key from YouTube Studio’s Live Control Room. YouTube says to enter these into the encoder to start streaming (YouTube’s encoder setup guide). Treat the key like a password: do not share it or expose it in a public script or screenshot.
Choose the stream’s visibility and audience settings in YouTube Studio before going live. YouTube’s live guidance describes selecting visibility and configuring the encoder destination (YouTube Help).
Prepare the playlist manifest
Create a plain-text file named playlist.txt and list the media files in playback order. For example:
ffconcat version 1.0
file '/media/show/part-01.mp4'
file '/media/show/part-02.mp4'
file '/media/show/part-03.mp4'Use the actual paths on your computer. The ffconcat version 1.0 line must be the first line, exactly as shown, for FFmpeg to recognize this manifest format automatically. The concat demuxer reads the files in order and computes later timestamps from each file’s duration; incorrect duration metadata can cause gaps or artifacts (FFmpeg concat demuxer documentation).
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Check whether stream copy is suitable
The concat demuxer expects the files to have the same streams, codecs, and time bases. If those properties match, stream copy with -c copy can avoid re-encoding. It is not a guarantee of seamless transitions for arbitrary files: duration accuracy and actual playback still matter.
If your files have different stream layouts or codec parameters, normalize and re-encode them, or use FFmpeg’s concat filter. The filter is the appropriate route when re-encoding is required; it gives you a way to bring inputs into a consistent output format at the cost of additional CPU and an encode step (FFmpeg FAQ).
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Start the continuous stream
For compatible files, this schematic command loops the concat input indefinitely, reads it at real-time speed, and sends it to YouTube:
ffmpeg -re -stream_loop -1 -f concat -safe 0 -i playlist.txt
-c copy -f flv 'rtmps://<ingest-host>/<stream-key>'Replace the destination with the current stream URL and key supplied in YouTube Live Control Room. Do not publish a command containing your real key. YouTube describes the URL and key as the encoder destination and credential (YouTube encoder setup; YouTube stream settings).
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-repaces file input in real time for live output.-stream_loop -1repeats the input indefinitely; FFmpeg documents-1as infinite looping (FFmpeg command-line documentation).-f concatselects the concat demuxer.-safe 0relaxes the demuxer’s path restrictions. Use it only when the manifest and every referenced path are under your control.-c copycopies compatible streams rather than encoding them again.-f flvsets the outgoing container used by this example. Confirm the target ingest configuration and your FFmpeg build before relying on the command.
This is an adaptable example, not a tested universal command. The concat demuxer’s compatibility requirements and timestamp behavior mean that a successful start does not prove every transition will be clean.
Set YouTube-compatible encoder settings
Match the output to YouTube’s current encoder recommendations and to the media you are sending. YouTube’s guidance lists RTMP/RTMPS protocols; H.264, H.265/HEVC, and AV1 video; AAC or MP3 audio; constant bitrate (CBR); frame rates up to 60 fps; and a recommended two-second keyframe interval that should not exceed four seconds (YouTube encoder settings, bitrates, and resolutions).
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For broad compatibility, H.264 video with AAC audio over RTMPS is a sensible starting point, but it is not a substitute for checking the current Live Control Room guidance. Select a bitrate from YouTube’s resolution- and frame-rate-specific recommendations, and make sure your available upload bandwidth can sustain it. There is no single bitrate that is correct for every resolution, frame rate, and codec.
Test the playlist and monitor the stream
- Start with an unlisted or otherwise appropriate test stream in YouTube Live Control Room.
- Check the preview and stream-health indicators while the encoder is running.
- Watch transitions between files and the final-to-first transition at the loop boundary. This can reveal mismatched streams, timestamp gaps, or inaccurate duration metadata.
- If the preview or health indicators show problems, stop the test and resolve the media or output settings before switching to the intended visibility.
YouTube recommends testing before going live and monitoring stream health (YouTube encoder settings). When finished, stop the outgoing stream from the encoder and end the stream in Live Control Room as appropriate. YouTube’s encoder guide says streams shorter than 12 hours are automatically archived after they end; do not assume the same archival behavior for streams that exceed 12 hours (YouTube encoder setup).
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Common problems and fixes
FFmpeg rejects the manifest or cannot open a file
- Confirm
ffconcat version 1.0is the first line and that every file path is valid on the machine running FFmpeg. - Use quoted paths as in the example, and check that the process has permission to read each file.
- If you used
-safe 0, make sure the manifest and paths are trusted and controlled by you.
The stream starts, but transitions have gaps or artifacts
Check whether every file has matching streams, codecs, and time bases. Review duration metadata because the concat demuxer uses file durations to calculate subsequent timestamps. Test individual transitions and the loop boundary. If the sources are incompatible, normalize and re-encode them or use the concat filter rather than relying on packet-copy concatenation (FFmpeg concat documentation; FFmpeg FAQ).
YouTube does not receive the stream
- Verify that the URL and key are the current values shown in Live Control Room and that the key has not been mistyped. Keep it private.
- Check that the outgoing protocol, codecs, bitrate, frame rate, and keyframe interval align with YouTube’s current recommendations for the selected output (YouTube encoder settings).
- Confirm that the computer’s upload connection can sustain the selected bitrate, then review YouTube’s stream-health feedback.
The stream stops when the computer or connection stops
This FFmpeg setup runs from your computer, so the process, machine, and network connection must remain available. If you need the playlist to continue without a home computer running, use a cloud-hosted approach instead.
Or let it run in the cloud
StreamNeo is an alternative if your goal is continuous playback of uploaded videos on YouTube without keeping a computer on at home. Upload your recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key, and go live. StreamNeo loops the uploaded videos from the cloud; it does not stream from a camera.
- Nothing has to stay on at home for the stream to keep running.
- Each slot streams your upload as made, up to 4K 60fps, at one flat price per slot, without re-encoding or quality tiers.
- It automatically recovers if YouTube drops the stream.
- The first day is free with no card, once per account.
The monthly option is $9.99 per month. See StreamNeo for details, or start the free first day.
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