FFmpeg recipe

FFmpeg: Loop a Video 3× (or any number)

For exact-N loops with one input, -stream_loop is faster and simpler than concat. Use 2 to play 3 times total (initial + 2 loops).

Command

ffmpeg -stream_loop 2 -i input.mp4 -c copy -y output_looped.mp4

Prefer no terminal?

Use the Video Looper in your browser

-i	Input file. Can be a video, audio, or image. Repeat for multiple inputs.
-c copy	Stream-copy: no re-encoding. Output is bit-identical between cut points. Fastest possible.
-y	Overwrite output file without confirmation.
-stream_loop 2	Loop the input 2 additional times → input plays 3 times total.

For perfect seamless loops, the first frame should match the last. Trim with the Video Trimmer first.
For boomerang motion, append a reversed copy via concat instead.

ffprobe -v error -show_entries format=duration -of csv=p=0 output.mp4

Three times the source duration.

-stream_loop counts repeats, not plays	2 gives you three passes of the clip. Off-by-one here is the usual surprise.
It must come before -i	As an input option it applies to the file that follows. After -i it is ignored silently.
-c copy keeps it lossless	Looping concatenates the same stream, so nothing needs re-encoding. It is instant regardless of length.

The output is the same length as the input.

Why: -stream_loop was placed after -i, where it applies to nothing.

Fix: Put -stream_loop before the -i it applies to.

There is a visible jump at each repeat.

Why: The first and last frames differ, so the loop point is a hard cut.

Fix: Trim so the clip starts and ends on a similar frame, or crossfade the join with xfade.