DJI Mini 3 – How to Use QuickTransfer (Explained)

The DJI Mini 3 is just the perfect little flyer, not only for those just starting out, but for the seasoned drone pilot as well. It is small in size and is jammed-pack full of some of DJI’s best features.

The DJI Mini 3 is innovation at its best.

After all, as time goes by, we have come to expect that our technology will get smaller and smaller. The DJI Mini 3 is a prime example of that theory at work.

Weighing in at only 249 grams and containing nearly all of the features that have made DJI, well DJI, the Mini 3 is impressive, what with not only all the features it has, but even the extra unique feature of switching to a true vertical shooting format.

Simply impressive, for sure.

There are many features we could discuss, and DJI has certainly given us more than enough to talk about.

Today though, we want to look at the QuickTransfer feature that we can find within the DJI Mini 3.

What is QuickTransfer? How do you use it? What do you do if it doesn’t work? Don’t worry; we’ve got these questions covered and more. As DJI says about the Mini 3 – So Fly!

The DJI QuickTransfer feature allows you directly connect to your mobile device via Wi-Fi. By logging into your DJI account and through the DJI Fly App, you can download the photos and videos from the aircraft to your mobile device with a transmission rate of up to 25 MB/s wirelessly.

This can take a lot of the hassle out of downloading your recorded data, providing a more convenient and efficient means of data transfer.

We first saw this type of data transfer made available with the DJI Mini 2, the Mini 3’s predecessor.

Unlike the DJI Mini 2, though, there is no longer an actual button on the controller to push. The DJI Mini 3 will, under certain conditions, prompt you with an in-app message.

With the controller off, and the aircraft and app on, you will receive this prompt within the app suggesting a connection to the device. We’ll cover that in more detail just below.

First, though let’s cover the processes of how-to setup QuickTransfer.

How to QuickTransfer! Process 1 #

(For use when the mobile device is not connected to the remote controller.)

1. Power on the aircraft and wait until the aircraft’s self-diagnostic tests have been completed.
2. Quickly pressing the power button three times will switch the system to QuickTransfer mode. You will know this process has been completed when the aircraft status LEDs blink blue.
3. Be sure that you have Bluetooth and Wi-Fi enabled on the mobile device you’re using.
4. Launch the DJI Fly App. Once the app loads and opens, you should see a prompt for connecting the aircraft.
5. Tap the Connect tab. The mobile device should now be connected to the aircraft, and the Photos and videos on the aircraft can now be accessed and downloaded at the high speed 25MB/s rate, through QuickTransfer.
6. When connecting the mobile device to the aircraft for the first time, you need to press and hold the power button for two seconds to confirm.

How to QuickTransfer! Process 2 #

(For use when the mobile device is connected to the remote controller.)

1. Make sure that the aircraft is connected to the mobile device via the remote controller and that the motors have not started.
2. Be sure that you have Bluetooth and Wi-Fi enabled on the mobile device you’re using.
3. Launch DJI Fly, and enter playback by tapping the icon below the record button.
4. You will find an icon in the upper right corner on the Playback page for QuickTransfer. Tap this tab and follow the prompts in the app to switch to QuickTransfer mode.
5. You can now download the files from the aircraft at the high-speed 25MB/s rate that QuickTransfer mode offers.

What if it doesn’t connect? #

Now, of course, there may be times when these connection processes don’t connect. I know, I know. That perfect world thing again.

There’s a lot going on when we connect things wirelessly, and well, sometimes things don’t work.

In these cases, the most likely issue for the connection not going through is the need to sign the aircraft-created network into the mobile device you’re using.

Now there could be other causes that have kept the connection from connecting. This one, though, is the most likely and most commonly found.

Especially when making the connection for the first time. Before we cover that, let’s look at a few of the other reasons QuickTransfer may not be connecting.

Check the Firmware #

Some of those other common causes should be checked if you’re finding yourself having difficulties.

Out-of-date firmware is just a good one to check whenever you have an issue with any DJI product. Firmware updates are, by their very design, intended to correct known bugs and improve performance.

It’s always best to keep up to date on your mobile device’s firmware for the same reasons, as the problem may stem from the mobile device you’re attempting to connect to and not be from the aircraft side of the equation.

