DJI Mini 3 Pro – How to Get Started (Explained for Beginners)

It’s that time of year again when the acquisition of drones is underway (think holiday season). Perhaps you have or will be receiving a brand-new drone.

If you are new to drones in general and have received a shiny new Mini 3 Pro, we will be going through all the steps needed to get the new, 1st-time drone operators up and running.

We’ll be considering:

• What’s in the various combos
• Charging all of the batteries
• Downloading, Installing, and setting up the DJI Fly Software
• Preparing the drone for flight

Hopefully, after reading this guide, you, as a new Mini 3 Pro owner, will have all of the tools needed to get up in the air quickly and safely.

Our Verdict – 8.3/10 (Great)

In the Box #

The Mini 3 Pro comes in the following Packages:

• DJI Mini 3 Pro – Includes 1 standard battery and the RC-N1 Controller
• DJI Mini 3 Pro (DJI RC) – Includes 1 standard battery and DJI RC with an integrated 700nit screen
• DJI Mini 3 Pro (No RC) – Includes 1 standard battery and the drone only

Although the 1 battery that comes with the Mini 3 Pro might seem like it is enough for someone new to flying, it is highly suggested that a DJI Mini 3 Pro Combo be purchased.

The 2 available Flymore Combos are the:

• Mini 3 Pro Fly More Kit – Includes 2 standard batteries, spare props, charging hub, and carrying bag
• Mini 3 Pro Fly More Kit Plus – Includes 2 **plus **batteries, spare props, charging hub, and carrying bag

Charging the Batteries #

The first thing that will need to be done, despite the fact that we all would like to rip open the box and fly immediately, is to charge all of the batteries that come in the various packages and combos.

RC-N1 and DJI RC Controllers #

Although the remote controller might have some power when initially opened, it is important to charge the RC as well.

Sadly, unlike previous iterations of DJI drones, the Mini 3 Pro does not include a power adaptor. For the quickest charging speeds it is recommended you purchase a 30-watt DJI Charger. With a 30-watt charger, you will be able to charge a controller thru the battery hub, as well as the drone’s batteries.

There are a few things to note, however, if you go with a single 30-watt charger. When you plug the 3-battery charging hub up to the 30-watt charger (if you bought a Flymore Combo), then use a 2nd USB-C cable to connect the RC (daisy chain), the batteries will always charge first. Only after the batteries have fully charged will the remote controller begin to charge.

Tip: If you do not have batteries in the hub, then the RC will charge normally. To get around this, it is advisable to have a 2nd charger, specifically for the RC.

Now, with that said, if you own the RC-N1 (standard) controller, simply plug the USB-C cable into the bottom of the RC. The LED indicator lights will begin to blink, signifying the remote controller is charging.

For the DJI RC, with the 5″ integrated screen, the USB-C charging port is located to the right of the covered Host and Micro SD card slots. Plug the USB-C cable in and the controller will immediately charge.

Drone Batteries #

With the Mini 3 Pro, there are 2 ways in which to charge the batteries.

Method 1: This is specifically for those that only have 1 drone battery, having not opted for the Flymore combo. The Mini 3 Pro battery can be charged while installed in the Mini 3 Pro.

Locate the USB-C charging port in the rear of the drone. Insert a UBS-C cable into the Mini 3 Pro and then into a 30-watt charger.

Method 2: If you have opted for one of the Flymore combos, you will be able to charge all 3 batteries, in succession (not simultaneously). To do this, snap the batteries into the Flymore combos charging hub and connect the USB-C cable (included) to a 30-watt charger (not included). The batteries will then charge individually, one after another.

If you have opted to purchase an additional battery (as I have), then you can charge 3 batteries in the charging hub and use a separate USB-C and 30-watt charger to charge the additional battery in the Mini 3 Pro itself. I use the charger that I have specifically for the DJI RC to charge my 4th battery.

SD Card #

Whether you have decided to get the standard Mini 3 Pro kit with the RC-N1 controller, or with the DJI RC, an SD card is required if you are wanting to record videos or take photos.

