What is DaVinci Resolve and why is it popular?

DaVinci Resolve is a powerful and versatile video editing software that is widely used by professionals and enthusiasts alike. Whether you are working on a feature film, a TV show, a YouTube video, or a personal project, DaVinci Resolve can help you create stunning and high-quality results. DaVinci Resolve offers a range of features and benefits that make it stand out from other video editing software, such as its advanced color grading, visual effects, audio editing, and collaboration tools. With DaVinci Resolve, you can:

• Enhance the look and feel of your videos with its sophisticated color grading tools that let you adjust the hue, saturation, contrast, brightness, and more of your footage. You can also use its color wheels, curves, qualifiers, trackers, and masks to fine-tune your colors and create different moods or styles for your videos.
• Add amazing visual effects to your videos with its built-in Fusion page that lets you create 2D and 3D animations, motion graphics, compositing, keying, rotoscoping, and more. You can also use its node-based workflow to easily connect different effects and customize them to your liking.
• Edit and mix your audio with its dedicated Fairlight page that lets you record, edit, sync, mix, and master your audio tracks. You can also use its audio effects, plugins, EQs, compressors, limiters, and more to enhance the sound quality and clarity of your videos.
• Collaborate with other editors or clients with its seamless integration with DaVinci Resolve Studio, which is the paid version of DaVinci Resolve that offers more features and capabilities. With DaVinci Resolve Studio, you can work on the same project with multiple users at the same time and share your edits, grades, effects, and audio in real time. You can also use its remote rendering and cloud storage features to speed up your workflow and save your files online.

What is Windows 11 and what does it offer?

Windows 11 is the latest operating system from Microsoft that promises to offer a fresh and modern user experience, enhanced security, and improved performance. Windows 11 is designed to be compatible with a variety of devices, such as laptops, desktops, tablets, and smartphones. Windows 11 also introduces some new features and changes that aim to make your work and play more enjoyable and productive, such as:

• The redesigned Start menu that is centered on the taskbar and shows your pinned and recommended apps, files, and settings. You can also access the search function, the power options, and the live tiles from the Start menu.
• The new Microsoft Store that is faster, more secure, and more user-friendly. You can find and download a wide range of apps, games, movies, TV shows, books, and more from the Microsoft Store. You can also use the Microsoft Store to update your apps and manage your subscriptions.
• The Snap Layouts and Snap Groups that let you arrange your windows in different layouts and sizes on your screen. You can also switch between different groups of windows that you have snapped together with a single click on the taskbar.
• The Widgets that let you access personalized and relevant information, such as news, weather, sports, stocks, calendar, photos, and more from a slide-out panel on your desktop. You can also customize your widgets and pin them to your taskbar for easy access.
• The Android app support that lets you run Android apps on your Windows 11 device. You can download Android apps from the Amazon Appstore or use the Your Phone app to mirror your Android phone’s screen on your Windows 11 device. You can also use the Snap Layouts and Snap Groups to arrange your Android apps on your screen.

The problem: DaVinci Resolve is not officially supported on Windows 11 and can cause issues

However, despite the advantages and innovations that Windows 11 offers, there is a major problem for users who want to use DaVinci Resolve on this platform: DaVinci Resolve is not officially supported on Windows 11 and can cause issues. This means that DaVinci Resolve may not work properly or at all on Windows 11 devices, and users may encounter various problems or errors when trying to use it. This is confirmed by the official sources from Blackmagic Design, the developer of DaVinci Resolve. On their forum, they state that “DaVinci Resolve is not currently supported on Windows 11” and that they “do not recommend installing Windows 11 on systems running DaVinci Resolve”. On their [download page], they also specify that the minimum system requirements for DaVinci Resolve are Windows 10 and that Windows 11 is not listed as a supported operating system. Therefore, users who want to use DaVinci Resolve on Windows 11 are taking a risk and may face unexpected issues or difficulties.

The solutions: How to use DaVinci Resolve on Windows 11 without issues

Fortunately, there are some possible solutions or workarounds for users who want to use DaVinci Resolve on Windows 11 without issues. Here are some of them:

1. Updating your drivers:

One of the simplest and most effective ways to fix any compatibility or performance issues with DaVinci Resolve on Windows 11 is to update your drivers, especially your graphics card driver. This can ensure that your device is running the latest and most compatible version of the software that controls your hardware. You can update your drivers manually by visiting the manufacturer’s website and downloading the latest driver for your device, or you can use a tool like Driver Booster or Driver Easy that can automatically scan, download, and install the latest drivers for you.

• Pros: Updating your drivers can improve the stability, speed, and functionality of your device and DaVinci Resolve. It can also fix some common errors or bugs that may occur with DaVinci Resolve on Windows 11.
• Cons: Updating your drivers can take some time and may require a restart of your device. It can also cause some compatibility issues with other software or hardware that you have installed on your device.

2. Adjusting your settings:

Another way to use DaVinci Resolve on Windows 11 without issues is to adjust your settings, both in DaVinci Resolve and in Windows 11. For example, you can lower the resolution, frame rate, or quality of your video in DaVinci Resolve to reduce the load on your device and improve the performance. You can also disable some features or effects that you don’t need or use in DaVinci Resolve to save some resources. In Windows 11, you can also tweak some settings that can affect DaVinci Resolve, such as disabling the transparency effects, turning off the background apps, or optimizing the power plan.

