DaVinci Resolve Crashes in Fusion Tab (2024 Fixes!)

This is part of the fixes for the DaVinci Resolve crashing issues series.

After successfully launching Resolve, importing media, creating a timeline, and starting your editing…

There come’s a time to add some 3d Fusion titles, which might need a lot of customizing, or you might need to do some green screen keying or another compositing.

So, when you click on the “Fusion” tab, CRASH!

DaVinci Resolve Fusion Crashing

DaVinci Resolve Fusion crashes due to: insufficient System Memory, no discrete or dedicated GPU (Integrated Graphics is NOT sufficient to run Fusion), and an Incompatible Video graphics card driver.

DaVinci Resolve Fusion crash can be fixed by having a minimum of 16 GB RAM (32 GB recommended by Blackmagic), 2 to 4GB VRAM for 1080p, 6 to 8GB for 4K, and a compatible Nvidia Studio or Gaming driver.

Most of the users who can work with no issues in other tabs like Edit, Fairlight, Color, etc, might face a crash on clicking the Fusion tab.

Or sometimes, after clicking on the Fusion tab, during the building of node-based compositions (which might involve tracking operations, painting, etc), Resolve can crash.

Fix 1 – Insufficient System Memory Fix for Fusion

If you have insufficient RAM, please upgrade to 16 GB. If you are going to do a lot of VFX work and graphics work, 32 GB RAM and more should be your target.

You might get away with simple editing, audio, and color correction work with 8GB or less RAM (if you are lucky), but working inside Fusion will demand more RAM.

What if you have sufficient RAM, but still Resolve crashes?

A very frustrating one! Follow the next step.

Fix 2 – Insufficient Graphics Card Onboard Memory (VRAM) Fix

When you work with 1080p h.264, a minimum of 2 to 4GB GPU VRAM is necessary. Anything below than that might crash Resolve.

But if you’re working with 4K h.264 or h.265 (heavily compressed codec), a 2 to 4 GB RAM is insufficient and can crash on you.

Fusion (or, for that matter, Resolve) is very GPU-hungry. The more VRAM – the better.

If the problem persists, then try updating the Video card driver to the appropriate version (as discussed below).


Fix 3 – Memory Configuration Settings for Fixing the Crash Issue

From the menu bar, click on “DaVinci Resolve” > “Preferences“, then click on “Memory and GPU” > “System”.

Under “Memory Configuration”:

Try increasing the memory for “Limit Fusion Memory Cache to“, which will take the memory from “Limit Resolve Memory Usage to” which is 75% of the total system RAM.

For example, if you have 16 GB total RAM, “Limit Resolve Memory Usage to” will be defaulted to 75%, which is “12 GB”. If your “Limit Fusion Memory Cache to” is set around 4 GB, then try to increase it beyond 4GB, say 8 GB.

Give “Save” and restart Resolve.

See if it solves the issue; if not, revert the changes.


If you still face the same issue, then try the below:

Fix 4 – Virtual Memory, Swap File, or Paging File:

If the above doesn’t solve your issue, then see that your System managed Paging file size is sufficient.

A Paging file is an area on the hard disk that Windows uses as if it were RAM.

Generally, the operating system decides its own paging file size based on the amount of RAM installed.

Typically, it selects the drive where the OS is installed and allocates a portion of hard disk as virtual memory or paging file size.

The most important point here is: Don’t cram your C: disk. Leave some breathing space. I mean to tell, have sufficient free space. (Let the strip be blue instead of red).

There is no need to alter the paging file size (let it be system managed).

But if you would like to define the paging file size manually, then proceed at your own risk (changing the values could make your system unstable).

  • Go to “Control Panel” > “System” > “Advanced System Settings” > Click on “Settings” under “Performance” > Click on “Advanced” > Click on “Change” under “Virtual Memory”.
  • Uncheck “Automatically manage paging file size for all drives”, Click on the “Custom Size” radio button > Enter “Initial Size” and “Maximum Size”.

Based on the “Currently Allocated” size, you can define the “Initial Size” which in this case will be more than the currently allocated one. (Again, reminding you – please be very careful here; this could make your system unstable. Do your own research before committing the numbers.)

Fix 5 – Install a Compatible Video Graphics Card Driver

NVidia comes with Gaming drivers as well as Studio drivers. As the name suggests, Gaming drivers are released frequently to support new and high-end games.

Whereas, Nvidia Studio Drivers are aimed at supporting creative application works like editing, grading, content creation, animation, etc.

Nvidia states studio drivers are more stable.

Read the below guide for a step-by-step procedure to find the right driver for your GPU:

DaVinci Resolve Keeps Crashing: PROVEN Fixes

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