<p>With ffmpeg 2.8.4, the following command creates output.mp4 that is a repeating copy of input.mp4 until the ffmpeg process is stopped:</p>

<pre><code>ffmpeg -stream_loop -1 -i input.mp4 -c copy output.mp4
</code></pre>

<p>This command won't terminate on its own, and the output file will grow infinitely.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-01-23T17:43:24.717Z
Seems to be the fastest method
josef
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-02-13T23:28:34.613Z
Fastest method is an understatement, this method ramps up to multi-hour videos in a matter of seconds.
SleighBoy
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-06-10T10:08:01.723Z
This is a great convenient method, because there is no need to create a file with repeating lines.
Markus Zeller
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-05-08T11:07:27.943Z
People need to change the value for -stream_loop parameter from `-1` some positive integer according to theirs requirement. Otherwise, the file grows and the system throws `No space left on device` error.
S.K. Venkat
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-08-11T14:53:24.213Z
This should be best answer works from first try .
Salem F
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-04-06T23:21:11.983Z
If you want to specify a time, add **-t 30** this will generate a looped video with 30 sec
Mouaad Abdelghafour AITALI
CC BY-SA 4.0
2016-01-13T19:42:41.017Z
2019-05-21T10:01:39.133Z
2019-05-21T10:01:39.133Z
Thingy
<p>At least on FFmpeg 2.8.x (but oldie should works too) you can use <code>lavfi</code> as input format and complex filter graph using <code>movie</code> and <code>setpts</code> filters as a argument for <code>-i</code> option.</p>

<p>Next command doing this work for you:</p>

<pre><code>ffmpeg -re -f lavfi -i "movie=filename=input.mp4:loop=0, setpts=N/(FRAME_RATE*TB)" output.mp4
</code></pre>

<p>Zero <code>loop=</code> arguments means infinity loop. Values greater zero sets repeat counts. <code>setpts</code> filters required for PTS adjusting for second and later repeats, otherwise most output muxers will fails with non-monotonic PTS increasing: loop does not recalc PTS.</p>

<p><strong>Note, that using filters assuming that bypass frames without decoding/encoding is impossible: by design filters deals with decoded frames only.</strong></p>

<p>At the FFmpeg 2.8.2 new input option <code>-stream_loop</code> inroduced. I first look it works more simple and allows copy content without transcoding:</p>

<pre><code>ffmpeg -re -stream_loop -1 -i input.mp4 -c copy -y output.mp4
</code></pre>

<p>But it does not recalculate PTS and output file is wrong. If you add filter to fix PTS (see <code>setpts</code>) you must remove <code>-c copy</code> too. Only bitstream filters can deals with encoded packets, but there is no any bitstream filters to fix PTS (see: <a href="https://ffmpeg.org/ffmpeg-bitstream-filters.html">https://ffmpeg.org/ffmpeg-bitstream-filters.html</a>)</p>

<p>In any case ffmpeg on second pass fails with error:</p>

<pre><code>input.mp4: Resource temporarily unavailable
</code></pre>

<p><strong>Known work around for me</strong>: use container for input file without PTS limits (streaming container). One of them, known me, is MPEG-TS. So, you can simple convert your MP4 file to the MPEG-TS:</p>

<pre><code>ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -c copy -bsf:v h264_mp4toannexb -f mpegts input.ts
</code></pre>

<p>And use next command to compose infinity file:</p>

<pre><code>ffmpeg -re -stream_loop -1 -i input.ts -c copy -strict -2 -bsf:a aac_adtstoasc -y output.mp4
</code></pre>

<p>(bitstream filters should be used only if needed, on my samples it is required)</p>

<p>FFmpeg >= 2.8.2 is required in this case.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-11-18T08:35:28.413Z
Running that command gives me error : "[mp4 @ 00000000053fa1a0] Could not find tag for codec rawvideo in stream #0, codec not currently supported in container". If I add -vcodec h264 before the input, that error disappears, but the encoder doesn't exit. Supplying a non-zero loop count produces a lot of errors but does exit. The file is not a valid output.
Gyan
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-11-18T08:36:47.677Z
The documentation for stream_loop says "Loop 0 means no loop, loop -1 means infinite loop."
Gyan
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-11-18T13:43:11.037Z
Seems incorrect input files. Could you pleas share it? "Loop 0 means no loop, loop -1 means infinite loop." - seems I see old docs :-)
Monah Tuk
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-11-18T14:56:17.887Z
Mine were valid MP4s but can't share the ones I used .You can generate one using ffmpeg and then use that. Paste the console output if it works.
Gyan
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-11-18T16:48:45.340Z
I forgot: filters assuming transcoding (decode/encode). By design. So you must remove `-c copy`. Answer fixed.
Monah Tuk
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-11-18T17:02:13.640Z
Nice to know, but that's a significant limitation if you have a large loop to generate.
Gyan
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-11-18T17:22:40.500Z
Add info about stream_loop and WA to fix PTS issue without re-encode. FFmpeg >= 2.8.2 is required.
Monah Tuk
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-06-22T12:56:13.747Z
@MonahTuk I find the loop filter works much  better than stream_loop (which causes a brief pause for any file I tried), with one exception: the moment I add the loop filter the audio disappears?
Mike Versteeg
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-06-23T00:05:28.147Z
@MikeVersteeg, you should check files. Time to time different tracks in file has a little bit different length or offset it can affect muxing. Issues in never versions of FFmpeg also can be occured. Also, most working case - use MPEG TS container as input and output.
Monah Tuk
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-11-18T08:05:58.620Z
2015-11-18T17:21:31.460Z
2015-11-18T17:21:31.460Z
Monah Tuk
<pre><code>@echo off

