# Cannot load torchcodec

**URL:** <https://discuss.huggingface.co/t/cannot-load-torchcodec/169260>\
**Category:** Beginners\
**Created:** [October 19, 2025, 10:22am UTC](https://discuss.huggingface.co/t/cannot-load-torchcodec/169260 "2025-10-19T10:22:29Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 8\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![aldkela](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4bbf92/32.png) [@aldkela](https://discuss.huggingface.co/u/aldkela)\
**Post date:** [October 19, 2025, 10:22am UTC](https://discuss.huggingface.co/t/cannot-load-torchcodec/169260/1 "2025-10-19T10:22:29Z")

</div>

Hello, I have some problem making some program and here is the code I made below

```python
%pip install --upgrade pip 
%pip install --upgrade transformers datasets[audio] accelerate

import os
os.environ["PATH"] += os.pathsep + r"C:\GPT_AGENT_2025_BOOK\chap05\ffmpeg-2025-10-16-git\bin"

import transformers
print(transformers. __version__ )

import torch
from transformers import AutoModelForSpeechSeq2Seq, AutoProcessor, pipeline
# from datasets import load_dataset

device = "cuda:0" if torch.cuda.is_available() else "cpu"
torch_dtype = torch.float16 if torch.cuda.is_available() else torch.float32

model_id = "openai/whisper-large-v3-turbo"

model = AutoModelForSpeechSeq2Seq.from_pretrained(
    model_id, torch_dtype=torch_dtype, low_cpu_mem_usage=True, use_safetensors=True
)
model.to(device)

processor = AutoProcessor.from_pretrained(model_id)

pipe = pipeline(
    "automatic-speech-recognition",
    model=model,
    tokenizer=processor.tokenizer,
    feature_extractor=processor.feature_extractor,
    torch_dtype=torch_dtype,
    device=device,
    return_timestamps=True,   
    chunk_length_s=10,  
    stride_length_s=2,  
) 

# dataset = load_dataset("distil-whisper/librispeech_long", "clean", split="validation")
# sample = dataset[0]["audio"]
sample = "./lsy_audio_2023_58s.mp3"

result = pipe(sample)
# print(result["text"])

print(result)

```

and this code gives me error below

```auto
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
RuntimeError Traceback (most recent call last)
Cell In[8], line 36
     32 # dataset = load_dataset("distil-whisper/librispeech_long", "clean", split="validation")
     33 # sample = dataset[0]["audio"]
     34 sample = "./lsy_audio_2023_58s.mp3"
---> 36 result = pipe(sample)
     37 # print(result["text"])
     39 print(result)

File c:\Users\majh0\AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python312\Lib\site-packages\transformers\pipelines\automatic_speech_recognition.py:275, in AutomaticSpeechRecognitionPipeline. __call__ (self, inputs, **kwargs)
    218 def __call__ (self, inputs: Union[np.ndarray, bytes, str, dict], **kwargs: Any) -> list[dict[str, Any]]:
    219 """
    220 Transcribe the audio sequence(s) given as inputs to text. See the [`AutomaticSpeechRecognitionPipeline`]
    221 documentation for more information.
   (...) 273 `"".join(chunk["text"] for chunk in output["chunks"])`.
    274 """
--> 275 return super(). __call__ (inputs, **kwargs)

File c:\Users\majh0\AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python312\Lib\site-packages\transformers\pipelines\base.py:1459, in Pipeline. __call__ (self, inputs, num_workers, batch_size, *args, **kwargs)
   1457 return self.iterate(inputs, preprocess_params, forward_params, postprocess_params)
   1458 elif self.framework == "pt" and isinstance(self, ChunkPipeline):
-> 1459 return next(
   1460 iter(
   1461 self.get_iterator(
...
FFmpeg version 7: Could not load this library: C:\Users\majh0\AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python312\Lib\site-packages\torchcodec\libtorchcodec_core7.dll
FFmpeg version 6: Could not load this library: C:\Users\majh0\AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python312\Lib\site-packages\torchcodec\libtorchcodec_core6.dll
FFmpeg version 5: Could not load this library: C:\Users\majh0\AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python312\Lib\site-packages\torchcodec\libtorchcodec_core5.dll
FFmpeg version 4: Could not load this library: C:\Users\majh0\AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python312\Lib\site-packages\torchcodec\libtorchcodec_core4.dll
[end of libtorchcodec loading traceback].
Output is truncated. View as a scrollable element or open in a text editor. Adjust cell output settings...

