How to Install FFmpeg on Debian

Introduction

This guide explains how to install FFmpeg on:

• Debian 10
• Debian 9
• Debian 8

FFmpeg is an open-source command-line tool for video and audio encoding/decoding. Its main features are high speed, quality, and small file sizes.

Prerequisites

• Update the Debian server with the latest package versions.
• Connect to the server as a non-root sudo user.

Debian 10 and 9

1. Install FFmpeg.

    $ sudo apt-get install ffmpeg

2. Verify the installation.

    ffmpeg -version

   You will see information about the installed FFmpeg version. Your setup is complete.

Debian 8

1. Edit the source list.

    $ sudo nano /etc/apt/sources.list

2. Add the following lines at the end of the file:

    # deb-multimedia
    deb http://www.deb-multimedia.org jessie main non-free
    deb-src http://www.deb-multimedia.org jessie main non-free
   
    # jessie-backports
    deb http://httpredir.debian.org/debian/ jessie-backports main

3. Save and close the file.

4. Update the package list and install deb-multimedia keyring:

    $ sudo apt-get update
    $ sudo apt-get install deb-multimedia-keyring
    $ sudo apt-get update

5. Install FFmpeg.

    $ sudo apt-get install ffmpeg

6. Verify the installation.

    ffmpeg -version

   You will see information about the installed FFmpeg version. Your setup is complete.