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How to Completely Uninstall DaVinci Resolve on Mac

To uninstall DaVinci Resolve, you can use the official Uninstall Resolve app found in its Applications folder or drag the app to the Trash. Simply removing the application does not delete your project databases or support files.

Last updated: October 31, 20263 min read

Remove DaVinci Resolve and everything it leaves behind

DaVinci Resolve data usually takes 5 GB – 300 GB on a Mac. The free scan shows the exact size on your Mac before you change anything.

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Free scan · No account · Nothing is deleted without your OK · Moves to the Trash first · macOS 14+

Application: DaVinci Resolve
Typical data size: 5 GB – 300 GB
Category: Video
File Location: ~/Movies/CacheClip

DaVinci Resolve has its own uninstaller

Quit the app completely (⌘+Q in the menu bar).
The downloaded version includes an Uninstall Resolve app in the DaVinci Resolve folder in Applications.
Remove the folders DaVinci Resolve left behind, listed in the table below.
Empty the Trash to free up the space.

Everything DaVinci Resolve keeps on your Mac

4 locations. Tick each one as you remove it; back up anything marked as your data first.

~/Movies/CacheClip Cache · render cache and optimized media for the default storage location Yes, rebuilt automatically~/Library/Application Support/Blackmagic Design/DaVinci Resolve App data · settings, logs and the local project database Back up first: your data/Library/Application Support/Blackmagic Design/DaVinci Resolve Other · system-wide LUTs, Fairlight sounds and support files Yes, once the app is gone~/Library/Preferences/Blackmagic Design/DaVinci Resolve Settings · Resolve configuration and preferences Yes, settings reset

Locations are the standard macOS folders DaVinci Resolve uses; some appear only after you use the matching feature.

What DaVinci Resolve leaves behind

Specific to DaVinci Resolve

Dragging the app to the Trash preserves your settings, logs, and local project databases located in Application Support. It also leaves behind system-wide LUTs, Fairlight sounds, and preference files. Additionally, render cache and optimized media remain in the CacheClip folder, which can occupy 5 GB – 300 GB.

License: DaVinci Resolve Studio is activated with a licence key or USB dongle; the free version needs no licence.
Account and sync: Projects live in a local database unless you use Blackmagic Cloud; there is no account needed for the free version.

Preparing to remove DaVinci Resolve

Because the app stores projects in a database rather than loose files, you must export your work before deletion. You should also manage your license if using the Studio version. Clearing the render cache within the app helps reduce the remaining footprint on your disk.

Export desired projects via Project Manager > Export Project (.drp)Back up the project database from the Project ManagerUse Playback > Delete Render Cache to clear cached framesDeactivate the Studio licence key for use on another Mac

0 of 4 done

By hand or with OptiClear

	By hand	With OptiClear
Places to check	4 folders, one by one	One scan
File sizes	You look them up yourself	Shown for every item
Removing the wrong thing	Easy to delete the wrong folder	Goes to the Trash first, so it can be restored
Cost	Free	Scan is free; cleaning needs Pro (yearly plan has a 7-day free trial)

See it working

OptiClear — Scan overview — every category on one screen — Scan overview — every category on one screen

OptiClear — Privacy audit: what each app has been allowed to reach — Privacy audit: what each app has been allowed to reach

OptiClear — Large and aging files, ranked by what they cost you — Large and aging files, ranked by what they cost you

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Frequently asked questions

Not all of them. Folders marked “Back up first: your data” hold your own DaVinci Resolve data: back them up before removing them. Folders marked “Yes, rebuilt automatically” are rebuilt automatically; removing them only makes the next start slower. Folders marked “Yes, settings reset” hold settings, which return to their defaults. Items marked “Yes, once the app is gone” only matter while DaVinci Resolve is installed, so remove them after the app.

Where are my projects stored?

They live in a local database in ~/Library/Application Support/Blackmagic Design/DaVinci Resolve unless you use Blackmagic Cloud.

Is the render cache necessary to save?

No, the contents of the CacheClip folder are disposable and rebuilt automatically by the app.