ffmpeg is a versatile command line program. It converts videos from one format to another, extract audio from video, create videos from static images and audio files and so much more.
If you are going to use yt-dlp, you want to have ffmpeg installed on your computer.
Does yt-dlp complain that ffmpeg not installed?
Download ffmpeg
Visit the FFMpeg Windows Builds page.
From the Assets section, choose master-latest.
Make sure it’s for your windows version (mine’s win64).
Click on it, wait for it to download.
And then…
Unzip the archive to a separate folder
I like to put my ffmpeg folder under C:\Z
But you can put it anywhere else on your drive.
Make sure you remember where, though.
Remember the path, we’ll need it below.
Set ffmpeg PATH for yt-dlp
Press Start, the write path. This shows up (on Windows 10):
Press on Edit the system environment variables. The System Properties dialog shows up:
Now press on Environment Variables. The Environment Variables form shows up next:
Under User variables for [Your User Name], double click on Path.
Select the line starting with Path and press Edit.
Alternatively, you can double click the Path line.
The Edit environment variable form shows up.
Press New on the Edit environment form.
A blank line will be added, and you will edit it.
Enter the full path to ffmpeg there – C:\Z\ffmpeg-master-latest-win64-gpl\bin
Make sure ffmpeg.exe exists in that folder you’re adding.
Press OK and close all remaining forms.
Testing that ffmpeg works from the CMD line
Let’s make sure ffmpeg.exe is picked up by the command line.
Open a new command line
- Press Start
- Type cmd
- Press Enter
A new command line should open.
Enter ffmpeg -version in there.
It should display something like this:
Yes, ugly output.
But it means that ffmpeg is now available to all programs and scripts on your computer, for the current user.
This also means yt-dlp can use ffmpeg.
And that’s it!