setlocal ENABLEDELAYEDEXPANSION

REM When not there gives file not found message
for /f &quot;tokens=*&quot; %%I in ('dir /b &quot;*.mkv&quot;') do (
    if exist &quot;%%~nI.nl.srt&quot; (
        call :BURN_FILE &quot;%%~nI&quot; &quot;%%I&quot;
    )
    if exist &quot;%%~nI.en.srt&quot; (
        call :BURN_FILE &quot;%%~nI&quot; &quot;%%I&quot;
    ) 
)
for /f &quot;tokens=*&quot; %%I in ('dir /b &quot;*.mp4&quot;') do (
    if exist &quot;%%~nI.nl.srt&quot; (
        call :BURN_FILE &quot;%%~nI&quot; &quot;%%I&quot;
    )
    if exist &quot;%%~nI.en.srt&quot; (
        call :BURN_FILE &quot;%%~nI&quot; &quot;%%I&quot;
    ) 
)
for /f &quot;tokens=*&quot; %%I in ('dir /b &quot;*.webm&quot;') do (
    if exist &quot;%%~nI.nl.srt&quot; (
        call :BURN_FILE &quot;%%~nI&quot; &quot;%%I&quot;
    )
    if exist &quot;%%~nI.en.srt&quot; (
        call :BURN_FILE &quot;%%~nI&quot; &quot;%%I&quot;
    ) 
)

pause

if not exist ORIGINAL mkdir ORIGINAL
move &quot;%%I&quot; ORIGINAL &gt;NUL
move &quot;%%~nI.*&quot; ORIGINAL &gt;NUL

exit /b

:BURN_FILE

    set hoppa=%1
    set input=%2
    echo hoppa=!hoppa!
    echo input=!input!

    ffprobe.exe -v error -select_streams v:0 -show_entries format=bit_rate -of default=nw=1 !input! &gt; bit_rate2.txt
    ffprobe.exe -v error -show_entries format=duration -of default=nw=1 !input! &gt; duration2.txt
    ffprobe.exe -v error -show_entries format=duration -of default=nw=1 intro.wav &gt; duration_intro.txt

    for /F &quot;tokens=*&quot; %%R in (bit_rate2.txt) do (
        for /f &quot;tokens=1,2 delims==&quot; %%a in (&quot;%%R&quot;) do set NAME=%%a &amp; set bit_rate=%%b
    )
    for /F &quot;tokens=*&quot; %%R in (duration2.txt) do (
        for /f &quot;tokens=1,2 delims==&quot; %%a in (&quot;%%R&quot;) do set NAME=%%a &amp; set duration=%%b
    )
    for /F &quot;tokens=*&quot; %%R in (duration_intro.txt) do (
        for /f &quot;tokens=1,2 delims==&quot; %%a in (&quot;%%R&quot;) do set NAME=%%a &amp; set duration_intro=%%b
    )
    for /f &quot;tokens=1 delims=.&quot; %%a in ('echo !duration!') do set /a number=%%a
    for /f &quot;tokens=1 delims=.&quot; %%a in ('echo !duration_intro!') do set /a number_intro=%%a

    set /A number_offset = !number! - !number_intro! - 1
    set /A number_offset = !number_offset! * 1000

    sof.exe &quot;!hoppa!.nl.srt&quot;

    if not exist DUTCH mkdir DUTCH

    for %%x in (&quot;!hoppa!.nl.srt.fixed&quot;) do (
        if not %%~zx == 0 (
            if not  exist &quot;DUTCH/!hoppa!.nl.mp4&quot; (

            ffmpeg -y -hide_banner -i !input! -i intro.wav -i intro.wav -i pacman2.mp4 -loop 20 -filter_complex &quot;[1]adelay=500|500[s1];[1]adelay=!number_offset!|!number_offset![s2];[0][s1][s2]amix=inputs=3;[0:v]scale=1920:1080[j];[3:v]split[m][a];[a]geq='lum(X,Y)',hue=s=0[al];[m][al]alphamerge[ovr];[ovr]scale=150:-1[sml];[j][sml]overlay=main_w-overlay_w-2:main_h-overlay_h-2[l];[l]subtitles='!hoppa!.nl.srt.fixed':force_style='FontName=Mada Black,FontSize=32,BackColour=&amp;HA0000000,BorderStyle=4'[k]&quot; -map &quot;[k]&quot; -map 0:a -strict -2 -c:v h264_nvenc -pix_fmt yuv420p -rc-lookahead 32 -b:v !bit_rate! -ac 2 -ar 44100 -acodec aac -shortest &quot;DUTCH/!hoppa!.nl.PART.mp4&quot;

