How To Install FFmpeg on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS

In this tutorial, we will show you how to install FFmpeg on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS. FFmpeg is a powerful multimedia framework that allows users to record, convert, and stream audio and video. It is a favorite tool among developers, content creators, and IT professionals for its versatility and comprehensive codec library.

This article assumes you have at least basic knowledge of Linux, know how to use the shell, and most importantly, you host your site on your own VPS. The installation is quite simple and assumes you are running in the root account, if not you may need to add ‘sudo‘ to the commands to get root privileges. I will show you the step-by-step installation of the FFmpeg multimedia framework on Ubuntu 24.04 (Noble Numbat). You can follow the same instructions for Ubuntu 22.04 and any other Debian-based distribution like Linux Mint, Elementary OS, Pop!_OS, and more as well.

Prerequisites

• A server running one of the following operating systems: Ubuntu and any other Debian-based distribution like Linux Mint.
• It’s recommended that you use a fresh OS install to prevent any potential issues.
• SSH access to the server (or just open Terminal if you’re on a desktop).
• An active internet connection. You’ll need an internet connection to download the necessary packages and dependencies.
• An Ubuntu 24.04 system with root access or a user with sudo privileges.

Install FFmpeg on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS Noble Numbat

Step 1. Updating the Package Repository.

Before installing any package, it’s a good practice to update the package lists to ensure you have access to the latest available versions. Open a terminal and run the following command:

sudo apt update

This command will fetch the latest package information from the Ubuntu repositories, allowing you to install the most recent version of FFmpeg and its dependencies. Updating the package repository is crucial to maintaining the security and stability of your system.

Step 2. Installing FFmpeg on Ubuntu 24.04.

• Method 1: Installing FFmpeg Using APT

The easiest and most straightforward method to install FFmpeg on Ubuntu is through the Advanced Package Tool (APT). Follow these steps to install:

sudo apt install ffmpeg

After the installation is complete, you can verify the installed version of FFmpeg by running:

ffmpeg -version

This command will display the version information and the configuration details of the installed FFmpeg package.

• Method 2: Installing FFmpeg Using Snap

Alternatively, Ubuntu users can install FFmpeg using Snap, a package management system that allows you to install applications in an isolated environment. This method is beneficial for getting faster updates and managing different versions of applications. Here’s how to install FFmpeg using Snap:

sudo apt install snapd

Execute the following command:

sudo snap install ffmpeg

Similar to the APT method, verify your installation by checking the FFmpeg version:

ffmpeg -version

This command will display the version information and configuration details of the installed FFmpeg Snap package.

Step 3. Advanced Usage of FFmpeg.

While FFmpeg is primarily known for its multimedia conversion capabilities, it offers a wide range of advanced features and functionalities. Here are a few examples of what you can achieve with FFmpeg:

• • Video Conversion:

FFmpeg can convert videos between various formats, such as MP4, AVI, MKV, and more. For example, to convert an MP4 video to AVI format, you can use the following command:

ffmpeg -i input.mp4 output.avi

• • Audio Conversion:

FFmpeg can also convert audio files between different formats, such as MP3, WAV, and FLAC. For example, to convert an MP3 audio file to WAV format, you can use the following command:

ffmpeg -i input.mp3 output.wav

• • Video Editing:

FFmpeg provides a range of video editing capabilities, including trimming, cropping, resizing, and applying filters. For example, to trim a video from the 30-second mark to the 1-minute mark, you can use the following command:

ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -ss 00:00:30 -t 00:00:30 -c copy output.mp4

These commands showcase FFmpeg’s capability to handle complex multimedia tasks with simple commands.

Congratulations! You have successfully installed FFmpeg. Thanks for using this tutorial for installing the FFmpeg multimedia framework on the Ubuntu 24.04 LTS system. For additional help or useful information, we recommend you check the FFmpeg website.