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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsUse -ss to set the start, then choose -t for a duration or -to for an absolute end time. Add -frames:v 1 when you need one still, -vf fps=N for evenly spaced images, or -vf "select='between(t,start,end)'" when the timestamps themselves define which frames to keep.
The quickest examples are:
ffmpeg -ss 00:01:00 -i input.mp4 -frames:v 1 screenshot.png
ffmpeg -ss 00:01:00 -i input.mp4 -t 00:00:10 -vf fps=1 -fps_mode passthrough frames_%04d.png
ffmpeg -ss 00:01:00 -i input.mp4 -to 00:01:10 -fps_mode passthrough frames_%04d.pngChoose the command that matches your time range
FFmpeg has two different ideas of an ending point. -t is how long to process after the start; -to is the absolute stop position in the input. They are mutually exclusive, and FFmpeg gives -t priority if both are supplied.
| Goal | Command pattern | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| One screenshot | -ss start -frames:v 1 |
Write the first decoded video frame at or near the requested start. |
| One image every second for a fixed duration | -ss start -t duration -vf fps=1 |
Generate a regular one-frame-per-second sequence. |
| Every selected frame between absolute times | -vf "select='between(t,start,end)'" |
Keep frames whose presentation timestamp falls inside the interval. |
| Stop at an absolute input timestamp | -ss start -to end |
Process from the start until the stated input position. |
Take a single screenshot at a time
For a still around one minute into a video, run:
ffmpeg -ss 00:01:00 -i input.mp4 -frames:v 1 screenshot.pngHere -ss is placed before -i, making it an input seek. -frames:v 1 stops the video output after one frame, so FFmpeg does not create a sequence.
Use fractional seconds
FFmpeg accepts fractional positions, including values such as -ss 22.0393 or the time-formatted -ss 00:01:00.500. The actual precision is limited by the source’s frame timestamps: a 24-fps video cannot provide a genuinely unique frame at every millisecond.
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Make the still more exact
Input seeking is fast, but most formats cannot seek to an arbitrary frame. FFmpeg seeks to the closest seek point before the requested position, normally a keyframe, then begins decoding. If the exact visual moment matters, put -ss after -i:
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -ss 00:01:00.500 -frames:v 1 exact-ish.pngThis decodes from the beginning (or from the nearest usable point chosen by the demuxer) up to the requested time and can be substantially slower. “Exact” still means the nearest frame represented by the file’s timestamps, so inspect the resulting image when frame-level accuracy is important.
Extract one frame every second in a range
To capture one image per second beginning at 01:00 and continuing for 10 seconds, use the fps filter:
ffmpeg -ss 00:01:00 -i input.mp4 -t 00:00:10 -vf fps=1 -fps_mode passthrough frames_%04d.pngfps=1 creates a regular one-frame-per-second output cadence. frames_%04d.png names files frames_0001.png, frames_0002.png, and so on. The ten-second duration is measured from the seeked start, not from the beginning of the file.
Change the sampling rate
Replace the filter value with the number of output frames per second. For example, -vf fps=2 produces two images per second, while -vf fps=0.2 produces one every five seconds. A fixed count over a known interval can be calculated as fps = count / duration.
Use an absolute end instead
For the interval from 01:00 through 01:10, use:
ffmpeg -ss 00:01:00 -i input.mp4 -to 00:01:10 -fps_mode passthrough frames_%04d.pngThis expresses the endpoint as an input timestamp. Do not add -t to this command; the options are mutually exclusive, and -t takes precedence when both appear.
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Keep every source frame whose timestamp is in the interval
The fps filter resamples to a regular cadence. If instead you want every original frame with a presentation timestamp between 60 and 70 seconds, use the select filter:
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -vf "select='between(t,60,70)'" -fps_mode passthrough frames_%04d.pngThe expression evaluates each frame’s time in seconds. The boundaries are inclusive in the between expression, so frames at 60 and 70 seconds are eligible when the file contains those timestamps. Because FFmpeg may need to decode a large portion of the input to evaluate the expression, this method can be slower than seeking to a start point first.
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For long files, you can seek near the beginning of the range and make the filter expression relative to that point, but remember that input seeking can land before the requested keyframe. When boundary accuracy matters, decode-and-select from the input and verify timestamps rather than assuming the seek position is exact.
Understand -ss placement and keyframes
Before -i: fast input seeking
ffmpeg -ss 00:01:00 -i input.mp4 ... asks FFmpeg to seek in the input before decoding. This is usually the best choice for large files or routine thumbnail generation, but the seek may land on the closest keyframe before 01:00. The first output image can therefore show a moment slightly earlier than requested.
