Portable FFmpeg

Downloads static FFmpeg builds for Windows, macOS, and Linux.

• Supports Windows, macOS, and Linux
• Supports x86_64 architecture on all platforms, ARM64 on macOS and Linux
• Automatic platform detection and binary caching
• Explicit FFmpeg 9.0 support on Windows amd64 and macOS amd64/arm64

Usage

Python API

from portable_ffmpeg import get_ffmpeg
ffmpeg_path, ffprobe_path = get_ffmpeg()
print(ffmpeg_path)  # Path to ffmpeg executable

Command Line Interface

After installation, you can use static_ffmpeg and static_ffprobe directly from the command line:

# Use static ffmpeg
static_ffmpeg -i input.mp4 output.mp3

# Use static ffprobe
static_ffprobe -v quiet -print_format json -show_format input.mp4

# Print paths to the binaries
print_paths

The CLI commands automatically download and cache the appropriate static binaries for your platform.

PATH Management

You can also programmatically manage your PATH:

from portable_ffmpeg import add_to_path, remove_from_path

# Add FFmpeg binaries to PATH
add_to_path()

# Add only if FFmpeg is not already available (weak mode)
add_to_path(weak=True)

# Remove from PATH
remove_from_path()

Sources of Static Builds

This package downloads static FFmpeg binaries from the following trusted sources:

Windows (x86_64)

• Source: BtbN FFmpeg Builds
• Description: GitHub Actions-built GPL static binaries with daily automated releases and tagged version builds
• Versions: LATEST remains the rolling BtbN master build; V8 selects the current BtbN 8.1 asset and V7 retains its existing 7.1 mapping
• V9: GyanD/codexffmpeg 9.0 essentials, with SHA256 e6b54767a6065919048f1a098eb27211ca4e12b4348a05d88777a5855d0b6e71
• License: The verified GyanD archive includes a GNU GPLv3 LICENSE file.

Linux (x86_64 and arm64)

• Source: BtbN FFmpeg Builds for LATEST, V8, and V7
• V9: Not configured until BtbN or another trusted source publishes a redistributable stable 9.0 build. Martin Riedl's Linux 9.0 build metadata enables nonfree DeckLink support, so it is not used as a package default.
• Legacy V5/V6 (Linux only): Older builds are sourced from John Van Sickle

macOS

FFmpeg 9.0 (Intel and Apple Silicon)

• Source: Martin Riedl's FFmpeg Build Server
• LATEST and V9: Both select the verified stable FFmpeg 9.0 release assets below. Each asset has a matching .sha256 sidecar.
• License: The verified macOS V9 binaries report GPLv3.

The existing OSXExperts mappings remain available for explicit V8 and V7 selections.

Version coverage

Alternative Sources

The following sources provide FFmpeg static builds but are not currently used by this package:

• EverMeet FFmpeg

  • Platforms: macOS only
  • Architectures: x86_64
  • Description: Long-standing macOS static builds provider

• FreeBSD FFmpeg Static

  • Platforms: FreeBSD only
  • Architectures: Various
  • Description: Static builds specifically for FreeBSD systems

• John Van Sickle

  • Platforms: Linux
  • Architectures: x86_64, ARM64, i686, armhf, armel
  • Description: Static Linux builds (used for legacy V5/V6 version support)

Caching

Downloaded binaries are cached in the package's binaries/ directory to avoid re-downloading. Each virtual environment gets its own copy of the binaries.

The cache is organized by platform and architecture (e.g., linux-amd64, windows-amd64, osx-arm64).

Cache Management

from portable_ffmpeg import clear_cache

# Clear all cached binaries
clear_cache()

Or use the command line:

clear_cache