What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
iTechGuides is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more
If FFmpeg is streaming a finite video file, it stops sending media when it reaches the end unless you tell it to loop. Put -stream_loop -1 before the relevant -i option to repeat that input indefinitely. For file playback that needs to run at live speed, add -re before the input as well. If YouTube still goes offline, check FFmpeg’s output and YouTube’s stream and broadcast statuses: they are separate parts of the live workflow.
Why does a YouTube livestream stop when the video ends?
A file has a finite duration. Once FFmpeg has read all of it, the input reaches end of file (EOF). Unless FFmpeg is looping the input, it stops producing packets from that file. If it was the source being sent to YouTube, the incoming feed stops too.
YouTube distinguishes the incoming stream—the feed sent by the encoder—from the viewer-facing broadcast. If automatic stop is enabled for the broadcast, YouTube says it ends the broadcast around a minute after video stops arriving. That is a likely explanation for a stream that ends when its file does, but confirming a particular case requires checking the FFmpeg command and logs as well as the broadcast settings. YouTube Live Broadcasts API documentation
Loop the FFmpeg input for a YouTube livestream
FFmpeg’s -stream_loop -1 option repeats an input indefinitely. It is an input option, so place it before the -i for the file you want to repeat. The FFmpeg command-line documentation states: “Loop 0 means no loop, loop -1 means infinite loop.”
#1 Best Overall
- MADE FOR THE MAKERS: Create; Explore; Store; The T7 Portable SSD delivers fast speeds and durable features to back up any endeavor; Build your video editing empire, file your photographs or back up your blogs all in an instant
- SHARE IDEAS IN A FLASH: Don’t waste a second waiting and spend more time doing; The T7 is embedded with PCIe NVMe technology that brings fast read and write speeds up to 1,050/1,000 MB/s¹, making it almost twice as fast as the T5
- ALWAYS MAKE THE SAVE: Compact design with massive capacity; With capacities up to 4TB, save exactly what you need to your drive – from large working files to game data and everything in between
- ADAPTS TO EVERY NEED: Whether using a PC or mobile phone, count on the T7 for extensive compatibility²; It’s a true team player when it comes to heavy-duty application usage or file-saving
- HI RESOLUTION VIDEO RECORDING: Record Ultra High Resolution (4K 60fs) videos directly onto the T7 Portable SSD with your favorite camera or mobile devices; Supports iPhone 15 Pro Res 4K at 60fps video and more³
ffmpeg -re -stream_loop -1 -i input.mp4 [encoding and audio/video options] -f flv rtmp://your-youtube-ingest-url/your-stream-keyThis is an illustrative command structure, not a tested command for every file, FFmpeg build, or YouTube ingest configuration. Keep the encoding, audio/video mapping, output format, ingest URL, and stream key appropriate to your setup. The loop setting controls the input named by the following -i; if your command has multiple inputs, put it before the one that actually ends.
What -re does
FFmpeg documents -re as reading input at its native frame rate, equivalent to -readrate 1. This is useful when a file must be sent at live speed instead of being read as quickly as possible. Use it for file playback when real-time pacing is required; FFmpeg cautions that imposing a low read rate on a source that is already live can cause packet loss. FFmpeg command-line documentation
Rank #2
- Get NVMe solid state performance with up to 1050MB/s read and 1000MB/s write speeds in a portable, high-capacity drive(1) (Based on internal testing; performance may be lower depending on host device & other factors. 1MB=1,000,000 bytes.)
- Up to 3-meter drop protection and IP65 water and dust resistance mean this tough drive can take a beating(3) (Previously rated for 2-meter drop protection and IP55 rating. Now qualified for the higher, stated specs.)
- Use the handy carabiner loop to secure it to your belt loop or backpack for extra peace of mind.
