How to Update FFmpeg on macOS

Updating FFmpeg to the latest version on macOS is a quick and straightforward process, most commonly completed using the Homebrew package manager. This guide provides a direct, step-by-step walkthrough to check your current FFmpeg version, update your package database, and upgrade the software to the newest stable release using the Terminal.

Step 1: Open the Terminal

To begin, open the Terminal application on your Mac. You can find it by pressing Cmd + Space to open Spotlight, typing “Terminal,” and pressing Enter.

Step 2: Check Your Current FFmpeg Version

Before updating, you can check which version of FFmpeg is currently installed on your system by running the following command:

ffmpeg -version

The first line of the output will display your current version number (for example, ffmpeg version 5.1.2).

Step 3: Update Homebrew

FFmpeg on macOS is best managed through Homebrew. To ensure you fetch the absolute latest version of FFmpeg, you must first update Homebrew’s package registry. Run this command:

brew update

Step 4: Upgrade FFmpeg

Once Homebrew is updated, run the upgrade command to install the latest version of FFmpeg:

brew upgrade ffmpeg

If you do not already have FFmpeg installed via Homebrew, you can install the latest version from scratch by running:

brew install ffmpeg

Step 5: Verify the Update

After the installation process completes, verify that the update was successful by checking the version once more:

ffmpeg -version

The output should now display the latest stable version of FFmpeg available.