How can we help?

Have confidence in your productions with exceptional 7-day a week support.

Updating Blackmagic Desktop Video on macOS

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. 

We are currently recommending Blackmagic Desktop Video 14.3 or Higher. Should the below steps not work for you, please contact BlackMagic Support.

 

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 SettingsGeneralLogin 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.

  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 SettingsPrivacy & Security (older macOS: System PreferencesSecurity & PrivacyGeneral) 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.


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

  • Check macOS sees the hardware: Apple menuSystem SettingsGeneralAboutSystem 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

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


Related to

Comments

0 comments

Please sign in to leave a comment.