# DaVinci Resolve Power Bin: Importing Media by Accident?

> **Quick answer:** If media landed in a DaVinci Resolve Power Bin by accident, select the unwanted item inside that bin and remove it from the Media Pool. That removes the bin entry, not the original file on your drive. Power Bins are shared across projects, so check other projects before removing an asset they may use.

*Published by [TryUncle](https://tryuncle.com) — the on-screen assistant that teaches DaVinci Resolve on your own screen.*
*Updated 2026-11-04 · DaVinci Resolve 21.1.1 (October 2026) · Canonical: https://tryuncle.com/learn/davinci-resolve/davinci-resolve-power-bin-importing-media-by-accident*

I would check the destination before touching the source file. A Power Bin can make media available in other projects, so an accidental drop can look like an import that spread. As of October 24, 2026, Blackmagic Design lists DaVinci Resolve 21.1.1; the fix is still to identify the shared bin, remove only the unintended entry, and check any projects that may use it.

## What should I do first if I added media to a DaVinci Resolve Power Bin by accident?

First, confirm that the clip is actually inside the Power Bins section. If it is, remove only the bin entry if it does not belong there. Do not delete the original video, audio, or image from your drive to fix a Media Pool organization mistake.

A Power Bin is a shared Media Pool location for media you want available across projects. It is not just another project folder with a dramatic name. The important question is where the clip appears in the bin hierarchy, not whether the file itself is new.

In DaVinci Resolve 21.1.1, open the Media Pool on the Edit or Media page and look at the bin list. If Power Bins are visible, expand that section and inspect the selected bin. The section may be hidden, so its absence does not prove that no Power Bin exists. The Media Pool options menu includes a Show Power Bins control. Blackmagic’s [Resolve support page](https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/support) lists current software updates and the manual, while the [Resolve 21 New Features Guide](https://documents.blackmagicdesign.com/SupportNotes/DaVinci_Resolve_21_New_Features_Guide.pdf) documents Media Pool tabs for conventional bins, Smart Bins, and Power Bins.

Before removing anything, note three details:

1. **The bin’s location.** Is it nested under the project’s Master bin, or under the separate Power Bins heading?
2. **The item type.** Is it a media clip, a bin containing several clips, a timeline, or something else?
3. **Whether the item is used.** Does a timeline in this or another project reference the media?

The first detail tells you whether the item is in a project-specific bin or a shared Power Bin. The second helps you avoid removing a container when you meant to remove one clip. The third matters because clearing a shared location does not necessarily remove every other use of that media.

If you are unsure, pause and inspect the hierarchy. A cautious check is faster than chasing offline media after deleting the wrong thing.

**A Power Bin mistake is usually a bin-organization problem, not a reason to delete the media file.**

## Why is DaVinci Resolve importing media into a Power Bin by accident?

DaVinci Resolve may add media to a Power Bin when that Power Bin is the active destination in the Media Pool, or when you drag an item directly into the shared section. A Power Bin accepts media like a regular bin, but its contents are meant to be reused across projects.

That distinction explains why the result can seem surprising. You might intend to make a clip available to one current project, then discover the clip in another project later. Resolve did not necessarily make a duplicate file or copy the footage to a new folder. The clip may simply have been added to a bin whose contents are shared.

Blackmagic describes Power Bins on its [Media page](https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/products/davinciresolve/media) as a place for reusable assets that are visible across projects on your system. Laurence Grayson, writing for Frame.io, puts it this way: “a location to keep assets that you want to make available across multiple Resolve projects.” His [Power Bin explanation](https://blog.frame.io/2023/12/20/insider-tips-find-enable-resolve-power-bins/) also describes adding assets by dragging and dropping or using Import Media.

The likely causes are practical:

- **The wrong bin was selected.** You imported media while a Power Bin was the active destination.
- **The drag ended in the shared section.** The pointer landed on a Power Bin or one of its nested bins.
- **The bin was open in a tab.** Resolve 21 supports tabs for regular, Smart, and Power Bins. If a Power Bin tab is active, the Media Pool can show the shared destination even when you are thinking about a project bin.
- **The panel was compact or unfamiliar.** A narrow Media Pool can make its bin hierarchy harder to read, especially when several sections are visible.
- **You interpreted a shared clip as a file copy.** Seeing the same asset in another project may mean the shared-bin entry is visible there, not that another source file was created.

