How To Install FFmpeg In Linux

FFmpeg is the Swiss Army knife of media tools. It can convert, stream, and process audio and video in just about any format. If you’re working on Linux, FFmpeg is a must-have. Here’s how to get it up and running in minutes.

What Is FFmpeg?

FFmpeg is a command-line tool for handling multimedia files. It’s open-source, lightweight, and incredibly powerful. Whether you’re converting video formats, extracting audio, compressing files, or streaming—FFmpeg does it all.

Step 1: Check If FFmpeg Is Already Installed

Before installing, see if FFmpeg is already on your system:

ffmpeg -version

If you see version info, you’re good to go. If you get a “command not found” message, follow the steps below.

Step 2: Install FFmpeg (Based on Your Linux Distro)

For Ubuntu or Debian:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install ffmpeg

To verify:

ffmpeg -version

For Fedora:

sudo dnf install ffmpeg ffmpeg-devel

For Arch Linux:

sudo pacman -S ffmpeg

For openSUSE:

sudo zypper install ffmpeg

Step 3: Confirm the Installation

Once installed, double-check that it’s working:

ffmpeg -version

You should see version info and configuration flags. Now you’re ready to start using FFmpeg.

Optional: Install the Latest FFmpeg from Source

If your distro’s package manager installs an older version and you need the latest features, compile it from source:

1. Install Dependencies

sudo apt update
sudo apt install git build-essential yasm cmake libx264-dev libx265-dev libvpx-dev libfdk-aac-dev libmp3lame-dev libopus-dev

2. Clone FFmpeg

git clone https://git.ffmpeg.org/ffmpeg.git ffmpeg
cd ffmpeg

3. Compile and Install

./configure --enable-gpl --enable-libx264 --enable-libx265 --enable-libvpx --enable-libfdk-aac --enable-libmp3lame --enable-libopus
make -j$(nproc)
sudo make install

Run ffmpeg -version again to confirm you’re running the custom build.

Final Tips

FFmpeg is powerful but dense. Bookmark the official documentation.
To get a quick list of available options: ffmpeg -h.

Got FFmpeg installed? Great. You’re now ready to convert videos, trim audio, create GIFs, and automate media tasks—all from your terminal.

Need help with specific FFmpeg commands or automation scripts? Drop a comment or shoot me a message.