Fix: Davinci Resolve Keeps Crashing

Several users are reporting that they’re trying to use DaVinci Resolve to edit some video, but the software crashes every time they try to open it. Other users report that they are able to do some editing, but the crashes occur several minutes after the application has been started. The issue is reported to occur on Windows 10, Windows 8/8.1 and Windows 7.

What is causing the frequent crashes in DaVinci Resolve?

We investigated this particular issue by looking at various user reports and the repair strategies that affected users have deployed in order to resolve this particular problem. Based on what we gathered, there are several potential scenarios that might be triggering the crashes in DaVinci Resolve:

If you’re currently struggling to find ways to resolve this particular issue with DaVinci Resolve, this article will provide you with several troubleshooting steps. Down below, you’ll discover a collection of methods that other users trying to resolve the same problem have used successfully.

For the best results, we advise you to follow the methods in the order that they are presented.  Eventually, you should stumble upon a fix that will be effective in your particular scenario.

Method 1: Using a dedicated GPU

If you’re encountering this crashed with an integrated GPU like Intel(R) HD graphics, chances are you’ll need to get your hands on a dedicated GPU in order to be able to use the DaVinci Resolve software without frequent crashes.

DaVinci Resolve is quite a resource-demanding (especially in the GPU department) when needing to do rendering chores associated tasks. But the software has few to none mechanisms that will stop under-spec computers from accessing the software.

But the truth is, you’ll need a dedicated GPU if you want stability when using DaVinci Resolve. At the least, you should consider cards like GeForce 1070, 1060, or AMD equivalents. You’ll also need enough CPU power (an i5 or AMD equivalent) and at least 16 GB of RAM.

If you have a decent GPU that should be enough to support DaVinci Resolve, move down to the next methods below to begin the actual troubleshooting.

Method 2: Making sure you’re using the latest version

You might also be encountering this issue due to a bug or glitch, especially if you’re using DaVinci Resolve 15. The release of this DaVinci version has a long history of glitches and bugs that crashed the software on a lot of different configurations that were more than enough to support the video editing software.

But since then, almost all software-crashing bugs have been patched, and the product is a lot more stable not. But this is only true if you’re using the latest version available. This way you can take advantage of every bug-fix that was released.

Several users that have encountered this particular issue have reported that the frequent crashes we’re no longer occurring after they uninstalled the current DaVinci Resolve version and install the latest available build. Here’s a quick guide on how to do this:

1. Press Windows key + R to open up a Run dialog box. Then, type “appwiz.cpl” and press Enter to open up the Programs and Features window.

   

2. Inside the Programs and Features window, scroll down through the list of installed applications and locate Davinci Resolve. Then, right-click on it and choose Uninstall.
3. Follow the on-screen prompts to uninstall the current video editing software from your computer, then restart your machine.
4. At the next startup, visit this link (here) to download the latest available version of Davinci Resolve Free.
5. Choose Windows from the first prompt, then fill in the details to Register and Download the product for free.

   

6. Once the installation is complete, restart your computer once again and see if the frequent crashes issue is resolved at the next system startup.

If you’re still encountering the same exact problem with this new build, move down to the next method below.

Method 3: Upgrade to Windows 10

Although DaVinci Resolve is known to work on older Windows versions like Windows 8.1 and Windows 10, the latest versions that they put out are only officially supporting Windows 10. With this in mind, you might run into some snags when running the software (especially on Windows 7.

If you have the means to do so, upgrading to Windows 10 might just be enough to resolve the issue. In the event that you’re stuck with using Windows 7 or Windows 8.1, move down to the next method below.

Method 4: Disabling Integrated GPU

If you’re trying to run DaVinci Resolve on a desktop/laptop configuration that includes two different GPU (both dedicated & integrated), you’ll need to ensure that DaVinci Resolve is using the dedicated option. As some users have reported, it’s possible that the software is trying to use the integrated solution, which ends up limiting the software severely (and cause crashes).

You can try to use the Nvidia Control Panel / AMD Catalyst Control Center to force Davinci Resolve to use the dedicated GPU, but affected users have had mixed results going this route.

The safest bet is to simply disable the Integrated GPU. This way, your system will have no other choice but to use the dedicated GPU. Here’s a quick guide on disabling the Integrated GPU.

Note: This guide is applicable to all recent Windows versions.

1. Press Windows key + R to open up a Run dialog box. Then, type “devmgmt.msc” and press Enter to open up Device Manager.
2. Inside Device Manager, expand the drop-down menu associated with Display Adapters.
3. Inside the Display Adapters drop-down menu, right-click on your integrated GPU and choose Disable Device.
4. Open DaVinci Resolve and see if you’re still encountering the frequent crashes.

If this method didn’t resolve the issue or the steps weren’t applicable to your current situation, move down to the next method below.

Method 5: Running DaVinci in Compatibility Mode

Some affected users that encountered frequent crashes with Davinci Resolve 15 have reported that the crashing occurrences have stopped after they opened the main executable in Compatibility mode. Here’s a quick guide on how to do this:

1. Right-click on the executable that you use to launch the software (can be the desktop shortcut) and choose Properties.
2. Inside the Resolve Properties window, go to the Compatibility tab and check the box associated with Run this program in compatibility mode for.