If the clip appeared in the wrong place only after a drag, inspect the active bin and the pointer’s drop target. If it appeared in multiple projects after the action, check whether it resides under Power Bins. Don’t infer the cause from the thumbnail alone. A thumbnail doesn’t show whether an item belongs to a project bin or a shared bin.

There’s another possibility: the item was already in a shared bin, but you noticed only after opening a different project or changing the Media Pool view. In that case, you may not have imported anything just now. Check the item’s history with a teammate if you share a library, or compare what you see in the relevant projects before removing it.

## How do I tell a Power Bin from a regular project bin?

A regular bin belongs to the current project, while a Power Bin is a separate shared area intended to make selected media available across projects. The bin’s position in the Media Pool hierarchy is the clearest way to tell them apart.

In the Media Pool, look for distinct headings:

| Media Pool location | What it means | Typical use |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **Master and its nested bins** | Project media organization for the currently open project | Footage, audio, graphics, and other media for that edit |
| **Power Bins and nested bins** | Shared media area that can be accessed from other projects | Reusable logos, slates, music, sound effects, or graphics |
| **Smart Bins** | A collection based on rules and clip metadata rather than a manually populated shared folder | Finding project media that meets defined criteria |

Blackmagic’s documentation distinguishes Power Bins from regular and Smart Bins. The practical test is simple: if the item is beneath the Power Bins heading, treat it as shared rather than as an ordinary project-only entry.

A Power Bin tab can complicate the visual check. The [Resolve 21 New Features Guide](https://documents.blackmagicdesign.com/SupportNotes/DaVinci_Resolve_21_New_Features_Guide.pdf) says you can right-click a bin and choose **Open as New Tab**, and that tabs can be set for conventional bins, Smart Bins, and Power Bins. A tab name identifies what is open, but if you have several tabs, confirm the actual bin location before changing anything. Don’t assume that the last project bin you used is still active.

Smart Bins are different again. They gather clips according to rules; they are not a substitute for the Power Bins shared-media area. If a clip appears in a Smart Bin, that alone doesn’t mean you dragged it into Power Bins. Check the section heading and the bin path.

For a reliable check, make the Media Pool wide enough to see the sidebar, expand the relevant section, and click the bin that contains the item. Then read the path or heading shown in the panel. If the item is selected in the main clip area, use the hierarchy to establish its home before pressing Delete or Backspace.

If the sidebar is hidden, restore the bin list before acting. A clip grid by itself can show the item without making its scope obvious. You can also close extra tabs temporarily if they make it hard to tell which bin is active. That is a view change, not a media change.

## How do I remove one clip from a Power Bin safely?

Select the unwanted clip inside the Power Bin, invoke the Media Pool’s removal command, and read the confirmation dialog before you accept it. The Resolve manual distinguishes removing a clip from the Media Pool from deleting the source file on storage.

The safe action is removal from the bin, not deletion in Finder or File Explorer. Use the current [DaVinci Resolve 21.1 manual](https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/welcome/en/W-DRE-03) for version-matched instructions. The documented distinction is important: removing an item from the Media Pool is not the same action as deleting the file from its storage location.

Use this cautious sequence:

1. Open the Media Pool and expand **Power Bins**.
2. Open the specific Power Bin that contains the accidental clip.
3. Select only that clip. If you need to remove more than one, check each highlighted item before continuing.
4. Use the removal command or Delete/Backspace, depending on the interface.
5. Read the dialog. Choose the option that removes the selected item from the Media Pool, not an option that deletes media from storage.
6. Reopen the bin and confirm that the unwanted entry is gone.
7. If the source matters to an active project, inspect that project before making any other changes.

A clip in a Power Bin may also be present in a timeline or referenced elsewhere. Removing its shared-bin entry is not the same as removing every use of the media from every project. It removes the accidental shared location. Check any project where you used the clip deliberately, especially if you rely on the Power Bin as the only place you can easily find that asset.

If the item is inside a nested Power Bin, open the nested bin and remove the individual clip there. Don’t delete the parent bin just to remove one entry. If you remove a bin that contains several intended assets, you may remove the organization you wanted to keep along with the accidental item.

If a prompt asks whether to remove a clip or delete a file, stop and read its full wording. Resolve’s wording can vary with the selected object and command. This guide doesn’t assume that every dialog looks identical on every operating system or every 21.x build.

A selection check helps prevent the wrong operation. Before pressing Delete or Backspace, look at the highlighted rows or thumbnails. If you clicked a bin in the hierarchy and then selected clips in the contents area, make sure the selection is the clip or clips you mean to remove. If the entire bin is selected, stop and reselect the individual item.

