How to Install FFmpeg on Windows, Mac, and Linux

FFmpeg is a command-line tool you download and run from your computer's terminal

FFmpeg is free software that converts, edits, and processes video and audio files. You install it by downloading the right version for your operating system, then telling your computer where to find it. The process takes 10 to 20 minutes and requires no paid software or special technical knowledge — just following steps in order.

FFmpeg runs from your computer's terminal or command prompt, not from a clickable application window. Once installed, you type commands to convert a video file from one format to another, trim audio, change resolution, or combine multiple files. Most people install it once and then use it for years without reinstalling.

Key Takeaways

Download FFmpeg from ffmpeg.org, not from random third-party sites, to avoid malware or outdated versions.
Windows users need to extract the downloaded folder and add it to their system PATH so the terminal can find FFmpeg commands.
Mac users can install FFmpeg in seconds using Homebrew, a package manager that handles downloads and setup automatically.
Linux users typically install FFmpeg using their distribution's package manager (apt, yum, or pacman) with a single command.
After installation, type ffmpeg -version in your terminal to confirm it is working.

Installing FFmpeg on Windows

Go to ffmpeg.org and click the download button. You will see a page with links for Windows, Mac, and Linux. Under Windows, click the link that says "Windows builds by BtbN" — this is the most commonly used version. Download the file labeled "full" (not "essentials"), which includes all the tools you might need.

The downloaded file is a .zip folder. Right-click it and select "Extract All". Choose a location you will remember — many people create a folder called ffmpeg directly on their C: drive (so the path is C:\ffmpeg). Inside that folder you will see a bin subfolder containing the actual FFmpeg program.

Now you need to add this location to your system PATH so Windows knows where to find FFmpeg when you type commands. Open the Start menu and search for "environment variables". Click "Edit the system environment variables". In the window that opens, click the "Environment Variables" button at the bottom. Under "System variables", find the one called "Path" and click "Edit". Click "New" and type the full path to your bin folder — for example, C:\ffmpeg\bin. Click OK three times to close all the windows.

Open a new Command Prompt (search for "cmd" in the Start menu) and type ffmpeg -version. If you see version information printed out, the installation worked. If you see "ffmpeg is not recognized", go back and check that you typed the path correctly in the environment variables.

Installing FFmpeg on Mac

The easiest way to install FFmpeg on Mac is using Homebrew, a package manager that downloads and installs software from the terminal. If you do not have Homebrew yet, open Terminal (search for it in Spotlight) and paste this command:

/bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)"

Press Enter and follow the prompts. Homebrew will download and install itself. This takes a few minutes. Once it finishes, type this command:

brew install ffmpeg

Homebrew will download FFmpeg and set it up automatically. When it finishes, type ffmpeg -version to confirm it is working. You should see version information printed to the terminal.

If you prefer not to use Homebrew, you can download FFmpeg directly from ffmpeg.org the same way Windows users do, then move the extracted folder to your Applications folder or another location you choose. However, Homebrew is faster and handles updates more easily.

Installing FFmpeg on Linux

Most Linux distributions include FFmpeg in their package repositories, so installation is a single command. The exact command depends on which distribution you use.

For Ubuntu or Debian-based systems, open a terminal and type:

sudo apt update && sudo apt install ffmpeg

For Fedora or Red Hat-based systems, type:

sudo dnf install ffmpeg

For Arch Linux, type:

sudo pacman -S ffmpeg

Your system will ask for your password. Type it and press Enter. The package manager will download and install FFmpeg. When it finishes, type ffmpeg -version to confirm the installation worked.

Verifying Your Installation and Running Your First Command

After installation on any operating system, open your terminal or command prompt and type ffmpeg -version. You should see output showing the version number and build information. If you see this, FFmpeg is ready to use.

To test that it actually works on a file, navigate to a folder containing a video or audio file. For example, if you have a file called video.mp4 on your Desktop, open your terminal and type cd Desktop (on Mac or Linux) or cd Desktop (on Windows). Then type a simple command like:

ffmpeg -i video.mp4

FFmpeg will read the file and print information about it — the resolution, frame rate, audio codec, duration, and other details. This confirms that FFmpeg can find and process your files. You are now ready to use FFmpeg commands to convert, edit, or process media.

Troubleshooting Common Installation Problems

If you type ffmpeg -version and see "command not found" or "is not recognized", the most common cause is that your system PATH is not set correctly. On Windows, go back to the environment variables step and double-check that you typed the path exactly as it appears on your computer. On Mac or Linux, make sure you closed and reopened your terminal after installation — sometimes the terminal needs to restart to recognize new programs.

If you downloaded FFmpeg from a site other than ffmpeg.org, your antivirus software might block it or it might be an outdated version. Delete it and download again from the official site. If you are on Windows and the .zip file will not extract, try right-clicking and selecting "Extract All" again, or use a free tool like 7-Zip to open it.

If you installed using Homebrew or a package manager and it still does not work, try updating: on Mac, type brew upgrade ffmpeg; on Linux, type sudo apt upgrade ffmpeg (or the equivalent for your distribution). Sometimes a partial installation leaves the program in a broken state, and an upgrade fixes it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to pay for FFmpeg?

No. FFmpeg is free and open-source software. You will never be asked to pay for it, and any site claiming to sell FFmpeg is not legitimate. Download only from ffmpeg.org or install through Homebrew or your Linux package manager.

Can I use FFmpeg on a Mac with Apple Silicon (M1, M2, M3)?

Yes. Homebrew automatically detects your processor and installs the correct version. If you download directly from ffmpeg.org, make sure you choose the macOS build, not the Linux one. The installation process is the same.

What if I want to uninstall FFmpeg?

On Mac with Homebrew, type brew uninstall ffmpeg. On Linux, type sudo apt remove ffmpeg (or the equivalent for your distribution). On Windows, delete the ffmpeg folder you extracted and remove the path from your environment variables by following the same steps you used to add it.

Do I need to install FFmpeg if I use video editing software like DaVinci Resolve or Shotcut?

Not necessarily. Many video editors include their own media processing tools. However, some editors use FFmpeg behind the scenes, and installing it separately gives you more control and lets you use FFmpeg commands directly from the terminal for batch processing or automation.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.