• Pros: Adjusting your settings can make DaVinci Resolve run faster and smoother on Windows 11. It can also prevent some crashes or freezes that may occur with DaVinci Resolve on Windows 11.
• Cons: Adjusting your settings can lower the quality or functionality of your video or device. It can also make DaVinci Resolve look or feel different from what you are used to.

3. Running DaVinci Resolve in compatibility mode:

Another possible solution for using DaVinci Resolve on Windows 11 without issues is to run it in compatibility mode. Compatibility mode is a feature in Windows that allows you to run a program as if it was running on a different version of Windows, such as Windows 10. This can help solve some compatibility issues that may arise with DaVinci Resolve on Windows 11. To run DaVinci Resolve in compatibility mode, you need to right-click on its shortcut or executable file, select Properties, go to the Compatibility tab, check the box that says Run this program in compatibility mode for, and choose Windows 10 from the drop-down menu. You can also check other options that may help improve the performance or functionality of DaVinci Resolve on Windows 11, such as Run this program as an administrator, Disable fullscreen optimizations, or Change high DPI settings.

• Pros: Running DaVinci Resolve in compatibility mode can make it work as if it was running on Windows 10, which is a supported operating system for DaVinci Resolve. It can also fix some errors or glitches that may occur with DaVinci Resolve on Windows 11.
• Cons: Running DaVinci Resolve in compatibility mode may not solve all the issues that may occur with DaVinci Resolve on Windows 11. It may also cause some conflicts or problems with other programs or features that are specific to Windows 11.

4. Using a virtual machine or a dual boot system:

Another possible workaround for using DaVinci Resolve on Windows 11 without issues is to use a virtual machine or a dual boot system. A virtual machine is a software that allows you to run another operating system within your current operating system, such as running Windows 10 within Windows 11. A dual boot system is a setup that allows you to choose between two operating systems when you start your device, such as choosing between Windows 10 and Windows 11. Both options can allow you to use DaVinci Resolve on a supported operating system without affecting your current operating system. To use a virtual machine, you need to download and install a software like [VirtualBox] or [VMware Workstation] and create a virtual machine with Windows 10 installed on it. To use a dual boot system, you need to partition your hard drive and install Windows 10 alongside Windows 11 on separate partitions.

• Pros: Using a virtual machine or a dual boot system can allow you to use DaVinci Resolve on a supported operating system without changing or removing your current operating system. It can also allow you to switch between different operating systems easily and quickly.
• Cons: Using a virtual machine or a dual boot system can be complicated and risky, especially for beginners. It can also consume a lot of disk space, memory, and CPU power, which can affect the performance of your device and DaVinci Resolve. It may also cause some compatibility or security issues with your device or data.

5. Waiting for an official update from Blackmagic Design that supports Windows 11:

The last and perhaps the best solution for using DaVinci Resolve on Windows 11 without issues is to wait for an official update from Blackmagic Design that supports Windows 11. This is the most reliable and safest way to use DaVinci Resolve on Windows 11, as it will ensure that DaVinci Resolve is fully compatible and optimized for Windows 11. However, this solution depends on when and if Blackmagic Design will release such an update, which is currently unknown. Therefore, users who want to use DaVinci Resolve on Windows 11 may have to wait for a long time or indefinitely for this solution to become available.

• Pros: Waiting for an official update from Blackmagic Design that supports Windows 11 can guarantee that DaVinci Resolve will work perfectly and smoothly on Windows 11. It can also avoid any risks or complications that may come with other solutions or workarounds.
• Cons: Waiting for an official update from Blackmagic Design that supports Windows 11 can take a long time or never happen at all. It can also prevent users from using DaVinci Resolve on Windows 11 until the update is released, which can be frustrating or inconvenient.

In conclusion, there are some possible solutions or workarounds for users who want to use DaVinci Resolve on Windows 11 without issues, but each of them has its own pros and cons. Users should weigh their options carefully and choose the one that suits their needs and preferences best. In my opinion, the best option for users who want to use DaVinci Resolve on Windows 11 without issues is to wait for an official update from Blackmagic Design that supports Windows 11, as it will ensure the best quality and performance of DaVinci Resolve on Windows 11. However, if users cannot wait or do not want to miss out on the benefits of Windows 11, they can try other solutions or workarounds, such as updating their drivers, adjusting their settings, running DaVinci Resolve in compatibility mode, using a virtual machine or a dual boot system, or using another video editing software that is compatible with Windows 11.

Source:
(1) Blackmagic Forum • View topic – Windows 11 Support?. https://forum.blackmagicdesign.com/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=151651
(2) DaVinci Resolve 17 System Requirements & Recommended Hardware. https://motionarray.com/learn/davinci-resolve/davinci-resolve-system-requirements/
(3) Blackmagic Forum • View topic – Davinci Resolve 18 is compatible with …. https://forum.blackmagicdesign.com/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=164301
(4) Blackmagic Forum: https://forum.blackmagicdesign.com/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=150100&p=801618