How to Update to DaVinci Resolve 18 - Get the New Version

In this article, we discuss how to update to DaVinci Resolve 18 from an older version.

If you are new to DaVinci, you can download the program directly from the Blackmagic Design website. To make this even simpler to find, use this link here to take you to the DaVinci Resolve Product Page. This incredibly powerful video editor is absolutely free and it competes well against its paid competition. The downloads are currently near the end of the page. To make it even more powerful, there is the DaVinci Resolve Studio version. That one will put you back a few hundred dollars, but it gives you extra functionality. Now, back to how to update to the newest version of DaVinci Resolve.

If you already have DaVinci Resolve and are wondering if you have the newest version or just want to upgrade because you know there is an update, than this post is for you. In this post, I tell you how to update to DaVinci Resolve 18. Because I am working on a PC, these instructions are tailored for Windows 11, but you would follow a similar process for other operating systems too.

Overview of the Steps to Upgrade to DaVinici Resolve 18

Below are the steps at the most basic level. I go further in depth for each step later in the article.

Back up your project database.
Load up DaVinci Resolve and check for updates.
Download the update file.
Install the downloaded file.
Upgrade your project data base to the new version.

Now, let me go more in depth for each step.

How to Update to DaVinci Resolve 18 – In Depth Instructions

Back Up Your Project Database

The first thing you want to do is back up your current projects database. There is a tab for this, but mine was hidden.

How to back up your DaVinici Resolve databases — I had to click on the button I circled in red to get the option to back up my project database.

The databases button — Once I clicked on that button, I got this menu.

From the menu above, I selected my project database and then clicked on the icon that looks like a hard-drive with the up arrow on it. That icon is right across from the word “Databases” at the top of the image.

You will now get the option to choose where to place the file.

Name your file — Here I get to choose how to name the back up file and where to place it.

Check for DaVinci Resolve Updates

Once I backed up the project database, I moved along to the next step. Specifically, I loaded up DaVinci Resolve and checked for the updates.

Open the program and click on the DaVinci Resolve Menu. — When you open your DaVinci Resolve, click on the DaVinci Resolve Menu button.

How to update to DaVinci Resolve 18 — Select “Check for Updates.”

Download the New File

At this point, DaVinci Resolve will tell you if an update is available. Click Download to get started.

The file will open in your web browser and download from there. Mine ended up in my “downloads” folder.

You will end up with a zip file — There it is in the downloads folder of my laptop as a zip file. To extract the file, right click on it and go to “Extract All…”

Extract the installer from the zip file — This is the menu you get in Windows 11 when you right click on the zip file.

Install the DaVinci Resolve Update

Install all of these items to get a working version of DaVinci Resolve 18 — When you run the install file, this is what you see. Select everything and then click “Install.” You may also have to give DaVinci Resolve permission to make changes to your computer. To install the upgrade, you will have to say yes.

Use the install wizard. This makes everything easy. — Blackmagic Design makes the install easy with a Setup Wizard. Click next.

There are a few steps left before we finish this directions set on how to update to DaVinci Resolve 18 — Let the install run and when it is completed, select “Finish.”

Restart your computer — You will now be prompted to restart your computer. Do so to finish the update.

Once the computer restarts. Open up DaVinci Resolve again. This time you will get a prompt to back up your project databases if you haven’t already. To proceed, you will need to upgrade the project library.

upgrade your database to the new version — You will have to upgrade your project library. This action cannot be undone, so make sure to back up your work first!

Once you finish this step, you will be operating with the newest version of DaVinci Resolve.

Now you have the newest version of DaVinci Resolve on your computer - DaVinci Resolve 18 — Once you install the program, you will have the newest version of this powerful, yet free, video editor.

Bringing it Together…

In this article, we discussed how to update to DaVinci Resolve 18. If you don’t have the program already, I also gave you the product page link so you can go and download a copy for yourself. Again, the free version is great and if you like it, you can get the paid version futher down the road.

If you are currious about other free video editors out there, I have an article where I talk about five different free editors. This one is by far the best once you learn how to use it.

Until next time, Happy Presenting Everyone!!!

How to Update to DaVinci Resolve 18 – Get the New Version

Overview of the Steps to Upgrade to DaVinici Resolve 18