Blackmagic Desktop Video is the driver that allows your Blackmagic video device (DeckLink and UltraStudio capture cards) to input or output to or from your computer. These drivers do not automatically update, but from time to time we update how our software interacts with them to utilize new or more stable capabilities which will require you to update these drivers. Below are the steps to download and install a new version of the drivers. 

Looking for instructions on how to install BlackMagic Desktop Video on Windows? Click here.

1) Preparation

• Quit ProPresenter, ProVideoPlayer, ProScoreboard and any other app that is using Blackmagic Devices.

• Disconnect and power-cycle your Blackmagic device (Thunderbolt/USB/PCIe) so macOS can detect it fresh after the update.

• Ensure you have admin rights on the Mac.

2) Download the latest Desktop Video for macOS

1. Go to Blackmagic’s Support Center.

2. Download the latest Desktop Video for Mac. (Registration is optional—use “Download Only”.) 

3) Uninstall the old driver first (Optional)

• Mount the new Desktop Video .dmg. In that disk image you’ll find Uninstall Desktop Video. Run it, then restart. You’ll reinstall next. (This can avoid macOS hanging on to older components.)

4) Install the update

1. Open Install Desktop Video from the .dmg and follow the prompts.

2. When the installer finishes, restart the Mac if prompted.

5) Allow Blackmagic’s extensions (what macOS calls “system/driver extensions”)

A. Allow Extensions

1. Open System Settings → General → Login Items & Extensions.

   • In Allow in Background, enable Blackmagic Design Desktop Video and Blackmagic Design Inc if present.

2. On the same page, scroll to Driver Extensions, click the ⓘ and enable Blackmagic Design. Do the same for Camera Extensions as well.

3. Restart the Mac.
   If anything looks stuck, toggle the items off, restart, then toggle on and restart again. 

B. If you see a “System Extension Blocked” or “System software from developer ‘Blackmagic Design Inc.’ was blocked” alert

• Go to System Settings → Privacy & Security (older macOS: System Preferences → Security & Privacy → General) and click Allow next to the Blackmagic message, then restart if requested. 

6) Verify Connection to Card

• Open Desktop Video Setup (installed with the package).

  • Desktop Video Setup → About should show the new version.

  • Your device (UltraStudio/DeckLink/Intensity) should appear and report its status. If not, continue below.

  • Its also possible that at this point it will prompt a firmware update for your hardware, follow those on-screen prompts to complete installation. 

7) Quick troubleshooting (if the device doesn’t show up)

• Check macOS sees the hardware: Apple menu → System Settings → General → About → System Report…

  • For Thunderbolt/USB devices, look under Thunderbolt

  • If the device isn’t listed here, it’s a cable/power/port issue—not a driver issue.

• Re-enable Driver Extensions: Revisit Login Items & Extensions → toggle Blackmagic background items and Driver Extension off/on, then restart. 

• Firmware Update: Your device may need a firmware update. If you aren't prompted to update when first opening Desktop Video Setup, try disconnecting and reconnecting your device to see if the update prompt appears.

• Clean reinstall: Run the Uninstall Desktop Video, restart, reinstall the same (or a different) Desktop Video version, click Allow when prompted, then restart again.