How Can You Quickly Fix the “Media Offline” Error in DaVinci Resolve? Essential Troubleshooting Steps

Why Does DaVinci Resolve Show the “Media Offline” Error? Proven Solutions for Smooth Editing

When DaVinci Resolve displays the “Media Offline” error, all affected clips turn red in the timeline and media pool. This error signals that Resolve cannot access the original source files, often because files have been moved, renamed, or disconnected from their storage location (such as an external or network drive). Unsupported file formats or codecs—like 10-bit H.265 (HEVC) or AV1—can also trigger this issue, especially in the free version of Resolve, which lacks hardware decoding for these formats. Corrupted render cache files may further contribute to playback problems or missing previews.

Common Causes

• Source files have been moved, renamed, or are on a disconnected drive.
• Footage uses unsupported codecs or bit-depths (e.g., 10-bit H.265, AV1).
• Corrupted render cache or timeline metadata.
• Hardware acceleration or system compatibility issues.

Quick Diagnostic Tip

• Use MediaInfo to check your footage’s codec and bit-depth before importing into Resolve.
• Upgrade to DaVinci Resolve Studio for advanced codec support if you regularly work with formats like 10-bit HEVC, AV1, or BRAW.
• Ensure your hardware meets DaVinci Resolve’s system requirements for optimal performance.

Step-by-Step Solutions

Solution 1: Relink or Replace Missing Clips

1. Right-click the missing clip in the Media Pool.
2. Select “Relink Selected Clips.”
3. Navigate to the current folder containing your source file and click “Select Folder.”
4. If unsure, select the entire drive so Resolve can search all directories.
5. If Resolve cannot find the clip, click “Close,” then use the “Search” option for a deeper scan.
6. For renamed files, right-click and choose “Replace Selected Clips,” selecting a backup that matches the original in duration, resolution, frame rate, and codec.

Best Practice: Keep a consistent folder structure and avoid renaming or moving files after importing them into Resolve.

Solution 2: Create a New Timeline

1. Right-click the existing timeline and select “Create New Timeline Using Selected Clips.”
2. Name the new timeline and adjust settings as needed.
3. To preserve edits, right-click the new timeline and choose “Decompose in Place > Using Clips Only.”

Note: Complex elements like compound clips or Fusion effects may not transfer. Always duplicate your timeline before decomposing.

Solution 3: Toggle Hardware Acceleration

1. Go to DaVinci Resolve > Preferences.
2. In the Decode Options tab, uncheck “Decode H.264/H.265 using hardware acceleration” and save.
3. Restart Resolve, then re-enable the setting and save again. This resets the decoder and can resolve playback issues.

Solution 4: Set Render Cache to None

1. Navigate to Playback > Render Cache > None.
2. Restart Resolve to clear any corrupted cache files and check if the media loads correctly.

Optional: Transcode Footage to Optimized Media

1. In the Media Pool, right-click the clip and select “Generate Optimized Media.”
2. Wait for processing to complete. This improves playback and can resolve the Media Offline error for high-compression formats.

Note: This requires additional disk space and processing time, especially for large files.

These steps address both file management and technical compatibility, ensuring a reliable editing experience in DaVinci Resolve.