```

It says it cannot load some .dll files… there are dll files it needs like picture below….

 ![torchcoded 경로](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/hellohellohello/original/3X/8/d/8d5b4cb7fb5e53c59b46eca5e75e99c9f57cb5cc.jpeg)

It is really hard to find out that why this thing cannot load the .dll files even if the files are in the proper directory…

Thank you so much for the help in advance…

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![John6666](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/hellohellohello/user_avatar/discuss.huggingface.co/john6666/32/27664_2.png) [@John6666](https://discuss.huggingface.co/u/John6666)\
**Post date:** [October 19, 2025, 1:46pm UTC](https://discuss.huggingface.co/t/cannot-load-torchcodec/169260/2 "2025-10-19T13:46:00Z")

</div>

May be a version issue with `ffmpeg` in the Windows environment.

* * *

Diagnosis: Windows cannot find compatible FFmpeg DLLs for TorchCodec, or your Torch↔TorchCodec versions don’t match. The probe `core7 → core6 → core5 → core4` failing is TorchCodec’s normal fallback when the FFmpeg runtime it needs isn’t available. ([GitHub](https://github.com/meta-pytorch/torchcodec "GitHub - meta-pytorch/torchcodec: PyTorch media decoding and encoding"))

# Causes

- FFmpeg runtime DLLs missing or not discoverable. Having `ffmpeg.exe` on PATH is not enough; the loader must see `avcodec-*.dll`, `avformat-*.dll`, `avutil-*.dll`. ([docs.pytorch.org](https://docs.pytorch.org/audio/main/installation.html "Installing pre-built binaries — Torchaudio 2.8.0 ..."))

- Unsupported FFmpeg major on Windows. TorchCodec supports FFmpeg 4–7 on all platforms and FFmpeg 8 on macOS/Linux. Using 8 on Windows fails with current wheels. ([GitHub](https://github.com/meta-pytorch/torchcodec "GitHub - meta-pytorch/torchcodec: PyTorch media decoding and encoding"))

- Torch↔TorchCodec mismatch or RC/nightly torch. Follow the version matrix: `0.8 ↔ torch 2.9`, `0.7 ↔ torch 2.8`, Python 3.10–3.13. Mismatches trigger the exact error you pasted. ([GitHub](https://github.com/meta-pytorch/torchcodec "GitHub - meta-pytorch/torchcodec: PyTorch media decoding and encoding"))

- Homebrew or custom FFmpeg builds with incompatible layouts (mac users). Known incompatibility reported; conda-forge FFmpeg works. ([GitHub](https://github.com/pytorch/torchcodec/issues/570 "torchcodec not compatible with brew-installed ffmpeg #570"))

# Fixes (pick one path, do it end-to-end)

## A) Windows, CPU-only, stable

```powershell

# fresh venv

python -m venv .venv

.\.venv\Scripts\Activate.ps1

pip install -U pip

# choose a matched pair (pick one)

pip install "torch==2.9.*" "torchcodec==0.8.*"

# or

# pip install "torch==2.8.*" "torchcodec==0.7.*"

# install shared FFmpeg DLLs via conda-forge (<8 on Windows)

# run this in an Anaconda/Miniconda prompt

conda install -y -c conda-forge "ffmpeg<8"

# make DLLs visible to Python (adjust path to your conda root)

set PATH=C:\Miniconda3\Library\bin;%PATH%

# sanity checks

python - <<'PY'

import torch, torchcodec, platform, subprocess

print("torch", torch. __version__ , "torchcodec", torchcodec. __version__ , "py", platform.python_version())

subprocess.run(["ffmpeg","-version"], check=True)

PY

```

Why this works: TorchCodec requires FFmpeg 4–7 on Windows and matched Torch↔TorchCodec versions; conda-forge provides the needed DLLs in `Library\bin`. ([GitHub](https://github.com/meta-pytorch/torchcodec "GitHub - meta-pytorch/torchcodec: PyTorch media decoding and encoding"))

