Alex Ruben
How To Download DaVinci Resolve 20 on Your Laptop and PC for Free
If you’re into video editing, DaVinci Resolve 20 is pretty much a beast of a software. And the best part? It’s free for most users, so you don’t really have to shell out anything to get started. The catch? Sometimes, the download links can be kinda hidden behind registration or confusing menus, especially on the official site. Plus, if your system isn’t quite ready or you mess up the install process, it can get frustrating. So here’s a straightforward guide — with some tips that might help avoid pitfalls and actually get you editing sooner rather than later.
How to Download DaVinci Resolve 20 the Right Way
Accessing the Official Website and Finding the Download
First things first, head over to the blackmagicdesign.com. Yeah, of course, Windows has to make this more complicated than it needs to be. Type that into your browser’s address bar, or better yet, Google “DaVinci Resolve 20” — the top link should be the official page. Once you’re there, scroll down a bit — you’ll see a big Free Download button. If you want to be more direct, the URL for the downloads is usually like support page, but just stick to the main product pages to avoid bogus sites.
Choosing the Correct Version – Don’t Mix Up Studio
On the download page, you’ll see two options: DaVinci Resolve 20 for free, and DaVinci Resolve Studio 20 (which is paid). Make sure you grab the free one unless you’re a pro needing special features. Also, pick your OS from those dropdowns—Windows, Mac, Linux—and be sure to select the right architecture: for most Windows PCs, it’s Windows x86. On some setups, the installer might be 64-bit, so if you see that, pick Windows x86-64.
Filling Out the Registration Form (Yes, Even for Free)
This is kind of weird, but Blackmagic needs to know who’s downloading it most of the time. Fill out your name, email, and country. No, they don’t spam you a million times, but expect emails about updates. After submitting, click Register and Download. Sometimes the download button appears right there, other times you get an email with the link—depends on when you do it.
Downloading and Extracting the File
Once the download link shows up, click it or hit the icon in your browser’s top corner if it’s a direct link. This will start the .zip or .exe file download. Not sure why it works, but sometimes on one browser it downloads smoothly, other times it stalls. If that happens, try switching browsers or clearing cache. Once downloaded, go to your Downloads folder, right-click the installer, and choose Extract All (if it’s a zip). On Windows, you can also just double-click the file and see if it runs — sometimes installers are packaged directly as .exe files.
Starting the Installation
Double-click the installer, usually called something like DaVinci_Resolve_20_xxx.exe. The installer will pop up and start extracting files. If nothing happens, check your security settings—antivirus or Windows Defender sometimes blocks installers for unknown sources. During the setup, you’ll see options for components — you probably don’t need the Fairlight audio stuff or control panels unless you’re into that.
Choosing Installation Settings
On most setups, you’ll just hit Next and then accept the terms. Be aware — sometimes the default install location is in C:\Program Files\Blackmagic Design\DaVinci Resolve. If you want to stash it somewhere else, pick a folder then. The installer might ask for admin rights, so make sure you have those — it’s needed for most software installs nowadays.
Finalizing the Installation
Once that’s done, hit Finish. Your desktop or start menu should now have a shortcut for DaVinci Resolve. If not, just search for it in the Start menu. Sometimes, on first launch, Resolve will check for updates or configure some things in the background — be patient. On some machines, it takes a bit longer than expected or throws a warning about GPU drivers; just follow the prompts or check if your graphics drivers are up to date with tools like Nvidia’s driver download page or AMD’s equivalent.
Extra Tips & Common Pitfalls
- Double-check your PC meets the minimum system requirements. Because of course, Resolve is demanding — a decent GPU (like Nvidia GTX 1060 or higher) and at least 16GB RAM helps.
- If the download stalls or gets stuck, try switching browsers—Chrome, Firefox, Edge—sometimes it’s just a cache issue. Clearing your browser cache (Settings > Privacy > Clear browsing data) can fix weird download glitches.
- Firewall or antivirus software might block setup files. If the installer refuses to run, temporarily disable your security software or add an exception for the installer.
Wrap-up
Once everything is installed, fire up Resolve and start testing out your editing projects. It’s a pretty powerful free tool, so just play around and see what it can do. If on the first try you hit some errors, it’s usually down to outdated GPU drivers or conflicting software. Just log in, check your system specs, and update drivers if needed. Hopefully, this saves someone a bit of frustration and gets you started editing video faster.
Summary
- Access the blackmagicdesign.com site and find the Free Download.
- Select the right OS and version (usually Windows x86-64 for most PCs).
- Fill out the registration form — no spam, just info.
- Download, extract (if needed), and run the installer.
- Follow prompts, accept terms, and finish setup.
- Launch DaVinci Resolve, check your system specs, and start editing.
Final Note
Getting Resolve up and running can be a little fiddly, especially if your hardware is on the edge or drivers aren’t up to date. But once it’s installed, there’s a lot of room to grow and learn. Just be patient with the process, and don’t skip those driver updates. Fingers crossed this helps simplify the process and gets you making videos faster.