As the Mini 3 Pro does not include an SD card, below is a list, direct from DJI, of recommended SD cards:

• SanDisk Extreme 64GB V30 A1 microSDXC
• SanDisk Extreme 128GB, 256GB, 512GB V30 A2 microSDXC
• SanDisk Extreme Pro 64GB, 256GB, 400GB V30 A2 microSDXC
• SanDisk High Endurance 64GB, 256 GB V30 microSDXC
• SanDisk Max Endurance 32GB, 128GB, 256GB V30 microSDHC
• Kingston Canvas Go!Plus 64GB, 256GB V30 A2 microSDXC
• Lexar High Endurance 64GB, 128GB V30 microSDXC
• Lexar 667x 64GB, 256GB V30 A1 microSDXC
• Lexar 1066x 64GB, 128GB, 256GB V30 A2 microSDXC
• Samsung Pro Plus 128GB V30 A2 microSDXC
• Samsung EVO Plus 512GB microSDXC

Our Pick

» MORE: See here for more information on the best SD Cards for the Mini 3 Pro

If you purchased the DJI RC kit, there is also an SD card slot in the remote controller. This is used for screen recording. I don’t personally do screen recording, however, I have an SD Card in the DJI Remote as a backup, just in case I leave the Mini 3 Pro’s card in my computer at home.

Flight Software – DJI Fly #

Aside from having the batteries all charged up, in order to fly the DJI Mini 3 Pro, flight software is required
 .

What is flight software? Flight software is the app used via either your smartphone or electronic device and connected to your remote controller, which enables a connection between the drone and remote controller, which is essential for flight.

The software that works for the Mini 3 Pro is the DJI Fly app. If you have a DJI RC kit, the DJI Fly app is pre-loaded on the remote controller.

If you are using an electronic device with the RC-N1 controller, you’ll need to download the software.

Where to Download DJI Fly #

If you are using either an Android or iOS phone or tablet, the links to download the DJI Fly app are as follows:

• DJI Fly app for Android
• DJI Fly app for iOS

Please note: the DJI Fly app for Android is only available online at the link above, and is no longer available in the Google Play store.

Setting up your DJI Account #

Now that you have the DJI Fly app installed, it is time to set up your DJI Account.

STEP 1: You can easily set up your DJI account by launching the DJI Fly app and going into Profile.

STEP 2: Once in the Profile Screen, go to Log In.

STEP 3: Input the phone or email you would like to register with and be sure to check off the “I have read” section at the bottom.

STEP 4: Create your DJI Account by setting up a password for the email address you are using to login to your DJI Account.

STEP 5: Enter the Captcha info and submit.

You’ll now be brought to the main profile page. You will see you have been set up as a generic DJI User.

STEP 6: To change your name and profile picture, tap your current djiuser_ name (this will bring you to the Profile details page, and you can change your DJI username to whatever you’d like, as well as upload a profile picture.

Navigating the DJI Fly app Main Screen #

It’s now time to go into the DJI Fly app and get familiar with flying for the first time!

Connecting to the Fly App #

STEP 1: If you are still in the Fly app, Exit the app. Connect your smartphone to your RC-N1 controller, as seen below.

STEP 2: Open the DJI Fly app and turn on the RC-N1

To power on the controller, press the power button once, then long-press-hold until the RC makes a power-on signal. The lights will also flash.

The Home Screen #

The main screen in the DJI Fly app houses all the important flight information you will need for flight.

At a glance you are able to see (along the top):

• Aircraft Battery percentage – flight time remaining
• RC (Remote Control) signal strength
• Obstacle Avoidance mode – whether it is off, set to bypass, or hover
• Number of locked satellites (it is best to fly after 7-12 satellites have been locked)

» MORE: Go here for more information on GPS satellite lock

If you press the battery percentage icon, you are given more detailed information in regard to:

• How many minutes until RTH (return to home)
• How many minutes until the drone force lands
• How many minutes until the batteries are completely depleted

At the bottom of the app, you’ll see the following:

• How fast you are flying
• How far out the drone is from your current position
• How high the drone currently is AGL (above ground level)
• Drone positioning (Map)

By tapping the Map icon (bottom left – small up-arrow), you are able to get into 3 different Map views:

• Radar

• Small Map view

• Large Map view

Now that you are familiar with the main screen, we will talk about the various in-app options that affect flight safety.

In-App Options #

To get into the many Fly app options, press the 3-button menu at the top-right of the screen.

In the options, you will see the following tabs:

• Safety
• Control
• Camera
• Transmission
• About

For our intent and purposes, we will go through the tabs that are specific to getting up in the air safely and take a few pictures and videos.

OBSTACLE AVOIDANCE

This is one of the more important options that need to be set correctly and has an impact on those new to flying drones.