## B) Windows, CUDA

Use conda for both Torch and TorchCodec and conda-forge FFmpeg.

```powershell

conda create -n tcuda python=3.10 -y

conda activate tcuda

# install torch for your CUDA per pytorch.org

conda install -c conda-forge "ffmpeg<8"

conda install -c conda-forge "torchcodec=*=*cuda*"

```

Windows CUDA support is experimental and conda-first in the docs. ([GitHub](https://github.com/meta-pytorch/torchcodec "GitHub - meta-pytorch/torchcodec: PyTorch media decoding and encoding"))

## C) macOS/Linux notes

If you used Homebrew FFmpeg on mac and see the same error, switch to conda-forge FFmpeg. FFmpeg 8 is supported on macOS/Linux starting TorchCodec 0.8. ([GitHub](https://github.com/pytorch/torchcodec/issues/570 "torchcodec not compatible with brew-installed ffmpeg #570"))

# Quick triage checks

- Print versions. If they don’t match the table, reinstall with a supported pair.

`python -c "import torch,torchcodec,platform;print(torch. __version__ , torchcodec. __version__ , platform.python_version())"` ([GitHub](https://github.com/meta-pytorch/torchcodec "GitHub - meta-pytorch/torchcodec: PyTorch media decoding and encoding"))

- Confirm FFmpeg runtime is on PATH for the same shell that launches Python.

`ffmpeg -version` should succeed. If it does but TorchCodec still fails, you likely pointed to a static or CLI-only FFmpeg without DLLs. ([docs.pytorch.org](https://docs.pytorch.org/audio/main/installation.html "Installing pre-built binaries — Torchaudio 2.8.0 ..."))

- Avoid RC/nightly Torch with stable TorchCodec; #912 documents the loader error with 2.9 RC. ([GitHub](https://github.com/meta-pytorch/torchcodec/issues/912 "Could not load libtorchcodec when torchcodec being ..."))

# Minimal workaround if you can’t fix FFmpeg now

Preconvert MP3 → WAV and pass the WAV to your pipeline:

```bash

ffmpeg -i lsy_audio_2023_58s.mp3 -ar 16000 -ac 1 -y lsy_audio_2023_58s.wav

```

This sidesteps MP3 decoding but does not fix the root cause. ([GitHub](https://github.com/meta-pytorch/torchcodec "GitHub - meta-pytorch/torchcodec: PyTorch media decoding and encoding"))

# Context and background

- TorchCodec loads FFmpeg at runtime and tries majors 7→6→5→4. The error you saw is the expected probe sequence when the needed FFmpeg DLLs are missing or incompatible. The README and downstream reports show the same pattern. ([GitHub](https://github.com/meta-pytorch/torchcodec "GitHub - meta-pytorch/torchcodec: PyTorch media decoding and encoding"))

- Windows support is recent and labeled beta; the releases and Windows tracker call out rough edges. Expect stricter version discipline. ([GitHub](https://github.com/pytorch/torchcodec/releases "Releases · meta-pytorch/torchcodec · GitHub"))

# Short, curated references

**Primary docs**

- TorchCodec README: FFmpeg 4–7 on all platforms, 8 on macOS/Linux; version matrix; Windows notes. ([GitHub](https://github.com/meta-pytorch/torchcodec "GitHub - meta-pytorch/torchcodec: PyTorch media decoding and encoding"))

- Torchaudio install page: how to install FFmpeg and how discovery works on Windows. ([docs.pytorch.org](https://docs.pytorch.org/audio/main/installation.html "Installing pre-built binaries — Torchaudio 2.8.0 ..."))

**Issue reports matching your symptoms**

- HF Datasets 4.0: exact `Could not load libtorchcodec` probe trace when FFmpeg libs are missing or versions mismatch. ([GitHub](https://github.com/huggingface/datasets/issues/7707 "load\_dataset() in 4.0.0 failed when decoding audio #7707"))

- TorchCodec #912: loader failure with Torch 2.9 RC. Confirms mismatch cause. ([GitHub](https://github.com/meta-pytorch/torchcodec/issues/912 "Could not load libtorchcodec when torchcodec being ..."))

