Cutsio Blog

Best Way to Fix Project Corruption in DaVinci Resolve

Direct methods for restoring project backups, exporting clean DRP files, and recovering from database crashes in DaVinci Resolve.

The best way to fix project corruption in DaVinci Resolve is to restore an automatic project backup, export a clean .drp file from the database manager, or rebuild the timeline using a fresh bin.

Here are the direct methods to best fix project corruption in DaVinci Resolve.

What is the fastest way to restore a project backup?

If DaVinci Resolve crashes instantly when trying to open a specific project, the master database file for that project is corrupted and must be rolled back.

To quickly restore a project backup:

  1. Open DaVinci Resolve to the Project Manager screen (do not try to open the corrupted project).
  2. Right-click the corrupted project icon.
  3. Select Project Backups.
  4. A list of automatic auto-saves will appear. Select the most recent timestamp before the corruption occurred (e.g., 15 minutes ago).
  5. Click Load. DaVinci Resolve will create a fresh, working copy of your project from that exact moment.

How do you export a clean DRP file?

If a project opens but behaves erratically (e.g., timelines disappear, clips won't save), the internal structure of the database is damaged.

To export a clean DRP file:

  1. Open the erratic project.
  2. Go to File > Export Project.
  3. Save the .drp (DaVinci Resolve Project) file to your Desktop.
  4. Go back to the Project Manager (bottom right house icon).
  5. Right-click anywhere in the empty space and select Import Project.
  6. Select the .drp file from your Desktop. This forces DaVinci Resolve to rewrite the entire project structure cleanly into the database, often fixing the erratic behavior.

How do you enable automatic Live Save?

If you lost hours of work because DaVinci Resolve crashed and you had not saved manually, you must enable the software's continuous background saving feature.

To enable Live Save:

  1. Go to DaVinci Resolve > Preferences (Mac) or Edit > Preferences (Windows).
  2. Click the User tab at the top.
  3. Select Project Save and Load on the left panel.
  4. Check the boxes for Live Save and Project Backups. DaVinci Resolve will now save every single click instantly to the database, ensuring you never lose more than a few seconds of work if a crash occurs.