FFMPEG is a set of programs that can perform a variety of audio and video encoding, recording, and conversion tasks. It does a lot, but it’s a command-line tool, which means you can’t use it from a graphical user interface. If you’re not familiar with command-line tools or are unsure how to install FFMPEG on Windows 10, know that it’s a simple process that only requires a file download.

This article explains how to install the most appropriate version of FFMPEG on a Windows 10 system, as well as how to add the tool to your PATH so you can run it from any Command Prompt window.

How to install FFMPEG on Windows 10

Download FFMPEG

This is the official FFMPEG website, where you can get the software for Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux. When you click the Windows logo, you’ll see a link that says “Windows builds by Zeranoe” just below it. Click it to get either the 64-bit or 32-bit version.

How to install FFMPEG on Windows 10

Running FFMPEG

Extract the zipped file after you’ve downloaded the build. There is a folder called ‘bin’ inside the extracted folder. It contains the FFMPEG EXE. To run it/use the app, open a new Command Prompt window and navigate to the ‘bin’ folder using the ‘cd’ command. Following that, you can issue a command, which will be executed.

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Add FFMPEG to PATH

Using the ‘cd’ command to move to the folder where FFMPEG’s EXE is located will become tedious if you intend to use it frequently and as a regular part of your daily tasks. Instead, add it to your PATH environment variable.

First, move the folder to a location where you won’t accidentally delete it.

Then, in a new File Explorer window, paste the following into the location bar, then press Enter.

Control Panel\System and Security\System

This will bring up the Control Panel window. Select Advanced System Settings from the left-hand column. There will be a new window open. On this window’s ‘Advanced’ tab, click the Environment Variable button at the very bottom.

Select ‘Path’ under ‘User variables for [Your username]’ and click Edit in the new window that appears. A new window will appear. Click the ‘New’ button, then browse to the ‘bin’ folder and add it using the Browse button. Close all of the windows by clicking OK.

How to install FFMPEG on Windows 10

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FFMPEG is now accessible from any Command Prompt window. You won’t need to use the ‘cd’ command to change Command Prompt’s current directory. Make certain that the FFMPEG folder is not moved. If you move it, you’ll need to update the path otherwise it won’t work.