If you are looking for an all-in-one utility to edit your audio and videos on Ubuntu 24.04, you must try the FFmpeg. The Fast Forward MPEG or FFmpeg is a free, open-source, and cross-platform command-line utility that lets you convert formats, compress content, extract audio streams, and much more. The FFmpeg project has been constantly improving since its release back in 2000.
Quick answer
The easiest way to install FFmpeg on Ubuntu 24.04 is with sudo apt install ffmpeg. You can also use Snap, App Center, or a tar package if you need a different packaging method.
Install method comparison
| Method | Source | Auto-updates | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| APT | Ubuntu repository | With apt upgrade |
Most users; cleanest system integration |
| App Center | Snap (via GUI) | Automatic | No terminal needed |
| Snap | Snapcraft | Automatic daily refresh | Sandboxed; auto-updated |
| Tar (static) | johnvansickle.com | Manual download | Latest build; no system integration |
How to Install FFmpeg on Ubuntu 24.04
Method 1: Install FFmpeg on Ubuntu 24.04 Using the App Center
The FFmpeg is officially available on Ubuntu 24.04’s App Center. To install it, open the App Center, search for FFmpeg, select the version (stable recommended), and use the Install button:
After installing the FFmpeg on Ubuntu 24.04, you can use it via the Terminal:
ffmpeg
Method 2: Install FFmpeg on Ubuntu 24.04 Using the apt Command
The apt or Advanced Packaging Tool lets Ubuntu users efficiently download the latest packages from the official repositories. The apt also hosts the FFmpeg and you can install it via the following command:
sudo apt install ffmpeg -y
To update/upgrade the apt-based FFmpeg, run the below-mentioned command:
sudo apt upgrade ffmpeg
Method 3: Install FFmpeg on Ubuntu Using the Snap
The Snap is a package that contains all the libraries and dependencies to install that package. It also hosts the FFmpeg that you can install using the following command:
sudo snap install ffmpeg
To update the Snap-based FFmpeg, execute the below command:
sudo snap refresh ffmpeg
Method 4: Install FFmpeg on Ubuntu 24.04 Using the Tar File
Many developers utilize the tar file for the distribution of their software on Linux. Among a variety of software available via the Tar file, also includes FFmpeg which you can install on Ubuntu 24.04.
Before installing the FFmpeg via the Tar file, execute the following command first and download the Tar file:
sudo wget https://johnvansickle.com/ffmpeg/builds/ffmpeg-git-amd64-static.tar.xz
After downloading the Tar file for FFmpeg, run the following command to extract its contents:
sudo tar xvf ffmpeg*.xz
Now navigate to the FFmpeg directory, list files, install the libraries, and then navigate back to the parent directory, as seen below:
cd ffmpeg-*-static
ls
sudo ln -s "${PWD}/ffmpeg" /usr/local/bin/
sudo ln -s "${PWD}/ffprobe" /usr/local/bin/
cd ~
The FFmpeg is now usable via the Terminal without adding it to the PATH variable.
How to Uninstall FFmpeg on Ubuntu 24.04
Since there are multiple installation methods for FFmpeg on Ubuntu 24.04, there exist multiple uninstallation methods.
To uninstall the App Center-based FFmpeg, open the App Center, click on Manage, and then on FFmpeg. Next, use the three dots and hit the Uninstall button:
To uninstall the apt-based FFmpeg, run the below command:
sudo apt remove ffmpeg -y
To uninstall the Snap-based FFmpeg:
sudo snap remove ffmpegTo remove the tar-based (static) FFmpeg, delete the symlinks and the extracted directory:
sudo rm /usr/local/bin/ffmpeg /usr/local/bin/ffprobe
rm -rf ~/ffmpeg-*-staticCommon FFmpeg tasks on Ubuntu 24.04
Once installed, FFmpeg is available from any terminal. Run ffmpeg -version to confirm the command is available and to see which codecs were included in the build.
| Task | Command |
|---|---|
| Check version and codecs | ffmpeg -version |
| Convert MP4 to MKV | ffmpeg -i input.mp4 output.mkv |
| Extract audio from video | ffmpeg -i video.mp4 -vn -acodec copy audio.aac |
| Compress video (CRF 23 = balanced quality) | ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -crf 23 -preset medium output.mp4 |
| Scale to 1280×720 | ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -vf scale=1280:720 output.mp4 |
| Trim from 1:30 to 4:00 | ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -ss 00:01:30 -to 00:04:00 -c copy out.mp4 |
If an app says FFmpeg is missing, check whether the app expects the ffmpeg command in your system PATH. Installing through APT usually avoids that problem for normal Ubuntu workflows.
After installing FFmpeg
Run ffmpeg -version after installation to confirm the command is available. This also shows which libraries and codecs were included in the installed build.
If an app says FFmpeg is missing, check whether the app expects the ffmpeg command in your system PATH. Installing through APT usually avoids that problem for normal Ubuntu workflows.