HandBrake Documentation

Troubleshooting common issues

HandBrake for Linux

Cannot find HandBrake executable

The HandBrake graphical interface executable is ghb. Simply launch your terminal application and type ghb followed by the return key.

Please consult your distribution’s documentation for how to add HandBrake to your application launcher.

General troubleshooting

Try each of the following steps until HandBrake is working again.

  1. Make sure you have official HandBrake and not a broken third-party build; see Where to get HandBrake
  2. Restart your computer
  3. Delete your HandBrake configuration data and presets (replace username with your own)
    • /home/username/.config/ghb
  4. Install/reinstall the latest version of HandBrake; see Downloading and installing HandBrake

If the above does not solve your issue, someone may be able to help via HandBrake’s Community support channels.

HandBrake for Mac

HandBrake does not launch

HandBrake releases since version 1.1.0 are signed with an Apple Developer Certificate. These instructions are only applicable to nightly builds1.

Unlike HandBrake releases, HandBrake nightly builds are not code signed using an Apple Developer Certificate. The first time you attempt to launch a HandBrake nightly or snapshot build, your Mac may present this message to you2:

Mac Gatekeeper message
Gatekeeper may present this message when launching a HandBrake nightly build for the first time.

Select OK to dismiss the Gatekeeper message, then hold down the Control key and select the HandBrake icon to bring up the shortcut menu. Select Open and your Mac will ask whether you are certain you wish to open HandBrake. Confirm that you want to trust HandBrake by again selecting Open.3

Opening HandBrake using Finder's shortcut menu
Launching HandBrake using the Open option in the Finder’s shortcut menu will bypass the initial Gatekeeper message.
Gatekeeper message with Open option
Gatekeeper may also present this message when launching HandBrake for the first time. Selecting Open will tell Gatekeeper to trust HandBrake.

Now HandBrake is up and running. You should not have to repeat this process in the near future.

General troubleshooting

Try each of the following steps until HandBrake is working again.

  1. Restart your computer
  2. Delete your HandBrake configuration data and presets (replace Username with your user name)
    • /Users/Username/Library/Containers/fr.handbrake.HandBrake/Data/Library/Application Support/HandBrake/
    • /Users/Username/Library/Application Support/HandBrake
  3. Install/reinstall the latest version of HandBrake; see Downloading and installing HandBrake

If the above does not solve your issue, someone may be able to help via HandBrake’s Community support channels.

HandBrake for Windows

Downloading Microsoft .NET Core

General troubleshooting

Try each of the following steps until HandBrake is working again.

  1. Restart your computer
  2. Make sure you have the latest version of .NET Desktop Runtime installed for your system.
  3. Delete your HandBrake configuration data and presets (replace username with your own)
    • C:\Users\username\AppData\Roaming\HandBrake
    • C:\Users\username\AppData\Local\HandBrake
  4. Install/reinstall the latest version of HandBrake; see Downloading and installing HandBrake

If the above does not solve your issue, someone may be able to help via HandBrake’s Community support channels.

  1. Nightly builds are based on HandBrake’s latest development code, including new and experimental features that may be unstable or significantly different than the latest release version. Although everyone is welcome to try them, nightly builds are best suited for experienced users and developers.↩
  2. If Gatekeeper is disabled on your Mac, you may not see this message.↩
  3. These instructions are taken directly from Apple’s Gatekeeper support documents. You can learn more about Gatekeeper here↩