How to Update FFmpeg to the Latest Version on Windows

Keeping FFmpeg updated on Windows ensures you have access to the latest video and audio codecs, performance improvements, and bug fixes. Since FFmpeg does not have a built-in auto-update feature, updating it requires manually replacing the existing executable files or using a Windows package manager. This guide provides clear, step-by-step instructions for both methods so you can quickly get the latest version running on your system.

If you previously installed FFmpeg manually by adding it to your system’s Path environment variable, follow these steps to update it.

Step 1: Find your current FFmpeg folder

  1. Open the Windows Command Prompt.
  2. Type where ffmpeg and press Enter.
  3. Note the folder path displayed (for example, C:\ffmpeg\bin\ffmpeg.exe). This is where your current FFmpeg files are located.

Step 2: Download the latest build

  1. Visit the official download page at ffmpeg.org/download.html.
  2. Under the Windows logo, click on Windows builds from gyan.dev or Windows builds by Brosser.
  3. Download the latest “git-full” or “release-full” zip package (e.g., ffmpeg-release-full.zip).

Step 3: Replace the old files

  1. Extract the downloaded ZIP file.
  2. Open the extracted folder and navigate to the bin subfolder. You will see three files: ffmpeg.exe, ffplay.exe, and ffprobe.exe.
  3. Copy these three files.
  4. Navigate to the folder path you located in Step 1 (e.g., C:\ffmpeg\bin\).
  5. Paste the new files into this folder, choosing to Replace the files in the destination when prompted.

Method 2: Update using Windows Package Manager (Winget)

If you installed FFmpeg using a package manager, or if you want an automated way to manage updates, you can use Windows Package Manager (Winget), which is built into Windows 10 and 11.

  1. Right-click the Start menu and select Terminal or Command Prompt (Admin).

  2. Type the following command and press Enter:

    winget upgrade Gyan.FFmpeg

    (Note: If you installed the essentials version, use winget upgrade Gyan.FFmpeg.Essentials instead).

  3. Windows will automatically download and install the latest version over your existing installation.

Step 4: Verify the Update

Regardless of the method you used, verify that the update was successful:

  1. Open a new Command Prompt window (close any existing windows first to refresh the environment variables).

  2. Type the following command and press Enter:

    ffmpeg -version

  3. Check the first line of the output. It should display the newly installed version number and build date.