How to fix pixelated video in DaVinci Resolve

Resolve gives you a lot of control, which also means a lot of ways to end up with a pixelated render. The trick is to separate viewer quality from output quality, then check three places: playback settings, project settings and the Deliver page.

  • Free preview, no signup
  • Files auto-deleted after 24 hours
  • Corrupted files are repaired automatically

Viewer looks pixelated

Open Playback, Timeline Proxy Resolution and set it to Original. Also check Playback, Render Cache and Proxy Mode: if Proxy Mode is set to Half or Quarter, the viewer will look blocky. Optimized media and cached clips can also make the viewer look different from the source.

Render looks pixelated

On the Deliver page, pick H.264 or H.265 in MP4 or QuickTime. Set Quality to Restrict to a high bitrate, such as 20,000 Kb/s for 1080p or 50,000 Kb/s for 4K, instead of a low Automatic number. Choose the Encoder drop-down: software encoding gives better quality per bit, while hardware encoders (NVIDIA, AMD, Apple) are faster and need more bitrate.

In Project Settings, Image Scaling, choose Sharper or Bicubic for the resize filter if you are scaling footage. Match Timeline Resolution to your delivery size.

DaVinci Resolve fix, step by step

  1. Set timeline proxy resolution to OriginalPlayback menu, Timeline Proxy Resolution, Original, and turn off Proxy Mode.
  2. Match the timeline to deliveryProject Settings, Master Settings, set timeline resolution and frame rate to what you plan to deliver.
  3. Set a fixed high bitrateDeliver page, Quality, Restrict to, 20,000 Kb/s or higher for 1080p.
  4. Choose software encoder when quality mattersIf your GPU encoder gives blocks in dark scenes, switch to software and compare.
  5. Render and verify at 100 percentExport a 10 second test range first and inspect it on a large screen.
  6. Clean legacy footageIf your source clips are the issue, upload them to the fixer and import the repaired copy.

Try it on your own video

Free watermarked preview, no signup. Files are deleted after 24 hours.

Upload a video

Frequently asked questions

Why is my DaVinci Resolve render pixelated?

Usually bitrate is too low or the hardware encoder is struggling. Set a high restricted bitrate or use the software encoder.

Do proxies affect the final render?

Normally Resolve renders from the original media, but check that Use Proxy media if present is not enabled in render settings.

What bitrate should I use for 4K in Resolve?

For 4K H.264, 40,000 to 60,000 Kb/s is a good range. H.265 can use around 60 percent of that for similar quality.

Which scaling filter is best?

Sharper is a good default for upscaling, Smoother helps downscale without ringing, and Bicubic is a balanced middle.

Related guides

Fix pixelated video in Premiere Pro

Premiere Pro video looks pixelated when playback resolution is low, proxies are on, or export bitrate is too small. Fix each one in minutes.

Fix pixelated video in Final Cut Pro

If Final Cut Pro looks pixelated, check viewer quality, proxy playback and your Share settings. Here is the exact order to fix them.

Pixelated after export

A video that looked sharp in your editor but exports blocky usually has a bitrate, resolution or proxy problem. Here are the export settings that fix it.

Upscale video to 4K

Should you upscale video to 4K? When it helps (YouTube, big screens), when it does not, which methods work, and realistic expectations.

More tips on the blog → · All guides · Fix a pixelated video now