How to Fix Media Offline After Import in DaVinci Resolve

Direct methods for relinking offline media and managing file paths in DaVinci Resolve.

The best way to fix media offline after import in DaVinci Resolve is to reconnect the source folders using the Relink Media tool, map the correct drive paths, and ensure file extensions match the original footage.

Here are the direct methods to fix media offline after import in DaVinci Resolve.

What is the fastest way to relink offline media folders?

If your media pool is suddenly filled with red "Media Offline" graphics immediately after importing a project, DaVinci Resolve has lost the exact file path to your video clips because the folders were moved or the hard drive letter changed.

To quickly relink offline media folders:

Open the Media page (Shift+2) or the Edit page (Shift+4).
Select all of the red "Media Offline" clips in your Media Pool.
Right-click the selected clips and choose Relink Selected Clips.
In the file browser window, navigate to the highest-level folder on your hard drive that contains the missing video files.
Click Open (or Select Folder). DaVinci Resolve will automatically scan all subfolders, match the file names, and instantly reconnect the footage to the timeline.

How do you fix drive letter path mismatches?

If you moved a project from a Mac to a Windows PC (or vice versa), DaVinci Resolve cannot find the files because the operating systems use completely different drive mapping structures (e.g., /Volumes/Drive vs D:\Drive).

To fix drive letter path mismatches:

Go to the top menu bar and click DaVinci Resolve > Preferences.
Select the System tab, then click Media Storage on the left.
In the Mapped Mount section, click Add.
Set the Source path to the old drive name (e.g., /Volumes/ExternalDrive).
Set the Destination path to the new drive name (e.g., D:\).
Click Save and restart DaVinci Resolve. The software will now automatically translate the old file paths to the new ones, instantly bringing all media back online.

How do you find and replace changed file extensions?

If the file names are identical but the clips still will not relink, the files may have been transcoded to a different format (e.g., .mov to .mp4), causing DaVinci Resolve to reject the exact match requirement.

To find and replace changed file extensions:

Select the offline clip in the Media Pool.
Right-click the clip and choose Replace Selected Clip.
Navigate to the newly transcoded file (e.g., the .mp4 version) on your hard drive.
Select the file and click Open. DaVinci Resolve will swap the file in the Media Pool and automatically update every instance of that clip on your active timeline.