Export From the DaVinci Resolve Deliver Page Step by Step

Objective

You will be able to render a finished timeline from the Deliver page with sensible settings and confirm that the exported file plays correctly.

Before you start

• A finished edit on a timeline
• Know where you want the exported file saved
• Free disk space for the output file

Overview

Exporting is the last step, and it is where careful editing can be spoiled by a wrong setting. In Resolve, export happens on the Deliver page. The page can look technical, but most of the work comes down to a few choices: what format, what size, which part of the timeline and where to save.

Resolve renders through a queue. You set up a job, add it to the queue and then start it. That design is useful when you want to export several versions, such as a full-size file and a vertical cut.

This guide covers the free version on Windows. Menus and available options can differ by version and hardware, so use the guide as a map and confirm labels on your own screen.

Step-by-step

1. Finish and check the timeline first

   Before you open the Deliver page, play the timeline once from start to end. Look for black gaps, clips that stop early, flashes, and audio that drops out or clips. Fixing problems after export means rendering again.

   If you have used the Color page, confirm that the grading is applied across all clips. Save the project with Ctrl + S.

   In other editors: Review before export in any editor. Rendering takes time and a bad file wastes it.

2. Open the Deliver page

   Click the Deliver page button at the bottom of the screen. You will see a Render Settings panel, usually on the upper left, a viewer with your timeline and a queue area on the right. Resolve also offers a quick export option in the File menu. It is handy for simple cases, but the Deliver page gives you the full control this guide uses.

   In other editors: Most editors have an export or render screen, sometimes in a menu. The queue concept appears in many of them too.

3. Start with a preset

   At the top of the Render Settings you will find a list of presets. Resolve includes ones for common destinations, such as YouTube. Pick the one closest to your goal. A preset fills in the format, codec and other values so you start from a reasonable base.

   Then check the details instead of trusting the preset blindly. Presets are a starting point. If you plan to upload to a site, remember that the site may have its own current recommendations, so check its help page.

   In other editors: Presets for platforms exist in many editors. They are a shortcut, not a guarantee.

4. Choose format and codec

   Look for the format and codec options. For a general-purpose file that plays almost anywhere, the common choice is an MP4 container with the H.264 codec. Pick those unless you have a reason not to.

   Other formats and codecs exist, and some are meant for editing or archiving rather than uploading. They make larger files. Some encoding options, especially for newer codecs or certain hardware acceleration, may depend on your version or graphics card. If an option is missing or grayed out, it may not be available in the free version or on your computer.

   In other editors: H.264 in MP4 is a safe default in most editors. See the guide on containers and codecs for the differences.

5. Match resolution and frame rate to your timeline

   Check the resolution and frame rate fields. For a standard video, the export should match your timeline, for example 1920 x 1080 at the same frame rate you edited in. A vertical video for Shorts, Reels or TikTok commonly uses 1080 x 1920.

   Exporting at a higher resolution than your source will not add real detail. Exporting at a different frame rate than your timeline can cause uneven motion. Keep them matched unless you have a specific need.

   Apps and platforms re-encode uploads and change their rules, so check the current help page for the destination.

   In other editors: Matching the sequence settings is the safest rule in every editor.

6. Set quality and bitrate

   Find the quality setting. Resolve gives you choices such as letting it decide automatically or setting a limit on the bitrate. Bitrate is the amount of data used per second of video. Higher means more detail and bigger files.

   For YouTube, published recommendations for standard dynamic range uploads are roughly 8 Mbps for 1080p at 24 to 30 frames per second, and 12 Mbps at 48 to 60 frames per second. For 1440p it is about 16 Mbps, and for 2160p at 24 to 30 frames per second it is about 35 to 45 Mbps. You can export at or above these numbers. YouTube re-encodes the file after upload.

   If you leave the setting on automatic, your file is usually fine for general use, but check its size.

   In other editors: Every editor has a quality or bitrate control. Higher values make larger files.

7. Check the audio settings

   Make sure audio export is turned on. Look for the audio codec and bitrate options. For online video, AAC is a common choice. YouTube lists AAC-LC audio in stereo at 384 kbps as a recommendation.

   If you edited in stereo, export stereo. A missing audio track is one of the most common export errors, so confirm this box before you render.

   In other editors: Audio export is a separate switch in most editors. Confirm it is enabled.

8. Choose the range and the save location

   Find the option that selects what to render. You can render the entire timeline or only a marked range. Set in and out points on the timeline if you only want a section. Use this to test a short part before exporting a long video.

   Then set the file name and location. Pick a folder you will remember, such as an Exports folder in your project directory. Avoid saving over an earlier version. Add a version number to the file name.

   In other editors: Render range and output folder are standard. Always name exports clearly.

9. Add to the render queue and render

   Click the button that adds the job to the render queue. The job appears in the queue on the right. Select it if needed and click the render button to start.

   You will see a progress indicator. Rendering time depends on length, resolution, effects and your computer. Avoid running other heavy programs while it works.

   In other editors: Queues let you set up several exports and run them one after another in many editors.

10. Watch the exported file

    When the render finishes, open the file in a normal media player. Do not trust the Resolve viewer alone. Watch it from start to end, or at least jump through the beginning, middle and end. Check that the picture, sound, titles and color look right and that the video is not cut off.

    If something is wrong, fix it in the timeline and render again. Keep your project and a high-quality master so you can export other versions later.

Examples

Common mistakes

• Forgetting to enable audio. The file plays in silence. Check the audio section in Render Settings before you add the job to the queue.
• Exporting at a different frame rate. Motion may look uneven. Keep export settings equal to the timeline unless you have a reason.
• Not watching the final file. Problems such as clipped endings or wrong audio only show up in the output. Always play it fully.
• Overwriting the previous export. You lose the earlier version. Add numbers to file names.
• Relying on a preset without reading it. A preset may not match your timeline. Review the key fields every time.

Shortcuts

Windows shortcuts for DaVinci Resolve 19 with default settings. They can change if you use custom shortcuts or another version.

Best practices

• Render a short range first when testing new settings.
• Keep a high-quality master of important projects. See the guide on archives and delivery files.
• Close other programs during a render so it finishes sooner.
• Check free disk space before starting a long export.
• Platform rules change, so confirm current upload guidance on the platform's help page.