How To Update DaVinci Resolve

Welcome back, film family! We are here for another DaVinci Resolve tutorial. Blackmagic is updating its software all the time. This is a very good thing as bugs get sorted through, but it can also cause you to have you update often. Normally this would be bothersome, but thankfully Blackmagic makes it super easy. In this article, I will show you how to update your DaVinci Resolve software for the studio and the free version.

Before we get started there are a few things to keep in mind before we start this download. Please back up your individual projects or your entire database before installing a new update. DaVinci is great at keeping all of your projects alive. However, sometimes things happen, and we don’t want you falling to your knees in tears because a client’s project is due tomorrow, and you’ve lost everything. Sound familiar? I hope not. To ensure that this doesn’t ruin your day, please make sure your stuff is backed up. 

I also recommend reading through the pro tips I have below, as they will correspond to different steps in the process. Best to read them first and decide which ones you want to take advantage of.

Pro Tip #1:

What we are downloading are Beta versions. Black Magic is really good about not releasing updates that have a ton of bugs, but you may run into some. 

Pro Tip #2: (Studio version only)

You will need your serial number, which is on your activation key card when you purchase the product. DO NO THROW THIS AWAY EVER. Once you lose your activation key, there is no way to retrieve it as of right now. So if you lose it, you have to purchase Resolve all over again. And we want to save you that money. 

Pro Tip #3:

Drag your Resolve Manual.pdf to your desktop! It is always great to have a quick reference guide right when you need it. I have gone back to this manual many times, and it has been a huge help. So that’s something you should consider!

Pro Tip #4:

When installing DaVinci Resolve, click Save on the “Read Me” page so you can have quick access to all of the updates and bugs that were fixed in this version of Resolve. 

In this example, I will be updating DaVinci Resolve on my Mac, so the photos attached might be a little bit different for you if you are downloading on Windows or Linux. Keep that in mind! Alright, let’s get into it.

How To Update DaVinci Resolve (Studio)

1. Head to Blackmagic’s website
2. Click on the Support tab

3. Under “Select a Product Family,” click on DaVinci Resolve and Fusion software

4. Under the latest downloads, select DaVinci Resolve Studio (whatever corresponding update is the one you are looking for. In this case, it’s 18.5 Public Beta 2)

5. Select your computer model (Mac, Windows, Linux)
6. From here, you going to fill out this entire page if you are going to register and download. If you are already registered on this device, simply click Download Only.

(Feel free to skip the boxes that say “Tell us how you use this Blackmagic Product” and “Which features should we add?” Unless you like providing feedback, then off you go. This would be a good time to tell them that there should be a way of retrieving your activation key if you lost it. Just saying…)

7. Open up the Zip folder once it’s downloaded, and click on the .dmg file
8. Select Install Resolve
9. Once installed, open up DaVinci Resolve, and don’t worry if it takes a little bit longer to open. That can happen when you have just updated.

I have to pause and make a quick note that one of the updates here is that they released per-timeline AUTO BACKUPS! Oh, my goodness. I just heard cherubs singing. Moving on.

10. Any project you click on will now say “Upgrade Project Version” or “Upgrade Project Library.” This is why we always want to back up our database and projects because once this is done and something is lost, you can’t go back and retrieve it. An example is if you have upgraded your projects or your database and for some reason, you have to install an earlier version of Resolve, you will not have access to those projects. So proceed with caution if you haven’t backed up your stuff.  

How To Update DaVinci Resolve (Free)

1. Head to Blackmagic’s website
2. Click on the Support tab

1. Under “Select a Product Family” click on DaVinci Resolve and Fusion software

3. Under the latest downloads, select DaVinci Resolve Public (whatever corresponding update is the one you are looking for. In this case, it’s 18.5 Public Beta 2)

5. Select your computer model (Mac, Windows, Linux)
6. From here, you are going to fill out this entire page and select Register and Download.

(Feel free to skip the boxes that say “Tell us how you use this Blackmagic Product” and “Which features should we add?” Unless you like providing feedback, then off you go. This would be a good time to tell them that there should be a way of retrieving your activation key if you lost it. Just saying…)

7. Open up the Zip folder once it’s downloaded, and click on the .dmg file
8. Select Install Resolve
9. Once installed, open up DaVinci Resolve, and don’t worry if it takes a little bit longer to open. That can happen when you have just updated.
10. Any project you click on will now say “Upgrade Project Version” or “Upgrade Project Library.” This is why we always want to back up our database and projects because once this is done and something is lost, you can’t go back and retrieve it. An example is if you have upgraded your projects or your database and, for some reason, you have to install an earlier version of Resolve, you will not have access to those projects. So proceed with caution if you haven’t backed up your stuff.

And it is that easy, my friends! Once it’s installed, you don’t have to worry about doing anything else, and the program will automatically update for you.

FAQs

And You are All Up to Date!

As you can see, Blackmagic makes it really easy for us to use its products, as well as update them. I hope this was helpful for you and let us know in the comments your favorite ways to use DaVinci Resolve. As always, happy filmmaking!