Resolve Studio 20 beta has watermark

I mistakenly upgraded from resolve studio 19 to resolve studio 20 beta using the non studio version of the beta file, whilst it says it is Studio 20 after the upgrade, there is water mark on everything. I went on to update using the studio beta file, but the watermark remains. Anyone faced this issue and how was it resolved? please help. Thanks

I mistakenly upgraded from resolve studio 19 to resolve studio 20 beta using the non studio version of the beta file, whilst it says it is Studio 20 after the upgrade, there is water mark on everything. I went on to update using the studio beta file, but the watermark remains. Anyone faced this issue and how was it resolved? please help. Thanks

Watermark is No studio only, seems you have installed a free version.
Studio or not start or start full.
Remove - install resolve and later install studio beta.


Inviato dal mio iPhone utilizzando Tapatalk

Thanks, will give it a try. I hope I do not lose all my files in the process

You shouldn't lose any files, but ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS make a backup before installing or uninstalling the program.

Yes, similarly, I opened a project I was already working on in Resolve and now I have the same Studio watermark with dots all over.

How do I resolve (pun intended) this and continue working on exiisting projects?

Either stop using the Studio-only effect, or purchase a license for Resolve Studio. (Or, if you already have a license, install Resolve Studio.)

I still do not understand why Blackmagic doesn't simply label the files DaVinci Resolve Free and DaVinci Resolve Studio. Seriously, that would solve probably 99.9999% of these problems and it's so bizarre they won't take this simple step to be explicitly clear about what you are downloading. My sister also uses Resolve and she has done the same thing.

You did not reinstall with the Studio Version.

I still do not understand why Blackmagic doesn't simply label the files DaVinci Resolve Free and DaVinci Resolve Studio. Seriously, that would solve probably 99.9999% of these problems and it's so bizarre they won't take this simple step to be explicitly clear about what you are downloading. My sister also uses Resolve and she has done the same thing.

That won't help. Both are clearly marked. People just don't read.

They’re decidedly not clearly marked. I bet it would help a great deal. But apparently the experiment won’t happen as someone high up at BMD has flat out said no to me about this idea.

That won't help. Both are clearly marked. People just don't read.

Really? Show this image to anyone around you who doesn't already know all of the ins and outs of Resolve and ask them if this is a download for the free or paid version.

Resolve Download.png (15.26 KiB) Viewed 1861 times

The "Free" download is not clearly labeled as "Free" anywhere at all.

Now, compare that to....

DaVinci Resolve Free 20 Public Beta

A free version of Hollywood's most popular solution for editing...

And name the file DaVinci_Resolve_Free_xx.zip

The problem is not a matter of "reading", it's that the free version is not clearly marked and new customers may not realize "DaVinci Resolve XX" is not the paid version.

My version is marked with "Free" multiple times and that is crystal clear. This is such a frequent problem on the forum and the fix is so simple (I literally did it myself), so I do not understand why Blackmagic refuses to address this. I'm honestly getting tired of screaming into the void about the importance of having an intuitive and user friendly experience... but I get the impression it's just not a priority and who knows if it ever will be?

Yup

People don't read.

Screenshot_20250514_223004_Edge.jpg (248.6 KiB) Viewed 1792 times

If you are paying money = Resolve Studio

The first time I downloaded Resolve, I never made the mistake of downloading the wrong version.

If you are paying money = Resolve Studio

Yes, I know that and you know that, but clearly plenty of other people do not know that and that is my point. You claimed "Both are clearly marked" and I just showed you that the free version does not clearly state the word "free" anywhere at all on the download site. "DaVinci Resolve XX" could very easily be mistaken for the paid version for anyone who isn't up on the Resolve lingo.

So once again, my point is to have an intuitive and user friendly experience. Ask someone if "DaVinci Resolve 20" is free or paid and they will have no clue. Then ask them if "DaVinci Resolve Free 20" is free or paid and they will know immediately. I'm saying to clearly label the "Free" version as "Free" to make it obvious and intuitive to clear up a reoccurring point of confusion. It's really that simple.

If you are paying money = Resolve Studio

Yes, I know that and you know that, but clearly plenty of other people do not know that and that is my point. You claimed "Both are clearly marked" and I just showed you that the free version does not clearly state the word "free" anywhere at all on the download site. "DaVinci Resolve XX" could very easily be mistaken for the paid version for anyone who isn't up on the Resolve lingo.

