Picture this: you’re deep into editing your latest video masterpiece on DaVinci Resolve when—bam!—the app crashes, leaving you frustrated and confused.
You’re not alone!
As iPads become more powerful, they’re increasingly used for high-end editing. However, many users report persistent crashes with DaVinci Resolve. Why does this happen, and more importantly, how can you fix it?
In this article, I’ll explore the common reasons behind these crashes and offer solutions that will have you back to editing smoothly in no time!
Common Reasons Why DaVinci Resolve Keeps Crashing on iPad
Insufficient RAM and System Resources
One of the primary reasons DaVinci Resolve crashes on the iPad is simply because the iPad doesn’t have enough RAM to handle the workload.
Unlike a desktop, which can be equipped with up to 64GB (or more) of RAM, most iPads are much more limited in their memory capacity.
Depending on your model, you might only have 4GB or 8GB of RAM to work with, which can quickly become overwhelmed when processing complex video edits, particularly those with multiple layers or effects.
DaVinci Resolve is an incredibly resource-heavy app, known for its ability to handle large, high-resolution files and professional-level effects.
Unfortunately, that power comes with a heavy demand on system resources. iPads, even the more powerful models like the iPad Pro, aren’t as capable as a high-end desktop workstation.
When you start pushing the limits of what the hardware can handle, such as with 4K video, detailed color correction, or multi-layered effects, the app can freeze or crash.
To minimize crashes, manage your expectations around what the iPad hardware can handle. Reducing the complexity of your edits, such as working in lower resolution or applying effects in smaller increments, can help reduce the strain on your device.
Software Bugs and Compatibility Issues
Another common culprit behind DaVinci Resolve crashing is the app itself, specifically software bugs that may have been introduced in recent updates.
Blackmagic Design, the developer behind DaVinci Resolve, frequently rolls out updates to enhance functionality and fix known issues, but like any complex software, new bugs can arise during the process.
These bugs often become apparent right after an app or iOS update. Sometimes, there’s a compatibility issue between the latest iOS version and the current DaVinci Resolve build, which can cause instability and crashes.
For instance, an iOS update might introduce changes to how memory or GPU resources are managed, and if the app hasn’t been optimized for that, it can lead to crashes.
The solution here is simple but effective: always ensure both your iPad’s operating system and DaVinci Resolve are up to date. Keep an eye on app patches and iOS compatibility reports, as developers are often quick to release fixes for known issues.
In some cases, you may need to wait for a new update or patch that resolves the specific crashing issue you’re encountering.
Large Video Files and Complex Projects
Working with large video files and intricate project timelines is another factor that can push DaVinci Resolve to its breaking point on the iPad.
If you’re editing 4K or higher-resolution footage, you’re dealing with massive file sizes that require a lot of processing power and storage bandwidth. This is especially true if your project includes layered video tracks, effects, color grading, and transitions—all of which demand more resources.
When the app tries to process too much data at once, it can overwhelm the iPad’s hardware, leading to frequent crashes. Complex projects with several layers, detailed keyframes, or high-resolution video can slow down performance and sometimes cause DaVinci Resolve to abruptly shut down.
To avoid this, try to break down your projects into smaller, more manageable chunks. You might start by editing lower-resolution proxies of your video files instead of working directly with the full-resolution clips.
Once the edit is complete, you can then replace those proxies with the higher-quality footage for final rendering. This approach can help reduce the strain on the iPad’s memory and processing power, minimizing the risk of crashes.
M4 iPad Pro and Software Updates
If you’re using the M4 iPad Pro, you might wonder if the crashes are caused by the new hardware. Based on recent insights, it’s unlikely that the M4 itself is the direct cause of the issue.
Instead, the stability of DaVinci Resolve may be affected by the current beta version of the app. DaVinci Resolve 19, released in August 2024, is expected to bring improvements.
What can you do in the meantime?
Make sure you’re always running the latest version of DaVinci Resolve, as future updates will likely address these stability issues, especially for newer iPads like the M4 model.
Check regularly for updates both in the App Store and within DaVinci Resolve itself. Patience is key here, as software updates can often resolve these frustrating issues.
Troubleshooting Steps to Fix DaVinci Resolve Crashes on iPad
Free Up System Resources
One of the first things to try when DaVinci Resolve keeps crashing is to free up your iPad’s system resources. Running several apps in the background can hog memory and processing power, leaving less available for resource-heavy tasks like video editing.
Start by closing any background apps: Swipe up from the bottom of the screen and close any apps you’re not actively using. This frees up both RAM and CPU, giving DaVinci Resolve more room to work.
Free up iPad storage: If your storage is near capacity, this can also slow down the app’s performance and lead to crashes. Go to your settings and check how much storage is available. If you’re running low, consider offloading unused apps, deleting files, or moving videos and projects to an external drive or cloud storage.
Restart the device: It may seem simple, but restarting your iPad can also help. A fresh reboot clears out cached memory and stops any background processes that might be causing performance issues. It’s always worth restarting your device before diving into a big project.
