How To Install FFmpeg 7.1.1 on Ubuntu 24.10, Ubuntu 24.04, Ubuntu 22.04 And Derivative Systems (Via PPA)

FFmpeg is a powerful and widely used open-source multimedia framework designed for recording, converting, streaming, and processing audio and video files. It supports a vast range of codecs and formats, making it an essential tool for developers, content creators, and system administrators working with multimedia.

At its core, FFmpeg includes multiple libraries such as libavcodec, libavformat, and libavutil, which handle audio and video encoding, decoding, and manipulation. It enables users to convert media files between different formats, extract audio from video, resize and compress files, apply filters, and even stream media over networks.

FFmpeg is command-line based, but it integrates seamlessly with various applications and frameworks. Due to its high efficiency, broad format support, and continuous development, it remains one of the most versatile multimedia solutions available for Linux, including Ubuntu and its derivatives.

The latest version

The latest version available is FFmpeg 7.1.1 Péter, which comes with the following changes:

• Multithreaded Muxing: Each muxer now operates in a separate thread, improving performance during media file creation.
• Enhanced Crop Detection: The cropdetect filter includes a new mode that utilizes motion vectors and edges to detect crop areas more accurately.
• Extended VAAPI Support: Decoding and encoding capabilities have been expanded to support 10/12-bit 4:2:2 and 4:4:4 profiles for both HEVC and VP9 codecs.
• DVD-Video Demuxer: A new demuxer powered by libdvdnav and libdvdread facilitates improved handling of DVD-Video content.
• ffprobe Enhancements: The -show_stream_groups option has been added, and with the -export_side_data film_grain flag, ffprobe now prints film grain metadata.
• New Filters and Codecs: Additions include the a3dscope filter, bonk decoder and demuxer, Micronas SC-4 audio decoder, and LAF demuxer, among others.

These updates enhance FFmpeg’s functionality, offering users improved performance, expanded codec support, and advanced filtering options.

How to Install FFmpeg 7 on Ubuntu 24.10, Ubuntu 24.04, and Ubuntu 22.04 and Derivative Systems (via PPA)

To install FFmpeg on Ubuntu, follow these steps:

(Optional) Step 0: Update Your System

Before installing any new software, it is recommended to update your system to ensure you have the latest packages and security updates. Run the following command:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

Step 1: Add the FFmpeg Repository

FFmpeg’s latest version is not included in Ubuntu’s default repositories, so you need to add the official Personal Package Archive (PPA) provided by the community. Execute the following command:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ubuntuhandbook1/ffmpeg7

Press Enter when prompted to confirm adding the repository.

Step 2: Update the Package List

After adding the FFmpeg repository, update the package list to ensure your system recognizes the new software source:

sudo apt update

Step 3: Install FFmpeg

Now that the repository has been added and updated, install FFmpeg with:

sudo apt install ffmpeg -y

After installation, you can verify the installed version by running:

ffmpeg -version

(Optional) Remove FFmpeg

If you want to uninstall FFmpeg, use the following command:

sudo apt remove --autoremove ffmpeg

To completely remove FFmpeg, including all configuration files, use:

sudo apt purge ffmpeg -y

Additionally, to remove the PPA repository, run:

sudo add-apt-repository --remove ppa:ubuntuhandbook1/ffmpeg7

Finally, to clean up unnecessary dependencies, execute:

sudo apt autoremove -y

That’s it! You now have FFmpeg installed on your Ubuntu system. Enjoy!

Conclusion

FFmpeg 7 is an essential tool for handling multimedia processing on Linux, offering a vast range of capabilities for encoding, decoding, streaming, and editing audio and video files. Installing it via PPA ensures access to the latest updates, improved codec support, and performance enhancements, making it an excellent choice for developers, content creators, and system administrators.

By following the installation steps outlined above, you can quickly set up FFmpeg on Ubuntu and its derivatives, ensuring compatibility with modern multimedia workflows. Whether you’re converting media files, applying advanced filters, or working with live streaming, FFmpeg provides a powerful and flexible solution. If you ever need to remove or update it, the process is just as straightforward.

With FFmpeg installed, you now have a robust multimedia framework at your disposal, ready to handle all your media processing needs efficiently.