Undo can be useful if you immediately notice that you removed the wrong Media Pool item. But don’t rely on Undo as your only safety net, particularly if you have continued working or changed projects since the operation. First check the bin, the project, and the file on storage. If the source file itself is missing, undoing a bin change won’t restore it.

**Remove the bin entry only after confirming the selected item and reading the dialog.**

## What if I accidentally imported an entire folder or several clips into a Power Bin?

If several clips landed in a Power Bin, inspect the contents first, then remove only the unintended entries or the accidental bin itself. A folder import can create a bin structure, so removing a container without checking its contents can affect more than you intended.

The Resolve manual explains that importing a folder can create a bin in the Media Pool and show that folder’s contents inside it. Importing a bin between projects is a separate operation. Identify what you see before acting.

| What you see | Safer next step |
| --- | --- |
| A single unwanted clip in a shared bin | Select the clip and remove that entry |
| A new nested Power Bin with only accidental media | Inspect it, then remove the bin if the contents are all unwanted |
| A Power Bin containing both wanted and unwanted assets | Open it and remove only the unwanted clips |
| A folder-looking bin under the project’s Master bin | Treat it as project organization, not as a Power Bin, until the hierarchy confirms otherwise |
| Multiple clips that may be used in timelines | Check the affected projects before removing shared entries |
| Media with an offline icon after the mistake | Diagnose the media path or relink the clip; don’t delete the source folder to tidy the bin |

A useful precaution is to note the bin name and the entries you believe are in it before removing anything. This isn’t a Resolve requirement. It’s a way to keep your action narrow when a bin contains mixed material. When the items are valuable or a team shares the library, use the project’s normal backup process before making broad organizational changes.

Don’t use **Remove All Clips in Bin** on a bin whose contents you haven’t checked. It’s a broad operation, not a shortcut for removing one accidental clip. Read the command and any dialog before accepting it, especially if you’re in a bin with other assets.

Likewise, don’t use the operating system’s file manager to delete the folder just because its name appears in Resolve. Resolve bins organize clip entries; they are not proof that the source files are disposable.

For an accidental folder drop, sort out three separate questions:

1. Did Resolve create a new bin, or did the clips go into an existing one?
2. Are all the items in that bin unwanted, or only some?
3. Did the operation move files on disk, or only add entries to the Media Pool?

The answers determine the cleanup. If all the unwanted entries sit in a newly created, empty-of-use bin, removing that bin may be the narrow fix. If the bin contains wanted clips, remove only the specific mistakes. If you’re uncertain whether the operation also moved files, inspect the original folder and the Resolve dialog history before deleting anything from storage.

#
## What if I dragged a folder from Finder or File Explorer?

Treat the operating system’s folder and Resolve’s bin as separate things. A folder dragged into the Media Pool may result in a bin containing references to media, but the visible bin name does not tell you that the source folder moved or was deleted.

First, look at the Media Pool hierarchy. If the new container is nested under Power Bins, the shared location is the issue. If it appears under Master, it is project organization. Then inspect the source folder in the file manager without changing it. If the files are still there, keep them in place while you fix the bin entry.

Don’t drag the same folder into another destination immediately just to “undo” the mistake. That can create more entries or uncertainty about which item is the original. Establish where the first import landed, then choose whether to remove that entry or keep it.

#
## What if I used Import Media instead of drag-and-drop?

The same destination check applies. Importing through a menu doesn’t automatically mean the media went into the right bin. If a Power Bin was active, inspect it after import. If the import dialog or Resolve workflow asks you to choose a destination, check that destination before confirming.

If the clips appear in both a project bin and a Power Bin, don’t assume you have two independent source files. Check whether they are two Media Pool entries referring to the same source. Keep the entry that serves your workflow and remove only the one you don’t need, after checking project use.

## Will removing the clip from a Power Bin delete the file from my drive?

Removing a clip from the Media Pool removes the clip entry from that bin; it is not the same as deleting the source file from storage. The source file and the Power Bin entry are different things, so don’t delete the file from your drive unless you intend to remove the actual media.

This distinction is central to the fix:

- **Removing a bin entry** changes what appears in that Media Pool bin.
- **Deleting a source file** removes the underlying file from a disk or other storage location.
- **Relinking media** reconnects a Resolve clip to a source file whose location changed or is no longer available.
- **Removing a clip from a timeline** changes an edit, not necessarily the Media Pool organization.

