foobar2000
foobar2000 is a lightweight, customizable freeware audio player developed by Peter Pawlowski for Windows and macOS. Known for its minimal resource usage and extensive audio format support, it provides high-fidelity sound reproduction, gapless playback, and flexible metadata handling.
www.foobar2000.org · Official website
- ✓ Official source (winget)
- ✓ SHA256 taken from the official repository
- ✓ Last checked: Nov. 4, 2026
- This is not a virus scan. Check on VirusTotal
- Version
- 2.26.2
- Release date
- Oct. 29, 2026
- License
- Freeware
- Installer type
- nullsoft
How do I use this?
Type Terminal in the Start menu and open it, paste the command (Ctrl+V or right-click) and press Enter. It uses winget, Windows' own package manager, to install the program from its official source.
winget install --id PeterPawlowski.foobar2000 -eSHA256 (file verification)
ffa739f87d9c374cb030426a2ab4bfb37959d0dbb892fdc742654c14d127f795www.foobar2000.org · Official website
- ✓ Official source (Homebrew)
- ✓ SHA256 taken from the official repository
- ✓ Last checked: Nov. 4, 2026
- This is not a virus scan. Check on VirusTotal
- Version
- 2.26.2
- License
- Freeware
- Installer type
- dmg
How do I use this?
This command needs Homebrew; if you don't have it, first run the install command from brew.sh. Then open Terminal (Applications > Utilities > Terminal), paste the command and press Enter.
brew install --cask foobar2000SHA256 (file verification)
6e7689efa02f57056b9fe2546e7178f6d08371cc8c2418fc32c969e703a200d9We couldn't find a Linux version of foobar2000 in the official repositories; check the publisher's website.
You can try these instead:
We couldn't find a Android version of foobar2000 in the official repositories; check the publisher's website.
You can try these instead:
Platform pages: Windows · macOS · Linux · Android
Old versions (10)
foobar2000 2.26.2: what's new?
Highlights
- Wide audio format support, including MP3, FLAC, WAV, and AAC
- Seamless gapless playback for uninterrupted listening
- Comprehensive metadata tagging and mass tag editing capabilities
- Modular architecture supporting official and third-party components
- Highly customizable layout and playlist management options
Who is it for?
Ideal for music enthusiasts, audiophiles, and collectors who manage local audio libraries and prefer a low-resource player with powerful playback tools.
Good to know before installing
- It is proprietary freeware rather than open-source software.
- The macOS edition has fewer configuration settings and components than the Windows build.
- Advanced layout customization has a learning curve for new users.
How to install
Windows
- Download the setup file via our official download link or execute 'winget install --id PeterPawlowski.foobar2000 -e' in Command Prompt.
- Run the installer and complete the setup wizard.
- Launch foobar2000 and select your preferred initial layout.
macOS
- Click the official download link on our page or run 'brew install --cask foobar2000' in Terminal.
- Open the downloaded DMG image and move foobar2000 to your Applications folder.
- Launch the application to set up your music library.
Alternatives
- MusicBee
- AIMP
- VLC media player
Frequently asked questions
Is foobar2000 free to use?
Yes, foobar2000 is completely free software with no purchase required.
Is foobar2000 open source?
No, foobar2000 is freeware, but its core code is proprietary and not open source.
Do the Windows and Mac versions offer identical features?
No, the Windows version offers a broader range of plugin components and deeper interface customization than the Mac version.