---
title: Install v4l2tools on Ubuntu using the Snap Store | Snapcraft
description: Get the latest version of v4l2tools for on Ubuntu - v4l2 tools to read,
  convert & write
url: https://snapcraft.io/install/v4l2tools/ubuntu
---

[Canonical Snapcraft](https://snapcraft.io/)

# Install v4l2tools on **Ubuntu**

# v4l2tools

[Michel Promonet (mpromonet)](https://snapcraft.io/publisher/mpromonet "View all snaps from Michel Promonet (mpromonet)")

* [Michel Promonet (mpromonet)](https://snapcraft.io/publisher/mpromonet "View all snaps from Michel Promonet (mpromonet)")

[Install](https://snapcraft.io/install/v4l2tools/ubuntu#install)

#### v4l2 tools to read, convert & write

* v4l2copy :
  read from a V4L2 capture device and write to a V4L2 output device
* v4l2compress :
  read YUYV from a V4L2 capture device, compress in VP8/VP9/H264/HEVC format using libvpx and write to a V4L2 output device
* v4l2dump :
  read from a V4L2 capture device and print to output frame information (work with H264 & HEVC)
* v4l2source\_yuv :
  generate YUYV frames and write to a V4L2 output device

### Package name

* v4l2tools

---

### License

* unset

---

### Last updated

* 15 September 2026 - latest/stable
* 2 August 2026 - latest/edge

---

##### Report a Snap Store violation

* [Report this Snap](https://snapcraft.io/install/v4l2tools/ubuntu#report-snap-modal)

---

[See more information about v4l2tools ›](https://snapcraft.io/v4l2tools)

## Enable snaps on Ubuntu and install v4l2tools

Snaps are applications packaged with all their dependencies to run on all popular Linux distributions from a single build. They update automatically and roll back gracefully.

Snaps are discoverable and installable from the [Snap Store](https://snapcraft.io/store), an app store with an audience of millions.

### Enable snapd

If you’re running [Ubuntu 16.04 LTS (Xenial Xerus)](https://www.ubuntu.com/) or later, including [Ubuntu 18.04 LTS (Bionic Beaver)](https://www.ubuntu.com/desktop/features) and [Ubuntu 20.04 LTS (Focal Fossa)](https://wiki.ubuntu.com/FocalFossa/ReleaseNotes), you don’t need to do anything. Snap is already installed and ready to go.

For versions of Ubuntu between [14.04 LTS (Trusty Tahr)](https://wiki.ubuntu.com/TrustyTahr/ReleaseNotes) and [15.10 (Wily Werewolf)](https://wiki.ubuntu.com/WilyWerewolf/ReleaseNotes), as well as Ubuntu flavours that don’t include *snap* by default, *snap* can be installed from the Ubuntu Software Centre by searching for *snapd*.

Alternatively, snapd can be installed from the command line:

```
sudo apt update
sudo apt install snapd
```

Either log out and back in again, or restart your system, to ensure snap’s paths are updated correctly.

### Install v4l2tools

To install v4l2tools, simply use the following command:

```
sudo snap install v4l2tools
```

### Other popular snaps…

[See more...](https://snapcraft.io/search?categories=featured)

[See more in Featured](https://snapcraft.io/search?categories=featured)

### More things to do…

#### [Get the snap store](https://snapcraft.io/snap-store)

Browse and find snaps from the convenience of your desktop using the snap store snap.

#### [Learn more about snaps](https://snapcraft.io/docs)

Interested to find out more about snaps? Want to publish your own application? Visit [snapcraft.io](https://snapcraft.io/) now.

[Back to top](https://snapcraft.io/install/v4l2tools/ubuntu)

© 2026 Canonical Ltd.
Ubuntu and Canonical are registered trademarks of Canonical Ltd.

Powered by [Charmed Kubernetes](https://www.ubuntu.com/kubernetes)

[Join the forum](https://forum.snapcraft.io/), contribute to or report problems with,
[snapd](https://bugs.launchpad.net/snapd),
[Snapcraft](https://bugs.launchpad.net/snapcraft),
or [this site](https://github.com/canonical/snapcraft.io/issues/new).

* [Share on Twitter](https://twitter.com/snapcraftio)
* [Share on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/snapcraftio)
* [Share on YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/snapcraftio)

* [Terms of Service](https://ubuntu.com/legal/terms-and-policies/snap-store-terms)
* [Data privacy](https://www.ubuntu.com/legal/data-privacy)
* [Manage your tracker settings](https://snapcraft.io/install/v4l2tools/ubuntu)
* [Service status](https://status.snapcraft.io/)
* [Other functions](https://dashboard.snapcraft.io/)
* [Contact us](https://snapcraft.io/about/contact-us)
