To install FFmpeg on Windows the program must be downloaded and its location must be specified in an environment variable. This is necessary so that FFmpeg can be started easily in the command prompt or terminal. The steps required for installation are explained below for Windows 10.
FFmpeg can be downloaded from the following site: https://github.com/BtbN/FFmpeg-Builds/releases
On this site, FFmpeg is available for various operating
systems and under several open source licenses. Be sure to download a
.zip file that contains win64
in the name, e.g. the
following:
ffmpeg-N-102754-g604924a069-win64-lgpl.zip
If the above link does not work, an alternative link is available on the FFmpeg main page https://ffmpeg.org/download.html.
The .zip file will be located in your Downloads folder after downloading. Find the file and extract it. (Right click on the file > “Extract all…”)
After unpacking, you will get a folder with the overall name of the original .zip file.
Inside it, there is a subfolder with the same name. Rename this folder to ffmpeg (right click > “Rename”.)
This folder has two subfolders named doc and bin
. The
doc
folder contains documentation, the bin
folder contains various program files, among them the file
ffmpeg.exe
.
Move the newly renamed ffmpeg
folder to the main level
of your hard disk C:\
.
To do this, first select the ffmpeg
folder and press the
key combination CTRL + X (to cut).
Then navigate to the main level of your hard disk C:\
and press the key combination CTRL + V (to paste).
The folder ffmpeg
should now be on the main level of the
hard disk C: and the folder bin should be directly inside it.
(Note: You can also move the folder to another location, but then you will have to adjust the path accordingly in step (8)).
In the search bar next to the Start menu icon, type
Advanced System Properties
.
From the list of search results, select the “Advanced System Properties” app.
The „System properties“ window opens.
Select “Environment variables…” on this window.
The “Environment variables” window opens.
Click on the “Path” entry in the upper “User variables” area. Then select “Edit…”.
Another window opens.
Select the “New” command here.
One of the lines is then activated. Enter the following string:
C:\ffmpeg\bin
(This is the path to the folder where the program ffmpeg.exe is located).
Click “OK”
Close the “Environment Variables” window with “OK”
Close the “System Properties” window with “OK”
In the search bar next to the Start menu icon, type “Command Prompt.”
Select the Command Prompt app from the list.
A terminal window will open.
Enter the following command:
ffmpeg -version
If the installation was successful, you will receive the adjacent output with the version information.