---
title: "How to Fix Timeline Out of Sync in DaVinci Resolve"
author: "Alex Johnson"
category: Troubleshooting
excerpt: "Direct solutions for fixing out of sync audio and video in DaVinci Resolve timelines."
image: "/cutsio-thumbnail.svg"
tags: "DaVinci Resolve, Audio Sync, Timeline, Troubleshooting"
---

A timeline out of sync in DaVinci Resolve is typically caused by accidental clip nudging, Variable Frame Rate (VFR) media, or hardware audio delay.

Here are the direct methods to fix out-of-sync timelines in DaVinci Resolve.

## How do you fix an accidentally nudged out of sync clip?
If you accidentally moved an audio clip out of sync with its video, use the Out of Sync Indicator to snap it back.

To fix a nudged clip:
1. Look for the red or green number (e.g., `+12` or `-05`) on the audio and video clips in the timeline. This is the **Out of Sync Indicator**.
2. Right-click the red/green number.
3. Select **Slip into Sync** to instantly realign the audio and video.

## How do you fix Variable Frame Rate (VFR) sync drift?
If the sync drifts gradually over time (starts fine, ends out of sync), your source media is using a Variable Frame Rate (VFR), which DaVinci Resolve does not support properly.

To fix VFR sync drift:
1. Identify the VFR clips (often smartphone or screen recordings).
2. Transcode the original VFR file into a Constant Frame Rate (CFR) format like ProRes or DNxHR using an external tool like Handbrake.
3. Import the new CFR clip into DaVinci Resolve and replace the old VFR clip in your timeline.

## How do you fix playback lag causing sync issues?
If the timeline stutters and the picture falls behind the audio during playback, your computer is struggling to process the video, causing playback lag rather than a true sync issue.

To fix playback lag:
1. Check the FPS indicator at the top left of the viewer. If it drops below your timeline framerate, your system is lagging.
2. Go to **Playback > Timeline Proxy Resolution**.
3. Change the resolution to **Half** or **Quarter** to lower the preview quality and ensure smooth playback.

## How do you fix hardware audio delay?
If every clip is out of sync by the same amount during playback, but the exported video is perfectly synced, your external hardware (like a Bluetooth speaker or slow monitor) is causing the delay.

To fix hardware audio delay:
1. Go to **DaVinci Resolve > Preferences > System > Video and Audio I/O**.
2. Locate the **Audio Delay (frames)** setting.
3. Enter a positive or negative number to offset the audio playback until it matches your visual hardware.