rem             ffmpeg -y -hide_banner -i !input! -filter_complex &quot;[0:v]scale=1920:1080[j];[j]subtitles='!hoppa!.nl.srt.fixed':force_style='FontName=Mada Black,FontSize=32'[k]&quot; -map &quot;[k]&quot; -map 0:a -strict -2 -c:v h264_nvenc -pix_fmt yuv420p -rc-lookahead 32 -b:v !bit_rate! -ac 2 -ar 44100 -acodec aac &quot;DUTCH/!hoppa!.nl.PART.mp4&quot;
rem             ffmpeg -y -hide_banner -i !input! -filter_complex &quot;[0:v]scale=1920:1080[j];[j]subtitles='!hoppa!.nl.srt.fixed'[k]&quot; -map &quot;[k]&quot; -map 0:a -strict -2 -c:v h264_nvenc -pix_fmt yuv420p -rc-lookahead 32 -b:v !bit_rate! -ac 2 -ar 44100 -acodec aac &quot;DUTCH/!hoppa!.nl.PART.mp4&quot;
rem             ffmpeg -y -hide_banner -i !input! -filter_complex &quot;[0:v]scale=1920:1080[j];[j]subtitles='!hoppa!.nl.srt.fixed'[k]&quot; -map &quot;[k]&quot; -map 0:a -strict -2 -c:v libx264 -preset slow -crf 23 -pix_fmt yuv420p -b:v !bit_rate! -ac 2 -ar 44100 -acodec aac &quot;DUTCH/!hoppa!.nl.PART.mp4&quot;

            ) else (
                echo Already exists: &quot;DUTCH/!hoppa!.nl.mp4&quot; 
            )
        ) else (
            echo Subtitle file empty: !hoppa!.nl.srt.fixed
        )
    )

    if exist &quot;DUTCH/!hoppa!.nl.PART.mp4&quot; rename &quot;DUTCH\!hoppa!.nl.PART.mp4&quot; &quot;!hoppa!.nl.mp4&quot;

rem if not exist SUBTITLES mkdir SUBTITLES
rem if exist &quot;!hoppa!.nl.srt.fixed&quot; move &quot;!hoppa!.nl.srt.fixed&quot; SUBTITLES
rem if exist &quot;!hoppa!.nl.srt&quot; move &quot;!hoppa!.nl.srt&quot; SUBTITLES

rem remark (rem) goto for making second language
goto :ENDING

sof.exe &quot;!hoppa!.en.srt&quot;

if not exist ENGLISH mkdir ENGLISH

for %%x in (&quot;!hoppa!.en.srt.fixed&quot;) do (
    if not %%~zx == 0 (
        if not  exist &quot;ENGLISH/!hoppa!.en.mp4&quot; (
            ffmpeg -y -hide_banner -i !input! -filter_complex &quot;[0:v]scale=1920:1080[j];[j]subtitles='!hoppa!.en.srt.fixed'[k]&quot; -map &quot;[k]&quot; -map 0:a -strict -2 -c:v h264_nvenc -pix_fmt yuv420p -rc-lookahead 32 -b:v !bit_rate! -ac 2 -ar 44100 -acodec aac &quot;ENGLISH/!hoppa!.en.PART.mp4&quot;
rem                 ffmpeg -y -hide_banner -i !input! -filter_complex &quot;[0:v]scale=1920:1080[j];[j]subtitles='!hoppa!.en.srt.fixed'[k]&quot; -map &quot;[k]&quot; -map 0:a -strict -2 -c:v libx264 -preset slow -crf 23 -pix_fmt yuv420p -b:v !bit_rate! -ac 2 -ar 44100 -acodec aac &quot;ENGLISH/!hoppa!.en.PART.mp4&quot;
        ) else (
            echo Already exists: &quot;DUTCH/!hoppa!.en.mp4&quot; 
        )
    ) else (
        echo Subtitle file empty: !hoppa!.en.srt.fixed
    )
)

if exist &quot;ENGLISH/!hoppa!.en.PART.mp4&quot; rename &quot;ENGLISH\!hoppa!.en.PART.mp4&quot; &quot;!hoppa!.en.mp4&quot;

rem     if exist &quot;!hoppa!.en.srt.fixed&quot; move &quot;!hoppa!.en.srt.fixed&quot; SUBTITLES &gt;NUL
rem     if exist &quot;!hoppa!.en.srt&quot; move &quot;!hoppa!.en.srt&quot; SUBTITLES &gt;NUL

:ENDING

if not exist ORIGINAL mkdir ORIGINAL
move !input! ORIGINAL &gt;NUL
move &quot;!hoppa!.*&quot; ORIGINAL &gt;NUL