   

3. Next, access the drop-down menu below and choose Windows 8 from the list of operating systems.
4. Hit Apply to save the changes.
5. Launch the software from the same executable that you just modified and see if the issue has been resolved.

If you’re still encountering the same crashes, move down to the next method below.

Method 6: Enabling IGPU Multi-Monitoring

As several affected users have reported, Davinci Resolve crashes might occur if IGPU Multi-Monitoring is disabled from your BIOS settings. With IGPU Multi-Monitoring enabled, you can still use video ports on your motherboards, even when using a dedicated GPU.

As it turns out, the Davinci Resolve software will not like it if you have this option with your motherboard but you have it disabled. Here’s a quick guide on enabling IGPU Multi-Monitoring from your BIOS settings:

1. Restart your computer and start pressing the Setup key during the initial screen. That will eventually get you inside the BIOS menu.

   

   Note: The setup key will typically be displayed on the initial screen, but if you can see it search online for specific steps on how to get into your BIOS Settings.

2. Once you get inside the BIOS settings, look into the Advanced settings and look a setting named IGPU Multi-Monitor. Typically you can find it inside the System Agent (SA) Configuration submenu or under the Graphics Configuration menu.
   Note: BIOS settings are widely different from configuration to configuration. If you can’t find the settings on your particular BIOS, search online for specific steps.
3. Set the IGPU Multi-Monitor feature to Enabled, then save your changes and exit your BIOS settings.

   

Once the next startup is complete, launch Davinci Resolve and see if the crashes have stopped occurring.

Method 7: Moving the source video files to a different location

This might seem like a silly workaround, but several affected users have reported that the software was no longer crashing after they moved the source files to a different location. Although there’s no official explanation of why this fix is effective, some affected users we’re speculating that it might have something to do with the permissions of the involved folder.

If you’re encountering the issue when handling video source files, try moving them in a different location before trying to import them into the Davinci Resolve software. If applicable, you can try to move them to a different drive and retry the process again.

If the issue is still occurring, move down to the next method below.

Method 8: Converting the video files to a .mov format

As it turns out, certain PC configurations (particularly with laptops) are known to trigger a Davinci Resolve crash at the moment when the user tries to import MP4 files into the editing software. If this scenario is applicable to you, you should be able to resolve the issue by using a reliable converter to transform all MP4 files into MOV files.

Here’s a quick guide on how to do this:

Note: Keep in mind that you can use a wide variety of converters that will help you do this. But the steps below will feature an option that won’t require you to install any software on your computer.

1. Visit this link (here) and set the Source to Upload File.
2. Then, click on Choose File and use the next menu to select the file that needs to be converted.

   

3. Once the file has been converted, you will be taken to another page where the .mov file will automatically begin downloading.
4. Do this with all your Mp4 files, then try to add them into your Davinci resolve software and see if the issue is no longer occurring.

If you’re still having the same frequent crashes, move down to the next method below.

Method 9: Enlarging the Virtual Memory file (Paging File)

As some users have reported, this particular issue can also occur on Windows 10 is struggling to deal with heap dumps. Some users that previously had their paging file managed by the system have reported that the issue was no longer occurring after they changed it to a custom size (making it bigger).

This is known to be successful in situations where the user is working with a low to medium specification computer.

If you think this scenario might be applicable to your current situation, follow the steps down below to enlarge your virtual memory paging file and see if it resolves your DaVinci Resolve crashes:

1. Press Windows key + R to open up a Run dialog box. Then, type ” sysdm.cpl” and press Enter to open the Advanced System Properties window.
2. Inside the System Properties window, go to the Advanced tab and click the Settings button associated with the Performance menu.
3. Inside the Performance Options menu, click the Advanced tab.
4. Inside the Advanced tab, click the Change button under Virtual Memory.
5. In the Virtual Memory window, start by unchecking the box associated with Automatically manage paging file size for all drives.
6. Select your OS drive from the box under Paging file size for each drive, then select the toggle associated with Custom size.
7. As per other affected user recommendations, you should set the Initial size to at least 3500 MB and the Maximum size to 7000 MB. Once the two values are in place, the Set button to enforce the change.
8. Click Ok and Save, then close all associated windows and restart your computer.
9. At the next startup, open DaVinci Resolve and see if you’re still encountering the same frequent crashes.

Method 10: Downgrade to DaVinci Resolve 14.3.1

If you’re encountering this issue with DaVinci Resolve 15 (or above), chances are you will be able to resolve the issue by downgrading to the previous major release. Even more, if you’re using any kind of beta release of DaVinci Resolve.

Some affected users that we’re struggling to resolve the same exact issue have reported that they were finally able to do video editing without frequent crashes after they downgraded to the final release of Davinci Resolve 14 (version 14.3.1).

Here’s a quick guide on how to do this:

1. Press Windows key + R to open up a Run dialog box. Next, type “appwiz.cpl” and press Enter to open up the Programs and Features window.

   

2. In the Programs and Features window, find DaVinci Resolve in the list of installed applications, then right-click on it and choose Uninstall.
3. Follow the on-screen prompts to uninstall the current video editing software from your computer, then restart your machine.
4. Once the next startup is complete, visit this link (here) for the Free version or this one (here) for the Studio version to download Davinci Resolve 14.

   

5. Follow the on-screen prompts to install this build, then restart your system once again when the process is complete.
6. Launch the newly installed DaVinci Resolved and see if you’re still encountering the same issues.