foobar2000 (often abbreviated as fb2k or f2k) is a freeware audio player for Microsoft Windows, iOS, Android, macOS, and formerly Windows Phone, developed by Peter Pawłowski. It has a modular design, which provides user flexibility in configuration and customization. Standard "skin" elements can be individually augmented or replaced with different dials, buttons, and visualizers. foobar2000 offers third-party user interface modifications through a software development kit (SDK).
foobar2000 supports many audio file formats, has many features for organizing metadata, files, and folders, and has a converter interface for use with command line encoders. To maximize audio fidelity in cases where resampling or downscaling in bit depth is required, it provides noise shaping and dithering. There are a number of official and third-party components which add many additional features. The core is closed source, whereas the SDK is licensed under the Three-Clause BSD license.
What is foobar2000?
foobar2000 by Peter Pawlowski is free Windows software in the music players category. It ranks 11th by popularity among music players in this catalogue. The first release dates back to 2002. It is written in C++, Objective-C, and Java. Besides Windows, it is available for Android, iOS and macOS.
Installation and requirements
The publisher provides EXE (NSIS) installers for 64-bit, ARM64 and 32-bit Windows. The main installer is 8.0 MB. Installation asks for administrator rights. A silent install is possible with the installer’s documented switches.
Updates and version history
The current version is 2.26.1, released on October 9, 2026. The version history goes back to May 16, 2021: 39 releases, all linked to the official files. That is about 7.2 releases a year. The last update is less than a month old.
Popularity and file types
The Chocolatey package has been downloaded 409,523 times. Wikipedia has an article about it in 28 of our languages. On Windows it registers 55 file types, including .mp3, .mp4, .wav, .flac and .ogg. Similar programs include iTunes, Spotify and Winamp.
Pros / Cons
Pros
- Free to use
- Native ARM64 build for Windows on Arm
- Documented silent install
- Frequent updates (about 7.2 a year)
- Small download (8.0 MB)
- Opens 55 file types
- Also runs on Android, iOS and macOS
Cons
- Installation needs administrator rights
In short: foobar2000 is a free music player tool for 64-bit, ARM64 and 32-bit PCs. It is actively maintained. Administrators can deploy it unattended.
Screenshots
Is foobar2000 safe to download?
- The file is served by foobar2000.org, the publisher’s own domain
- The download link uses HTTPS
- A SHA256 hash is published, so you can verify the file:
72FE15A88B085EE4E49D68114E2BB9655000C2E0FDF40DCC128BBEF8BCAF3600· Open the VirusTotal report for this hash - The link answered when we last checked it (October 22, 2026)
- ExeAtlas does not host, wrap or modify installers
Related guide: How to check a file’s SHA256 hash on Windows
Recent versions
All 39 versions ›39 versions over 5 years · about 7.2 a year
| Version | Date | Size | Files |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.26.1Latest | October 9, 2026 | 8.0 MB | ARM64 EXE (NSIS)64-bit EXE (NSIS)32-bit EXE (NSIS) |
| 2.26 | October 1, 2026 | 8.0 MB | 32-bit EXE (NSIS)64-bit EXE (NSIS)ARM64 EXE (NSIS) |
| 2.25.10 | June 26, 2026 | 7.7 MB | 64-bit EXE (NSIS)ARM64 EXE (NSIS)32-bit EXE (NSIS) |
| 2.25.9 | May 29, 2026 | 7.6 MB | 64-bit EXE (NSIS)ARM64 EXE (NSIS)32-bit EXE (NSIS) |
| 2.25.8 | March 26, 2026 | 7.6 MB | ARM64 EXE (NSIS)32-bit EXE (NSIS)64-bit EXE (NSIS) |
| 2.25.7 | February 19, 2026 | 7.6 MB | 32-bit EXE (NSIS)64-bit EXE (NSIS) |
| 2.25.6 | January 22, 2026 | 7.6 MB | 32-bit EXE (NSIS)64-bit EXE (NSIS) |
| 2.25.5 | January 2, 2026 | 7.6 MB | ARM64 EXE (NSIS)64-bit EXE (NSIS)32-bit EXE (NSIS) |
Install from the command line
Silent install ›winget install --id PeterPawlowski.foobar2000 -echoco install foobar2000 -yscoop install extras/foobar2000foobar2000-x64_v2.26.1.exe /SRelated guide: How to use winget: install and update apps
Also for other systems
brew install --cask foobar2000Information
- Publisher
- Peter Pawlowski
- Category
- Music players
- Licence
- Freeware
- Price
- Free
- Written in
- C++, Objective-C, and Java
- Interface languages
- English
- Requires
- Windows 11 / 10
- Architecture
- 64-bit, ARM64, 32-bit
- Installer
- EXE (NSIS)
- Other platforms
- Android, iOS, macOS
- Version
- 2.26.1
- Released
- October 9, 2026
- First release
- 2002
- Added to the catalogue
- May 16, 2021
- Versions listed
- 39
- Updates / year
- 7.2
- Chocolatey downloads
- 409,523
- Website
- foobar2000.org
- winget ID
- PeterPawlowski.foobar2000
- Chocolatey package
- foobar2000
- Scoop package
- extras/foobar2000
File types it opens (55)
Ratings and reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to rate it.
Alternatives to foobar2000
See all ›-
iTunes12.13.11.1iTunes offers the world’s best way to play — and add to — your collection of music, movies, TV shows, podcasts, audiobooks, and more.Proprietary2.9M ↓ -
Proprietary5.4M ↓ -
Proprietary47.1K ↓ -
Open source21K ↓ -
Open source80.9K ↓ -
Open source15.7K ↓ -
Proprietary697.4K ↓ -
Open source3.2K ↓
Frequently asked questions
Is foobar2000 free?
Yes. foobar2000 is free to use.
Is foobar2000 safe to download?
The download comes from foobar2000.org, which belongs to the publisher; ExeAtlas does not host or change the file. Compare its SHA256 hash with the one shown here, or open the VirusTotal report for that hash.
How do I install foobar2000 with winget?
Open PowerShell or Windows Terminal and run the winget command shown on this page. winget downloads the official installer and checks its SHA256 hash before running it.
Can foobar2000 be installed silently?
Yes. The silent install page lists the exact command for each installer.
Does foobar2000 run on ARM (Windows on Arm)?
Yes, there is a native ARM64 installer.
Where can I download an older version of foobar2000?
The versions page lists all 39 versions with links to their official installer files, back to May 16, 2021.
What are alternatives to foobar2000?
iTunes, Spotify, Winamp, Clementine and Mixxx. The alternatives page compares them.
