DJI Mini 3 Pro – How to Activate and Set Up (Explained for Beginners)

So you just got your DJI Mini Pro in a box and are wondering, now what?

Setting it up may have seemed easier on YouTube or on manuals, but when you see all the components in front of you, knowing what goes where becomes a little challenging, especially if it’s your first drone.

Luckily, DJI has made it as simple as possible to fly the Mini 3 Pro right out of the box.

In this article, we will explain in detail the process of setting up your DJI Mini 3 Pro from unboxing, to connecting your drone, to some activities you must do before you take off.

DJI Mini 3 Pro – What’s in the box? #

Whether you got the RCN1 bundle or the DJI RC bundle, below is what you get in the box.

• Drone
• Controller
• One intelligent battery
• An extra set of propellers
• Screwdriver
• USB to Type C cable for charging
• Setup guides

If you want the Fly More Kit with extra batteries and other accessories, you must buy the kit separately.

You will also notice that DJI does not include a charger. Unlike in other drones, you will have to purchase a charger separately.

As long as the charger you get can output 30 Watts, it should work fine with the DJI Mini 3 Pro’s batteries.

If you want to get the full version of the manual, you can go to the DJI’s website downloads or manuals sections.

The accessories will be in one white box, while the drone and controller will be wrapped in separate translucent papers. Let’s unbox each of them.

The Controller #

If you ordered the DJI RC controller, some notable features include the 5.5-inch display screen, the Mode switch on the front, and the built-in sections where you will place the joysticks.

You can find the joysticks at the back of the controller. Remove them and screw them into the holes at the top section.

Unlike in other DJI drones, you don’t get an extra set of joysticks, and the Mini 3 Pro’s sticks come with a new design, so you can’t interchange them with those from previous drones.

So you will need to buy a spare set as soon as possible.

On the other side of the controller are the customizable C1 and C2 buttons that you can assign any function you like.

At the top right is the camera shutter button and dial, and on the top left is the video record button and a dial.

At the bottom of the controller are connectors that you can use for lanyards or other accessories, a Type-C port for charging, and an enclosed section with an SD card slot and another USB-C port.

For the RC-N1, there’s no screen, the joysticks will be at the bottom, and you only get one customizable button (FN), but the Mode switch buttons and the joystick setup will be similar to those of the DJI RC.

The Drone #

Unwrap the drone from the bag. The first striking feature is the gimbal cover at the front. It would be best if you were very careful with it since removing it wrongly could damage the gimbal.

To remove it, place your finger on the latch at the bottom of the gimbal and pull gently.

To put it back, ensure the hooks are secured correctly at the top, then press the latch until you hear a clicking sound.

When unboxing, remove all the stickers and protective foams. Otherwise, they will later cause issues such as gimbal failures.

The DJI Mini 3 Pro is a foldable drone, so it’s shipped folded. To unfold it, you can start by pushing the rear arms downwards, then push the forearms sideways.

If you have used previous DJI drones, you will realize this is a different design since you start with the front arms in most of them. The Mini 3 Pro can be unfolded in any order.

The Power button is located at the rear top. You should press it once to check the battery levels and once and hold it for a few seconds to switch on the drone.

When you try to check the battery levels for the first time, nothing will happen. This is because drones are shipped with the batteries in hibernation mode, and you must charge them first to activate them.

So, once you unbox everything, allow the batteries and the controller to charge fully.

You can charge the battery while in the drone or remove it and charge it through the 3-battery hub included in the Fly More kit.

To remove the battery from the Mini 3 Pro, press the latches on each side simultaneously and pull the battery out. To place the battery back, slide it in until you hear a clicking sound.

Things to do Before Flying your Drone #

Below are some steps you will need to take before you can fly, especially if it is your first drone.

• Set up a DJI account – DJI requires every user to create an account with them before they can use their drone.This way, they can track how you use your drone and where you will have access to other DJI products related to your line of work. If you already have an account, you only need to log in.» MORE: DJI Mini 3/Mini 3 Pro: How to Create a DJI Account (Video)
• Get an SD card – The DJI Mini 3 Pro has 1.2 GB internal memory, which only helps with its firmware.If you are shooting 4K or 48MP photos, you will need a large and fast SD card, such as a UHS-II high-speed 128 GB or 256 GB SD card.» MORE: Best DJI Mini 3 Pro SD CardsI prefer to have two SD cards so that you only lose some of the footage if something happens to the drone. For example, if you choose to get the 128 GB SD card, get two 64GB SD cards instead.» MORE: DJI Mini 3 Pro SD Cards: How to Insert, Eject, and Format (Video)
• Update the firmware and hardware – DJI updates its products quite often. So by the time you get your drone, there may be a pending update to fix bugs or introduce new features.If it’s a significant update, it will be a forced update, and the drone will not take off until you update. Make sure you have an internet connection before setting up.» MORE: DJI Mini 3 & Mini 3 Pro: How to Update Firmware (Video)
• Safety settings – Once you have set everything up, set the maximum RTH height and flight distance.You may get carried away with your first flight, that you fly too far, or forget to pay attention to the battery levels as you fly.Also, make sure the signal lost is set to RTH if you are flying outdoors or Hover if you are indoors.

The setup process #

After the drone and the controller are fully charged, power them on by pressing the power button once, then a second time, and hold.

The controller #

Once powered up, the controller will give you several prompts.

You will be asked to select your language, agree to the Software Terms and Conditions, select your location (country), select your time Zone or closest time zone, and connect to the internet.

After that, you will be asked to log in to your DJI account. If you created one earlier, log in. If you didn’t, click on Create Account and follow the prompts.

After logging in, you should get a prompt to activate your drone. Click Activate and wait for a few seconds.

Once done, you should see a screen with your drone model in the background and a large GO FLY button at the bottom right section.

If there’s a pending firmware update, it should appear in the top left section.

You can go through the list of features the update comes with and click install. It should take a few minutes, depending on your internet speed.

Depending on the type of update, the drone will either restart or switch off when the update is complete. If it switches off, restart it.

Don’t worry if the drone gets too warm. That’s normal since the Mini 3 Pro lacks fans or a cooling system. It will cool itself down when flying.

If you have a fan in your house, you can use it to help the drone cool down as it updates. Once everything is updated, you are now ready to take your first flight.

Calibration #

While it may not prompt you to calibrate anything, it’s good to initiate the calibration. Go to Control, scroll down to sensor calibration, and calibrate the Compass and IMU.

You may need to redo this every time you attempt to fly from a different location. The drone will always use screen prompts to guide you during calibration.

» MORE: DJI Mini 3 & Mini 3 Pro: How to Calibrate IMU, Compass, and Gimbal (Video)