DJI Air 3: How to Update Firmware (Step-by-Step Guide with Video)

Although the DJI Air 3 is a relatively new drone, having been released summer of 2023, to date it has received a few firmware updates.

Firmware updates are essential for drones as they oftentimes address and fix bugs, implement performance enhancements, and add new features.

This article and the included YouTube video will be a step-by-step guide showing how to update the firmware on the DJI Air 3 and DJI RC 2 remote controller, which may at times also update the firmware on the Air 3’s batteries.

Updating the Air 3’s Firmware #

While there are some that like to stay with the original firmware their drones were released with, updating your Air 3’s firmware is beneficial.

As mentioned, new features, tweaks, and fixes are added over time. These updates improve the user experience. One such recent improvement to the Air 3 is the addition of Active Track-360 Auto and other features.

DJI has been committed, lately, to implementing many of the features into the Air 3 that their prosumer lines have, more specifically the Mavic 3 series.

To update the firmware on your Air 3, you’ll need your:

• DJI Air 3
• DJI remote controller (in this instance the DJI RC 2)
• all of the batteries you own and use for the Air 3

Additionally, as a general rule of thumb, it is advised to have the Air 3 batteries and remote controller fully charged before running firmware updates.

The steps to update the firmware on your Air 3 are as follows:

STEP 1: Before turning the Air 3 on, remove the gimbal cover. This will ensure that when the Air 3 is turned on, the movement of the gimbal will not be impeded and cause errors.

STEP 2: After booting up your DJI RC 2, make sure you are connected to a WiFi network. To check this, go into your settings screen by double-sliding down the notification shade. If your WiFi is not enabled, tap the WiFi icon and wait for a connection.

If you are connecting to WiFi for the first time, press and hold the WiFi icon. This will bring you into the WiFi settings. Here you can connect to your preferred network.

STEP 3: Turn on the Air 3.

STEP 4: If you use your DJI RC 2 to also fly a Mini 4 Pro in addition to the Air 3, depending on which drone was flown last, you may need to scroll through the list of drones used and choose the Air 3.

Select the Air 3. Then choose Go Fly.

If you only have the Air 3, you’ll most likely enter the DJI Fly Camera View screen immediately.

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STEP 5: From within the Camera View screen, press the back button, which will take you to the Air 3 home screen.

Here you will see that there is a firmware update available. Choose Install.

STEP 6: If you haven’t already done so, unfold the Air 3, so you can insert the next set of batteries after the initial update has been installed.

During the update process, the lights on the Air 3 will flash various colors. The DJI RC 2 will also reboot itself.

After the firmware has been installed and updated, you may need to update each battery that you own and use in the Air 3.

STEP 7: Turn off the Air 3, remove the battery that was initially in the Air 3 for the update, and insert the next one. Turn on your Air 3.

STEP 8: Hit the back button after the Air 3 turns on and goes into Camera View. If there is a battery firmware update, you should now see another update available (for the battery). Select Update.

You’ll then be brought to an additional screen that says “update available”. Select Update here**,** and then the Air 3 battery will update.

It’s normal, while the battery is in the process of being updated, that the Air 3 will reboot itself, possibly more than once.

After the battery has been updated, you’ll receive a message saying “Firmware update successful”. At this point, you can exit the Update screen, returning back to the DJI Fly home screen.

If the Air 3 has not shut off at this point, you’ll need to turn off the Air 3, insert a new battery, and boot up again for each battery that you own. This will initiate the update for the battery after which you can repeat the aforementioned steps.

Depending on the number of batteries you have, this process can take a few minutes.

Manually Checking for Firmware Updates #

If you have not been prompted automatically that there is a new firmware available, you can manually check for updates, by doing the following:

With the DJI RC 2 turned on and connected to your WiFi network, while on the DJI Fly home screen, simply go to Profile > Settings > Firmware Update > Check for Firmware Updates.

After the DJI RC 2 checks for the update, if there is none, you’ll receive a message saying “Your firmware is up to date”.

If there is a new firmware update, you’ll be alerted and will have the option to run the update.

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