---
title: "How to Fix Dropped Frames in DaVinci Resolve"
author: "Alex Johnson"
category: Troubleshooting
excerpt: "Direct solutions for fixing dropped frames during playback and rendering in DaVinci Resolve."
image: "/cutsio-thumbnail.svg"
tags: "DaVinci Resolve, Performance, Dropped Frames, Troubleshooting"
---

Dropped frames in DaVinci Resolve are typically caused by slow storage drives, lack of proxy media, or rendering complex Fusion effects without a cache.

Here are the direct methods to fix dropped frames during playback in DaVinci Resolve.

## How do you identify dropped frames?
If your playback stutters, you need to confirm if frames are actually dropping or if it's an audio sync issue.

To identify dropped frames:
1. Look at the top left corner of the viewer window.
2. Locate the FPS indicator (e.g., `24 fps`).
3. If the dot next to the FPS number turns red and the number drops below your timeline frame rate, DaVinci Resolve is dropping frames.

## How do you fix dropped frames using proxies?
If you are editing 4K, 6K, or 8K footage, your computer may struggle to decode the large files in real-time, causing dropped frames.

To fix dropped frames using proxy media:
1. Select all your heavy clips in the **Media Pool**.
2. Right-click and select **Generate Proxy Media**.
3. Wait for the generation to finish.
4. Go to **Playback > Proxy Handling** and select **Prefer Proxies**. Resolve will now play lightweight versions of your clips, eliminating dropped frames.

## How do you fix dropped frames caused by slow storage?
If you are playing high-bitrate video (like ProRes 4444 or Blackmagic RAW) from an old mechanical hard drive or a slow USB thumb drive, the data cannot reach your CPU fast enough.

To fix slow storage bottlenecks:
1. Move your source video files and your DaVinci Resolve cache folder to an internal NVMe SSD or a high-speed external SSD (like a Samsung T7).
2. Go to **DaVinci Resolve > Preferences > System > Media Storage** to update your cache and proxy locations to the faster drive.

## How do you fix dropped frames on complex effects?
If playback drops frames only when the playhead passes over a specific color grade or Fusion effect, your GPU cannot process the math in real-time.

To fix dropped frames on complex effects:
1. Go to the **Playback** menu at the top of the screen.
2. Navigate to **Render Cache** and select **Smart**.
3. Wait for the red line above the complex clip on the timeline to turn blue. This indicates Resolve has pre-rendered the effect into a temporary video file, ensuring smooth playback.

## Related reads

- [How to Fix Dropped Frames in DaVinci Resolve](https://cutsio.com/blog/best-way-to-fix-dropped-frames-in-davinci-resolve) — Fix dropped frames in DaVinci Resolve by separating playback from render problems, then using proxy media, optimized media, render cache, codec checks, and storage diagnostics.
- [How to Fix Cache Issues in DaVinci Resolve](https://cutsio.com/blog/how-to-fix-cache-issues-davinci-resolve) — Is your hard drive mysteriously full? Are clips flashing red or rendering incorrectly? It's time to manage and fix your DaVinci Resolve render cache.
- [How to Fix Proxy Media Issues in DaVinci Resolve](https://cutsio.com/blog/how-to-fix-proxy-media-issues-davinci-resolve) — Proxies not attaching? Black screens? Learn how to troubleshoot and fix the most common proxy media issues in DaVinci Resolve.