DJI Drone Not Connecting? (9 Ways to Fix It)

One of the most frustrating moments for a DJI drone owner is when the drone won’t connect to the controller, app, or WiFi. If it doesn’t connect, you can’t fly it or access all the available features.

Luckily, most of the issues that cause a failed connection are issues you can fix, but some will need you to seek repair services.

So, why is your DJI drone not connecting?

Your drone may not connect to the controller due to low or damaged batteries, damaged parts or poor repairs, firmware issues, controller problems, or background apps hindering the connection process. Before you start troubleshooting, make sure you are connecting the drone and the controller correctly.

Please keep reading to learn more ways to troubleshoot and fix this issue.

Let’s look at each issue individually and how to fix them.

1. You’re not doing it right #

Before we go into the issues your drone or controller may be facing, let’s first make sure you are connecting the drone to the controller correctly. If the status indicator flashes yellow, the drone is not connected to the controller.

Below is how you should do it for drones using the DJI Fly App, such as the DJI Mini 2, Mini SE, and Air 2S:

1. Power on the controller and the drone.
2. Connect your smartphone to the controller using the appropriate cable.
3. Access the DJI Fly App and click on “Connect to Aircraft” at the bottom right section.
4. Click on settings (3 dots at the top right).
5. Scroll to the bottom
6. Click on “Connect to Aircraft.”
7. The LEDs on the RC and the drone will blink in a sequence for a few seconds and then show a solid color to show the connection was completed.
8. The connection was successful if you can see the drone’s live footage on the smartphone’s screen.

Below is also how you can complete this connection without the app.

1. Press the customizable FN button, the photo and video button, and the shutter button simultaneously and hold for 2 seconds.
2. When the LEDs start beeping, switch on the drone.
3. The LEDs on the RC and the drone will blink in a sequence for a few seconds and then show a solid color to show the connection was completed.
4. Check the live footage, which is a confirmation of a successful connection.

If you are using a drone that has the DJI GO 4 app, such as the Mavic 2 Pro and the Mavic 2 Zoom, below is how to do it:

1. Install the DJI GO 4 app on your device.
2. Connect the mobile device to the controller and switch it on.
3. Switch on the drone by pressing once and holding it for a few seconds.
4. At the bottom of the drone, find the pairing button and press it. The LED will turn from green to red.
5. Access the DJI GO 4 app, click Connect to Aircraft and follow the screen prompts.
6. In the last prompt, press the Link button, and you should get a notification that the connection was successful.
7. You can also go to Settings, scroll to Remote Controller Settings and tap on Link Remote Controller.
8. If the drone is in linking mode and everything else is okay, the binding will be successful.

2. Low battery levels – check the batteries #

If your drone doesn’t connect to the controller, chances are the controller, the drone, or both have low charge levels, or the batteries are dead.

It’s always ideal to check the battery levels of your drone before flying. If you did charge the batteries but have waited for a while without using them, chances are they discharged to the required storage amounts, and you will have to reactivate them.

Also, check for dents or bumps on the batteries. If you notice any, the batteries are damaged and a potential fire hazard, and you should replace them.

3. Software issues – update the firmware #

Another reason your drone may not connect to the controller is firmware issues in the drone, controller, or both. Always ensure to update all your devices to the latest firmware.

But in cases where the new firmware may have a bug that may cause connection issues, you can also reset to the previous firmware using the DJI Assistant 2.

» MORE: DJI Assistant 2: A Complete Guide

4. DJI App issues – uninstall the app #

If the app doesn’t work, you can’t access most of the functionalities your drone’s manufacturer provides, including a connection to the controller.

One of the reasons an app may fail to work is because of parsing issues, especially if you are using an incompatible device. Make sure your device runs an Octacore processor, has 4GB RAM, and a 64-bit system.

You can also check the DJI Fly or GO app on DJI’s website to confirm which devices are compatible with their apps. You can try uninstalling and reinstalling the app if you have a compatible device but still have issues.

Make sure you delete all the app’s data from your smartphone before reinstalling it.

5. Damaged parts or poor repairs – recheck the drone assembly #

You may have crashed your drone, but when you checked for visible damage and didn’t find any, you thought you could keep flying.

While that’s possible, in most cases, the drone may have suffered internal damage, which may prevent the drone from connecting to the controller.

If you did attempt to fix your drone, you might find that you messed up some sections or forgot to connect some crucial parts, affecting how the drone functions.

DJI requires all their repairs to be done through their approved repair technicians. So, if they did the initial repair, you must take it back.

If you did it yourself, you could recheck the repairs you did, but it’s highly advisable to take the drone to a more knowledgeable and approved technician.

6. Controller issues – reset the controller #

Sometimes a failed connection may result from a damaged controller, either software or hardware damage.

In most cases, the firmware update I mentioned earlier should fix the problem. If it doesn’t, you can try to reset your controller to take it back to default settings.

So, how do you reset the controller? Uninstalling and reinstalling the app is one way to do it.

Other ways to reset the controller include:

• Using the controller buttons – Press C1, C2, and the shutter button simultaneously.

• Using DJI Assistant 2 – Login to your DJI Assistant 2 account, select your drone, scroll to Firmware List and click on “Restore Factory Defaults.”

• Resetting the smart controller – Clear cache and all related data and sign out. Then, go to Settings, scroll to Factory Data Reset, and confirm.

7. Poor or damaged cables and ports – try different cables #

Sometimes you will not see the live footage on your smartphone because you are using damaged cables. To make sure your cables are working, switch the cables.

You can ask a friend with a similar drone to help you out, or purchase an extra cable.

If the cables aren’t working, it’s also possible that some of the connectors in the smartphone’s USB port are damaged. You can confirm this by using the same cables to connect a different device.

If cables are the issue, you can replace them. But if the ports are damaged, you may need to replace the whole USB port system on the smartphone or get another one.

8. Background apps – stop the apps #

If you still can’t see live footage on your smartphone, try stopping all apps that may be running in the background. And unless you need WiFi, you can switch your phone to flight mode.

9. Send the drone back #

If you’ve tried every method on this list, but your drone still isn’t connecting to the controller, it’s time to let DJI handle the issue.

If your warranty is still valid or you have the DJI Care Refresh, they can help with repairs or replacements. If not, you will have to pay for the repairs.