exit /b
</code></pre>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-11-29T19:28:12.743Z
2020-11-30T02:10:39.117Z
2020-11-30T02:10:39.117Z
Gerard Wensink
<p>If you have MP4 files, these could be losslessly concatenated by first re-wrapping them to MPEG-2 transport streams. With H.264 video and AAC audio, the following can be used:</p>
<pre><code>ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -c copy -bsf:v h264_mp4toannexb -f mpegts intermediate.ts
ffmpeg -i &quot;concat:intermediate.ts|intermediate.ts|intermediate.ts|intermediate.ts&quot; -c copy -bsf:a aac_adtstoasc output.mp4
</code></pre>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-07-02T19:28:35.717Z
2022-07-08T20:11:50.960Z
2022-07-08T20:11:50.960Z
marbens
<p>The simple method that avoids problems of which Commands work with which version is the 'trivial solution':</p>
<pre><code>ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -i input.mp4 -i input.mp4 -i input.mp4 -c copy output.mp4
</code></pre>
<p>See also: <a href="https://trac.ffmpeg.org/wiki/Concatenate" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://trac.ffmpeg.org/wiki/Concatenate</a> for many examples.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-03-11T06:36:50.477Z
This does not do *any* concatenation.  At least one of the concat methods has to be used: protocol, filter or demuxer. In this command, ffmpeg's auto mapping will select one video, one audio and one subtitle stream from among the inputs. Since they're identical,  it's equivalent to the OP's first command.
Gyan
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-03-11T17:28:19.393Z
Thanks for testing that Mulvya, as it differs from the behavior described in the Docs: https://ffmpeg.org/ffmpeg.html#Description - If there's similarity in the File names using "-i -i /tmp/test%d.mp4" (et. al) is also possible.
Rob
CC BY-SA 4.0
2017-03-11T03:52:29.547Z
2022-07-12T17:20:25.357Z
2022-07-12T17:20:25.357Z
Rob
<h1><code>-stream_loop</code> option</h1>
<pre><code>ffmpeg -stream_loop 3 -i input.mp4 -c copy output.mp4
</code></pre>
<ul>
<li>This can avoid re-encoding because it can use <a href="https://ffmpeg.org/ffmpeg.html#Stream-copy" rel="noreferrer">stream copy</a>.</li>
<li><code>0</code> means no loop, <code>-1</code> means infinite loop.</li>
<li>This may not work with anything older than FFmpeg 4.0.</li>
</ul>
<hr />
<h1>concat demuxer</h1>
<p>The <a href="https://ffmpeg.org/ffmpeg-formats.html#concat" rel="noreferrer">concat demuxer</a> allows you to loop an input without needing to re-encode because it can use <a href="https://ffmpeg.org/ffmpeg.html#Stream-copy" rel="noreferrer">stream copy</a>.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Make a text file. Contents of an example text file to repeat 4 times.</p>
<pre><code> file 'input.mp4'
 file 'input.mp4'
 file 'input.mp4'
 file 'input.mp4'
</code></pre>
</li>
<li><p>Then run <code>ffmpeg</code>:</p>
<pre><code> ffmpeg -f concat -i list.txt -c copy output.mp4
</code></pre>
</li>
</ol>
<p>If you want to add additional inputs make sure they all have the same attributes.</p>
<h3>Automatically make <code>list.txt</code> in Linux/macOS</h3>
<p>This example is the same as above but you don't have to manually make <code>list.txt</code>:</p>
<pre><code>for i in {1..4}; do printf &quot;file '%s'\n&quot; input.mp4 &gt;&gt; list.txt; done
ffmpeg -f concat -i list.txt -c copy output.mp4
</code></pre>
<p>With most commonly-used modern shells, you can even avoid the creation of the <code>list.txt</code> file entirely. For example, with bash:</p>
<pre><code>ffmpeg -f concat -i &lt;(for i in {1..4}; do printf &quot;file '%s'\n&quot; input.mp4; done) -c copy output.mp4
</code></pre>
<h3>Also see:</h3>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://ffmpeg.org/ffmpeg-formats.html#concat" rel="noreferrer">FFmpeg concat demuxer documentation</a></li>
<li><a href="https://trac.ffmpeg.org/wiki/Concatenate" rel="noreferrer">FFmpeg Wiki: Concatenate</a></li>
</ul>
<hr />
<h1>loop filter</h1>
<p>Example using the <a href="https://ffmpeg.org/ffmpeg-filters.html#loop" rel="noreferrer">loop filter</a> to loop 4 times, each loop is 75 frames, each loop skips the first 25 frames of the input:</p>
<pre><code>ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -filter_complex &quot;loop=loop=3:size=75:start=25&quot; output.mp4
</code></pre>
<ul>
<li>Or use the shorthand: <code>loop=3:75:25</code></li>
<li>Filtering requires re-encoding.</li>
<li>This filter <a href="https://ffmpeg.org/ffmpeg-filters.html#movie" rel="noreferrer">places all frames into memory</a>.</li>
<li>Using <code>loop=3</code> will loop 4 times.</li>
<li>To loop infinitely use <code>-1</code>.</li>
<li>You must list the number of frames to loop (shown as 75 in the example above). Max value is 32767.</li>
<li>Also see <code>ffmpeg -h filter=loop</code>.</li>
</ul>
<hr />
<h1>movie filter</h1>
<p>The <a href="https://ffmpeg.org/ffmpeg-filters.html#movie" rel="noreferrer">movie</a> and amovie filters have a loop option:</p>
<pre><code>ffmpeg -f lavfi -i &quot;movie=filename=input.mp4:loop=4,setpts=N/FRAME_RATE/TB&quot; -f lavfi -i &quot;amovie=filename=input.mp4:loop=4,asetpts=N/SR/TB&quot; output.mp4
</code></pre>
<ul>
<li>Filtering requires re-encoding.</li>
<li><code>1</code> means no loop, <code>0</code> means infinite loop.</li>
</ul>
<hr />
<h1><code>-loop</code> option</h1>
<p>The <code>-loop</code> option is specific to the <a href="https://ffmpeg.org/ffmpeg-formats.html#image2-1" rel="noreferrer">image file demuxer</a> and <a href="https://ffmpeg.org/ffmpeg-formats.html#gif-2" rel="noreferrer">gif muxer</a>, so it can't be used for typical video files. But it can be used to infinitely loop a single image or a series of images.</p>
<h3>single image</h3>
<p>This example will loop a single image over and over but the <code>-t 30</code> will limit the output duration to 30 seconds:</p>
<pre><code>ffmpeg -loop 1 -i input.png -t 30 -vf format=yuv420p output.mp4
</code></pre>
<p><code>-vf format=yuv420p</code> is for compatibility reasons.</p>
<h3>series of images</h3>
<pre><code>ffmpeg -loop 1 -i %03d.jpg -t 30 -vf format=yuv420p output.mp4
</code></pre>
<h3>GIF output</h3>
<p>Or to loop a GIF:</p>
<pre><code>ffmpeg -i input -loop 3 output.gif
</code></pre>
<p>For GIF output also see <a href="https://superuser.com/a/556031/">How do I convert a video to GIF using ffmpeg, with reasonable quality?</a></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-10-28T19:08:12.627Z
Does this work fine with mp4 files?
Thomas King
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-11-09T18:46:50.250Z
I get this error `> <(for i in {1..4}; do printf "file '%s'\n" input.mp4; done)
-bash: /dev/fd/63: Permission denied`
JZ11
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-05-18T15:57:46.893Z
@jamesfzhang - I think that's because you need an absolute path to the file (as explained here: https://trac.ffmpeg.org/wiki/Concatenate). To fulfill that, you could write: 
ffmpeg -safe 0 -f concat -i <(for i in {1..4}; do printf "file '$PWD'/'%s'\n" input.mp4; done) -c copy output.mp4
Gnaural
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-07-15T07:28:19.677Z
As for me this works to repeat **full time** video without skipping fames for 4 times `ffmpeg -i video.mp4 -filter_complex "loop=4:32767" output.mp4`
Vlad
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-08-31T22:38:30.337Z
This issue is 4 years old and noone noticed that the link to the second issue in the `-stream_loop` section is pointing to the same ticket as the first one...
Leonid Usov
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-07-31T23:42:53.943Z
When working on images, is there any difference between `-i %03d.png -t 30` and `-t 30 -i %03d.png`? I know that when working on video, you usually want `-t` (and `-ss`) before the input to save on decode time, but does this matter for images? I've recently run some commands with `-t` before the input and it worked fine.
user3643
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-08-01T18:54:31.070Z
@DigiVisionMedia Shouldn't make a difference.
llogan
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-02-17T00:43:52.023Z
Does the looped parts occupy extra size on output video? For example if the original video size is 1MB loop=loop=3 equals 3MB?
Ricardo Bohner
CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-10-31T06:49:08.750Z
Thanks! Only place where I got clarification for difference between `-stream_loop` and `-loop`. I was wondering why the ffmpeg manpage doesn't show the `-loop` option. Now I understand it's because that doesn't give the options for filters or muxers.
jamadagni
CC BY-SA 4.0
2014-10-28T06:15:51.107Z
2022-07-14T21:15:31.527Z
2022-07-14T21:15:31.527Z
llogan
<p>I just want to loop a mp4 video with ffmpeg and keep the current settings and codec.</p>

