Last updated: February 5, 2025

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# How to install FFmpeg on Windows: a complete guide

![Tim Koschützki](/assets/images/teammates/avatar-tim-kos-1.jpg?dpl=dpl_5eQDcFwLGbzg3PfkSEW2a2j2x5pY)

**Tim Koschützki**

Co-founder · Berlin, Germany · Show bio

[](https://x.com/tim%5Fkos)[](https://github.com/tim-kos)

FFmpeg is a powerful multimedia framework for handling audio and video files. This guide explains how to install FFmpeg on Windows, including download options, system requirements, and troubleshooting tips.

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## Prerequisites

Before installing FFmpeg, ensure your system meets these requirements:

* For gyan.dev essentials build: Windows 7 or later.
* For gyan.dev full build: Windows 10 or later with a CPU supporting SSE4.1.
* For BtbN builds: Windows 10 22H2 or later.
* Administrator privileges on your system.
* An active Internet connection for downloading FFmpeg.

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## Installation methods

You can install FFmpeg using package managers or through a manual installation.

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### Using package managers

You can install FFmpeg easily using popular package managers:

Using Chocolatey:

```powershell
choco install ffmpeg

```

Using Winget:

```powershell
winget install ffmpeg

```

Using Scoop:

```powershell
scoop install ffmpeg

```

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### Manual installation

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#### Step 1: Download FFmpeg

Choose one of the following sources to download FFmpeg:

* Visit [gyan.dev/ffmpeg/builds/⁠](https://www.gyan.dev/ffmpeg/builds/) (recommended for Windows)
  * Choose `ffmpeg-release-essentials.7z` for most users.
  * Choose `ffmpeg-release-full.7z` if you need additional codecs.\
    OR
* Visit [GitHub - BtbN/FFmpeg-Builds⁠](https://github.com/BtbN/FFmpeg-Builds/releases) (alternative source)
  * Select the appropriate win64 build (gpl, lgpl, or shared) that matches your needs.

For more options, refer to the [official FFmpeg download page⁠](https://ffmpeg.org/download.html).

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#### Step 2: Verify download integrity

1. Download both the FFmpeg archive and its corresponding `.sha256` file.
2. Open PowerShell and navigate to your download directory.
3. Run:

```powershell
Get-FileHash ffmpeg-release-essentials.7z | Format-List

```

1. Compare the computed hash with the contents of the `.sha256` file.

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#### Step 3: Extract the archive

1. Right-click the downloaded `.7z` file.
2. Select 'Extract All...'
3. Choose a destination folder (e.g., `C:\FFmpeg`).
4. Click 'Extract'.

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#### Step 4: Add FFmpeg to the system path

1. Press Windows + X and select "System."
2. Click "Advanced system settings."
3. Click "Environment Variables."
4. Under "System variables," select `Path` and click "Edit."
5. Click "New" and add the path to the `bin` folder (e.g., `C:\FFmpeg\bin`).
6. Click "OK" on all dialogs to apply the changes.

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## Choosing between static and shared builds

FFmpeg is available in both static and shared builds:

* Static builds bundle all necessary libraries within the executable, offering a hassle-free setup.
* Shared builds require the corresponding dynamic libraries (DLLs) to be present on your system.

For simplicity, we recommend using static builds unless you need a specific shared library feature.

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## Verifying the installation

1. Open Command Prompt or PowerShell.
2. Run:

```bash
ffmpeg -version  
```

3. You should see version information that includes:
   * The FFmpeg version number.
   * Configuration options.
   * A list of included libraries.

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## Troubleshooting common issues

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### FFmpeg not recognized

If you encounter the error "'ffmpeg' is not recognized":

* Ensure the PATH is set correctly.
* Log out and log in again, or restart your computer.

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### Missing dll errors

If you see errors such as "MSVCR100.dll is missing":

* Install the latest Visual C++ Redistributable.
* Alternatively, use a static build to bypass DLL dependencies.

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### Shared library issues

If you receive errors like "Error while loading shared libraries":

* Consider using the static build.
* Verify that all required Visual C++ Redistributables are installed.

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### Permission issues

If you experience permission errors:

* Run Command Prompt as Administrator.
* Check the file permissions of the FFmpeg directory.

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## Basic FFmpeg commands

Here are a few common commands to help you get started:

* Convert a video format:

```bash
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 output.avi

```

* Extract audio from a video:

```bash
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -q:a 0 -map a output.mp3

```

* Resize a video:

```bash
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -vf scale=1280:720 output.mp4

```

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## Updating FFmpeg

To update FFmpeg:

1. Download the latest build from one of the sources listed above.
2. Extract the new archive to a folder.
3. Replace your existing FFmpeg installation with the new files.
4. Ensure that your system PATH points to the updated installation.

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## Leveraging hardware acceleration

If your system supports hardware acceleration (such as Intel Quick Sync or NVIDIA NVENC), you can enable faster encoding. Consult the official FFmpeg[documentation⁠](https://ffmpeg.org/documentation.html) for the appropriate flags and configuration options.

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## Conclusion

You now have FFmpeg installed and ready to use on your Windows system. This guide has covered essential steps—from downloading and verifying FFmpeg to troubleshooting common issues and exploring basic commands. For more advanced usage and further details, refer to the official[FFmpeg documentation⁠](https://ffmpeg.org/documentation.html).

For developers working with video processing at scale, Transloadit's platform can run your FFmpeg commands in the cloud, offering autoscaling and parallel processing capabilities.[Learn more about our video encoding capabilities](/services/video-encoding.md).

\#ffmpeg#windows#installation#video-encoding-service#video-encode-robot

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