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How to Fix Missing Media in DaVinci Resolve

Encountering the dreaded 'Media Offline' screen? Learn the fastest and most reliable ways to fix missing media in DaVinci Resolve.

Opening a project to find bright red "Media Offline" graphics everywhere is every editor's nightmare. Fortunately, fixing missing media in DaVinci Resolve is usually a straightforward process.

Here is a step-by-step guide to reconnecting your missing media.

Why Does Media Go Missing?

DaVinci Resolve doesn't store your video files inside the project file. It simply creates a link (a file path) pointing to where the files live on your hard drive. Media goes "missing" when that link breaks. This typically happens if you:

* Moved the video files to a new folder.

* Renamed the folder or the hard drive containing the media.

* Unplugged the external hard drive where the media is stored.

* Deleted the files entirely.

Method 1: The Quick Relink

If you know exactly where your files are located, this is the fastest method.

  1. Open the Media Pool in the Media or Edit page.
  2. Click the Relink Media icon (the red broken link icon at the top left of the Media Pool), or select the offline clips, right-click, and choose Relink Selected Clips.
  3. A file browser window will appear. Navigate to the main folder or hard drive where your media is currently stored.
  4. Click Open or Select Folder. Resolve will automatically scan that folder and its subfolders, reconnecting any files that match the names and timecodes of the missing clips.

Method 2: Comprehensive Search (Find in Media Pool)

If you've reorganized your entire hard drive and have offline clips scattered everywhere:

  1. Go to the Media Page.
  2. Select the top-level Master bin in your Media Pool.
  3. Right-click the Master bin and select Relink Clips for Selected Bin.
  4. Point Resolve to your highest-level media directory (e.g., your entire external hard drive). This forces Resolve to do a deep dive and reconnect everything it finds.

Method 3: Fixing Missing Media from XML Imports

If your media is missing immediately after importing an XML from Premiere Pro or Final Cut Pro, the file paths in the XML might not match your current drive structure.

  1. Import your source media into the Resolve Media Pool before importing the XML.
  2. When importing the XML (File > Import > Timeline), uncheck "Automatically import source clips into media pool."
  3. Check the box that says "Link to source camera files." Resolve will ignore the broken paths in the XML and link directly to the media already in your pool.

Best Practices to Prevent Missing Media

* Never edit off an SD card: Always copy files to a dedicated, permanent hard drive folder first.

* Maintain strict folder structures: Keep all project assets (video, audio, graphics) inside a single master "Project Name" folder. If you need to move the project, move the entire master folder.