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You can send a prerecorded video from Ubuntu to YouTube Live with FFmpeg by creating a live event in YouTube Studio, copying that event’s RTMPS ingest URL and stream key, and starting an FFmpeg command that reads the file in real time. For a scheduled event, FFmpeg sending video is not the final step: wait for the preview in Live Control Room, check the stream, then click Go live.
Before you start: account, file and key
- Your YouTube channel must be verified and have no live-streaming restrictions during the preceding 90 days. See YouTube’s live-streaming eligibility and setup guidance.
- Have the video file on the Ubuntu computer and a reliable internet connection with enough upload capacity for the stream.
- Install an FFmpeg build with the required input, H.264 encoder, FLV muxer and RTMPS protocol support. Availability varies by build; check the installed build rather than assuming every Ubuntu package includes these components.
In YouTube Studio, open Create > Go live to reach Live Control Room, then create or schedule the event. Copy the stream URL and stream key for the selected event. The key is a credential: do not publish it in screenshots, shared scripts, public logs or shell history. If it is exposed, reset it in YouTube’s stream settings. YouTube’s Live Control Room instructions cover creating and managing a stream.
Choose a compatible video and encoder configuration
FFmpeg can pass a file’s video and audio through encoding and package the result for YouTube, but a source file is not guaranteed to be suitable unchanged. The illustrative command below encodes video as H.264 and audio as AAC. Match its output resolution, frame rate, bitrate and audio to the source, your upload capacity and YouTube’s current ingest requirements.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →| Setting | YouTube guidance for RTMP/RTMPS |
|---|---|
| Ingest protocol | RTMPS is recommended; obtain the actual ingest URL from Live Control Room. |
| Video codec | H.264, H.265/HEVC or AV1; the example uses H.264. |
| Frame rate | Up to 60 fps. |
| Keyframes | Two-second interval recommended; do not exceed four seconds. |
| Rate control | CBR. |
| Audio | AAC or MP3. Stereo sample rate: 44.1 kHz; 5.1: 48 kHz. Recommended bitrate: 128 Kbps stereo or 384 Kbps 5.1. RTMP/RTMPS 5.1 support requires AAC. |
| SDR color | Rec. 709. |
For H.264, YouTube lists recommended bitrate ranges of 5–14 Mbps at 1080p30, 6–17 Mbps at 1080p60, 3–8 Mbps at 720p60 and 3–8 Mbps at 720p30. These are YouTube’s published recommendations, not a guarantee that a particular connection or source will work at every value. Check YouTube’s current encoder settings for the complete resolution and codec guidance before choosing final settings.
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Build and run the FFmpeg command
This is an illustrative pattern, not a command verified against your Ubuntu installation, source file or event. Replace the placeholders, use the exact endpoint shown for your event, and protect the key. The sample loops the file continuously and assumes a 30 fps output for its two-second, 60-frame GOP.
ffmpeg -re -stream_loop -1 -i input.mp4
-c:v libx264 -preset veryfast -b:v 6000k -maxrate 6000k -bufsize 12000k
-g 60 -keyint_min 60 -sc_threshold 0
-c:a aac -b:a 128k -ar 44100
-f flv 'rtmps://CURRENT_INGEST_URL/STREAM_KEY'- Check your build. Run
ffmpeg -versionandffmpeg -protocols; confirm RTMPS is listed. Check available encoders withffmpeg -encodersand confirmlibx264is present if using this example. If it is missing, use a build with that encoder or select an available encoder supported by YouTube. - Inspect the source. Use
ffprobe input.mp4to check its streams, resolution, frame rate and audio. If the file has no audio or multiple audio streams, adjust mapping and audio options; do not assume the first stream is the one you want. - Set output values deliberately. The sample uses a 6 Mbps video target and maximum, a 12 Mbps buffer and 128 Kbps stereo AAC. They are example values, not universal requirements. The sample’s
-g 60and-keyint_min 60correspond to two seconds only at 30 fps. At a different output frame rate, set the GOP/keyframe interval to about two seconds’ worth of frames; retain the four-second maximum. - Choose looping or one-pass playback. Keep
-stream_loop -1to repeat the input indefinitely. Remove it to send the file once. The-reoption reads the file at its native playback pace rather than sending it as fast as the computer can encode. - Insert the event credentials safely. Replace the placeholder with the RTMPS server URL and key for the same event. Avoid putting a real key in a command copied into shared notes or a public script; shell history and process inspection can expose command-line secrets. Use a suitably protected method for your setup.
- Start FFmpeg. Run the adapted command and watch its output for connection or encoding errors. Do not treat a running process as proof that viewers can see a valid stream.
The endpoint is event-specific. YouTube may display an RTMP URL by default; expose and copy the RTMPS address. RTMPS encrypts the connection. See YouTube’s RTMPS instructions if you need to locate the secure ingest option.
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Preview, go live and end the stream
- For a scheduled event, keep FFmpeg sending and wait for the incoming stream preview in Live Control Room.
- Check YouTube’s stream-health messages and verify the picture and sound. When the preview is ready, click Go live; merely starting FFmpeg does not make a scheduled event public.
- Check the event’s watch page and, where relevant, test playback on a phone. Monitor audio, video and stream health while it runs.
- To finish, end the event in Live Control Room where applicable, then stop the FFmpeg process. YouTube says streams under 12 hours are automatically archived; do not assume the same archiving behavior for longer sessions.
YouTube recommends setting up an encoder at least two hours before an event and starting it at least 15 minutes before the scheduled time. It also recommends testing with representative motion and audio, checking upload bitrate and monitoring the broadcast. These are operational recommendations, not protection against network outages. See YouTube’s live encoder tips.
Troubleshoot common FFmpeg-to-YouTube problems
- No connection or timeout: confirm the RTMPS URL and server were copied from the correct event, and check that the installed FFmpeg build supports RTMPS.
- TLS or SSL error: verify that the URL uses RTMPS rather than RTMP and that the server portion is correct. YouTube suggests trying port 443 if the URL otherwise appears correct.
- No preview in Live Control Room: make sure FFmpeg is actively sending to that event’s URL and key. Check FFmpeg’s output and Live Control Room messages; a key for a different event will not send to the intended event.
- Buffering or unstable ingest: check available upload capacity and reduce bitrate or resolution to a level the connection can sustain. Test with representative content before the event.
- Missing or unsupported audio: inspect the input’s audio streams and mapping. Use an ingest-supported AAC or MP3 configuration and the appropriate sample rate; RTMP/RTMPS 5.1 requires AAC.
- FFmpeg says it is running, but the event is not usable: verify the preview, stream health, watch-page accessibility and actual audio/video output rather than relying on process status alone.
- Live Control Room reports a quality or format issue: compare the actual output codec, frame rate, keyframe interval, bitrate and color settings with YouTube’s current encoder requirements. Source properties and selected FFmpeg output options both matter.
Copyright and YouTube policy checks
Having a file locally does not establish that you have permission to broadcast it. Before streaming, confirm that you own or have the necessary rights to the video, music and other material, and review YouTube’s applicable copyright rules. Repeating a recording as a live broadcast also does not by itself establish eligibility for monetization: YouTube’s channel monetization policies assess reused content separately from copyright permission. Check the policies that apply to your channel and material before scheduling.
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Scheduling can let viewers find an event in advance and set reminders, but it does not change the need to check the event’s audience access and playback before going live. YouTube describes scheduling and event management in its Live Control Room guide.
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