Video support with PhotoStructure

Why? 🔗

PhotoStructure uses open source video processing software called FFmpeg to extract preview images and transcode the videos in your library so they can be streamed to browsers on your mobile and computer.

Unfortunately, due to patent and licensing issues surrounding video formats, it’s up to you to install FFmpeg on your own computer.

🍎 macOS installation 🔗

We’re going to use Homebrew:

  1. If you don’t already have homebrew installed, either

  2. then open a terminal (⌘-space then type “terminal” and hit return),

  3. then run the command brew install ffmpeg in your terminal.

🪟 Windows 10 installation 🔗

  • If you use Scoop, run scoop install ffmpeg

  • If you use Chocolatey, run choco install ffmpeg in an Administrator PowerShell

  • Note that the FFmpeg website has Windows builds available, but those are archives, not installers, so you’ll need to manually extract the contents and add the resulting bin directory to your %PATH%.

    Always remember to scan for viruses!

(Previous instructions suggested using Cygwin, but their build is missing many of the codecs that we need)

🐧 Ubuntu installation 🔗

Open a terminal and run

sudo apt-get install ffmpeg

🧢 Fedora installation 🔗

Open a terminal and run

sudo dnf install ffmpeg

Note that the Snap Store versions of VLC and FFmpeg do not work with PhotoStructure.

🎁 Please donate 🔗

FFmpeg development takes time and money.

If you’re financially able, please consider donating to FFmpeg.

(PhotoStructure doesn’t have any financial interest or connection with FFmpeg)

Missed this the first time? Don’t Panic. 🔗

If you missed this notice the first time around, don’t fret:

  1. Follow the steps above to install FFmpeg or VLC, then
  2. Restart PhotoStructure, then
  3. Click PhotoStructure’s ☰ navigation menu and select Restart sync.

PhotoStructure will re-scan your library and import your videos.

Do you want video thumbnails, but don’t want transcoded videos? 🔗

  1. Install FFmpeg
  2. Set the transcodeVideo library setting to false.
  3. Start PhotoStructure and run sync.

See also 🔗

Photo of Matthew

Hi! I’m Matthew, the author of PhotoStructure. I’m a dad, amateur photographer, and author of open source, adtech, fintech, and edtech software since the turn of the millennium. He/him. I am building a self-hosted, safe, and fast new home for all your photos and videos.
Your memories deserve PhotoStructure. Try it out for free!