DaVinci Resolve Not Opening (3+ WORKING Fixes! 2023)

DaVinci Resolve won’t open due to the interference of: integrated graphics driver, installing DaVinci Resolve Control Panel without the hardware, incompatible graphics driver, USB devices, or corrupt Preferences folder.

To fix the Resolve not opening issue: disable the integrated graphics driver and make the GPU default, uninstall the Resolve Control Panel, update the graphics driver, remove corrupted folders, and do a clean re-install.

If nothing works, then there is a foolproof method that helps you solve – after debugging all the steps. (More on that later).

Beginners and especially, new users of Resolve, face Resolve not opening issue in Windows 11, 10, Mac, and Linux (laptop or desktop).

Let’s explore the fixes, that ACTUALLY work in 2023 for Resolve versions 18.5, 18, 17, etc., in detail = step-by-step with pictures.

Fix 1: Disable the default Integrated Graphics Driver

Resolve requires a discrete GPU, which is one of the minimum system requirements.

For some reason, Resolve might find it difficult to recognize your discrete GPU. If this is the case then,

• Go to “Control Panel” > click on “Device Manager“.
• Click on “Display Adapters“.
• Right Click on your Integrated Graphics (in this case, AMD Radeon(TM) Graphics) and disable the driver.
• This will force Resolve to use your GPU (Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 Ti).

Next time when you launch Resolve, it should use your GPU and successfully open.

Fix 2: Uninstall DaVinci Control Panels

Sometimes, when you install Resolve, you might forget to uncheck the “Control Panels” option from the installer. A control panel is a hardware device. So naturally, when you launch Resolve, it will look for the control panel device which doesn’t exist – and because of this, Resolve won’t open.

• Click on the Windows start button.
• Type “Apps and Features” and click on it.
• Click “DaVinci Resolve Control Panel”.
• Click “Uninstall”.
• Now Resolve should open successfully.

Related Article:

(How to Troubleshoot): DaVinci Resolve Keeps Crashing

Fix 3: Update Your Graphics Driver

If you’ve Nvidia or AMD GPU, then update the required GPU driver to the latest version.

Especially Nvidia GPU users face this issue of Resolve not opening.

Update your video driver to the Nvidia Studio version (try to avoid the Gaming version).

Navigate to the Nvidia Official website and select your GPU from the list and download it.

While installing the driver, try to select “Custom Install” > “Clean Install”.

If you’re using the integrated Intel graphics and are not able to launch Resolve due to Intel Hardware acceleration issue, then I highly recommend the below detailed guide:

FIX DaVinci Resolve Intel Hardware Acceleration Issue

Fix 4: Rename the Corrupted Preferences Folder

Sometimes your corrupted “Preferences” folder could stop Resolve from opening. Here’s how to fix it:

• Open Windows Explorer (press Windows key and “e”).
• Click on the “View” tab.
• Enable “Hidden Items” and “File Name Extensions”.
• Go to – “C:\Users\<your user name>/AppData\Roaming\Blackmagic Design\DaVinci Resolve”
• Rename the “Preferences” folder to “Preferences.orig” or “Preferences.bad”.
• Now launch Resolve and it should open.
• Update your preferences inside Resolve (because renaming the “Preferences” folder will remove your saved preferences).

Related Article:

Most Common DaVinci Resolve GPU Issues (& How to Fix Them)

Fix 5: Uninstall Resolve and Do a Clean Install

Sometimes, uninstalling and re-installing will launch Resolve with no issues.

Uninstall Resolve

• Go to “Control Panel” > “Programs and Features“.
• Right-click on “DaVinci Resolve” and click on “Uninstall“.

The above step should completely remove Resolve from your system. Problems might occur when the un-installation leaves back few folders and files.

The folders and files live in:

• Program Files
• ProgramData
• AppData

Delete Left-Over Folders after Un-Installing Resolve

• Navigate to “C:\Program Files\Blackmagic Design“. It should be empty. If not, delete the folders (usually the folder might be named “DaVinci Resolve” which you must delete).
• Navigate to “C:\ProgramData\Blackmagic Design” -> delete the folder named “DaVinci Resolve“
• Navigate to “C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Roaming\Blackmagic Design” and delete the “DaVinci Resolve” folder.

Now Resolve should be completely removed from your system.

Re-Install Resolve

• Double click on your required Resolve version (use run as admin if required).
• Uncheck other options like “DaVinci Control Panels” and check only “Davinci Resolve <version no.>

• Click Install and proceed till you finish the installation process.
• Now launch DaVinci Resolve.
• The application will display “Welcome Tour” which means Resolve has been cleanly installed.

• You can click on “Skip Tour” and skip till you see the splash screen.
• Then Resolve should successfully open.

Where to Install DaVinci Resolve?

DaVinci Resolve should be installed in your system drive, which most probably should be “C:\“.

Do not install in a drive other than the system drive. If you have installed it in another drive, then uninstall it and do a clean install in your system drive.

Fix 6: Killing the Process in Task Manager

After launching Resolve, you see a tiny blue circle loading next to your cursor, which then disappears soon. Resolve never starts.

If this is your case, then:

• Open Task Manager.
• Go to the “Details” tab.
• Locate “Resolve.exe”.
• Right-click and click on “End Task”.
• Launch Resolve now, and it should open.

Fix 7: Run Program Compatibility Troubleshooter

Sometimes, Resolve might have compatibility issues with Windows.