<p>For example if input.mp4 is 0:10 long, and I would want to loop it 4 times so output.mp4 is 0:40 long, how could I change the following command line to do that?</p>

<pre><code>ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -c copy output.mp4
</code></pre>

<p>I tried...</p>

<pre><code>ffmpeg -loop 4 -i input.mp4 -c copy output.mp4
</code></pre>

<p>...but I get the error "Option loop not found."</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-07-26T09:05:14.400Z
Use quicktime 7 pro and mov container. So you won't get a bigger file size, than with opensource one.
Дмитрий Мышков
<ffmpeg><mp4><h.264>
Repeat/loop Input Video with ffmpeg?
Thomas King
# Repeat/loop Input Video with ffmpeg?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2014-10-27)

I just want to loop a mp4 video with ffmpeg and keep the current settings and codec.
For example if input.mp4 is 0:10 long, and I would want to loop it 4 times so output.mp4 is 0:40 long, how could I change the following command line to do that?
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -c copy output.mp4

I tried...
ffmpeg -loop 4 -i input.mp4 -c copy output.mp4

...but I get the error "Option loop not found."

**Tags:** ffmpeg, mp4, h.264

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Use quicktime 7 pro and mov container. So you won't get a bigger file size, than with opensource one.  

---

## 6 answers

### Answer by username_15 on 2014-10-28. Score: 157 | Accepted answer

-stream_loop option
ffmpeg -stream_loop 3 -i input.mp4 -c copy output.mp4


This can avoid re-encoding because it can use stream copy.
0 means no loop, -1 means infinite loop.
This may not work with anything older than FFmpeg 4.0.


concat demuxer
The concat demuxer allows you to loop an input without needing to re-encode because it can use stream copy.

Make a text file. Contents of an example text file to repeat 4 times.
 file 'input.mp4'
 file 'input.mp4'
 file 'input.mp4'
 file 'input.mp4'


Then run ffmpeg:
 ffmpeg -f concat -i list.txt -c copy output.mp4



If you want to add additional inputs make sure they all have the same attributes.
Automatically make list.txt in Linux/macOS
This example is the same as above but you don't have to manually make list.txt:
for i in {1..4}; do printf "file '%s'\n" input.mp4 >> list.txt; done
ffmpeg -f concat -i list.txt -c copy output.mp4

With most commonly-used modern shells, you can even avoid the creation of the list.txt file entirely. For example, with bash:
ffmpeg -f concat -i <(for i in {1..4}; do printf "file '%s'\n" input.mp4; done) -c copy output.mp4

Also see:

FFmpeg concat demuxer documentation
FFmpeg Wiki: Concatenate


loop filter
Example using the loop filter to loop 4 times, each loop is 75 frames, each loop skips the first 25 frames of the input:
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -filter_complex "loop=loop=3:size=75:start=25" output.mp4


Or use the shorthand: loop=3:75:25
Filtering requires re-encoding.
This filter places all frames into memory.
Using loop=3 will loop 4 times.
To loop infinitely use -1.
You must list the number of frames to loop (shown as 75 in the example above). Max value is 32767.
Also see ffmpeg -h filter=loop.


movie filter
The movie and amovie filters have a loop option:
ffmpeg -f lavfi -i "movie=filename=input.mp4:loop=4,setpts=N/FRAME_RATE/TB" -f lavfi -i "amovie=filename=input.mp4:loop=4,asetpts=N/SR/TB" output.mp4


Filtering requires re-encoding.
1 means no loop, 0 means infinite loop.


