Software⏱️ 3 min read📅 2026-06-15

How to Fix: ffmpeg can not cut the file: could not seek to position error

FFmpeg cannot cut a file due to seeking position error on Windows with version 0.8.

Quick Answer: Use the -ss option with a timestamp in seconds, for example: ffmpeg -ss 5 -i i.ogg o.ogg

📋 Table of Contents

  1. 🛑 Root Causes of the Error
  2. ✅ Best Solutions to Fix It
  3. ✨ Wrapping Up

FFmpeg is unable to cut a media file because it encounters an error while seeking to a specific position. This issue affects users who are trying to trim or split their video files using the '-ss' option. The problem is not limited to one version of FFmpeg, as even older versions like 0.7.8 are affected.

This frustrating error can be resolved by following the steps outlined below. By doing so, you should be able to successfully cut your media file.

🛑 Root Causes of the Error

  • The primary reason for this issue is that FFmpeg's seek functionality has limitations when dealing with certain types of files or at specific positions. In particular, the '-ss' option may not work properly if the target position is too close to the end of the file.
  • Another possible cause is a problem with the input file itself. For example, if the file contains corrupted or incomplete data, FFmpeg may struggle to seek to certain positions.

✅ Best Solutions to Fix It

Using the '-t' option instead of '-ss'

  1. Step 1: Replace the '-ss' option with the '-t' option. The '-t' option allows you to specify a duration for which FFmpeg should only read from the input file, effectively cutting the output file at that point.
  2. Step 2: For example, if you want to cut off the first 5 seconds of your video file, use the following command: ffmpeg -i i.ogg -t 00:00:05 o.ogg
  3. Step 3: This method is more reliable than using '-ss' because it doesn't rely on FFmpeg's seek functionality.

Using a different FFmpeg version (if possible)

  1. Step 1: If you have the option to use a later version of FFmpeg, try updating to one that is more recent. This may resolve the issue because newer versions often include bug fixes and improvements to the seek functionality.
  2. Step 2: Make sure to check with your service provider before attempting to update to a different version, as they may not support or approve of changes.

✨ Wrapping Up

By following these steps, you should be able to successfully cut your media file using FFmpeg. Remember to always verify the integrity of your input files and use reliable methods like '-t' instead of '-ss' when possible.

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