"Some mp4 video files are showing "Media Offline." I can view them in other viewers, but in Resolve, when I go to use the file, it says, "Media Offline." Any ideas? Thanks!"

The "DaVinci Resolve Media Offline MP4" is a common challenge. It can be quite frustrating, especially if you're seeing the error for the first time. Luckily, it's easy to fix, and this guide explains how.

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In this article
    1. Method 1. Relink the Unlinked Clips to Resolve Media Offline in DaVinci Resolve
    2. Method 2. Install HEVC Video Extensions/Transcode the Footage/Upgrade DaVinci
    3. Method 3. Re-Import Deleted MP4 Clips
    4. Method 4. Repair Corrupt Files to Fix DaVinci Resolve MP4 Media Offline
    5. Method 5. Update GPU Driver and Allocate More GPU Memory for DaVinci
    6. Method 6. Use Optimized Media and Delete Render Cache

Part 1. What Causes DaVinci Resolve MP4 Media Offline?

Many things can cause your MP4 files to show the said error in DaVinci. But the following are the most notorious:

  • Unlinked clips
  • Unsupported Codecs
  • Missing Clips
  • GPU-related issues
  • An issue with the resolution proxy or render cache
  • Lack of permissions to access the folder where media files are stored
  • This can happen if there are corrupt frames in the file

Part 2. How to Fix DaVinci Resolve Media Offline MP4?

Before applying the troubleshooting methods below, ensure that you've granted DaVinci Resolve permission to access the folder in which the media files are stored. If the problem persists, see which one of these methods works:

Method 1. Relink the Unlinked Clips to Resolve Media Offline in DaVinci Resolve

Unlinked MP4 clips in DaVinci often trigger this issue. The error can happen when the clips in the project disconnect from the original source files. In many instances, a connection problem can occur due to renaming or moving these files.

To relink the clips and make the "Media Offline" error disappear, follow these easy steps:

Step 1. Go to the Media Pool under either the "Media" or "Edit" page.

Step 2. Select every MP4 video that's showing as offline. Then, right-click and choose the "Relink Selected Clips" option.

relink the unlinked mp4 clips

Step 3. You'll see a dialog box asking you to find the folder containing your original source footage. Select the correct folder and click OK to complete the relinking process.

Method 2. Install HEVC Video Extensions/Transcode the Footage/Upgrade DaVinci

Unsupported MP4 codecs, such as HEVC, can also cause the "Media Offline" error. This is particularly common with the free version of DaVinci. If you're on Windows, you can resolve the problem by installing HEVC video extensions from the Microsoft Store.

You can also transcode your footage into a supported MP4 codec like AVC (H.264). Many third-party software tools, including the VLC Media Player, can help with this. Upgrading to DaVinci Resolve Studio can also help. The paid version offers wider codec support or can transcode the files to a more universally supported codec.

Method 3. Re-Import Deleted MP4 Clips

Sometimes, the "DaVinci Media Offline MP4" error is attributed to missing imported clips. This occurs when a clip that was in the Media Pool and added to the timeline initially gets deleted.

To resolve the problem, you must re-import the removed clip back into the Media Pool. Here's how to do it:

Step 1. Go to the Media Pool. Right-click and select the "Import Media" option.

reimport removed mp4 clips

Step 2. Browse your PC to find the original source video folder and choose the missing MP4 clip for re-import.

When the clip is back in the Media Pool, your timeline should update. Consequently, the Media Offline error will disappear.

Method 4. Repair Corrupt Files to Fix DaVinci Resolve MP4 Media Offline

In rare cases, the project database may become corrupted, leading to various errors, including "Media Offline." One way to fix this is to restore an older project version from the backup. If you don't have a backup, don't worry. You can repair your MP4 files using a third-party professional video repair tool. Repairit Video Repair is one of the best video repair tools.

  • Repair damaged videos with all levels of corruption, such as video not playing, video no sound, out-of-sync video or audio, playback errors, header corruption, flickering video, missing video codec, etc.

  • Repair full HD, 4K, and 8K videos and support 20+ popular formats, including MOV, MP4, M2TS, MDT, RSV, WMV, MPEG, DAT, etc.

  • Repair damaged or corrupted videos caused by video compression, system crash, video format change, etc.

  • Repair critically damaged or corrupted RAW/Log/HDR videos from professional cameras such as Blackmagic Design, RED Digital, and ARRI, etc.