Really? Show this image to anyone around you who doesn't already know all of the ins and outs of Resolve and ask them if this is a download for the free or paid version.

The "Free" download is not clearly labeled as "Free" anywhere at all.

There is no lingo. The website clearly says Buy Resolve Studio before that screen.

The website clearly states Resolve = Free twice before you even get to that page or screen.

Screenshot_20250515_090420_Edge.jpg (165.88 KiB) Viewed 1670 times

Screenshot_20250515_090952_Edge.jpg (224.82 KiB) Viewed 1663 times

Do you get tripped up on the IPhone 16 and the IPhone Max?

If you always download updates from within Resolve you will always get the correct version installed from the correct source. In the menu bar top left>DaVinci Resolve>Check for updates.

I never made the mistake of downloading the wrong version.

Same here.

We know why the mistake is being made and there’s a trivial solution.

What’s the point of saying you’ve never made this mistake? Clearly many people are. This happens every time a new version appears. So solving the problem seems much more useful than telling people they shouldn’t be making the mistake.

There are two ways to get an update

1) go to the BM site that requires one to read and select the correct version. Sorry the options are very clear to me. One says Studio the other doesn't

2) get from " check for updates " within Resolve and always get the correct one.


I agree lots of people make this mistake. Reading instructions is very important in life. Lots of bad things can happen selecting the wrong option. Selecting the wrong version of Resolve is inconvenient and resolvable. Other selections by not reading the selection correctly could be much worse.

The website clearly states Resolve = Free twice before you even get to that page or screen.

The "Download Free" button is how you also get to the PAID download as well.

Free Means Free & Paid.png (37.19 KiB) Viewed 1559 times

You're only proving my point.

I'm suggesting they clearly label BOTH downloads where you actually download them and all they have to do is label the free version as FREE. That's it! Once again, you were the one who claimed they clearly labeled both versions, and you were wrong because "DaVinci Resolve XX" is not clearly labeled as free. I want them to actually label both clearly.

Do you get tripped up on the IPhone 16 and the IPhone Max?

Where did I ever say that I've downloaded the wrong version? In fact, I even said that I DO know that the Studio version is the paid version. Coming from the person who's accusing others of not reading, I trust you are capable of reading my comments, right?

So to be clear, I have never downloaded the wrong version myself and this problem does not impact me. However, this is a reoccurring problem on the forum, I am capable of understanding that this is a problem and I suggested a very, very simple solution to address it.

Finally, this is not the first time this issue has come up (and the suggestion of clearly labeling both downloads) and it's quite concerning to me that Blackmagic refuses to address even the simplest and lowest hanging fruit to try to improve the overall user experience. If they refuse to modify a few words on a webpage and rename the download files, then what hope should I have that they will be willing to put actual effort into fixing the mountain of usability issues inside of Resolve? Based on my 3 1/2 years here and seeing how basic usability issues are constantly being swept under the rug in favor of new flashy features and AI bots, I can honestly say that I don't have much (if any) hope left. It doesn't seem like Blackmagic is listening and that's unfortunate.

BMD probably won't label DaVince Resolve XX as DaVince Resolve Free XX but I don't see any reason why the actual download page isn't more explicit about what it is you are downloading. I've never read a response from BMD on this confusion. Maybe they think of it as a rite of passage, lol.

Sorry it is clear to me. It is a free download of both . In other words there is no charge for the update for either version. The user needs to know what they want to download. There are lots of versions on that page not just the beta version they go back years.

If you update from within Resolve there is no confusion you will get the update from the version you have running then.

I think it would be clearer if on the Support page Downloads section they listed DaVinci Resolve Studio BEFORE DaVinci Resolve. But even that little tweak was said no to. Sigh.

Here's what it looks like now:

Screenshot 2025-05-16 at 8.44.46 AM.png (188.75 KiB) Viewed 1338 times

....but I don't see any reason why the actual download page isn't more explicit about what it is you are downloading.

I can think of a couple reasons and neither of them are good...

1) Blackmagic simply doesn't care about creating an intuitive and user friendly experience. Given my overall experience with Resolve, this one seems the most likely.

2) Blackmagic wants this confusion to inflate traffic. It drives more downloads because users realize they've downloaded the wrong version and have to download it over again. And it drives more users to create accounts on the forum to ask why their newly purchased software isn't working. Causing confusion is a terrible way to drive traffic IMO.

Maybe they think of it as a rite of passage, lol.

And then they continue that mindset into literally every aspect of Resolve.