- macOS Homebrew FFmpeg incompatibility: use conda-forge FFmpeg. ([GitHub](https://github.com/pytorch/torchcodec/issues/570 "torchcodec not compatible with brew-installed ffmpeg #570"))

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![aldkela](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4bbf92/32.png) [@aldkela](https://discuss.huggingface.co/u/aldkela)\
**Post date:** [October 20, 2025, 1:19pm UTC](https://discuss.huggingface.co/t/cannot-load-torchcodec/169260/3 "2025-10-20T13:19:58Z")

</div>

Hello, Thank you so much for the answer!

However.. I still don’t know why I got the same error…

I made a new venv, activated it and installed torch and torchcodec with the commands you gave me and here is the link of the picture

[[Album] imgur.com ![](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/hellohellohello/original/3X/8/f/8fd97422df3507fbc59f9cf4dda9bfc7d4148fbd.jpeg "imgur.com") ](https://imgur.com/a/hiYWp3x)

```auto
python -m venv venv

.\venv\Scripts\Activate.ps1

pip install -U pip

pip install "torch==2.9.*" "torchcodec==0.8.*"

```

I also installed ffmpeg\<8 after installing miniconda3 with the command you gave and I could see some avcodec-\*.dll files in the directory C:\Users\majh0\miniconda3\Library\bin like picture below

```auto
conda install -y -c conda-forge "ffmpeg<8"

```

 ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/hellohellohello/original/3X/b/b/bb5989b0636cce2a30558806e97f30ce7093f607.png)

I made a code with Jupyter notebook like picture below and it still gives me same error…

```python
import os
os.system(r'set PATH=C:\Miniconda3\Library\bin;%PATH%')
# os.environ["PATH"] += os.pathsep + r"C:\GPT_AGENT_2025_BOOK\chap05\ffmpeg-2025-10-16-git\bin"

import torch, torchcodec, platform, subprocess

print("torch", torch. __version__ , "torchcodec", torchcodec. __version__ , "py", platform.python_version())

subprocess.run(["ffmpeg","-version"], check=True)

```

```auto
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
RuntimeError Traceback (most recent call last)
Cell In[21], line 5
      2 os.system(r'set PATH=C:\Miniconda3\Library\bin;%PATH%')
      3 # os.environ["PATH"] += os.pathsep + r"C:\GPT_AGENT_2025_BOOK\chap05\ffmpeg-2025-10-16-git\bin"
----> 5 import torch, torchcodec, platform, subprocess
      7 print("torch", torch. __version__ , "torchcodec", torchcodec. __version__ , "py", platform.python_version())
      9 subprocess.run(["ffmpeg","-version"], check=True)

File c:\GPT_AGENT_2025_BOOK\venv\Lib\site-packages\torchcodec\ __init__.py:10
      1 # Copyright (c) Meta Platforms, Inc. and affiliates.
      2 # All rights reserved.
      3 #
   (...) 7 # Note: usort wants to put Frame and FrameBatch after decoders and samplers,
      8 # but that results in circular import.
      9 from ._frame import AudioSamples, Frame, FrameBatch # usort:skip # noqa
---> 10 from . import decoders, samplers # noqa
     12 try:
     13 # Note that version.py is generated during install.
     14 from .version import __version__ # noqa: F401

File c:\GPT_AGENT_2025_BOOK\venv\Lib\site-packages\torchcodec\decoders\ __init__.py:7
      1 # Copyright (c) Meta Platforms, Inc. and affiliates.
      2 # All rights reserved.
      3 #
...
FFmpeg version 7: Could not load this library: C:\GPT_AGENT_2025_BOOK\venv\Lib\site-packages\torchcodec\libtorchcodec_core7.dll
FFmpeg version 6: Could not load this library: C:\GPT_AGENT_2025_BOOK\venv\Lib\site-packages\torchcodec\libtorchcodec_core6.dll
FFmpeg version 5: Could not load this library: C:\GPT_AGENT_2025_BOOK\venv\Lib\site-packages\torchcodec\libtorchcodec_core5.dll
FFmpeg version 4: Could not load this library: C:\GPT_AGENT_2025_BOOK\venv\Lib\site-packages\torchcodec\libtorchcodec_core4.dll
[end of libtorchcodec loading traceback].