These actions solve different problems. If you remove a Power Bin entry and then see an offline clip in a project, don’t assume that the removal deleted the video. First check the source file’s location and the clip’s status. The [Resolve 21.1 manual](https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/welcome/en/W-DRE-03) is the version-matched reference for media management and relinking.

A file can be valuable even when its Power Bin entry is accidental. Keep the source file where it is unless you have a separate, deliberate reason to delete it. If you need to clean up source storage, use a media-management plan that checks all projects and backups, rather than treating the Power Bin as a storage-cleanup list.

There’s an important edge case: if a source file was already deleted or moved outside Resolve, removing a Power Bin entry won’t restore it. You need to locate the file or restore it from a backup, then relink the appropriate clip. Conversely, if the file still exists but the clip entry is missing, re-importing or relinking may be appropriate, depending on the project and the type of media.

Be equally careful with confirmation dialogs. Resolve can present different prompts depending on the selected item and command. The safe principle is to choose the operation that removes an item from the Media Pool while retaining media on storage. If the dialog refers to deleting files from disk, cancel unless that is explicitly what you want.

A quick way to keep the concepts straight is to ask, “What am I trying to change?” If the answer is “where this item appears in Resolve,” change the bin organization. If the answer is “the clip in my edit,” change the timeline. If the answer is “where the file lives,” handle the storage location and any relinking deliberately.

Don’t infer that an asset is expendable because Resolve labels it as offline or because the Power Bin entry looks duplicated. A disconnected drive, renamed folder, or unavailable network volume can make media appear unavailable without removing the file. Diagnose the path before taking a destructive action.

## Why did the Power Bin clip show up in another project?

A clip can appear in another project because Power Bins are designed to share selected media across projects. Seeing the item in a second project doesn’t, by itself, mean Resolve copied the original file or changed the second project’s timeline.

Blackmagic describes Power Bins as visible across projects on the system. Exactly what a particular user sees can depend on the project environment and library setup, especially in a team workflow. Don’t assume that every computer, project library, or user has the same access. Confirm which environment is open when troubleshooting a shared setup.

A shared bin’s purpose is convenience. You might store a company logo, a recurring slate, sound effects, or a graphic used across a series of projects. That same scope is why a mistaken import feels like it leaked into other edits. It has become part of a shared collection rather than staying in one project’s Master bin.

If the clip is visible in a second project, check these items in order:

1. Is the clip shown under **Power Bins** in both projects?
2. Are you looking at the same shared Resolve environment?
3. Does the second project’s timeline actually contain the clip, or is the clip only visible in the Media Pool?
4. Was the clip intentionally added to a regular project bin or timeline?
5. Did someone else add the item to the shared bin?

Don’t remove an asset from the Power Bin just because it appears in another project. It may be intentionally shared. If another project uses the asset, decide how that project should access the media going forward. Where needed, make sure the project has an appropriate project-level reference before clearing the shared location, then confirm that the project still works.

The word “copy” can mislead here. A clip visible in a Power Bin and in a project may be a shared-bin entry and a project-level use of the same media, not a newly created duplicate file. Resolve’s exact internal handling can depend on the operation and setup, so don’t assume that every drag or import makes the same kind of duplicate. Verify what is present in the Media Pool and on disk separately.

#
## Can a Power Bin change what another project is already editing?

Don’t assume that it does. A clip appearing in the Media Pool of another project is not the same observation as a clip being placed in that project’s timeline. Check the timeline itself. If the timeline contains the clip, inspect that edit independently from the Power Bin cleanup.

This distinction matters when you’re collaborating or editing a series. A shared logo might appear in the bin across projects while only some timelines use it. Removing the shared entry is an organization change; deleting a clip from a timeline is an edit change. Confirm which one happened before you try to repair anything.

If a teammate says their project changed, ask what they see specifically: Is the bin entry gone? Is the timeline clip missing? Is the clip offline? Each points to a different branch of troubleshooting. Don’t “fix” a reported timeline problem by re-importing shared media until you know whether the source is available and whether the project still has its own reference.

**A shared Power Bin entry and a timeline edit are different things; inspect both before changing either.**

## How do I hide Power Bins without deleting anything?

Use the Media Pool options menu and toggle **Show Power Bins** to hide the section. Hiding Power Bins changes their visibility in the interface; it is not a way to remove their contents.

