Install ffmpeg (Windows, macOS, Linux)
ffmpeg is a command-line program: you use it in a terminal, with no graphical interface. Installation takes a few minutes. Choose your system below, then check that the command is recognized.
Updated on
Windows
In PowerShell, using the winget package tool, then reopen the terminal:
winget install Gyan.FFmpeg
macOS
With Homebrew (installed beforehand from brew.sh):
brew install ffmpeg
Linux (Debian, Ubuntu)
With your distribution's package manager:
sudo apt install ffmpeg
Check the installation
Open a new terminal and run the following command: it should display the ffmpeg version.
ffmpeg -version
"command not found" or "is not recognized"
Close and reopen the terminal: the installation changes the program path, which is only picked up in a new window. If the error persists, the installation probably didn't complete: run it again and read the messages it displays.
Run a command from the right folder
The commands on this site use file names without a path: open the terminal in the folder that contains your video (right-click in the folder, then "Open in Terminal" on Windows 11), or move there with the cd command.
Frequently asked questions
Is ffmpeg free?
Yes, it is free, open-source software.
Do I need to install anything else?
No. ffprobe, which is used to inspect a file, is installed together with ffmpeg.