```

[[Album] imgur.com ![](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/hellohellohello/original/3X/f/d/fdc675d43f7c9080aa04f41550009b40267342ad.jpeg "imgur.com") ](https://imgur.com/a/HXMbhvK)

I actually installed ffmpeg which is under version 8 with the command through miniconda…

I don’t know why this thing still gives me error like this..

Could you please help me more if you don’t mind..? ;(

Thank you so much in advance.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![John6666](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/hellohellohello/user_avatar/discuss.huggingface.co/john6666/32/27664_2.png) [@John6666](https://discuss.huggingface.co/u/John6666)\
**Post date:** [October 20, 2025, 1:41pm UTC](https://discuss.huggingface.co/t/cannot-load-torchcodec/169260/4 "2025-10-20T13:41:51Z")

</div>

When using Python in a Windows environment, particularly with venv, conda, or Jupyter, DLL errors occasionally occur because the Windows `PATH` environment variable isn’t used to locate DLLs…

* * *

You’re hitting a Windows DLL-loading problem for TorchCodec plus a possible version or kernel mismatch. The error text in your HF thread shows TorchCodec probing `core8→7→6→5→4` and failing to bind FFmpeg. That pattern means the FFmpeg runtime DLLs are not visible to the Python process or the Torch↔TorchCodec pair is mismatched. ([Hugging Face Forums](https://discuss.huggingface.co/t/cannot-load-torchcodec/169260 "Cannot load torchcodec - Beginners - Hugging Face Forums"))

# Causes

- Python ≥3.8 on Windows does not use `PATH` for dependent DLLs. You must add the FFmpeg DLL folder to the current process with `os.add_dll_directory(...)` before importing `torchcodec`. Adding `PATH` via `os.system("set PATH=...")` does not affect the running process. Order is also tricky if you add multiple directories. ([Python documentation](https://docs.python.org/3/whatsnew/3.8.html "What's New In Python 3.8"))
- FFmpeg major not supported for your OS. TorchCodec supports FFmpeg 4–7 on all platforms. FFmpeg 8 is supported on Mac/Linux. Windows requires 4–7 today. ([GitHub](https://github.com/meta-pytorch/torchcodec "GitHub - meta-pytorch/torchcodec: PyTorch media decoding and encoding"))
- Torch/TorchCodec mismatch. Use the matrix: TorchCodec 0.8 ↔ torch 2.9. TorchCodec 0.7 ↔ torch 2.8. Python 3.10–3.13 for 0.8. Nightly/RC combos often fail to load. ([GitHub](https://github.com/meta-pytorch/torchcodec "GitHub - meta-pytorch/torchcodec: PyTorch media decoding and encoding"))
- Wrong Jupyter kernel or mixed environments. Installing in one venv and running another reproduces the same error. ([Hugging Face Forums](https://discuss.huggingface.co/t/cannot-load-torchcodec/169260 "Cannot load torchcodec - Beginners - Hugging Face Forums"))
- On macOS only: Homebrew FFmpeg layouts have caused incompatibility; conda-forge FFmpeg works. Not your Windows case, but relevant if you switch machines. ([GitHub](https://github.com/pytorch/torchcodec/issues/570 "torchcodec not compatible with brew-installed ffmpeg #570"))

# Solutions

## 1) Keep venv + conda FFmpeg. Add the DLL dir correctly.

Put this **at the very top** of your notebook, before any `torch` or `torchcodec` import.

```python
# Use Python's Windows DLL API (3.8+). Add the folder that holds avcodec/avformat/avutil DLLs.
# TorchCodec README + version matrix: https://github.com/pytorch/torchcodec (docs)
# Torchaudio FFmpeg install notes on Windows: https://docs.pytorch.org/audio/main/installation.html (install tips)

from pathlib import Path
import os, sys

ffmpeg_dll_dir = Path(r"C:\Users\majh0\miniconda3\Library\bin") # adjust if your conda root differs
assert ffmpeg_dll_dir.exists(), ffmpeg_dll_dir
os.add_dll_directory(str(ffmpeg_dll_dir)) # Python 3.8+ DLL search

import torch, torchcodec, platform, subprocess
print("exe:", sys.executable)
print("torch", torch. __version__ , "torchcodec", torchcodec. __version__ , "py", platform.python_version())
subprocess.run(["ffmpeg", "-version"], check=True)