In Resolve 21, start from the Media Pool’s options menu. Blackmagic’s [Resolve 21 New Features Guide](https://documents.blackmagicdesign.com/SupportNotes/DaVinci_Resolve_21_New_Features_Guide.pdf) documents the Media Pool tab changes, and the [Resolve 21.1 manual page](https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/welcome/en/W-DRE-03) is the current manual reference. Older tutorials may point to a different menu path.

Laurence Grayson’s Frame.io article notes that the old View-menu setting was removed in Resolve 18 and that the setting moved to the ellipsis menu at the top of the Media Pool. That article is from 2023 and specifically covers the Resolve 18 change, so use it to understand why an older tutorial may disagree, not as the latest version reference. Blackmagic’s [Resolve 18.1 release notes](https://forum.blackmagicdesign.com/viewtopic.php?f=21&start=0&t=170456) also describe Power Bin display controls as available in the Media Pool panel options menu.

If Power Bins are hidden:

1. Open the Media Pool on a page that displays it.
2. Click the options menu.
3. Turn on **Show Power Bins**.
4. Inspect the section and locate the item.
5. After you finish, hide the section again only if you prefer a less crowded workspace.

Hiding can be useful when you want to reduce accidental drops, but it doesn’t prevent access permanently. Someone can turn the section back on. If you routinely import media, the stronger habit is to check the active bin before importing and keep shared assets in a clearly named Power Bin hierarchy.

If the option is missing, verify that you opened the Media Pool options menu rather than a different page or panel menu. A compact panel or a different page layout can make the control hard to spot. If you’re following a version-specific procedure, check the manual for your installed Resolve version rather than assuming menu names and locations have stayed unchanged.

Don’t treat hiding as a backup or as a permission setting. It only changes what is visible in the workspace. It doesn’t protect the contents from another edit, remove a clip from shared access, or make a shared item project-specific.

## How do I stop importing media into a Power Bin by accident?

Before importing or dragging clips, select the intended project bin and confirm its location in the Media Pool. A deliberate destination check is more reliable than relying on where the pointer happens to land.

Try this small routine before each import:

1. **Open the project bin first.** Select the intended regular bin under the project’s Master bin.
2. **Check the active tab.** In Resolve 21, tabs can open conventional, Smart, and Power Bins. Confirm that the current tab is the project bin you meant to use.
3. **Read the destination label.** Make sure it doesn’t say Power Bins or show a path nested under that section.
4. **Import after selecting the destination.** Use Import Media or drag the files into the visible contents area of the project bin.
5. **Verify the result.** Check that the clips appear under the expected project bin before continuing the edit.

For drag-and-drop, aim for the main contents area of the destination bin, not the left-hand hierarchy. Dropping into the bin list can put an item in a different destination than you intended. If the panel is cramped, widen it or use the fuller Media Pool view rather than guessing.

For repeated projects, name shared bins so their purpose is obvious, such as `Shared - Logos` or `Shared - Sound Effects`. A clear label doesn’t make a mistaken drop impossible, but it makes the destination easier to recognize. Keep project-specific footage in project bins unless there’s a real reason to make it reusable.

You can also hide the Power Bins section when you don’t need shared assets. Treat that as a visibility aid, not a lock or access-control mechanism. If other editors use the same library, agree on who manages shared bins and what belongs there. A team convention can prevent someone from treating the shared collection as a personal scratch bin.

If you imported an entire folder, verify both the folder bin and any nested contents. If you used an import-bin workflow, distinguish the bin structure from the media files themselves. The Resolve manual explains that an imported bin can carry clip information without containing the actual source media files. That’s another reason to check the destination and the source separately.

#
## How should I arrange bins when a project uses shared assets?

Keep the arrangement easy to read at a glance. Project-specific footage belongs in bins under that project’s Master hierarchy. Reusable assets can go into Power Bins, organized by purpose rather than by the project where someone first used them.

For example, a small recurring production might use a regular project structure like this:

| Project bin | Example contents |
| --- | --- |
| `01 - Camera` | Original camera clips for this project |
| `02 - Audio` | Production audio and recorded voice |
| `03 - Graphics` | Project-specific graphics |
| `04 - Exports` | Review files or other project deliverables, if managed in the Media Pool |

A shared collection might instead use:

| Power Bin | Example contents |
| --- | --- |
| `Shared - Brand` | Approved logos and recurring slates |
| `Shared - Sound` | Reusable sound effects or music assets |
| `Shared - Graphics` | Graphics intentionally reused across projects |

These are example names, not prescribed Resolve bins. The point is to make scope visible in the name and hierarchy. If something belongs to one project, don’t put it in a shared bin merely because that bin is open.