  • Repairit has a quick and advanced scanning mode. You can use either depending on the level of corruption the video file has undergone.

  • No limit to the number and size of the repairable videos.

  • Repaired videos are more compatible with professional editing software such as DaVinci, Composer, Final Cut Pro, and Premiere Pro.

  • Support Windows 11/10/8/7/Vista, Windows Server 2003/2008/2012/2016/2019/2022, and macOS 10.12~macOS 15.

It repairs up to 20 video formats and codecs, including MP4. Repairit handles video corruption due to any reason: file read and write error, compression issues, virus attacks, and many more. So, it doesn’t matter what might have happened to your files; this powerful tool will fix them in minutes.

Here's how to repair your broken, damaged, or corrupt MP4 video files using Repairit:

Step 1: Open Repairit and go to the Video Repair mode. Click the Add button to upload your damaged MP4 videos.

add your corrupted mp4 videos

Step 2. Hit the Repair button, and Repairit will start repairing your files.

hit the repair button to start repairing the videos

Step 3. Preview the repaired files, then save them in your preferred location

preview the repaired mp4 files and save them
Repair Corrupt Files to Fix DaVinci Resolve MP4 Media Offline

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Method 5. Update GPU Driver and Allocate More GPU Memory for DaVinci

Sometimes, this frustrating issue could be related to GPU problems. That's especially true if you're dealing with high-resolution timelines. First, you need to ensure that your GPU drivers are updated. Follow these steps:

Step 1. Go to this webpage: https://www.nvidia.com/Download/index.aspx?lang...

Step 2. Choose your graphics card model to download the latest edition of the graphics card driver.

Step 3. When the download is complete, run the driver installer to update your drivers.

On Mac OS:

Step 1. Hit the Apple menu and select Software Update.

update software on mac to fix the issue with mp4 on davinci resolve

Step 2. If there's an update for the video adapter, install it.

In addition to updating your graphics card driver, it's also important to allocate more GPU memory for DaVinci Resolve. You can do this in the DaVinci Resolve Studio's Software Preferences. Here are the steps:

Step 1. Navigate to Preferences > System and select Memory and GPU.

Step 2. In the GPU processing mode, choose Auto.

Step 3. Go to the Decode Options tab and ensure the "Decode H.264/H.265 using hardware acceleration" option is unchecked.

allocate more gpu memory to davinci resolve

Step 4. Launch DaVinci Resolve Studio again and go to the Timeline. Check if the error has been resolved.

Method 6. Use Optimized Media and Delete Render Cache

DaVinci Resolve lets users generate optimized media, which are lower-resolution proxy files that can be easier for your computer to handle. So, you can convert your clips to optimized media and see if the "DaVinci MP4 Media Offline" error will be resolved.

To do that, navigate to Playback and select "Use Optimized media if available."

use optimized media if available

While at it, you can also clear the render cache. In the "Playback" menu, choose "Delete Render Cache" to clear it. See if the problem has disappeared.

delete render cache to fix mp4 offline issues on davinci resolve

Conclusion

The "DaVinci Resolve Media Offline MP4" error may be triggered by many different issues. These include unlinked clips, missing clips, unsupported codecs, and GPU-related problems. Sometimes, corrupted files are to blame.

The above guide has outlined effective ways to address this error. You can fix it by re-linking the MP4 clips, updating drivers, or re-importing missing clips. If it's a case of corrupted or damaged MP4 files, Repairit Video Repair is here for you. So, apply those troubleshooting techniques one by one and get your DaVinci Resolve media back online!

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FAQ

  • Why does DaVinci Resolve say my media is offline?
    DaVinci Resolve can return the "Media Offline" error because of unlinked clips. This happens when the clips in your project lose connection to the original source files due to renaming or moving these files. You can relink the clips in the Media Pool either under the Media or Edit page.
  • Does DaVinci Resolve have support for MP4 format?
    Yes, DaVinci Resolve supports MP4. Other video formats that work perfectly with DaVinci include AVI, MOV, and MXF.
  • What's the best way to import videos to DaVinci Resolve?
    The quickest way to import videos is to drag the files to the DaVinci Resolve interface. You can also go to where your files are stored, select all of them, right-click, and select Add to Media Pool. DaVinci will display a dialogue box asking you if you want to change your sequence settings to match.
Amy Dennis
Amy Dennis Feb 20, 25
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Amy Dennis
Written by Amy Dennis
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