ffmpeg-static Cache
Node packages that depend on ffmpeg-static often download a platform-specific FFmpeg executable into a local cache under ffmpeg-static-nodejs, along with HTTP response metadata and version markers used to avoid fetching it again. That cache exists to speed up installs and first-run setup for apps that bundle media conversion features, but it can retain interrupted downloads, outdated binary builds, or stale response headers after package updates. Kudu removes the cached FFmpeg binaries and related download metadata so the correct files can be fetched again on demand, without touching your media files, app settings, accounts, or saved projects.
Why clean ffmpeg-static Cache?
- A partial or interrupted FFmpeg download leaves a truncated executable in the cache, and apps that rely on it may fail with spawn errors, exit-code failures, or "ffmpeg not found" messages during export
- Stale response metadata can convince ffmpeg-static that a cached binary is still valid after a package update, causing codec mismatches or unsupported-option errors when a newer app expects a different FFmpeg build
- Repeated app installs and updates can leave multiple cached binary revisions behind, and the only visible symptom is unexpectedly high LocalAppData disk usage from a tool you do not remember installing
- Security software sometimes quarantines or strips the downloaded executable while leaving the cache record behind, so media conversion keeps failing instantly until the cached entry is removed and re-downloaded cleanly
- A cached binary built for an older dependency chain can crash on launch or produce no output, showing up as stuck transcodes, silent export failures, or jobs that complete with missing video or audio
- Corrupt cache metadata after a failed download can trap the app in a loop where it skips re-downloading but still cannot run FFmpeg, leading to repeated processing failures every time you retry
Cache paths Kudu targets
Windows
%LocalAppData%/ffmpeg-static-nodejs/Cache |
Common questions about ffmpeg-static Cache
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