Avoid using a Power Bin as a general-purpose inbox. An inbox becomes hard to audit when personal experiments, client material, and approved reusable assets sit together. If you need a temporary place to sort new material, create a clearly named project bin and move only the assets you deliberately intend to share after review.

#
## How can a team reduce accidental changes to shared media?

Agree on a simple rule for shared assets: who can add them, what belongs there, and how to label them. Resolve’s visibility controls don’t replace a team process. A shared bin is useful precisely because other projects can reach its contents, so a casual cleanup can affect someone else’s workflow.

Before removing a suspicious asset in a team environment:

- Ask whether anyone added it for a current project.
- Check whether the asset is approved or a temporary review item.
- Make sure you are in the expected project library or collaboration context.
- Remove only the specific entry that you have confirmed is accidental.
- Tell collaborators if the shared collection changed.

Don’t treat this as a claim that every Resolve setup shares bins identically. The scope depends on how the installation and projects are configured. When you can’t establish who owns an item, pause and ask the project owner rather than deleting it.

**The safest way to prevent a Power Bin mistake is to verify the active bin before every import or drag.**

## What changed in DaVinci Resolve 21, and does the fix differ by version?

The core fix is the same in Resolve 21.1.1: identify the shared Power Bin, remove only the unwanted entry, and keep the source file unless you separately intend to delete it. Menu placement and Media Pool layout can differ by version, so follow instructions that match your installed release.

As of October 24, 2026, Blackmagic’s [support center](https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/support) lists DaVinci Resolve 21.1.1. The 21.1.1 update announcement describes improvements to the trim editor, Windows 11 USAC audio support, Fusion clip controls, multi-user connection stability, and general performance and stability. It doesn’t announce a change to the core Power Bin workflow. The Resolve 21 New Features Guide documents Media Pool tabs for conventional, Smart, and Power Bins, which can make it easier to leave a Power Bin active without noticing.

Older Resolve guides can still explain the concept, but their menu paths may be stale. Frame.io’s article explains why the **Show Power Bins** setting moved from the View menu in Resolve 18. That history helps when you compare instructions, but the current support manual should win when the interface differs.

| Resolve context | What to expect | What to do |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Older Resolve tutorials | Menu instructions may refer to **View > Show Power Bins** | Use the instructions only if they match your installed interface |
| Resolve 18 and later | Power Bin visibility is controlled from the Media Pool options menu | Open the Media Pool options menu and look for **Show Power Bins** |
| Resolve 21 and 21.1.1 | The Media Pool supports tabs for Power Bins as well as conventional and Smart Bins | Check the active tab and bin path before importing or removing anything |

The exact location of some controls can depend on the page and layout. The Edit and Media pages provide a Media Pool; the Cut page has its own media browsing controls. If you don’t see the expected option, switch to a page with the full Media Pool, then inspect its options menu.

Don’t assume a feature is unavailable just because an older video doesn’t show the current control. Nor should you assume an old menu path is correct merely because the name is familiar. Use version-matched documentation when the click sequence differs.

If you’re unsure which Resolve build is installed, check the About DaVinci Resolve command in the application rather than relying on an old tutorial’s date or title. The installed version is what determines whether a particular menu path matches your screen. A version number won’t tell you which bin is active, though. You still need to inspect the Media Pool hierarchy before removing an item.

If your Resolve build differs from the one described here, look for the equivalent **Show Power Bins** control in the Media Pool options and confirm the visible section name. Avoid using a menu command simply because an older tutorial says it is in a particular location. The important result is identifying the shared bin, not matching someone else’s screenshots.

TryUncle is an on-screen assistant for Mac and Windows. You can ask Uncle a question about the task on your screen and get step-by-step guidance while you perform the actions. If you want help identifying the active bin in your own project, [TryUncle](https://tryuncle.com/) can guide you while you stay in control of the changes.

## What if removing the Power Bin item makes a project clip go offline?

If a project clip goes offline after you remove a Power Bin entry, check whether the source file moved or whether the project relied on that shared item. Don’t start by deleting, renaming, or re-importing every file in the folder.

Resolve’s manual treats relinking as the procedure for reconnecting clips whose media became unavailable because it moved. That’s a different task from removing a bin entry, and the symptoms should be diagnosed separately.