After -i: output seeking
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -ss 00:01:00 ... decodes up to the target and then seeks in the decoded stream. It costs more CPU and time, but is preferable for a precision-sensitive still.
Verify instead of guessing
Open the generated image and compare it with nearby frames. If it is early, move the requested timestamp forward by a small amount or use output seeking. For automated workflows, retain the source timestamps and treat the image number as a filename sequence, not as proof of an exact presentation time.
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Output formats, naming and frame-rate details
Choose an image format
- PNG is lossless and useful for text, diagrams and later processing.
- JPEG is smaller but introduces compression artifacts; choose a quality setting when needed, for example
-q:v 2. - WebP can reduce size while retaining good quality when your FFmpeg build includes WebP support.
Use an image extension matching the intended encoder. Add a size filter when you need a fixed thumbnail:
ffmpeg -ss 00:01:00 -i input.mp4 -t 00:00:10 -vf "fps=1,scale=1280:-2" frames_%04d.jpgWhy -fps_mode passthrough matters
After a select filter, the retained frames are not necessarily evenly spaced. -fps_mode passthrough tells the output path to preserve those selected timestamps instead of duplicating or dropping frames to force a nominal rate. Older FFmpeg builds may use the equivalent spelling -vsync 0.
Prevent accidental overwrites
FFmpeg prompts before replacing an existing file. Add -y only when an automated job is intentionally allowed to overwrite outputs; otherwise leave the prompt enabled or write into a new directory.
Common failures and fixes
The image is before the requested time
This is normally keyframe-based input seeking. Move -ss after -i, or seek before the target and decode with a filter that selects the exact interval. Verify the source’s frame timestamps.
No files are written
Check that the end is later than the start, the input actually contains that interval, and the output directory is writable. With select, confirm the expression uses seconds and balanced shell quotes.
Only one image appears from a range
-frames:v 1 deliberately limits output to one frame. Remove it for a sequence and add -vf fps=1 or a select expression depending on whether you want regular sampling or every qualifying source frame.
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The command stops at the wrong endpoint
Decide whether the second value is a duration or an absolute timestamp. Use -t 00:00:10 for ten seconds after the start, and -to 00:01:10 for an absolute 01:10 endpoint. Do not specify both.
Frames are duplicated or missing
Use -fps_mode passthrough after timestamp-based selection (or -vsync 0 on older versions). A variable-frame-rate source may still have irregular timestamps; that is a property of the input, not necessarily an extraction error.
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The output looks soft or has unexpected colors
The source may be low resolution, interlaced, HDR, or encoded with a pixel format that the selected image encoder converts. Try PNG for analysis, inspect the source properties, and add an explicit scale or format filter only when your downstream software requires it.
Performance and reliability choices
- Fastest routine thumbnails: put
-ssbefore-iand output one frame or a modestfpsrate. - Highest timing confidence: put
-ssafter-i, or decode and useselect; expect more decoding work. - Large batches: create a separate output directory, use deterministic names, and check the process exit code before marking a job complete.
- Long or variable-frame-rate videos: use timestamp expressions and passthrough mode, then inspect representative boundary frames.
- Storage planning: estimate the number of images before running. A 10-minute interval at 1 frame per second creates about 600 files, while selecting every source frame can create far more.
FFmpeg’s progress and diagnostic output goes to the terminal. Keep it in CI logs, and capture the command line, input duration and FFmpeg version alongside generated assets so a later rerun can be compared.
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Frequently asked questions
Can I use a time such as 90.5 seconds?
Yes. Use seconds or a formatted timestamp such as -ss 00:01:30.500. The source’s frame rate determines the nearest representable frame.
Should the end frame be included?
select='between(t,start,end)' treats both boundaries as eligible when matching timestamps exist. Duration-based output is governed by the generated filter cadence and may not contain a frame exactly at the endpoint.
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Why does selecting every frame use so much CPU?
FFmpeg may decode a large section of the input to evaluate each frame’s timestamp. Regular fps sampling after a seek is usually cheaper when you do not need every source frame.
Can I extract screenshots from audio-only files?
No. The commands require a video stream. Confirm that the input contains video before choosing an output pattern.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a time such as 90.5 seconds?
Yes. Use seconds or a formatted timestamp such as -ss 00:01:30.500; the source frame rate determines the nearest representable frame.
Should the end frame be included?
The between(t,start,end) expression includes both boundaries when matching timestamps exist. Duration-based output follows the filter cadence and may not produce a frame exactly at the endpoint.
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FFmpeg may decode a large section of the input to evaluate each frame timestamp. Regular fps sampling after a seek is usually cheaper when every source frame is unnecessary.
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