To resolve this:

• Navigate to where Resolve is installed in your system = “C:\Program Files\Blackmagic Design\DaVinci Resolve“.
• Locate “Resolve.exe” and right-click on it. (Keep in mind – you should locate the original .exe and not the “DaVinci Resolve” shortcut)
• Click on the tab “Compatibility“.
• Click on “Run compatibility troubleshooter“.

• Under “Select troubleshooting option”, click on “Try recommended settings“.
• In the next window, click on “Test the program“.
• Windows will try to launch the application.
• If Resolve opens up successfully, then click on “Next”, then click on “Yes, save these settings for the program“.
• The next window “Troubleshooting has completed” will be displayed. Then click on “Close the troubleshooter“.
• Next time when you launch Resolve, Windows will remember the settings and successfully start the program.

If “Try recommended settings” doesn’t work, then click on “Troubleshoot program“. You’ll get the below window.

Try the options one by one or whichever applies to you and then test the program.

If the above 2 options don’t work, then

• Right-click on “Resolve.exe”, and click on the “Compatibility” tab.
• Under “Compatibility mode”, check “Run this program in compatibility mode for:“.

• Select the required OS. Give Ok and see if this solves the issue.

The above methods should resolve any compatibility issues.

Debug using Window’s “Reliability Monitor” tool

“Reliability Monitor” captures and tracks critical events like application failures, Windows failures, etc,.

In short, it displays a history of events that will tell you the “Source” and “Summary“, along with the date.

If your Resolve launched perfectly previously and then for some reason refuses to start now, then using “Reliability Monitor”, you could see what has happened to your computer at a particular period.

(To launch “Reliability Monitor“, click on Windows Start and Type “Reliability”. Click on “View Reliability History“.)

For example, consider the below image.

On Nov 21, my Resolve stopped responding and closed itself. I would go through other critical events on the same day and prior to see what could have caused Resolve to close itself.

For your case, if Resolve opened on a particular day and now refuses to start, then go through the critical events and informational events on those days to determine the root cause.

If you find any software that was installed recently, then uninstall the same and then try to launch Resolve.

Sometimes software like iCue could interfere with the launch of Resolve (but not for everyone).

If you’re still facing issues opening Resolve, then follow the below steps:

Few Troubleshooting Steps to Make DaVinci Resolve Open

#1. Remove USB Peripherals and Launch Resolve

Keeping the standard wired USB mouse and keyboard connected, remove other USB devices (like USB Webcam or wireless headphones USB) or BlueTooth peripheral devices, printers, etc, and then launch Resolve.

If Resolve opens (that’s good news) and then again close it.

Connect your other peripheral devices one by one and launch Resolve. You might zero in on the one device that might cause an issue.

Once you find the root cause, you will find a solution for yourself.

#2. Uninstall 3rd Party Software

If you’ve recently installed any anti-virus (or anti-malware), try to uninstall it and then launch Resolve.

Sometimes anti-virus software is known to interfere during Resolve start-up.

#3. Disable VPN and then Launch Resolve

Go to “Task Manager” and “End Task” your VPN like NordVPN, ExpressVPN, etc, (if you’ve any).

Then try to launch Resolve. Many of the users have benefitted from this step.

#4. Remove OFX Plugins

Many users install OFX plugins like FilmConvert, RedGiant, iZotope, etc,.

Sometimes they are known to interfere with Resolve start-up.

For example, if you have the FilmConvert Pro OFX plugin installed then,

• Navigate to “C:\Program Files\Common Files\OFX\Plugins\FilmConvertPro2.0.ofx.bundle” in Windows or “/Library/OFX/Plugins/FilmConvertPro2.0.ofx.bundle” in MacOS X.
• Delete the folder.
• Then launch Resolve.
• Do the same for other OFX plugins as well. (The idea is to remove all the plugins and put them back one by one to see which causes the issue).

#5. Temporarily Disable Firewall

• Turn off the internet.
• Temporarily disable the firewall by navigating to “Windows Start -> Settings -> Update and Security -> Windows Security -> Firewall and Network Connection”.
• Turn Off the networks.
• Now try to launch Resolve.
• If Resolve launches successfully, then you might have to add an exception.

(Note the above steps should be done at your own risk. Research thoroughly before adding rules or exceptions).

The Last Step – Getting Help from BlackMagic Design Support Staff

If none of the above steps work, then it’s time to generate the below files and share them with the support staff for debug:

1. DaVinci-Resolve-logs-<current time>.zip
2. System Information file with “.nfo” extension.

How to Generate DaVinci Resolve Logs Zip file?

• Navigate to “C:\Program Files\Blackmagic Design\DaVinci Resolve“.
• Double-click on the “CaptureLogs.bat” file (or right-click and then run as administrator).
• It will generate a log file to your desktop – “DaVinci-Resolve-logs-<current time>.zip”.

How to Generate System Information .nfo file?

• Click on Windows Start.
• Type “System Information” and click on the app “System Information“.

• Click on “File” > “Save”.

Enter filename and save it. It will be saved with extension “.NFO“.

Now head over to the BlackMagic Design forum, find the correct topic, and then post your question.

You may also find the below posts helpful:

• Tips to Save Your Precious Work in DaVinci Resolve (IMPORTANT!)
• How to Make DaVinci Resolve Use GPU (Helpful Tips!)