Follow this sequence:

1. **Confirm the project clip’s status.** Is it offline in the timeline, or did only the Power Bin entry disappear?
2. **Check the original file.** Use the operating system’s file browser to confirm that the media still exists at its expected location.
3. **Check the project bin.** See whether the clip is present in a regular project bin or only in Power Bins.
4. **Relink if the file moved.** Use Resolve’s relinking tools to locate the correct source media.
5. **Reopen and verify.** Confirm that the clip plays in the timeline and that the intended project remains intact.

If the original file is still present and the clip is offline, the problem may be a path or access issue rather than a Power Bin deletion. Resolve may not have access to a disconnected external drive, a changed folder, a network location, or a cloud-synced file that isn’t currently available. Those are diagnostic possibilities, not proof of what happened in your project. Confirm the location before relinking.

If a clip is visible in a timeline but no longer easy to find in the Media Pool, use the timeline’s **Find in Media Pool** command if it is available in your version. It can help identify the corresponding clip entry in the Media Pool. If search itself is the remaining problem, see [DaVinci Resolve Media Pool search not finding clips](https://tryuncle.com/learn/davinci-resolve/davinci-resolve-media-pool-search-not-finding-clips).

For valuable work, don’t experiment on the only copy of a project. Use the project’s existing backup or archive process before broad changes. The guide to [archiving a DaVinci Resolve project without losing media](https://tryuncle.com/learn/davinci-resolve/how-to-archive-a-davinci-resolve-project-without-losing-media) covers preserving project media and organization when you need a durable copy.

#
## What if the clip is still in the timeline but missing from the bin?

Check the timeline before trying to recreate the clip entry. A missing entry from the Power Bin doesn’t automatically mean a clip has vanished from every project. The timeline may still play, or the project may have an entry in a regular bin. If it plays, don’t replace it just to make the shared bin look familiar.

If the clip plays but you can’t find it in the Media Pool, select the timeline clip and use the relevant Media Pool search or find command available in your version. Confirm which item Resolve selects. Then decide whether you need to restore a shared shortcut, move the item into a project bin, or leave the timeline as it is.

If the clip is offline, inspect the media path and availability first. A lost file path is a different issue from a removed shared-bin listing. Relinking is for reconnecting a clip to media that exists at a known location. Re-importing the source may create another Media Pool entry, so check whether you can relink the existing clip instead.

#
## What if the source file is available but Resolve cannot relink it?

Check that you selected the correct media and the correct folder. A folder containing several similarly named files can make an incorrect match look plausible. Compare the full filename, extension, and relevant clip details before confirming a relink.

If the source sits on an external drive, verify that the drive is mounted and readable. On a network location, confirm that the connection is available. If the source is in a cloud-synced folder, confirm the file has downloaded locally and is not merely represented by an unavailable placeholder. These are ordinary storage checks, not Power Bin commands.

After relinking, play the affected clip and check any timeline that uses it. Don’t assume that a successful relink repaired every clip in the project. The visible result to confirm is that the intended clip is online and plays from the expected source.

## Should I remove the whole Power Bin or only the accidental media?

Remove only the accidental media when the Power Bin contains other useful assets. Remove the whole bin only when you’ve confirmed that every item in it is unwanted and no project workflow depends on it.

A Power Bin is a container. Removing the container can affect every asset organized inside it, whereas removing one clip is a narrower change. If a bin contains one mistake among approved logos, recurring sound effects, or client graphics, keep the bin and remove only the mistaken clip.

Use this decision matrix:

| Situation | Recommended action |
| --- | --- |
| One unrelated clip was dropped into a useful shared bin | Remove that clip entry only |
| An accidentally created Power Bin contains only unwanted entries | Check its contents, then remove the unwanted bin |
| The bin contains approved shared assets and one project-specific clip | Keep the bin and remove only the project-specific entry |
| The bin’s contents are unclear or used by a team | Ask the owner or check with collaborators before changing it |
| You only want the section out of view | Hide Power Bins; don’t delete the bin |
| You want to remove a clip from one project’s timeline | Edit the timeline separately; don’t remove a shared asset without checking its other uses |

In a collaborative environment, agree on ownership before cleaning shared bins. A teammate may have added assets deliberately, and an item that seems accidental in your project may be an approved resource for another editor. Resolve’s library setup matters, so don’t infer that every user has identical access to every Power Bin.

If you’re working alone, a quick inventory is still useful. List the entries you want to keep, then remove the unwanted clip. If the bin becomes empty and is no longer useful, remove the empty container afterward. This order makes it harder to delete a wanted item by mistake.