Check the DJI Fly App #

You can uninstall and reinstall the DJI Fly App, as this alone can solve many issues that crop up in your system from time to time.

One of the best benefits of going this route is that the permissions that are granted during the reinstall may correct anything you may have inadvertently changed on your mobile device and provide a clean copy of the Fly App.

If you’re tech-savvy enough, you can skip the uninstall and manually check the app permissions within your mobile device’s app settings section.

This method is alright, but there is no harm in reinstalling a clean, up-to-date version of the DJI Fly app.

Also, the issue may not be in the permissions but due to some minor corruption in the app’s firmware itself.

Power OFF/ON mobile device #

This one is so easy to overlook that some people just don’t think of it.

However, many have found that when they have had issues with connecting their aircraft and mobile device, simply powering down the mobile device and powering it back on again resolves the connection issue.

This isn’t too surprising, though. When we think about what happens when we do that, it makes sense. When we turn our mobile devices on, a few things happen.

One of the first things the device does is search and connect to whatever network it uses.

This will also provide a list of other available networks we can connect to as well, like the aircraft. This was one of our steps from above, remember?

They also run a self-diagnostic and inform you if there is any need to update the system’s firmware or apps. Similar to what your DJI Mini 3 or other drones do when they are powered up.

One of the most interesting things is it starts a new session basically. When we power the device off, a lot of the search and activity clutter is stored and filed away or deleted.

Sort of like a shutdown organization of data, if you will.

This is an often-overlooked easy solution to any connection issues with a mobile device.

Check your distance #

This one may even have you chuckling a little right now, as it may seem silly. It’s a fact though, that you can have the mobile device and the aircraft just too far from one another.

When connecting for QuickTransfer Mode, much like when you are binding/linking the aircraft to the controller, there is a limited range for that process to work. Usually, 1.3m.

This is also true for the QuickTransfer Mode.

We could have a blast going into the reasons and technicalities of what’s going on with the transmission system when binding or quick transferring, which is sure to provide you the best sleep ever.

Let’s just say that even though the transmission system is the same, it’s being used differently during these uses from how it is used when flying, and due to that, the range is very limited.

Connect phone and drone networks #

There can many reasons why the QuickTransfer Mode fails to connect, as we’ve shown above. One of the most common is that the two devices have failed to connect due to not being signed into one another’s networks.

One of the reasons this is so prevalent with a new device is that you may have skipped the log-on step by mistake in the setup process, or if this happens after using the device for the initial time, it could be a firmware update has removed an unsaved password such as the one used during the network connection process.

It doesn’t matter how this happens; it’s just that we find ourselves dealing with the fact that it did or does, and we need to fix it.

Following the steps below will guide you through this process.

1. A notification has appeared in the DJI Fly App, “Failed to Connect.”
2. Scroll to the bottom of this notification to find the Network Name of the Aircraft and the Password.
3. Tap OK to clear the notification.
4. Open the Wi-Fi settings page on your mobile device. In the Available Networks section, look for the one that matches the aircraft network name. (It is good to note here that if the network does not appear in this section, you may need to search for networks.)
5. After finding the aircraft matching network name, select it and follow the connection prompts that follow, such as logging into the network with the password provided from the aircraft.
6. This should make the connection possible now, and you just need to repeat the steps discussed above for the method you are using.

Oh! One other thing! #

Now there is another thing we should note here. The QuickTransfer connection only operates in the 2.4GHz Frequency Band.

So, if by chance you have changed to the 5.8GHz Frequency Band, you will need to switch back to the 2.4GHz band before making the connection.

It is ok to have the Dual Band setting set here as the aircraft will do the switch itself. If you have set this manually, however, you will want to verify that you are set to the 2.4GHz band.

Bringing it in #

One of the things we have to keep in mind if we encounter issues with using the QuickTransfer Mode is that we are adding an extra component to the mix.

Whenever we do that, there could be an issue from one device or another.

Establishing where the fault lies will be trial and error. One of the first steps is always finding out which device is the problem and moving on from there.

We have new mobile devices that come out every few months, and this is where keeping up with the firmware is crucial.

They will commonly be fixing bugs that have cropped up and fix compatibility errors with the multiple mobile devices that exist.

Only once you figure out where the problem lies can you troubleshoot your way to a solution.

Fly Safe, Fly Always, Always Fly Safe!