Where Are Davinci Resolve Projects Saved? [2024]

3 Methods To Find Location Of Saved DaVinci Resolve Project Files

If you're new to DaVinci Resolve and wondering where your projects, media, and cache files are stored, navigating the unique database system of this powerful post-production software can initially seem daunting. Unlike traditional software that uses folder-based saving, DaVinci Resolve employs a database-centric approach to manage and store projects and related files. This innovative method enhances efficiency, particularly when juggling multiple projects, but can perplex users accustomed to direct file access.

In this article, we outline a clear, step-by-step guide to locating your DaVinci Resolve project files across different operating systems, managing media and cache files, and setting up autosave and backup features. Understanding these aspects is crucial for a smooth workflow, enabling you to migrate projects to new PCs, share files with colleagues, or recover work after unexpected crashes. Specifically, we cover:

• Finding Media Files: Learn how to use the Media Pool, Metadata Display, and Media Storage sections to locate your imported media clips within DaVinci Resolve.
• Locating Cache and Proxy Files: Discover how to access cache and proxy files through Project Settings, ensuring optimized media management.
• Project File Paths: We provide the default locations for project files on Windows and macOS, along with instructions on how to use the Database Manager and manual search techniques to find your projects.
• Autosave and Backups: Step-by-step guidance on setting up autosave and backup configurations to protect your work against data loss.

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1. Locating Project Files In Davinci Resolve

DaVinci Resolve takes a unique approach by using a database to manage project files, rather than storing them in simple folders like many other applications. This might sound a bit technical, but it's quite straightforward once you get the hang of it.

For Windows Users:

Your project files are typically saved in a specific path on your computer. Imagine you're navigating through a library of files; you'll go through several "rooms" (folders) before finding your book (project file). Here’s how you would get there:

1. Open File Explorer.
2. Navigate to the C: drive, then to Users.
3. Find your username folder and open it.
4. Look for the AppData folder. If you can't see it, it's hidden by default. To view hidden folders, click on the "View" tab at the top of File Explorer and check the box next to "Hidden items".
5. Inside AppData, go to Roaming -> Blackmagic Design -> DaVinci Resolve -> Support -> Resolve Disk Database -> Resolve Projects.

For macOS Users:

The path is a bit different but follows a similar logic:

1. Open Finder.
2. In the menu bar at the top of the screen, click "Go", then "Go to Folder...".
3. Type ~/Library/Application Support/Blackmagic Design/DaVinci Resolve/Support/Resolve Disk Database/Resolve Projects/ and press Enter.

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2. Using the Database Manager To Find Project Location

DaVinci Resolve's Database Manager is your central hub for all project files. Think of it as the library's catalog, where every book is indexed for easy finding.

1. Launch DaVinci Resolve: Start the program to open the Project Manager window.
2. Find the Database Manager Icon: Look at the bottom of the Project Manager window. The Database Manager icon is usually located in the bottom-right or bottom-left corner.
3. Access the Database Manager: Click on the Database Manager icon. This opens a window displaying all your databases.
4. View Database Locations: In the Database Manager window, observe the "Location" column to see where each database is stored on your system.
5. Choose Your Project Storage Location Wisely: For optimal performance, store your projects on your local drive. DaVinci Resolve performs best when accessing files from a local source.
6. Open Your Project's File Location: Right-click on the database you're interested in and select "Open File Location." This action will open a file explorer window (Windows Explorer or Finder on macOS) directly to the folder where your projects within that database are stored.
7. Explore and Manage Your Projects: In the file explorer window, you can view, organize, and manage all your project files stored within the selected database.

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3. Finding Project Files Manually

Sometimes, you might need to find a project file without going through DaVinci Resolve. This is like knowing you left your book somewhere in the library and needing to find it yourself.

1. Use the search feature on your computer. On Windows, this might be the search bar next to the Start menu; on macOS, it's the Spotlight search.
2. Type in *.drp to find DaVinci Resolve Project files. The * acts as a wildcard, meaning it will find files ending with .drp, regardless of the file name.
3. The search results will show you where your project files are located, even if they're not in the default location.

How To Save Your DaVinci Resolve Projects To A Different Location

Alright, let's dive into how you can save your DaVinci Resolve projects to a new location. This is crucial for keeping your work organized and secure. Imagine you're moving your precious belongings to a new, safer house—that's exactly what we're doing with your projects.

Setting Up a New Default Save Location

First things first, we need to tell DaVinci Resolve where you’d like your projects to live from now on. It's like setting up a new home address for your projects.

1. Accessing Preferences: Open up DaVinci Resolve. Look for the "DaVinci Resolve" menu at the top-left corner if you're on a Mac, or the "File" menu if you're on Windows. From there, select "Preferences" to open the settings window. This is the control center for customizing how DaVinci Resolve behaves.
2. Navigating to Media Storage Options: Within the Preferences window, you'll see a bunch of tabs on the left. Click on "Media Storage". This area lets you decide where DaVinci Resolve keeps all the files for your projects. Think of it as choosing which shelves to put your books on.
3. Adding a New Location: Now, you'll see a list of locations already set up. To add a new one, click the "Add" button, usually found at the bottom of the list. A window will pop up, asking you to browse to the folder where you want to save your projects. If you don’t have a folder in mind, now's a good time to create one. For example, you could make a new folder on an external hard drive named "DaVinci Projects" to keep things tidy.
4. Selecting Your New Location: After you've chosen or created your new folder, select it and confirm. You'll see it added to the list of media storage locations in the Preferences window.
5. Finishing Up: Before you close the Preferences window, make sure to click "Save". This is like locking in your new home address. DaVinci Resolve now knows where to save your future projects.

Moving Existing Projects

Now, what if you have projects saved in the old location that you want to move to your new "house"? DaVinci Resolve doesn't automatically move existing projects for you, but here’s how you can do it manually.

1. Locating Your Project Files: First, you need to find where your current projects are stored. This is usually in the "DaVinci Resolve Projects" folder in your Documents (unless you've changed it before).
2. Copying Projects: Once you've found your projects, it's time to move them. You can copy the entire "DaVinci Resolve Projects" folder, or just specific project folders, to your new location. To do this, right-click on the folder or project, select "Copy", navigate to your new folder, right-click again, and select "Paste".
3. Re-Linking Media (If Needed): If your projects contain media stored in different locations, you might need to re-link the media files within DaVinci Resolve. Open your project, go to the Media Pool, right-click on any offline media, and choose "Relink Media". Then, navigate to where your media files are now located, select them, and confirm.