```

Background: `os.add_dll_directory` was added in 3.8 for this exact scenario. It affects the current process and is the supported way to expose dependency DLLs. Adding to `PATH` in a child shell does not help. Avoid adding multiple DLL dirs since search order is unspecified. ([Python documentation](https://docs.python.org/3/whatsnew/3.8.html "What's New In Python 3.8"))

## 2) Pin a supported version set.

Pick **one** :

```powershell
# CPU
pip install "torch==2.9.*" "torchcodec==0.8.*"
# or
# pip install "torch==2.8.*" "torchcodec==0.7.*"

```

Reason: TorchCodec pairs with specific torch versions. The README documents 0.8↔2.9 and 0.7↔2.8. ([GitHub](https://github.com/meta-pytorch/torchcodec "GitHub - meta-pytorch/torchcodec: PyTorch media decoding and encoding"))

## 3) Ensure FFmpeg 4–7 and use a shared build.

```powershell
# In an Anaconda/Miniconda prompt
conda install -y -c conda-forge "ffmpeg<8"
# DLLs land in ...\miniconda3\Library\bin (the dir you pass to os.add_dll_directory)

```

Conda-forge FFmpeg provides the needed Windows runtime DLLs. ([PyTorch Documentation](https://docs.pytorch.org/audio/main/installation.html "Installing pre-built binaries — Torchaudio 2.8.0 ..."))

## 4) Make sure Jupyter is using the same interpreter.

```powershell
# inside your venv
pip install ipykernel
python -m ipykernel install --user --name asrvenv --display-name "Python (asrvenv)"
# then select "Python (asrvenv)" in Jupyter

```

This prevents importing from a different Python that lacks your fixes. ([Hugging Face Forums](https://discuss.huggingface.co/t/cannot-load-torchcodec/169260 "Cannot load torchcodec - Beginners - Hugging Face Forums"))

## 5) One-env fallback to avoid mixing tools.

If mixing venv + conda is awkward, put everything in **one conda env** :

```powershell
conda create -n asr python=3.10 -y
conda activate asr
conda install -c conda-forge "ffmpeg<8"
pip install "torch==2.9.*" "torchcodec==0.8.*"
python -c "import torch, torchcodec; print(torch. __version__ , torchcodec. __version__ )"

```

Windows support is marked experimental, and the README recommends conda for CUDA and Windows cases. ([GitHub](https://github.com/meta-pytorch/torchcodec "GitHub - meta-pytorch/torchcodec: PyTorch media decoding and encoding"))

## 6) Temporary workaround if you must proceed.

Preconvert MP3 → WAV with FFmpeg and feed WAV to the pipeline. This avoids MP3 decoding, but it does not fix DLL loading.

```bash
ffmpeg -i input.mp3 -ar 16000 -ac 1 -y input.wav

```

Use only while you stabilize the environment. ([Hugging Face Forums](https://discuss.huggingface.co/t/cannot-load-torchcodec/169260 "Cannot load torchcodec - Beginners - Hugging Face Forums"))

# Why your specific repro keeps failing

- You set `PATH` in a child shell (`os.system("set PATH=...")`). The current Python process did not inherit it. Python ≥3.8 also ignores `PATH` for dependent DLLs. Use `os.add_dll_directory` and the **exact** Miniconda path that actually contains `avcodec-*.dll`. ([Python documentation](https://docs.python.org/3/whatsnew/3.8.html "What's New In Python 3.8"))
- Your HF post shows the expected TorchCodec probe sequence and a venv site-packages path. That confirms a loader failure, not a missing Python package. ([Hugging Face Forums](https://discuss.huggingface.co/t/cannot-load-torchcodec/169260 "Cannot load torchcodec - Beginners - Hugging Face Forums"))
- If you added more than one DLL directory, search order is unspecified. Keep only the conda `Library\bin`. ([Discussions on Python.org](https://discuss.python.org/t/whats-the-deal-with-add-dll-directory/69207 "What's the deal with add\_dll\_directory?"))

