DaVinci Resolve collects usage data by default, and you can disable most of it in the Preferences menu

DaVinci Resolve, the video editing software made by Blackmagic Design, sends information about how you use the program back to the company unless you turn it off. This includes what features you click on, how long you work in the program, and details about your computer. You do not have to accept this tracking — the setting is on by default, but you can change it in a few clicks.

The steps differ slightly between DaVinci Resolve Free and the paid Studio version, and between Windows and Mac, but the principle is the same: you go into Preferences, find the privacy or analytics section, and uncheck the boxes that say the company can collect your data.

Key Takeaways

  • DaVinci Resolve sends usage data to Blackmagic Design by default, including which features you use and how long you work in the program.
  • You can disable tracking in Preferences under the Privacy or Analytics section, depending on your version and operating system.
  • Disabling tracking does not affect the software's core features or performance.
  • Some tracking settings may re-enable after a software update, so check your preferences again after upgrading.

Disable tracking on Windows

Open DaVinci Resolve and go to the menu bar at the top. Click DaVinci Resolve (on the far left), then select Preferences. A window will open with a list of categories on the left side.

Look for Privacy in that list and click it. You will see checkboxes for options like "Allow Blackmagic to collect analytics" or "Send usage information to Blackmagic Design". Uncheck all of these boxes. Then click Save at the bottom of the window. Close the Preferences window and you are done.

Disable tracking on Mac

Open DaVinci Resolve and click DaVinci Resolve in the menu bar at the top left of your screen. Select Preferences from the dropdown. The Preferences window will open with categories listed on the left.

Find and click Privacy. Uncheck the boxes for analytics and usage data collection. Click Save at the bottom. Close the window and the changes take effect when ready.

What data does DaVinci Resolve collect

When tracking is enabled, DaVinci Resolve sends Blackmagic Design information about your editing habits. This includes which tools you use most often, how long you spend in the program each day, what file formats you work with, and technical details about your computer like your operating system version and graphics card model.

The company says it uses this data to improve the software and understand which features are most popular. However, you have no way to verify exactly what is being sent or how long Blackmagic keeps it. Disabling the setting means none of this information leaves your computer.

Verify that tracking is actually off

After you disable tracking, you can check that the setting stuck by going back into Preferences and looking at the Privacy section again. The boxes should remain unchecked. However, some users report that major software updates occasionally re-enable these settings, so it is worth checking again after you install a new version of DaVinci Resolve.

If you want to be more certain no data is leaving your computer, you can use a network monitoring tool like Wireshark (free, open-source) to watch what your computer sends out while DaVinci Resolve is running. This is technical and not necessary for most people, but it is an option if you want to verify the software's behavior yourself.

Why DaVinci Resolve tracks you

Blackmagic Design uses analytics to understand how people edit video and which features get used most. This information helps them decide what to build next and where to fix bugs. It is a common practice in software — most programs collect some usage data unless you opt out.

The company also uses analytics to detect crashes and errors that happen in the wild, which they might not catch during their own testing. Turning off tracking means you are not contributing to that crash reporting, but it does not prevent the software from working.

What happens if you disable tracking

Disabling tracking has no effect on DaVinci Resolve's performance or features. The software will run exactly the same way. You will not see any difference in speed, stability, or what tools are available to you. The only change is that information about your usage no longer gets sent to Blackmagic Design.

You can re-enable tracking at any time by going back to Preferences, checking the boxes again, and saving. There is no penalty for turning it off or back on.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does disabling tracking make DaVinci Resolve slower?

No. Tracking happens in the background and uses very little of your computer's resources. Disabling it will not speed up your editing or improve performance in any noticeable way.

Will I lose my project files if I turn off tracking?

No. Tracking settings have nothing to do with your projects or files. Your work is stored locally on your computer and is not affected by privacy settings.

Can Blackmagic Design still see what I am doing if I disable tracking?

No. When you disable the analytics setting, the software stops sending usage data to Blackmagic's servers. They will not know what features you use or how long you work in the program.

Do I need to disable tracking every time I open DaVinci Resolve?

No. Once you disable it in Preferences and save, the setting stays off until you change it again. You only need to do this once, though you may want to check after major updates.

Is there a way to disable tracking during installation?

DaVinci Resolve does not ask about tracking during installation. You have to disable it after the software is installed, through the Preferences menu.