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Install FFmpeg on Windows 10

Download a build of FFmpeg, unzip it and add it to the PATH.

Windows Hosting2 min read4 steps8 screenshots

Step 1: Download FFmpeg

Open the FFmpeg website. Go to the official FFmpeg site and click Download.

The FFmpeg website

Find the Windows builds. FFmpeg offers only source code on its own site. Under Get packages & executable files, click the Windows icon and choose one of the linked build providers (for example gyan.dev or BtbN).

The Windows builds

Understand the options

  • Git master builds. The newest, less tested code.
  • Release builds. Stable, officially released versions. Choose these.
  • Tools. Extra utilities.
  • Libraries. Ready-made libraries for developers.

Download a release build. A ffmpeg-release-essentials.zip file is enough for most people.

Downloading the release build

Step 2: Unpack the archive

Extract the zip file. Move the extracted folder to a good place, such as C:\ffmpeg. The program files are in C:\ffmpeg\bin.

Extracting the files

Step 3: Add FFmpeg to the PATH

  1. Search for environment variables in the Start menu and open Edit the system environment variables. Click Environment Variables.
    The Environment Variables button
  2. Under System variables, select Path and click Edit.
  3. Click New and add C:\ffmpeg\bin.
  4. Click OK in all windows.
    Adding the FFmpeg bin folder to the Path

Step 4: Check the install

Open a new Command Prompt.

Opening Command Prompt

Type:

ffmpeg -version
The FFmpeg version

If you see the version information, FFmpeg works.

First commands

ffmpeg -i input.mov output.mp4
ffmpeg -i video.mp4 -vn audio.mp3

Quick recap

  • Download a release build and unzip it to C:\ffmpeg.
  • Add C:\ffmpeg\bin to the PATH.
  • Check with ffmpeg -version in a new window.