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How to Fix Corrupted Project Files in DaVinci Resolve

Direct solutions for recovering and fixing corrupted project files and databases in DaVinci Resolve.

Corrupted project files in DaVinci Resolve are typically caused by unexpected power losses, hard drive failures, or software crashes during a save operation.

Here are the direct methods to fix and recover corrupted project files.

How do you restore a corrupted project using Project Backups?

If DaVinci Resolve gives an error stating the project is corrupted or unreadable, the fastest fix is to load the last automated backup.

To restore a project using Project Backups:

  1. Open the DaVinci Resolve Project Manager.
  2. Right-click the corrupted project icon.
  3. Select Project Backups.
  4. Review the list of timestamped backups. Select the most recent backup taken before the corruption occurred.
  5. Click Load. Resolve will prompt you to name the restored project, creating a fresh, uncorrupted copy.

How do you fix a corrupted project using Live Save?

If Project Backups are disabled but Live Save was turned on, you can force Resolve to read the latest Live Save state instead of the main project file.

To recover using Live Save:

  1. Close DaVinci Resolve.
  2. Navigate to your project database folder in your operating system's file browser.
  3. Find the specific folder for your project (e.g., Resolve Disk Database/Resolve Projects/Users/guest/Projects/[Your Project Name]).
  4. Inside, you will see a file named Project.db (which is corrupted) and potentially a Project.db.2023... or similar Live Save file.
  5. Move the corrupted Project.db to your desktop.
  6. Rename the latest Live Save file to exactly Project.db.
  7. Reopen DaVinci Resolve.

How do you fix corruption caused by a broken timeline?

Sometimes the project opens, but clicking on a specific timeline instantly crashes the software because that specific timeline is corrupted.

To fix a corrupted timeline:

  1. Open the project. Do not double-click the corrupted timeline.
  2. In the Media Pool, right-click the corrupted timeline.
  3. Select Timelines > Export > AAF/XML.
  4. Export the timeline as an XML file to your desktop.
  5. Create a brand new timeline in DaVinci Resolve.
  6. Go to File > Import > Timeline and select the XML file you just exported. This rebuilds the timeline using fresh code, often stripping away the corruption.

How do you prevent project corruption in the future?

Relying on manual saves is the leading cause of permanent data loss during a crash.

To prevent future corruption:

  1. Go to DaVinci Resolve > Preferences > User > Project Save and Load.
  2. Check the box for Live Save. This saves every single click you make to a temporary database.
  3. Check the box for Project Backups. Set it to save every 10 minutes, keeping the last 24 hours of backups.