-loop option
The -loop option is specific to the image file demuxer and gif muxer, so it can't be used for typical video files. But it can be used to infinitely loop a single image or a series of images.
single image
This example will loop a single image over and over but the -t 30 will limit the output duration to 30 seconds:
ffmpeg -loop 1 -i input.png -t 30 -vf format=yuv420p output.mp4

-vf format=yuv420p is for compatibility reasons.
series of images
ffmpeg -loop 1 -i %03d.jpg -t 30 -vf format=yuv420p output.mp4

GIF output
Or to loop a GIF:
ffmpeg -i input -loop 3 output.gif

For GIF output also see How do I convert a video to GIF using ffmpeg, with reasonable quality?

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Does this work fine with mp4 files?  
> **username_16**: I get this error `> <(for i in {1..4}; do printf "file '%s'\n" input.mp4; done) -bash: /dev/fd/63: Permission denied`  
> **username_17**: @jamesfzhang - I think that's because you need an absolute path to the file (as explained here: https://trac.ffmpeg.org/wiki/Concatenate). To fulfill that, you could write:  ffmpeg -safe 0 -f concat -i <(for i in {1..4}; do printf "file '$PWD'/'%s'\n" input.mp4; done) -c copy output.mp4  
> **username_18**: As for me this works to repeat **full time** video without skipping fames for 4 times `ffmpeg -i video.mp4 -filter_complex "loop=4:32767" output.mp4`  
> **username_19**: This issue is 4 years old and noone noticed that the link to the second issue in the `-stream_loop` section is pointing to the same ticket as the first one...  
> **username_20**: When working on images, is there any difference between `-i %03d.png -t 30` and `-t 30 -i %03d.png`? I know that when working on video, you usually want `-t` (and `-ss`) before the input to save on decode time, but does this matter for images? I've recently run some commands with `-t` before the input and it worked fine.  
> **username_15**: @DigiVisionMedia Shouldn't make a difference.  
> **username_21**: Does the looped parts occupy extra size on output video? For example if the original video size is 1MB loop=loop=3 equals 3MB?  
> **username_22**: Thanks! Only place where I got clarification for difference between `-stream_loop` and `-loop`. I was wondering why the ffmpeg manpage doesn't show the `-loop` option. Now I understand it's because that doesn't give the options for filters or muxers.  

---

### Answer by username_2 on 2016-01-13. Score: 32

With ffmpeg 2.8.4, the following command creates output.mp4 that is a repeating copy of input.mp4 until the ffmpeg process is stopped:
ffmpeg -stream_loop -1 -i input.mp4 -c copy output.mp4

This command won't terminate on its own, and the output file will grow infinitely.

> **Comments:**
> **username_3**: Seems to be the fastest method  
> **username_4**: Fastest method is an understatement, this method ramps up to multi-hour videos in a matter of seconds.  
> **username_5**: This is a great convenient method, because there is no need to create a file with repeating lines.  
> **username_6**: People need to change the value for -stream_loop parameter from `-1` some positive integer according to theirs requirement. Otherwise, the file grows and the system throws `No space left on device` error.  
> **username_7**: This should be best answer works from first try .  
> **username_8**: If you want to specify a time, add **-t 30** this will generate a looped video with 30 sec  

---

### Answer by username_9 on 2015-11-18. Score: 16

At least on FFmpeg 2.8.x (but oldie should works too) you can use lavfi as input format and complex filter graph using movie and setpts filters as a argument for -i option.
Next command doing this work for you:
ffmpeg -re -f lavfi -i "movie=filename=input.mp4:loop=0, setpts=N/(FRAME_RATE*TB)" output.mp4

Zero loop= arguments means infinity loop. Values greater zero sets repeat counts. setpts filters required for PTS adjusting for second and later repeats, otherwise most output muxers will fails with non-monotonic PTS increasing: loop does not recalc PTS.
Note, that using filters assuming that bypass frames without decoding/encoding is impossible: by design filters deals with decoded frames only.
At the FFmpeg 2.8.2 new input option -stream_loop inroduced. I first look it works more simple and allows copy content without transcoding:
ffmpeg -re -stream_loop -1 -i input.mp4 -c copy -y output.mp4

But it does not recalculate PTS and output file is wrong. If you add filter to fix PTS (see setpts) you must remove -c copy too. Only bitstream filters can deals with encoded packets, but there is no any bitstream filters to fix PTS (see: https://ffmpeg.org/ffmpeg-bitstream-filters.html)
In any case ffmpeg on second pass fails with error:
input.mp4: Resource temporarily unavailable

Known work around for me: use container for input file without PTS limits (streaming container). One of them, known me, is MPEG-TS. So, you can simple convert your MP4 file to the MPEG-TS:
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -c copy -bsf:v h264_mp4toannexb -f mpegts input.ts

And use next command to compose infinity file:
ffmpeg -re -stream_loop -1 -i input.ts -c copy -strict -2 -bsf:a aac_adtstoasc -y output.mp4

(bitstream filters should be used only if needed, on my samples it is required)
FFmpeg >= 2.8.2 is required in this case.

