This article explains how to install FFmpeg on a computer running Windows 10. FFmpeg is a command line program that allows you to record video and audio files and convert them to various formats.
Steps
Step 1. Visit the URL
You will be redirected to the web page that publishes the latest version of the FFmpeg installation file and its binary files.
If you don't have an app installed on your computer that can manage archives compressed in 7Z format, such as WinRAR or 7Zip, you will have to install one now before you can continue.
Step 2. Click on the button with the Windows logo
The latter depicts a blue square with a stylized white window inside.
Step 3. Click the Windows builds from gyan.dev link
You will be redirected to the page which contains the FFmpeg installation files specially compiled for Windows systems. This means that all the DLLs you may need are present.
If you prefer, you can click on the link Windows builds by BtbN. This is another website that allows you to download the FFmpeg installation files for Windows. There is a wide variety of program builds available through a variety of websites. The official FFmpeg webpage will make them all available as soon as they are released.
Step 4. Scroll down the page to the "git" section
It is located approximately in the middle of the page and is displayed between a green box and the "release" section.
Step 5. Click on the ffmpeg-git-full.7z link
The full text of the link is "https://www.gyan.dev/ffmpeg/builds/ffmpeg-git-full.7z". This will allow you to download the installation files of the latest version of FFmpeg for Windows to your computer. The files are kept in a compressed archive.
Step 6. Extract the content from the file you just downloaded
Follow these instructions:
- Click on the Windows "Start" button with the right mouse button, then select the item File Explorer;
- Click on the folder Download listed in the left pane of the window (you may need to click on the item first to locate it This PC).
- Click on the file ffmpeg - * - git- * full_build.7z with the right mouse button (the file name varies according to the current version number);
- Select the option Extract here, then wait for the data decompression process to finish. A new folder will be created which will have the same name as the 7Z format file.
Step 7. Rename the folder just created by the decompression process with the following name FFmpeg
Click on the folder in question with the right mouse button, type the name FFmpeg, then press the button Enter.
Step 8. Click on the "FFmpeg" folder once to select it, then press the key combination Control + X
This way the folder will be copied and prepared to be moved from the "Download" directory to the desired location, which in this case will be the root folder of your computer's hard drive.
Step 9. Click on the entry This PC in the "File Explorer" window
It features a computer icon and is visible in the left pane of the window.
Step 10. Double-click the computer's main hard drive icon
It is usually marked as "Windows (C:)" or "Local Disk (C:)", but the correct label may vary depending on the make and model of your PC.
Step 11. Click on an empty spot in the right window pane with the right mouse button, then choose the Paste option from the context menu that will appear
This way the folder you copied will be transferred from the directory where it is currently located to the root of your computer's hard drive.
Step 12. Access the window from which you can manage Windows environment variables
Follow these instructions:
- Press the key combination Windows + S. to access the Windows search bar;
- Type in the system variable keywords;
- Click on the icon Modify system-related environment variables appeared in the hit list;
- Click on the button Environment variables displayed in the lower right corner of the window;
Step 13. Select the Path variable listed in the "User Variables for [username]" section, then click the Edit button
The list of paths currently assigned to the variable will be displayed.
Step 14. Add the path of the "FFmpeg" directory to the "Path" variable
This way you can easily execute the FFmpeg program commands within the Windows "Command Prompt" without having to type the full path of the "FFmpeg" directory each time. Follow these instructions:
- Click on the button New to insert a new line of text after the last one in the list;
- Enter the path C: / ffmpeg / bin. If you have pasted the "FFmpeg" folder into a different memory drive or folder, you will need to replace the path indicated with the one specific to you (remember to add the string "\ bin" at the end);
- Click on the button OK. At this point, the complete path of the "FFmpeg" folder will be present as the last value of the "Path" variable.
Step 15. Click the OK button to save the changes
At this point the installation of FFmpeg and the configuration of the system variables is complete. To be sure that FFmpeg is working correctly, open a "Command Prompt" window and run the command to display the program version number: ffmpeg -version.
Warnings
- FFmpeg is a program that has a command line interface, which means that it can only be used via the "Command Prompt". For this reason it may be complex to use for novice users who are not familiar with this latter Windows tool.
- In order to install FFmpeg you must use a computer administrator user account.