- Help keep private content private with the included password protection featuring 256‐bit AES hardware encryption.(3)
- Easily manage files and automatically free up space with the SanDisk Memory Zone app.(5). Non-Operating Temperature -20°C to 85°C
Check options against your FFmpeg version
The online FFmpeg command-line documentation is regenerated nightly. If an option behaves differently on your system, check ffmpeg -h full or the documentation installed with the version you are actually running. FFmpeg command-line documentation
Recommended Free Tools
Check FFmpeg and YouTube separately
Fixing the file loop addresses one possible cause: the encoder reaching EOF and stopping its feed. YouTube’s broadcast has its own lifecycle. For broadcasts managed through the YouTube API, YouTube documents stopping video transmission and transitioning the broadcast to complete as the normal explicit end procedure. A broadcast with automatic stop can also complete after its incoming feed stops. YouTube Live Broadcasts API documentation
Rank #3
- Capacity Reminder: Display capacity of 128GB SSD often appears as around 116GB on Windows. MacOS typically shows full 128GB. This display capacity reduction of 7% to 10% from SSD actual capacity is from algorithms differences in which 1GB is interpreted as 1024MB on Windows and 1000MB on SSDs
- 550MB/s: Instantly access to your files with blazing 6Gbps external ssd speed up to 550MB/s. LED Light indicates portable ssd instant activity (Actual speed depends on drive capacity, host device, OS and application)
- Data Security: Master external solid state drives health with S.M.A.R.T. monitoring. TRIM technology ensures consistent write speeds and extends the longevity of the portable SSD
- USB C+A : Both USB-C cable and USB-A adapter featuring rapid USB 3.2 Gen2, this USB SSD effortlessly bridges devices, enabling seamless cross-platform file transfers between computers, smartphones, tablets and Phones
- Always Fast: No slowdowns during large file transfers. This external ssd remains steady 6Gbps by using high speed SLC caching (25%of the current available capacity is allocated for high speed cache)
For API-controlled transitions to testing or live, YouTube requires the bound stream’s status.streamStatus to be active. A transition to live may first show liveStarting; YouTube says it usually takes 5 to 10 seconds and can take up to a minute. Check the status until it reaches live before treating that transition as failed. YouTube broadcast transition documentation YouTube Live Streams API documentation
Troubleshoot a stream that still goes offline
- Check the loop placement. Confirm
-stream_loop -1is before the-ifor the input that ends. With multiple inputs, it must apply to the file you intend to repeat. - Check real-time pacing. For file playback that should be sent at live speed, use
-rebefore the input. Do not impose that pacing option on an already-live source without a reason. - Inspect FFmpeg at the time of the drop. Check whether the process exited at EOF, reported an encoding error, or remained running but lost its RTMP output. The error and process logs help distinguish these cases.
- Check YouTube’s stream status. For an API-managed broadcast transition to testing or live, verify the bound stream reports
status.streamStatusasactive. - Check the broadcast lifecycle. If FFmpeg is healthy but the viewer-facing broadcast is not live, see whether the broadcast was completed or automatic-stop behavior took effect.
- Allow for startup. If YouTube reports
liveStarting, wait for the documented transition interval and check again; it can take up to a minute.
These checks identify useful diagnostic branches, but without your command, logs, FFmpeg version, and YouTube broadcast settings, they cannot identify which one caused a particular outage.
Rank #4
- Easily store and access 2TB to content on the go with the Seagate Portable Drive, a USB external hard drive
- Designed to work with Windows or Mac computers, this external hard drive makes backup a snap just drag and drop
- To get set up, connect the portable hard drive to a computer for automatic recognition no software required
- This USB drive provides plug and play simplicity with the included 18 inch USB 3.0 cable
- The available storage capacity may vary.
Choose between looping a file and a cloud service
Looping with FFmpeg suits a stream whose intended content is the same file repeated. A continuous or changing programme needs a source or process designed to keep providing media. Whichever approach you use, consider what happens if the process stops, what monitoring it needs, and whether its configuration matches the YouTube broadcast lifecycle. The FFmpeg and YouTube documentation above supports the loop and broadcast-status checks; it does not establish a particular third-party streaming service as the right fit.
Crashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?
Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minuteWindows Errors? Fix Them Before They Spread
Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallOr let it run in the cloud
If you want a YouTube channel to keep playing uploaded videos without leaving a computer running at home, StreamNeo runs the stream from the cloud. Upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key once, and go live. It loops uploaded videos; it does not stream from a camera, and it streams to YouTube only.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Capacity Display Variance: 250GB external ssd often appears as around 232GB on Windows. MacOS can show full 250 GB capacity. This is binary calculation difference and doesn’t affect SSD hard drive actual physical storage
- 1050 MB/s Speed: Instantly access to your files with blazing-fast 10Gbps external SSD read up to 1050MB/s and write up to 1000MB/s. LED Light indicates USB SSD instant activity
- Data Security: Solid state drives S.M.A.R.T. health diagnostics and adaptive TRIM optimizing data block management ensures consistent write speeds and extends the longevity of the portable SSD
- USB-C & USB-A Cable: Both cables featuring rapid USB 3.2 Gen2, this USB SSD effortlessly bridges devices, enabling seamless cross-platform file transfers and backup between computers, smartphones, tablets and iPhone
- Always Fast: No slowdowns for large file transfers. With SLC caching (25% of current available capacity allocated as high-speed cache), this external SSD delivers steady 10Gbps for transfers within the cache capacity
- Nothing has to stay on at home: StreamNeo keeps the stream running from the cloud.
- Every slot uses one flat price for any quality up to 4K 60fps, as uploaded, with no re-encode or quality tiers.
- It automatically recovers if YouTube drops the stream.
- The first day is free with no card, once per account. The monthly plan is $9.99 per month.
Start your free StreamNeo day.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
