FFmpeg Installation, Troubleshooting and FAQ

FFmpeg Installation & Troubleshooting

What is FFmpeg?

FFmpeg is an open source cross-platform solution to record, convert and stream audio and video.
You can find more information on ffmpeg.org.

Why and when does JDownloader need FFmpeg?

JDownloader makes use of FFmpeg for:

• websites which are using HLS streaming
• websites that are serving audio and video tracks separately
• mux-/demuxing of video and/or audio tracks

By default JDownloader does not make use of- or install FFmpeg. JDownloader does not even come with FFmpeg and will only ask you to install FFmpeg once you try to download an audio/video item which requires FFmpeg in order to proceed.
Depending on OS and system setup, JDownloader will either try to use system installed FFmpeg version or offer to install it (see screenshot below).
If the auto install fails, try to download/install FFmpeg manually.

Screenshot of the FFmpeg installation prompt within JDownloader:

How can I find out the currently used version of FFmpeg? | How to specify what FFmpeg version JDownloader should be using?

You can check current used FFmpeg version under Settings -> Advanced Settings -> FFmpegSetup.binarypathprobe and FFmpegSetup.binarypath
Exemplaric default values for Windows users:
Example value for FFmpegSetup.binarypathprobe under Windows: C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Local\JDownloader 2.0\tools\Windows\ffmpeg\x64\ffprobe.exe
Example value for FFmpegSetup.binarypath under Windows: C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Local\JDownloader 2.0\tools\Windows\ffmpeg\x64\ffmpeg.exe
You can easily change those paths with a right-click into the Value field -> Advanced editor for this value (GUI only)

If you've ever let JD auto install FFmpeg, you can find that FFmpeg version under [JD install dir]/tools/<os>/ffmpeg.
For example for Windows users that would be [JD install dir]\tools\Windows\ffmpeg.

Synology users: I'm having trouble with FFmpeg or I'm getting error "FFmpeg Failed: version does not support http protocol"

Especially on Synology, FFmpeg might be bundled/installed by other 3rd party software packages such as this popular one: github.com/SynoCommunity/spksrc/wiki/FAQ-FFmpeg
If JD detects a pre-installed version of FFmpeg it will try to use it. However those packages may sometimes contain an incompatible version of FFmpeg without required http protocol support.

The solution is to download another build of FFmpeg and tell JDownloader to use that instead see instructions down below.

Linux and Windows users: I'm having trouble with FFmpeg
Alternative title: I'm getting error "FFmpeg Failed: version does not support http protocol"
Alternative title #2: Manual FFmpeg installation

Download another build of FFmpeg and tell JDownloader to use that instead:

1. Download FFmpeg manually from here.
2. Make JD use that downloaded FFmpeg version by changing the FFmpeg path settings mentioned earlier in this FAQ.
3. Restart JD and attempt to download the items which require FFmpeg which had failed previously. 
   Those should be downloadable now.

Qnap Users: Easy FFmpeg installation

Qnap users are lucky as there is an easy to install FFmpeg package available.

1. Install FFmpeg from this official source: qnapclub.eu/en/qpkg/379
2. Go to Settings -> Advanced Settings -> Update those two settings:
   FFmpegSetup.binarypathprobe -> Set to /opt/ffmpeg/ffprobe
FFmpegSetup.binarypath -> Set to /opt/ffmpeg/ffmpeg