Optically active spin defects are foundational for quantum technologies, yet common approximations underestimate their internal conversion (IC) rates by orders of magnitude. We propose a broad, predictive framework to compute IC rates that incorporates multiconfigurational effects via many-body wave functions in time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) and includes all-phonon-mode contributions via analytical nonadiabatic couplings. Our approach resolves discrepancies with experiment, achieving quantitative agreement for the ${\mathrm{NV}}^{-}$ center in diamond and identifying a previously overlooked nonradiative channel in the divacancy triplet lifetime in SiC.

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• Color centers
• Defects
• NV centers
• Silicon vacancies
• Vacancies
• First-principles calculations