How to Install FFmpeg on Windows

Download FFmpeg

How to Install FFmpeg on Windows Picture 1

Open the FFmpeg download page. You need to access https://ffmpeg.zeranoe.com/builds/ using your computer's web browser.

Although there is a website dedicated to FFmpeg, the file downloaded from there will not work on Windows 10.

How to Install FFmpeg on Windows Picture 2

Click Download Build . It's the blue button on the right side of the page. With this, the FFmpeg program will be downloaded to your computer.

Depending on your browser's settings, you may have to first select a save folder or confirm the download.

How to Install FFmpeg on Windows Picture 3

Open the FFmpeg download folder. Double click on the FFmpeg folder downloaded in ZIP format to do this.

How to Install FFmpeg on Windows Picture 4

Extract the FFmpeg folder. You can use the built-in decompression feature on your computer at this step:

Click the Extract tab at the top of the window.

Click Extract all.

Click Extract at the bottom of the window.

Wait for the screen to display a window.

How to Install FFmpeg on Windows Picture 5

Rename the extracted folder. In the window that is showing you will see the folder "ffmpeg-20180424-d9706f7-win64-static". Let's rename this folder to "FFmpeg" in the following way:

Click the folder to select.

Click the Home tab at the top of the window.

Click Rename in the "Organize" section.

Type FFmpeg and press ↵ Enter.

How to Install FFmpeg on Windows Picture 6

Copy the folder "FFmpeg". Select the "FFmpeg" folder if you haven't already, then press Ctrl+C to copy it.

If you don't want to save a copy of the "FFmpeg" folder, you can press Ctrl+X.

How to Install FFmpeg on Windows Picture 7

Click This PC . This is a folder on the left side of the window, but you may have to scroll up to see it. This PC window will appear on the screen.

How to Install FFmpeg on Windows Picture 8

Open the hard drive's folder. Double-click the hard drive folder (usually the "OS (C:)" folder) under the "Devices and drives" heading in the center of the window.

If you don't see any folders under the "Devices and drives" heading, click Devices and drives to bring up the folders.

How to Install FFmpeg on Windows Picture 9

Paste the "FFmpeg" folder. Click any empty space in the folder, and then press Ctrl+V. This will paste the copied "FFmpeg" folder into your computer's hard drive folder. Next, you can perform the operation to enable FFmpeg in the Command Prompt.

Enable FFmpeg in Command Line

How to Install FFmpeg on Windows Picture 10

Click This PC . This is a folder on the left side of the window, but you may have to scroll up to see this option. You will be returned to the This PC folder.

If you closed File Explorer, click Start, then type this pc and click This PC at the top of the Start menu.

How to Install FFmpeg on Windows Picture 11

Click Computer . You'll see this tab in the upper-left corner of the This PC window.

How to Install FFmpeg on Windows Picture 12

Click Properties . This is the red check mark in the white box displayed in the upper left corner of the window. With this action, the Properties window immediately appears on the screen.

How to Install FFmpeg on Windows Picture 13

Click Advanced system settings . This path is in the upper left corner of the Properties window. The screen will display a new window.

How to Install FFmpeg on Windows Picture 14

Click Environment Variables… . This is the button near the bottom of the window. Another window will appear on the screen.

If you don't see this option, you'll need to first click the Advanced tab at the top of the window.

How to Install FFmpeg on Windows Picture 15

Double-click the Path value . This value shows up in the "User variables for [name]" section at the top of the window. This will open the Path variable's window.

If you don't see the Path value, try dragging the scroll bar up or down in the "User variables" section.

If you want to enable FFmpeg for all users on this computer, you'll double-click Path in the "System variables" section near the bottom of the window.

How to Install FFmpeg on Windows Picture 16

Click New . This is the option on the right side of the window. This will create a new input field in the window.

How to Install FFmpeg on Windows Picture 17

Enter the path to the "FFmpeg" library. Enter C:FFmpegbin in the input field, and then select OK.

How to Install FFmpeg on Windows Picture 18

Click OK on both visible windows. FFmpeg is now enabled for the Command Prompt, but you can check FFmpeg to make sure the program is installed correctly.

Check out FFmpeg

How to Install FFmpeg on Windows Picture 19

Open Start

How to Install FFmpeg on Windows Picture 20

. Click the Windows icon in the lower left corner of the screen. This is the operation that opens the Start menu.

How to Install FFmpeg on Windows Picture 21

Search Command Prompt. Type command prompt into Start. You will see the Command Prompt icon at the top of the Start menu.

How to Install FFmpeg on Windows Picture 22

Open administrator mode in Command Prompt. Right click

How to Install FFmpeg on Windows Picture 23

Command Prompt at the top of the menu, then click Run as administrator and select Yes when asked.

How to Install FFmpeg on Windows Picture 24

Check the FFmpeg version. Type ffmpeg -version and press ↵ Enter. This shows you information related to FFmpeg.

If you see the message "'ffmpeg' is not recognized as an internal or external command, operable program or batch file" (ffmpeg is not an internal command or an external command, or an operable program or file), yes Maybe you entered the wrong path.

Kareem Winters

Update 28 February 2022