For a regular project bin, the same caution applies but the scope differs. Removing an entry from the project’s Master hierarchy affects that project’s organization, not the shared Power Bin collection. Verify the heading before acting.

A whole-bin removal is a decision about the container and its organization, not just the clip that triggered the cleanup. If you’re tempted to remove the whole bin because it looks messy, first separate the unwanted entry from the useful ones. You can reorganize the rest later, when you have time to check what each asset is and who uses it.

## How can I confirm the Power Bin fix worked?

The fix worked when the unwanted entry is no longer listed in the intended Power Bin, the source file remains where you expect it, and any project that should still use the media continues to show it correctly. Check all three separately.

Use this short verification pass:

- Reopen the Power Bin and confirm the accidental entry is gone.
- Check another project in the same Resolve environment to see whether the shared item is no longer listed there.
- Confirm that the source media still exists on storage if you intend to keep it.
- Open the project that used the clip and check the Media Pool and timeline.
- Play the relevant part of the timeline if the clip should remain in use.
- If media is offline, inspect its path and relink only when needed.

Don’t use visibility as your only test. If Power Bins are hidden, the section disappearing from the interface doesn’t prove its contents were removed. Turn the section back on and inspect it when you need to verify a removal.

Likewise, don’t use the absence of a file from the Power Bin to conclude that the source has been deleted. The bin and storage are different layers. Check the source location directly if file preservation matters.

If you intended to make a clip project-specific, confirm that the project has an appropriate reference to the media before removing it from the shared bin. The manual explains that bin organization and source media are separate concerns. A bin operation is not a substitute for copying or archiving the source files.

If everything is correct, leave Power Bins hidden or visible according to your preference. The important thing is to select the right destination next time.

#
## What should I check before I close the project?

Do a final pass while the project and the relevant Power Bin are still open. Confirm the item is gone from the right shared bin, not merely hidden by a different tab or section. Then inspect the project that was supposed to keep using the clip.

If you changed a team-shared bin, tell the people who may rely on it. That’s especially useful when the removed item was a logo, music cue, or other reusable asset. A brief note prevents another editor from spending time looking for an entry that you intentionally removed.

If you don’t know whether another project needs the asset, don’t turn uncertainty into a destructive cleanup. Leave it in place until you can ask or check. The goal is to correct the mistaken destination, not to make the shared collection smaller at any cost.

## What is the safest next step if I’m still unsure?

Stop before deleting anything from storage. Confirm the bin hierarchy, identify whether you selected a clip or a container, and read the removal dialog. If the item is shared with a team or its use is unclear, ask the project owner before clearing it.

The safe fix is usually narrow: remove the unwanted clip entry from the correct Power Bin, keep the source file, and verify any project that should still use the media. If you can’t confirm those conditions, leave the item alone until you can.

## FAQ

### Why did my media appear in every DaVinci Resolve project?

The clip may be in a Power Bin, which makes shared media available across projects in the Resolve environment. Remove the clip from the Power Bin only if it does not belong there. A project may still have its own reference to the media.

### If I remove a clip from a DaVinci Resolve Power Bin, will it delete the video from my computer?

Removing a clip from the Media Pool removes its entry from the bin; it is not the same as deleting the source file from storage. Read the confirmation dialog before accepting, and cancel if it asks to delete a file when you only meant to remove a bin entry.

### How do I hide Power Bins in DaVinci Resolve 21?

Open the Media Pool options menu and toggle Show Power Bins. Hiding the section changes its visibility, not its contents.

### How do I stop importing media into a Power Bin by accident?

Before importing or dragging media, select the intended regular project bin and check its name and location. If you mean to share assets, use a clearly named Power Bin and verify the destination before completing the drag.

## Sources

- [DaVinci Resolve Support Center](https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/support)
- [DaVinci Resolve 21.1 Manual](https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/welcome/en/W-DRE-03)
- [DaVinci Resolve 21 New Features Guide](https://documents.blackmagicdesign.com/SupportNotes/DaVinci_Resolve_21_New_Features_Guide.pdf)
- [DaVinci Resolve Media page](https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/products/davinciresolve/media)
- [DaVinci Resolve 21.1.1 update announcement](https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/support)
- [DaVinci Resolve 18.1 release notes](https://forum.blackmagicdesign.com/viewtopic.php?f=21&start=0&t=170456)
- [Power Bins: Where are they in Resolve, and what do they do?](https://blog.frame.io/2023/12/20/insider-tips-find-enable-resolve-power-bins/)