when I try to import a file it does not appear in the folder

Newbie here. I am trying to import a video file to practice editing it does not show up in the folder in which I saved it. I shot about 6-minutes on an iPhone 12. It was shot 4K at 24FPS. It is saved to a folder on my hard drive. When I try to import it into resolve the folder appears empty. It is not. Not sure what I am doing wrong.

Free version under Windows could be your problem.
Try to set your iPhone to AVC instead of HEVC.

You don't 'import' files to Davinci.

You tell Davinci where your source files are (they are then listed in the Media Pool).

You don't edit the files. You tell Davinci what changes and modification your are going to make to the file as it pertains to your project...Davinci keeps track. Then, when you render output, your file is used as a source but never edited.

You don't 'import' files to Davinci. You tell Davinci where your source files are (they are then listed in the Media Pool).

That is the definition of "importing" here.

You copy files to the hard drive.

You import media into Resolve.

You upload to YouTube.

Ben said it correctly.

When I try to import it into resolve the folder appears empty.

Here's the test to do.

Go to the Media page, and in the upper left use the Media Storage panel to navigate to the media. If it shows up, you can right click and add to the bins.

If the media doesn't show up, it's because Resolve can't use it. (And this part won't change by using Studio.)

You import media into Resolve.

That terminology is what caused the OP to be confused. You are used to it...so it seems right to you.

When you are 'importing' to Resolve, you are just giving Resolve a reference to the media. That really isn't importing. Unless you change the definition of import.

When you are 'importing' to Resolve, you are just giving Resolve a reference to the media.

Right. In the context of NLE's, that's what "importing" means. For Resolve, Avid, Premiere Pro, etc.

It's even right there under the File menu. Import...


And maybe I missed it but...I don't see any confusion about this from the Ben.

Neither do I think that's his issue, so I was asking about the obvious.
Out of the box any recent iPhone is shooting HEVC, but it can be set for compatibility, aka AVC.