--- title: "Best Way to Handle Proxy Workflows in DaVinci Resolve" author: "Alex Johnson" category: Tips excerpt: "Direct methods for generating lightweight proxy media, toggling playback, and ensuring full resolution exports in DaVinci Resolve." image: "/cutsio-thumbnail.svg" tags: "DaVinci Resolve, Proxy Media, Workflow, Best Practices" --- The best way to handle proxy workflows in DaVinci Resolve is to use the built-in Proxy Generator, toggle "Prefer Proxies" for editing, and rely on automatic high-resolution switching during export. Here are the direct methods to best handle proxy workflows in DaVinci Resolve.
Cutsio

Generate proxies AND your rough cut in one step.

Cutsio processes ProRes review media for searchable browser playback and pre-edit decisions. Upload the review file, find the strongest moments, and export an XML for DaVinci Resolve; keep camera-original proxy generation and conform in the NLE workflow.

Start with Cutsio

Choose a plan based on your storage and visual-indexing needs.

## What is the fastest way to generate proxy media? If you are editing 4K, 6K, or 8K video on an older computer, the heavy files will stutter during playback unless you generate lightweight, low-resolution editing copies. To quickly generate proxy media: 1. Open the **Media Pool** and select all your heavy video clips. 2. Right-click and choose **Generate Proxy Media**. 3. DaVinci Resolve will transcode the files in the background into a fast editing format (like H.264 Half Resolution or ProRes Proxy). For more DaVinci Resolve tips, read our guide on [DaVinci Resolve AI Tools for Colorists and Editors](/blog/davinci-resolve-ai-tools-for-colorists-and-editors). Handle proxies efficiently with [How to automatically generate proxies with Blackmagic Proxy Generator for DaVinci Resolve](/blog/davinci-resolve-blackmagic-proxy-generator-automatic-proxies). ## How do you force playback to use proxy files? If you generated proxies but the timeline is still lagging, the viewer is likely still forcing the playback of the heavy original files. To force proxy playback: 1. Go to the top menu bar and click **Playback**. 2. Hover over **Proxy Handling**. 3. Select **Prefer Proxies**. 4. The timeline will instantly switch to the low-resolution files, making scrubbing and editing incredibly smooth and fast. ## How do you ensure high resolution on final export? If you edited your entire project using blurry proxy files, you must ensure the final exported video uses the sharp, original 4K or 8K media. To ensure high-resolution exports: 1. DaVinci Resolve automatically switches back to the original media for the final export by default. 2. To verify this, go to the **Deliver** page. 3. Expand the **Advanced Settings** under the Video tab. 4. Ensure **Use proxy media** is left completely unchecked. 5. Click **Add to Render Queue** and then **Render All**. The software will ignore the proxies and encode the master file using the highest quality source footage.

Proxies help playback. Cutsio helps the rough cut.

DaVinci Resolve proxies make scrubbing smooth. Cutsio's cloud preprocessing handles the rough cut, silence removal, and transcription — before you even open your NLE. Export XML and bring a clean pre-edited timeline into Resolve. No proxies needed for the search phase.

Start with Cutsio

Choose a plan based on your storage and visual-indexing needs.

## Related reads - [Best Way to Handle Proxy Workflows in Final Cut Pro](https://cutsio.com/blog/best-way-to-handle-proxy-workflows-in-final-cut-pro) — Direct methods for generating proxy media, toggling proxy playback, and verifying high-resolution exports in Final Cut Pro. - [Best Way to Import XML into DaVinci Resolve](https://cutsio.com/blog/best-way-to-import-xml-into-davinci-resolve) — Direct methods for importing timelines, matching project settings, and fixing offline media during XML import in DaVinci Resolve. - [Best Way to Manage Large Projects in DaVinci Resolve](https://cutsio.com/blog/best-way-to-manage-large-projects-in-davinci-resolve) — Direct methods for organizing Power Bins, using Smart Bins, and structuring timelines in massive DaVinci Resolve projects.