Fix: Davinci Resolve is Unable to Run in Cuda Mode

DaVinci Resolve shows the message “Unable to run in CUDA mode as the installed NVIDIA driver is incompatible” when it cannot use your NVIDIA GPU for processing. In this state, Resolve may fall back to CPU processing (which is much slower) or fail to open entirely.

The most common reasons are:

• Unsupported GPU: Your graphics card doesn’t meet Resolve’s requirements or doesn’t fully support CUDA acceleration.
• Outdated or mismatched NVIDIA driver: The installed driver doesn’t match the CUDA version that Resolve expects, preventing it from loading CUDA properly.
• Hybrid graphics conflict: On laptops, Resolve may be running on the integrated GPU instead of the NVIDIA GPU.
• After system or driver updates: A Windows or driver update might have removed or corrupted CUDA files such as nvcuda.dll, causing Resolve to fail when GPU acceleration is enabled.

Installing the correct NVIDIA Studio Driver, forcing Resolve to use the dedicated GPU, and ensuring your GPU meets the minimum CUDA requirements typically restores functionality and removes this error.

1. Update GPU Configuration

When this configuration warning appears, DaVinci Resolve gives you the option to adjust GPU settings directly. Clicking the Update Configuration button allows you to apply the correct GPU parameters, which often fixes the issue immediately.

1. Click the Update Configuration button on the warning prompt.
   
2. From the left sidebar, open the Memory and GPU tab.
3. In the GPU Configuration section, uncheck both Processing and Selection if they are labeled as Auto.
4. Change the processing mode to OpenCL.
5. If multiple GPUs are available, select your primary GPU from the list.
   
6. Restart DaVinci Resolve to apply the new settings and confirm that the problem is fixed.

2. Update Your NVIDIA Studio Drivers

Keeping your GPU drivers updated is essential when using CUDA or any GPU-accelerated software. If your NVIDIA drivers are outdated or incompatible with the current version of Resolve, CUDA may fail to initialize and cause this configuration error.

Note: Always use the NVIDIA Studio Drivers for DaVinci Resolve instead of Game Ready Drivers, as they are specifically optimized for creative workflows.

1. Open the NVIDIA app on your computer.
   
2. Click Drivers in the sidebar.
3. Ensure Studio Driver is selected in the upper-right corner, then click Check for updates.
   
4. Click Download and allow the installation process to complete.
   
5. Restart your PC, then relaunch DaVinci Resolve to check if the issue has been resolved.

3. Downgrade DaVinci Resolve

Older GPUs may lose support for newer software or driver versions, which can make them incompatible with the latest DaVinci Resolve releases. If upgrading your GPU isn’t an option, reverting to an earlier version of Resolve that worked with your system can often fix CUDA-related issues.

1. Go to the Blackmagic Design Support Page.
2. Select DaVinci Resolve from the product list.
3. Scroll through the list of available versions from newest to oldest.
   
4. Download and install a previous version that worked smoothly on your setup.
5. After installation, launch DaVinci Resolve and confirm whether the error has been fixed.

If the problem persists, reach out to DaVinci Resolve Support and include detailed information about your system specifications, GPU model, and the exact error message. Their technical team can provide targeted troubleshooting tailored to your configuration.