Video support with PhotoStructure
Why? #
PhotoStructure uses open source video processing software 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 manually install one of these software packages on your own computer.
If you don’t have videos you want to include in your PhotoStructure library, you can skip this step and continue with your installation.
Which should I install? #
FFmpeg runs in a terminal.

FFmpeg running in a terminal
VLC has a graphical interface, and uses FFmpeg under the hood.

VLC playing a video
If you’re not comfortable with installing command line applications, you should use VLC.
PhotoStructure library imports are faster when FFmpeg is available versus VLC. If both are installed, FFmpeg will be used.
đĄ Consider using VirusTotal #
Always scan any software before installation.
macOS installation #
-
If you use Homebrew, run
brew install ffmpeg
-
Otherwise, download and install VLC from https://www.videolan.org/.
After you install VLC, you must open it at least once. You should see this dialog:

macOS Gatekeeper
PhotoStructure can’t use VLC until you’ve clicked “Open” in this dialog.
Windows 10 installation #
Easiest solution #
- Download and install VLC from https://www.videolan.org/
Alternative solutions #
-
If you use Scoop, run
scoop install ffmpeg
-
If you use Chocolatey, run
choco install ffmpeg
-
If you’re a cygwin user, note that they don’t have an FFmpeg package, at least as of January 2021.
-
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%
.
Ubuntu installation #
Open a terminal and run
sudo apt-get install ffmpeg
Note that the Snap Store versions of VLC and FFmpeg do not work with PhotoStructure.
And then… #
If you installed VLC:
- Start VLC,
- Accept the privacy policy, then
- Go to Preferences, and pick “automatically check for updates.”
After installing VLC or FFmpeg, you can continue with the PhotoStructure installation.
đ Please donate #
FFmpeg and VLC development takes time and money.
If you’re financially able, please consider:
- donating to FFmpeg
- donating to VLC (click the “donate” button in the header).
(PhotoStructure doesn’t have any financial interest or connection with either FFmpeg or VLC)
Missed this the first time? Don’t Panic. #
If you missed this notice the first time around, don’t fret:
- Follow the steps above to install FFmpeg or VLC, then
- Restart PhotoStructure, then
- Click PhotoStructure’s
â°
navigation menu and selectRestart sync
, or if you want to be thorough, pickRebuild
.
PhotoStructure will re-scan your library and import your videos.
Do you want video thumbnails, but don’t want transcoded videos? #
- Install either VLC or FFmpeg
- Set the
transcodeVideo
library setting tofalse
. - Start PhotoStructure and run
sync