# Quick checklist

- `torch==2.9.*`, `torchcodec==0.8.*`, Python 3.10–3.13. ([GitHub](https://github.com/meta-pytorch/torchcodec "GitHub - meta-pytorch/torchcodec: PyTorch media decoding and encoding"))
- `conda install -c conda-forge "ffmpeg<8"` on Windows. DLLs in `...\miniconda3\Library\bin`. ([PyTorch Documentation](https://docs.pytorch.org/audio/main/installation.html "Installing pre-built binaries — Torchaudio 2.8.0 ..."))
- Top cell calls `os.add_dll_directory(r"...\miniconda3\Library\bin")` before importing `torchcodec`. ([Python documentation](https://docs.python.org/3/whatsnew/3.8.html "What's New In Python 3.8"))
- Jupyter kernel points to the same venv. ([Hugging Face Forums](https://discuss.huggingface.co/t/cannot-load-torchcodec/169260 "Cannot load torchcodec - Beginners - Hugging Face Forums"))

# Context and background

- TorchCodec loads FFmpeg at runtime. It supports FFmpeg 4–7 across platforms and 8 on Mac/Linux. The README also lists the torch↔torchcodec compatibility table. Windows is labeled experimental. ([GitHub](https://github.com/meta-pytorch/torchcodec "GitHub - meta-pytorch/torchcodec: PyTorch media decoding and encoding"))
- Many similar Windows reports reduce to DLL discovery or mismatched versions. Torchaudio docs endorse conda-forge FFmpeg to simplify discovery on Windows. ([PyTorch Documentation](https://docs.pytorch.org/audio/main/installation.html "Installing pre-built binaries — Torchaudio 2.8.0 ..."))

# Supplemental references

**Core docs**

- TorchCodec README: support matrix, FFmpeg majors, Windows notes. Useful for exact pins. ([GitHub](https://github.com/meta-pytorch/torchcodec "GitHub - meta-pytorch/torchcodec: PyTorch media decoding and encoding"))
- Torchaudio install page: FFmpeg on Windows via conda-forge. Good for verifying FFmpeg placement. ([PyTorch Documentation](https://docs.pytorch.org/audio/main/installation.html "Installing pre-built binaries — Torchaudio 2.8.0 ..."))

**Related issues**

- Homebrew FFmpeg incompatibility on macOS. Use conda-forge FFmpeg instead. ([GitHub](https://github.com/pytorch/torchcodec/issues/570 "torchcodec not compatible with brew-installed ffmpeg #570"))
- Python 3.8+ DLL behavior and `os.add_dll_directory`. Explains why editing `PATH` is insufficient and why order is unspecified. ([Python documentation](https://docs.python.org/3/whatsnew/3.8.html "What's New In Python 3.8"))

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![aldkela](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4bbf92/32.png) [@aldkela](https://discuss.huggingface.co/u/aldkela)\
**Post date:** [October 20, 2025, 3:49pm UTC](https://discuss.huggingface.co/t/cannot-load-torchcodec/169260/5 "2025-10-20T15:49:30Z")

</div>

Hello! Thank you so much!!

I solved the problem that I had!!

If you didn’t give me a hand, I wouldn’t solve this problem….

Thank you so much again!!!

By the way, do I need to press Solution button? if I need to do then I will do it!

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![John6666](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/hellohellohello/user_avatar/discuss.huggingface.co/john6666/32/27664_2.png) [@John6666](https://discuss.huggingface.co/u/John6666)\
**Post date:** [October 20, 2025, 9:23pm UTC](https://discuss.huggingface.co/t/cannot-load-torchcodec/169260/6 "2025-10-20T21:23:07Z")

</div>

If it works, that’s fine.

> By the way, do I need to press Solution button?

It’s optional, but pressing it makes it clear that it’s resolved.😀

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![aldkela](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4bbf92/32.png) [@aldkela](https://discuss.huggingface.co/u/aldkela)\
**Post date:** [October 21, 2025, 11:18am UTC](https://discuss.huggingface.co/t/cannot-load-torchcodec/169260/7 "2025-10-21T11:18:06Z")

</div>

OK! I will press that Solution button!

Thank you so much again!

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/hellohellohello/original/2X/d/de4155eb4aa4108ecb32a1389d7cc37ae69f88b7.png) [@system](https://discuss.huggingface.co/u/system)\
**Post date:** [October 21, 2025, 11:18pm UTC](https://discuss.huggingface.co/t/cannot-load-torchcodec/169260/8 "2025-10-21T23:18:13Z")

</div>

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