Studio 21.1.1
← All 100 how-to guidesGUIDE 003 / 100
SETUP & MEDIA

How to relink missing media

DaVinci Resolve Studio 21.1 · Original practical guide

Relink reconnects existing project clips to files at a new location. Start by confirming the drive and exact originals exist; a red offline image alone does not prove a broken path.

Before you begin

Have a project open and a short source clip on a mounted drive.

ACTUAL RESOLVE INTERFACEView full size ↗
Relink Media dialog with missing-file locations
Relink Media dialog with missing-file locations Reference example from the DaVinci Resolve 21.1 manual, page 403. Software screenshot © Blackmagic Design. The demonstration media and selected settings may differ from your project.

Step by step

  1. Mount the media drive and locate one missing original using Finder or Explorer. Confirm its filename, size, and duration.
  2. Select the offline clips in the Media Pool. Right-click and choose Relink Selected Clips.
  3. Point Resolve to the folder containing the originals and allow the search to finish. Choose a reasonably narrow folder to avoid ambiguous matches.
  4. Open several repaired sources and inspect their beginning, middle, and end. Check synced sound and any same-named files from other camera cards.

Check your result

The intended takes play online, with the correct duration and audio, throughout the timeline.

If it doesn’t work as expected

If the right file is found but still appears offline, test decoding and permissions. Relinking cannot repair a damaged or unsupported codec.

BUILD THE UNDERLYING SKILL

Media, organized from the start

Go deeper with the course’s explanations, exercises, and knowledge checks.

Open module 02 →
← PREVIOUS GUIDEOrganize footage with binsNEXT GUIDE →Choose the right timeline frame rate

Technical reference: DaVinci Resolve 21.1 Reference Manual, Blackmagic Design, September 2026. Screenshot page numbers refer to that manual. Independently written guidance; specific controls may vary by platform and build. Authorship & image credits.