There are few things more frustrating than focusing deeply on a project, only to have the platform suddenly crash and wipe out hours of progress in a second. If this is where you ended up right before you furiously typed your question into your search engine, know that we feel your pain, and we’re here to help you through it.
Crashes are a common occurrence when dealing with powerful, system-hogging video editing software like DaVinci Resolve. Unfortunately, there’s rarely one solution that fixes a crashing issue every time. Instead, to fix crashes, you need to understand your system and identify “weak” areas that may be causing the crashes.
We’ve compiled some common workarounds into this guide that can act as a resource as you optimize Resolve’s performance and prevent random crashes. So, take a deep breath, and let’s see if we can get through this together.
The most common reason DaVinci Resolve may be crashing on you
Ok, let’s start with the basics. If you’re new to using a program like DaVinci Resolve, you may have fallen into one of the most common traps that cause frustrating crashes:
Your system doesn’t meet the minimum system requirements
This is by far the most common reason for DaVinci Resolve crashing. The program requires a lot of processing power and virtual memory to operate, so if your system doesn’t meet the minimum requirements or is just barely meeting them, that may be the cause of your performance issues.
Solution:
First, review the current minimum system requirements for DaVinci Resolve. They are as follows:
Operating System: Windows 10 or higher, macOS 10.12.6 or higher, or Linux CentOS
CPU: Quad-Core or more
GPU: 4 GB or more
Memory: 16 MB RAM or more
Now, remember that these are the minimum requirements to run the program. If you’re regularly editing 4k or 6k footage or rendering layers upon layers of effects, you’re going to need more space to operate, or you’ll be facing more crashes.
If you have a PC that allows you to customize individual parts, some solutions to random crashes that are occurring even if you’re meeting the minimum systems requirements can include:
- Installation of a dedicated graphics card for use with Resolve
- Adding more GB of RAM (ensure you don’t max out the RAM capabilities of your motherboard)
- Adding more hard drive storage for your scratch disks
Applying these hardware fixes can be a relatively easy way to ensure your system is up to the task of editing high-res footage through Resolve. That being said, GPU availability is spotty these days (thanks crypto miners), so it may not be as simple as it used to be to upgrade your system.
However, if your computer more than meets the minimum requirements and you’re still facing crashes, let’s look at some common workarounds you can apply to help improve performance and reduce crashes.
Solutions to DaVinci Resolve crashes
Ok, so we’ve covered one of the most common reasons that DaVinci Resolve may be crashing, but unfortunately, it’s not always as simple as your computer not being powerful enough. And even if you’re barely meeting the system requirements, there may be some workarounds you can try to help optimize the software, so it plays nicer with your current system.
Here are some of the most effective solutions to fixing crashes in DaVinci Resolve, as discussed by numerous users online:
Solution #1: Disable your integrated GPU
Some systems have both an integrated and a dedicated GPU that the system automatically switches between depending on its needs. Unfortunately, with a large program like DaVinci Resolve, if the system switches to using the integrated GPU only or uses it more heavily, it can cause the program to crash.
To fix this, disable your integrated GPU using your computer’s device manager. You can do this on a Windows system by following these steps:
Step 1: Press the Windows key and R key to open the “Run” dialogue box.
Step 2: Type “devmgmt.msc” (no quotation marks) into the dialogue box and press “Enter.”
Step 3: When the Device Manager opens, locate “Display Adapters” and expand the folder.
Step 4: Locate your integrated GPU in the drop-down list and right-click.
Step 5: Select “Disable Device” from the menu that appears.
Once you’ve disabled the device, try restarting your system, and opening DaVinci Resolve again to see if you’re still experiencing crashes.
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Solution #2: Update your software
If you’re using an outdated version of DaVinci Resolve or the DaVinci Resolve Studio version, it may be incompatible with some of your footage, LUTs, or even your hardware. Always make sure you’re running the latest version of the program so that your system can perform its best.
You can check to see if you’re running the latest software by going to “File,” then selecting “DaVinci Resolve,” then clicking on “About DaVinci Resolve.” This will tell you which version you’re currently running, which you can check against all versions that are currently available and download the most recent update if need be.
Solution #3: You’re running a beta version
While we said that running the most recent version of the software is the best option, there is such a thing as too new in the world of software development. If you are accessing a beta version of DaVinci Resolve, be prepared for lots of bugs.
Beta software hasn’t been fully “road-tested” yet and can have tons of bugs that cause spontaneous crashes. If you’re running a beta version and are experiencing frequent crashes that some of the other solutions don’t solve, it may be better to uninstall and go back to an older, more stable version of Davinci Resolve.
Solution #4: Update your operating system
Your hardware may all be up to the task of running Resolve, but if you recently updated Resolve and haven’t updated your OS in a while, there may be system incompatibilities at play. Double-check to ensure you’re running the most recent version of Resolve alongside the most recent version of your OS for optimum performance.
Solution #5: Update your GPU
Even if your GPU technically meets the minimum system requirements, all GPUs are not created equally in terms of stability and performance.
If you’re using a GPU that’s designed for basic performance, you may want to look into one more specialized to running HD graphics intensive programs like Resolve. Look into GPUs designed for gamers that provide improved stability and faster processing.
Solution #6: Use a different file codec for your footage
MP4 is quickly becoming one of the most popular video codecs thanks to its performance on mobile devices, but DaVinci Resolve does not play nice with this file type. If you try to use MP4 footage in Resolve, a crash is inevitable. Instead, use a file converting application to change your footage over to .mov or another compatible format to avoid crashes.
Solution #7: Change your scratch disk
Make sure you’re using a scratch disk that has plenty of memory available and fast data speeds to avoid crashes. This is where all your rendering and file imports will be saved, so it needs a hefty amount of room. Solutions like high-speed external hard drives will often work fine.
Solution #8: Use “Compatibility Mode”
Compatibility mode allows you to set the software to “optimize” for your operating system. While it can throttle some of your performance, it can also help protect against crashes. You can enable it by following these steps:
Step 1: Open “Properties.”
Step 2: Go to “Compatibility” and select “Run this Program in Compatibility Mode.”
Step 3: Select your operating system from the drop-down, then click “Apply” to lock in your changes.
Most users found that one or a combination of these solutions have helped them fix DaVinci Resolve crashing issues, so we hope they will work for you too. Whether you’re running a Mac or Windows version, there is likely a solution in this list.
Final thoughts
Unfortunately, fixing crashes is a process of trial and error, so we always recommend working the problem from the least-invasive solution to most. This means starting out by simply checking your advanced settings, scratch disks, and trying compatibility mode before moving on to things like software updates and graphics configuration.
If software updates fail, then it’s time to start looking at more drastic solutions like hardware additions or upgrades, so you can feel confident next time you launch DaVinci Resolve. What’s important is to take it slow and only change one thing at a time until you isolate the source of the problem.
For more help with editing and working in DaVinci Resolve, check out these articles:
If you're looking for a better way to bring your remote video production team closer together and collaborate more efficiently from a distance, check out Evercast. Evercast allows you to stream your DaVinci Resolve edit sessions in HD with no lag.
