How to Install FFmpeg 4.2 in Ubuntu 18.04 / Linux Mint 19.x

Last updated: December 11, 2019

FFMPEG

FFmpeg multimedia libraries 4.2 was released a few weeks ago. Here’s how to install it in Ubuntu 18.04, Linux Mint 19.x.

FFmpeg 4.2, codename “Ada”, is a major release that features:

  • tpad filter, dedot filter, freezedetect filter, lagfun filter, asoftclip filter, colorhold filter, xmedian filter, asr filter, derain filter, deesser filter, anlmdn filter, maskfun filter
  • chromashift and rgbashift filters, truehd_core bitstream filter, AV1 frame split bitstream filter, showspatial multimedia filter
  • dhav demuxer, vividas demuxer, KUX demuxer, IFV demuxer
  • hymt decoder, ARBC decoder, agm decoder, lscr decoder, VP4 video decoder, hcom demuxer and decoder
  • PCM-DVD encoder
  • GIF parser
  • removed libndi-newtek
  • libaribb24 based ARIB STD-B24 caption support (profiles A and C)
  • Support decoding of HEVC 4:4:4 content in vdpau, nvdec and cuviddec
  • AV1 decoding support through libdav1d
  • mov muxer writes tracks with unspecified language instead of English by default
  • added support for using clang to compile CUDA kernels

How to Install FFmpeg 4.2 in Ubuntu:

The unofficial PPA has built the packages for Ubuntu 18.04 and its derivatives.

1. Open terminal either via Ctrl+Alt+T keyboard shortcut, or by searching for ‘terminal’ from application menu. When it opens, run command to add the PPA:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:savoury1/ffmpeg4

Type user password (no asterisk feedback) when it prompts and hit Enter.

2. Two more PPAs are required for the dependencies. Run following commands one by one in terminal:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:savoury1/graphics
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:savoury1/multimedia

3. You can then upgrade FFmpeg libraries via Software Updater (Update Manager):

Or run commands in terminal:

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install ffmpeg

Once installed, you may check the software version via command ffmpeg -v

How to Restore:

The two dependencies PPAs contain many other application packages, you may remove them either via Software & Updates -> Other Software or by running command:

sudo add-apt-repository --remove ppa:savoury1/graphics
sudo add-apt-repository --remove ppa:savoury1/multimedia

For any reason, you can downgrade FFmpeg to the stock version in Ubuntu universe repositories by purging the PPA via command:

sudo apt-get install ppa-purge && sudo ppa-purge ppa:savoury1/ffmpeg4

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9 responses to How to Install FFmpeg 4.2 in Ubuntu 18.04 / Linux Mint 19.x

  1. Z.V. Prelosnjak August 21, 2019 at 12:04 pm

    I use WinFF (ffmpeg-gui) for transcoding. Installing the latest FFmpeg 4.2 from the PPA wants to remove the app (Synaptic) … I cancelled the upgrade and removed the PPA. I always curate my PPAs so as they not interfere with my existing installed packages … this one is not going to be installed … running Xubuntu 18.04 … BTW, I use your Audacity, Cantata, and Sigil builds and they are part of my PPA list … thanks …

  2. Hoover Campoverde August 27, 2019 at 8:43 pm

    Greetings Ji m. I had problems with Clipgrab v3.8.4….Now with your help Clipgrab works very good under Mint 19.2 (Tina).

  3. there is no cuvid decoder support on this version , i should compile .
    thank u

  4. Rafael Bezerra Nonato December 11, 2019 at 10:50 am

    I’ve been using the unofficial PPA this article recommends for some years now, but it has recently been taken down. Do you have any new recommendations?

  5. As of 10 December, this method does not work with mint 19.2:
    “Cannot add PPA: ”This PPA does not support bionic”.”

    When will this article be updated to show a method of installing ffmpeg-4 on Mint 19.2 which does work?

  6. You’re getting lazy this doesn’t support 19 and it doesn’t have lib aac audio.

  7. masoud parpanchi June 1, 2020 at 8:20 am

    thanks