Restarting DaVinci Resolve and the iPad
A surprisingly effective first step for resolving crashes is simply restarting DaVinci Resolve or your iPad. While this may sound too simple, many users—including myself—have found that a restart often clears up random glitches, especially during the rendering process.
Here’s what I suggest:
- Restart DaVinci Resolve: Sometimes, closing and reopening the app can reset any temporary bugs causing it to crash.
- Restart your iPad: If restarting the app doesn’t work, try rebooting the entire iPad. For most newer iPads, press and hold the power button along with one of the volume buttons to restart the device. A fresh start can help clear up memory and system resources that may be causing the issue.
Update DaVinci Resolve and iOS
Crashes are sometimes caused by software bugs or compatibility issues between DaVinci Resolve and the iPad’s operating system. Ensuring that both your app and iOS are up to date is critical to avoiding these problems.
Check for app updates: Open the App Store, tap your profile icon, and scroll down to see if there’s an update available for DaVinci Resolve. Developers regularly release patches to fix bugs, improve performance, and ensure compatibility with the latest iOS version.
Update iPadOS: Similarly, go to Settings > General > Software Update to see if your iPad’s operating system is up to date. Sometimes, outdated software can cause conflicts with apps like DaVinci Resolve, leading to crashes.
Keeping both the app and iOS current ensures you’re running the most stable versions, which might fix any known issues with crashes.
Adjusting Project Settings
If DaVinci Resolve continues to crash, it could be due to the size and complexity of your project. Fortunately, tweaking your project settings can make a big difference.
Lower video resolution: Editing in lower resolution significantly reduces the strain on your iPad. For example, instead of working directly with 4K or higher-resolution footage, try creating and editing proxies (lower-resolution versions) of your video files. You can switch back to full resolution once the editing is complete for the final render.
Reduce project complexity: Trim down the number of layers, effects, and transitions in your project, as too many elements can overwhelm your device. If you’re working on a particularly complex timeline, consider splitting it into smaller, more manageable sections. You can merge these sections later for the final edit.
Tweak cache and playback settings: Within DaVinci Resolve, adjusting playback settings can also help. Lowering the playback quality to a draft resolution during the editing phase can reduce lag and prevent crashes. Look into the cache settings as well—clearing or reducing cache usage can free up resources.
Codec Compatibility Issues
One common issue that leads to crashes, especially during rendering, is codec incompatibility. If you’re editing footage from specific cameras like the Osmo Pocket 3, check if DaVinci Resolve supports the video codec used by that camera.
Different cameras use different codecs (the way video files are compressed), and sometimes DaVinci Resolve may struggle with certain ones.
How to troubleshoot codec issues:
- Start a new project: Create a new project and import just a single video clip from the problematic camera (e.g., Osmo Pocket 3).
- Test rendering: Try rendering that clip in isolation. If the clip fails to render, then the issue is likely with the video’s codec.
- Convert the file: If codec compatibility is the problem, you’ll need to convert the video into a more manageable format. While there aren’t many codec-conversion tools for the iPad, apps like HandBrake on your desktop can convert the video to a more common codec that DaVinci Resolve can handle smoothly.
By converting your video files to a supported format, you can prevent crashes caused by incompatible codecs, especially when working with footage from certain cameras.
Clear Cache and Temporary Files
Over time, DaVinci Resolve stores cache and temporary files, which can accumulate and cause performance issues. Clearing these files helps stabilize the app and improve its performance.
How to clear the cache: DaVinci Resolve on the iPad does not have a direct option to clear the cache like its desktop counterpart, but you can manage this indirectly by reducing project settings, deleting unused projects, or reinstalling the app if necessary.
Removing temporary files: These files can pile up in the background, so it’s a good idea to periodically remove them to improve performance. If you notice the app slowing down or crashing frequently, clearing space and deleting old files help it run more smoothly.
Taking these steps to manage cache and temporary files can prevent DaVinci Resolve from crashing, especially during larger projects.
Duplicating Timeline for Troubleshooting
If your project crashes during rendering but restarting and adjusting settings hasn’t solved the problem, the next step is to isolate the issue by duplicating the timeline. This method helps you pinpoint whether a specific transition, effect, or clip is causing the problem.
How to troubleshoot using a new timeline:
- Copy the entire timeline: In DaVinci Resolve, select everything in your timeline (you can use the keyboard command
CMD+A(Windows: Ctrl+A) or manually select all clips). - Create a new timeline: Start a new timeline in the same project and paste everything from the original timeline.
- Test rendering small sections: Begin rendering smaller portions of the timeline using in/out points. For example, render the first third of the project, then the middle, and finally the end. If the crash occurs in only one part of the timeline, you’ve found the section that’s causing the issue.
Once you’ve isolated the problematic section, you can troubleshoot further—often by removing and reapplying transitions, effects, or clips that are causing the instability.
When Should You Contact Support or Consider a Device Upgrade?
Recognizing Hardware Limitations
There comes a point where troubleshooting and adjustments can only do so much, especially if your iPad’s hardware is struggling to keep up. Recognize the signs that your device might not be powerful enough to handle the tasks you’re asking of it.
