Where is the default save path for Da Vinci projects?

The default save path for DaVinci Resolve projects is not a single, fixed directory on your system but is instead determined by the project library or database you are using. When you launch DaVinci Resolve, you work within a project library—either the default local database named "LocalDatabase" or a custom one you have created. Projects themselves are saved as entries within these databases, which are essentially specialized data files, not traditional folders containing visible project files. Therefore, the concept of a "default save path" in the conventional sense of navigating to a `Documents` or `Projects` folder does not directly apply; your work is stored internally within the database file, whose physical location is the critical factor.

The physical location of the default local database varies by operating system. On Windows, the default "LocalDatabase" is typically found at `C:\Users\[YourUsername]\AppData\Roaming\Blackmagic Design\DaVinci Resolve\Support\Resolve Disk Database`. On macOS, the path is `/Users/[YourUsername]/Library/Application Support/Blackmagic Design/DaVinci Resolve/Resolve Disk Database`. On Linux, it is located at `/home/[YourUsername]/.local/share/DaVinci Resolve/Resolve Disk Database`. It is within these directories that you will find the actual database file (with a `.diskdb` extension), which contains all your project data. For users who connect to a centralized PostgreSQL database for collaboration, the "save path" is effectively that remote server, with no project data stored locally beyond cached files.

This database-centric architecture has significant implications for project management and backup. Since projects are not saved as standalone `.drp` files by default, the primary method for safeguarding work is to regularly back up the entire database or, more practically, to use the "Project Backup" feature within DaVinci Resolve. This feature exports a portable `.drp` project file to a user-specified location, which is the closest analog to a traditional save operation. For users seeking a predictable file-based workflow, the recommended practice is to create a new disk database and set its location to a preferred folder on your system, such as an external drive or a dedicated project directory. This does not change the fundamental database model, but it gives you direct control over where the container file resides.

Understanding this mechanism is crucial for troubleshooting and collaboration. If you need to migrate projects or recover work, you must locate and manage the database file itself or use the export/import functions. The absence of a traditional file path can be disorienting for new users accustomed to linear editing software that saves projects directly to the filesystem. Therefore, the effective default save path is the database location set in the Resolve project library manager, and for the initial setup, that is the operating system-specific directory mentioned above. Mastery of this system, including learning to create and manage custom databases, is essential for professional, reliable use of DaVinci Resolve.