> **Comments:**
> **username_10**: Running that command gives me error : "[mp4 @ 00000000053fa1a0] Could not find tag for codec rawvideo in stream #0, codec not currently supported in container". If I add -vcodec h264 before the input, that error disappears, but the encoder doesn't exit. Supplying a non-zero loop count produces a lot of errors but does exit. The file is not a valid output.  
> **username_10**: The documentation for stream_loop says "Loop 0 means no loop, loop -1 means infinite loop."  
> **username_9**: Seems incorrect input files. Could you pleas share it? "Loop 0 means no loop, loop -1 means infinite loop." - seems I see old docs :-)  
> **username_10**: Mine were valid MP4s but can't share the ones I used .You can generate one using ffmpeg and then use that. Paste the console output if it works.  
> **username_9**: I forgot: filters assuming transcoding (decode/encode). By design. So you must remove `-c copy`. Answer fixed.  
> **username_10**: Nice to know, but that's a significant limitation if you have a large loop to generate.  
> **username_9**: Add info about stream_loop and WA to fix PTS issue without re-encode. FFmpeg >= 2.8.2 is required.  
> **username_11**: @MonahTuk I find the loop filter works much  better than stream_loop (which causes a brief pause for any file I tried), with one exception: the moment I add the loop filter the audio disappears?  
> **username_9**: @MikeVersteeg, you should check files. Time to time different tracks in file has a little bit different length or offset it can affect muxing. Issues in never versions of FFmpeg also can be occured. Also, most working case - use MPEG TS container as input and output.  

---

### Answer by username_12 on 2020-11-29. Score: 0

@echo off

setlocal ENABLEDELAYEDEXPANSION

REM When not there gives file not found message
for /f "tokens=*" %%I in ('dir /b "*.mkv"') do (
    if exist "%%~nI.nl.srt" (
        call :BURN_FILE "%%~nI" "%%I"
    )
    if exist "%%~nI.en.srt" (
        call :BURN_FILE "%%~nI" "%%I"
    ) 
)
for /f "tokens=*" %%I in ('dir /b "*.mp4"') do (
    if exist "%%~nI.nl.srt" (
        call :BURN_FILE "%%~nI" "%%I"
    )
    if exist "%%~nI.en.srt" (
        call :BURN_FILE "%%~nI" "%%I"
    ) 
)
for /f "tokens=*" %%I in ('dir /b "*.webm"') do (
    if exist "%%~nI.nl.srt" (
        call :BURN_FILE "%%~nI" "%%I"
    )
    if exist "%%~nI.en.srt" (
        call :BURN_FILE "%%~nI" "%%I"
    ) 
)

pause

if not exist ORIGINAL mkdir ORIGINAL
move "%%I" ORIGINAL >NUL
move "%%~nI.*" ORIGINAL >NUL

exit /b

:BURN_FILE

    set hoppa=%1
    set input=%2
    echo hoppa=!hoppa!
    echo input=!input!

    ffprobe.exe -v error -select_streams v:0 -show_entries format=bit_rate -of default=nw=1 !input! > bit_rate2.txt
    ffprobe.exe -v error -show_entries format=duration -of default=nw=1 !input! > duration2.txt
    ffprobe.exe -v error -show_entries format=duration -of default=nw=1 intro.wav > duration_intro.txt

    for /F "tokens=*" %%R in (bit_rate2.txt) do (
        for /f "tokens=1,2 delims==" %%a in ("%%R") do set NAME=%%a & set bit_rate=%%b
    )
    for /F "tokens=*" %%R in (duration2.txt) do (
        for /f "tokens=1,2 delims==" %%a in ("%%R") do set NAME=%%a & set duration=%%b
    )
    for /F "tokens=*" %%R in (duration_intro.txt) do (
        for /f "tokens=1,2 delims==" %%a in ("%%R") do set NAME=%%a & set duration_intro=%%b
    )
    for /f "tokens=1 delims=." %%a in ('echo !duration!') do set /a number=%%a
    for /f "tokens=1 delims=." %%a in ('echo !duration_intro!') do set /a number_intro=%%a

    set /A number_offset = !number! - !number_intro! - 1
    set /A number_offset = !number_offset! * 1000

    sof.exe "!hoppa!.nl.srt"

    if not exist DUTCH mkdir DUTCH

    for %%x in ("!hoppa!.nl.srt.fixed") do (
        if not %%~zx == 0 (
            if not  exist "DUTCH/!hoppa!.nl.mp4" (

            ffmpeg -y -hide_banner -i !input! -i intro.wav -i intro.wav -i pacman2.mp4 -loop 20 -filter_complex "[1]adelay=500|500[s1];[1]adelay=!number_offset!|!number_offset![s2];[0][s1][s2]amix=inputs=3;[0:v]scale=1920:1080[j];[3:v]split[m][a];[a]geq='lum(X,Y)',hue=s=0[al];[m][al]alphamerge[ovr];[ovr]scale=150:-1[sml];[j][sml]overlay=main_w-overlay_w-2:main_h-overlay_h-2[l];[l]subtitles='!hoppa!.nl.srt.fixed':force_style='FontName=Mada Black,FontSize=32,BackColour=&HA0000000,BorderStyle=4'[k]" -map "[k]" -map 0:a -strict -2 -c:v h264_nvenc -pix_fmt yuv420p -rc-lookahead 32 -b:v !bit_rate! -ac 2 -ar 44100 -acodec aac -shortest "DUTCH/!hoppa!.nl.PART.mp4"

