What causes ‘Media offline’ issue in Davinci Resolve?

The “Media Offline” error in DaVinci Resolve occurs when the video editor cannot access previously added media. This can happen if the media’s location has changed on your hard drive without the change being reflected in DaVinci Resolve.

To address this, relinking the media in the video editor should resolve the issue. Below, we outline various methods to help you fix the Media Offline error in DaVinci Resolve.

1. Relink Offline Media

The Media Offline error is often caused by media files becoming unlinked from DaVinci Resolve. This might occur due to inconsistencies within the application or after changing your media files’ physical location on your hard disk.

To resolve the issue, provide DaVinci Resolve with the new media location. Follow these steps:

1. Open DaVinci Resolve.
2. Select the missing media, right-click on it, and choose Relink Selected Clips.

   

3. Navigate to the new location and select it.
4. Click Select Folder to see if the issue has been resolved.

2. Set Render Cache to None

DaVinci Resolve’s Render Cache can improve project playback performance by storing rendered frames in memory or on disk. However, issues can arise if the cache settings do not match the media’s format or resolution.

To correct this, disable the Render Cache as follows:

1. Open DaVinci Resolve.
2. Click on the Playback option in the menu bar.
3. Choose Render Cache > None.

   

4. Check if the error persists.

3. Edit Media Storage Preferences

For users employing external drives for their DaVinci Resolve media, ensuring that the program can automatically access these drives is imperative.

Modify the media storage preferences with these steps:

1. Launch DaVinci Resolve.
2. Click on DaVinci Resolve in the menu bar and select Preferences.

   

3. Switch to the Media Storage tab.
4. Select the Automatically display attached storage locations option.

   

5. Click Save, restart DaVinci Resolve, and see if the problem reoccurs.

4. Ensure Media Exists in the Media Pool

The “Media Offline” error can occur if the media is not in the media pool, perhaps due to accidental deletion. Without the media in the media pool, DaVinci Resolve cannot locate the file.

Verify that the required media is included in your media pool; this tells DaVinci Resolve where the media is located, facilitating access.

If issues continue despite the media being in the pool, proceed to the next solution.

5. Check Media Storage

“Media Offline” messages often result from storing media on external storage devices that are not connected to your computer. If DaVinci Resolve cannot access the files, this error appears.

Ensure the media files are stored on your hard drive or properly connected external storage. If using an SD card, it’s recommended to transfer the files to a hard drive for smoother editing with DaVinci Resolve.

6. Delete Render Cache

Sometimes the render cache in DaVinci Resolve can become corrupt. Deleting the current render cache will compel DaVinci Resolve to create a new, uncorrupted version.

Delete the render cache by following these steps:

1. Open DaVinci Resolve.
2. Choose Playback from the menu.
3. Select Delete Render Cache > All.

   

4. Check if the media has been restored.

7. Check DaVinci Resolve Version

The version of DaVinci Resolve you are using could also be responsible for the error. The free version does not support all media codecs, which can lead to the Media Offline error during playback. For example, the 10-bit H.264 format is not supported in the free version.

You may need to purchase the full version of DaVinci Resolve or convert your media files to a supported format.

8. Install HEVC Codec (Paid)

Codec issues might cause the Media Offline error if certain required codecs are missing on your system for use with DaVinci Resolve.

Free users often encounter this issue, which can be resolved by installing the HEVC codec, which costs approximately 1 USD. Purchasers of DaVinci Resolve should already have this codec.

To install, click on this link and navigate to the Microsoft Store page. Buy the codec, install it, and check if the issue remains.

9. Change Timeline Resolution

The Media Offline error can be related to the resolution of your timeline. If the media files are incompatible with the playback resolution, they may appear as offline.

Change the timeline resolution to fix the issue as follows:

1. Open DaVinci Resolve.
2. Click on Playback.
3. Choose Timeline Proxy Resolution > Half Resolution.

   

4. Determine if the Media Offline issue continues.

10. Change Power Plan

The power plan on your computer may influence DaVinci Resolve’s functionality. This is common when a low-performance power plan is active. DaVinci Resolve, being resource-intensive, requires optimal performance capabilities.

Switch to the High-Performance power plan using these steps:

1. Access the Start Menu.
2. Search for “Choose a Power Plan” and hit Enter.

   

3. Choose High Performance.

   

4. If necessary, click Show additional plans to see all options.

11. Update Graphics Drivers

Outdated graphics drivers can cause issues with DaVinci Resolve, including the Media Offline error. To update your graphics drivers, uninstall the current drivers and install the latest ones.

Proceed with the following steps:

1. Download the Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU) utility from here.
2. Extract the utility and run it.
3. On the General Options screen, click Continue.

   

4. Select GPU as the device type.

   

5. Choose the brand of your GPU.

   

6. Use the Clean and restart option to uninstall the drivers.

   

7. Restart your computer and visit your GPU manufacturer’s website.
8. Download the latest drivers for your graphics card and install them.
9. Check if the Media Offline error is resolved.

12. Re-encode Media File

If none of the above methods work, the issue might lie in the encoding of your media files. DaVinci Resolve sometimes struggles with certain codecs, leading to media files going offline.

Re-encode your media files to a compatible codec. If using H.265 files, it is advised to re-encode them to H.264 using Handbrake.

With these methods, you should resolve the Media Offline issue in DaVinci Resolve. For persistent problems, create a thread on the official forums for further assistance.