Signs your iPad’s hardware isn’t sufficient:
- Frequent crashing, even after following troubleshooting steps: If DaVinci Resolve continues to crash despite reducing project complexity, freeing up resources, and updating software, your iPad may be reaching its limits.
- Slow performance across multiple apps: If you notice your iPad slowing down even when using less demanding apps or during basic tasks like web browsing, this could be a clear indicator that the device is struggling with memory or processing power.
- Overheating: If your iPad heats up quickly during video editing sessions, it’s a sign that the device is being pushed too hard. Overheating not only leads to throttled performance but can also shorten the lifespan of your hardware.
When these signs persist, consider upgrading to a more powerful iPad model, particularly if video editing is something you do regularly.
The iPad Pro models with the M1 or M2 chip, for example, offer significantly more power than older models, with up to 16GB of RAM in some configurations, making them much better suited for heavy apps like DaVinci Resolve.
Reaching Out to DaVinci Resolve Support
If you’ve tried everything and DaVinci Resolve is still crashing, contacting Blackmagic Design’s support team is your next step.
However, before reaching out, gather the right information to help them diagnose the problem.
Information to collect before contacting support:
- Crash logs: You can find crash reports in the iPad’s settings under Privacy > Analytics & Improvements > Analytics Data. These logs provide detailed information about why the app crashed and can be invaluable to the support team.
- Device specifications: Make sure to note the specific iPad model you’re using, including storage and RAM details. This will help support assess whether hardware limitations are contributing to the issue.
- DaVinci Resolve version: Be sure to mention which version of the app you’re running. If you’re using an outdated version, they may recommend updating it before troubleshooting further.
Best practices for contacting Blackmagic Design support:
- Be concise but thorough: Clearly explain when and how the crashes occur, including details like file sizes, project complexity, and what troubleshooting steps you’ve already taken.
- Provide supporting materials: Attaching crash logs, screenshots, or screen recordings of the issue can help the support team understand the problem faster.
- Follow up as needed: Support teams can sometimes take a little while to respond, so if you don’t hear back within a few days, a polite follow-up can help ensure your issue is being addressed.
By providing detailed information upfront, you can help speed up the resolution process and get back to editing without interruptions.
Preventing Future Crashes and Optimizing Performance on iPad
Regular Maintenance and System Cleanups
Regular maintenance of your iPad is essential if you want to prevent DaVinci Resolve from crashing in the future. Just like a desktop or laptop, your iPad benefits from routine cleanups and performance optimizations.
How regular system maintenance can prevent crashes:
- Free up storage regularly: Large video files and cached data can quickly consume available storage. When your iPad starts running low on storage, performance dips, and apps like DaVinci Resolve are more prone to crashing. Make it a habit to check storage usage under Settings > General > iPad Storage and clear out unnecessary files.
- Update regularly: Keeping iPadOS and all apps up to date ensures that you’re benefiting from the latest performance improvements, security patches, and bug fixes. Regular updates can also prevent software conflicts that may cause crashes.
- Reboot your iPad occasionally: Rebooting clears the memory cache and allows the system to start fresh, especially after long editing sessions.
Tools to optimize iPad performance for video editing:
- Cloud storage apps: Use cloud-based storage solutions like iCloud, Google Drive, or Dropbox to offload large files and free up space on your iPad. This can help prevent storage issues that contribute to crashes.
- External drives: With the newer iPads, you can use external SSDs for larger projects. This way, you’re not bogging down the internal storage, and DaVinci Resolve can run more efficiently.
Keeping your device lean and clutter-free goes a long way in maintaining stable performance during video editing tasks.
Backup Strategies for Important Projects
If DaVinci Resolve crashes mid-edit, losing progress can be frustrating. That’s why having a solid backup strategy in place is key, especially when working on complex projects.
Why frequent backups are crucial to avoid data loss:
- Editing is resource-intensive: Since video editing tasks often demand a lot of system resources, they can be more prone to sudden crashes or errors. Backing up your project frequently ensures that you won’t lose hours of work if the app unexpectedly crashes.
- Crashes during render: Even more painful is losing a project during the export or rendering phase. Having a backup allows you to resume work without starting over from scratch.
Cloud storage solutions for DaVinci Resolve projects:
- iCloud Drive: For Apple users, iCloud is the default option for backing up files, and you can store DaVinci Resolve projects here. Make sure iCloud backups are enabled in Settings > iCloud > iCloud Drive.
- Google Drive or Dropbox: Both Google Drive and Dropbox provide seamless cloud storage solutions and are excellent for storing your larger DaVinci Resolve projects. You can easily access your projects across devices and prevent data loss if your iPad crashes.
By creating a habit of regularly backing up your projects—whether to the cloud or an external drive—you’ll protect your work from potential crashes and data loss.
Conclusion
DaVinci Resolve crashing on your iPad is frustrating, but with the proper steps, you can minimize or completely eliminate these issues.
Whether it’s freeing up system resources, adjusting project settings, or updating the software, troubleshooting is key to smooth video editing.
If all else fails, don’t hesitate to reach out to support or consider upgrading your hardware. Now that you know the root causes and how to fix them, get back to creating amazing content with confidence!