rem             ffmpeg -y -hide_banner -i !input! -filter_complex "[0:v]scale=1920:1080[j];[j]subtitles='!hoppa!.nl.srt.fixed':force_style='FontName=Mada Black,FontSize=32'[k]" -map "[k]" -map 0:a -strict -2 -c:v h264_nvenc -pix_fmt yuv420p -rc-lookahead 32 -b:v !bit_rate! -ac 2 -ar 44100 -acodec aac "DUTCH/!hoppa!.nl.PART.mp4"
rem             ffmpeg -y -hide_banner -i !input! -filter_complex "[0:v]scale=1920:1080[j];[j]subtitles='!hoppa!.nl.srt.fixed'[k]" -map "[k]" -map 0:a -strict -2 -c:v h264_nvenc -pix_fmt yuv420p -rc-lookahead 32 -b:v !bit_rate! -ac 2 -ar 44100 -acodec aac "DUTCH/!hoppa!.nl.PART.mp4"
rem             ffmpeg -y -hide_banner -i !input! -filter_complex "[0:v]scale=1920:1080[j];[j]subtitles='!hoppa!.nl.srt.fixed'[k]" -map "[k]" -map 0:a -strict -2 -c:v libx264 -preset slow -crf 23 -pix_fmt yuv420p -b:v !bit_rate! -ac 2 -ar 44100 -acodec aac "DUTCH/!hoppa!.nl.PART.mp4"

            ) else (
                echo Already exists: "DUTCH/!hoppa!.nl.mp4" 
            )
        ) else (
            echo Subtitle file empty: !hoppa!.nl.srt.fixed
        )
    )

    if exist "DUTCH/!hoppa!.nl.PART.mp4" rename "DUTCH\!hoppa!.nl.PART.mp4" "!hoppa!.nl.mp4"

rem if not exist SUBTITLES mkdir SUBTITLES
rem if exist "!hoppa!.nl.srt.fixed" move "!hoppa!.nl.srt.fixed" SUBTITLES
rem if exist "!hoppa!.nl.srt" move "!hoppa!.nl.srt" SUBTITLES

rem remark (rem) goto for making second language
goto :ENDING

sof.exe "!hoppa!.en.srt"

if not exist ENGLISH mkdir ENGLISH

for %%x in ("!hoppa!.en.srt.fixed") do (
    if not %%~zx == 0 (
        if not  exist "ENGLISH/!hoppa!.en.mp4" (
            ffmpeg -y -hide_banner -i !input! -filter_complex "[0:v]scale=1920:1080[j];[j]subtitles='!hoppa!.en.srt.fixed'[k]" -map "[k]" -map 0:a -strict -2 -c:v h264_nvenc -pix_fmt yuv420p -rc-lookahead 32 -b:v !bit_rate! -ac 2 -ar 44100 -acodec aac "ENGLISH/!hoppa!.en.PART.mp4"
rem                 ffmpeg -y -hide_banner -i !input! -filter_complex "[0:v]scale=1920:1080[j];[j]subtitles='!hoppa!.en.srt.fixed'[k]" -map "[k]" -map 0:a -strict -2 -c:v libx264 -preset slow -crf 23 -pix_fmt yuv420p -b:v !bit_rate! -ac 2 -ar 44100 -acodec aac "ENGLISH/!hoppa!.en.PART.mp4"
        ) else (
            echo Already exists: "DUTCH/!hoppa!.en.mp4" 
        )
    ) else (
        echo Subtitle file empty: !hoppa!.en.srt.fixed
    )
)

if exist "ENGLISH/!hoppa!.en.PART.mp4" rename "ENGLISH\!hoppa!.en.PART.mp4" "!hoppa!.en.mp4"

rem     if exist "!hoppa!.en.srt.fixed" move "!hoppa!.en.srt.fixed" SUBTITLES >NUL
rem     if exist "!hoppa!.en.srt" move "!hoppa!.en.srt" SUBTITLES >NUL

:ENDING

if not exist ORIGINAL mkdir ORIGINAL
move !input! ORIGINAL >NUL
move "!hoppa!.*" ORIGINAL >NUL

exit /b


---

### Answer by username_13 on 2022-07-02. Score: 0

If you have MP4 files, these could be losslessly concatenated by first re-wrapping them to MPEG-2 transport streams. With H.264 video and AAC audio, the following can be used:
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -c copy -bsf:v h264_mp4toannexb -f mpegts intermediate.ts
ffmpeg -i "concat:intermediate.ts|intermediate.ts|intermediate.ts|intermediate.ts" -c copy -bsf:a aac_adtstoasc output.mp4


---

### Answer by username_14 on 2017-03-11. Score: -1

The simple method that avoids problems of which Commands work with which version is the 'trivial solution':
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -i input.mp4 -i input.mp4 -i input.mp4 -c copy output.mp4

See also: https://trac.ffmpeg.org/wiki/Concatenate for many examples.

> **Comments:**
> **username_10**: This does not do *any* concatenation.  At least one of the concat methods has to be used: protocol, filter or demuxer. In this command, ffmpeg's auto mapping will select one video, one audio and one subtitle stream from among the inputs. Since they're identical,  it's equivalent to the OP's first command.  
> **username_14**: Thanks for testing that Mulvya, as it differs from the behavior described in the Docs: https://ffmpeg.org/ffmpeg.html#Description - If there's similarity in the File names using "-i -i /tmp/test%d.mp4" (et. al) is also possible.  

---