There are three options for obstacle avoidance: Bypass, Brake, and Off.

OFF – Basically, this means that the top, rear, and front sensors are inactivated, allowing you to fly your drone into any obstacle that might be in the Mini 3 Pros flight path.

Why would anyone fly with the obstacle avoidance off? I myself fly with them off (on all drones), as I like to get close to objects and fly in tight areas that would not be possible with the sensors on and stopping my flight.

BYPASS – this enables the Mini 3 Pro (when in a straight line) to go around an object currently in its way. The Mini 3 Pro will pick the best path to do so.

BRAKE – when enabled, the Mini 3 Pro will basically stop and hover when an obstacle presents itself. You will then be able to determine the best route to take to get around the object.

RADAR MAP

This option, when on, will give you a real-time on-screen view of how far objects are in front of, on the side of, and behind the Mini 3 Pro. This is actually a great option to have on if you are flying with the obstacle avoidance system off as you will be presented with audible and visual alerts when close to objects, without being slowed down.

FLIGHT PROTECTION

This particular section is one you will really want to pay attention to and be sure to set. In the Flight Protection tab you can set the Maximum Height the Mini 3 Pro can fly, Its maximum flight distance, and the RTH (Return to Home) Altitude.

Max Altitude – In the US, the maximum altitude a drone can fly, as specified by the FAA is 400ft AGL. There are exceptions to this, such as when flying around high structures (buildings, towers, etc.). To stay in compliance, it is best to set the Max height at 400ft, so you won’t have to worry about it.

Max Distance – Also, in the US, the FAA has mandated that drone operators stay within visual line of sight (VLOS). This is subjective to how far a person can see without the aid of binoculars. Set the Max Distance at “no limit” and just take care to keep an eye on where the Mini 3 Pro is at all times.

Auto RTH Altitude – This is also very important. As the name suggests, RTH (return to home) is a function built into most DJI drones that, when activated (either manually by the operator or automatically at RC disconnect), the Mini 3 Pro will stop what it is doing and make its way back to you.

If the RTH height is not set at least higher than the highest object where you are flying, the Mini 3 Pro is in danger of crashing into said object.

Some chose to have their RTH height set to 400ft and just forget about it, however, we suggest setting your RTH to 30 or so feet above the height of the highest obstacle where you are flying. Setting your RTH in this manner can prove to be safer for manned aircraft that might be flying in your immediate area (ie helicopters).

COMPASS and IMU

When flying for the first time with a new drone, it is important to calibrate your Compass and IMU.

The compass (and IMU) in any drone is used for the drone’s positioning, like a standard hand-held compass. If the drone compass is not calibrated or calibrated correctly, it could result in the drone flying erratically or loss of the drone (in worse-case scenarios).

Oftentimes, when flying in the same general area, the Mini 3 Pro compass would just need to be calibrated once. If you fly or plan to fly in different geographical areas, or far from home, but in the same state, calibrating the compass is recommended.

To calibrate the Compass or IMU on the Mini 3 Pro, while in the Safety tab go to Compass or IMU and tap Calibrate and the Fly app will walk you through how to do so.

In addition, you may be prompted by the Fly app to calibrate either the Compass or IMU if it is deemed necessary. In those cases, you would follow the on-screen prompts.

ADVANCED SAFETY SETTINGS

An essential safety setting that should be done regularly, based on your situation and where you are flying, is setting the Mini 3 Pros behavior for when the signal is lost.

There may come times when, due to environmental issues, there is signal loss between the Mini 3 Pro and the remote controller. This might happen in congested areas or just out of the blue, on occasion.

There are 3 actions the Mini 3 Pro can take upon signal loss:

• RTH
• Descend
• Hover

RTH – When signal loss is detected, the Mini 3 Pro will ascend to the predefined RTH height (as discussed earlier), and return to the drone operator.

DESCEND – With this option, the Mini 3 Pro will descend, to the point of landing. This might be a viable option if you are flying your Mini 3 Pro in wind conditions, while over land and not water.

Many in the Mini community have stated that this option has saved quite a few mini DJI drones, where RTH would have lost the drone to excessive winds, higher up.

HOVER – This will allow the Mini 3 Pro to just hover in place when the signal is lost. This is ideal for when flying indoors or in areas with a lot of tall buildings or skyscrapers, where RTH would inevitably cause a crash or loss of drone.

» MORE: How to Master Shooting in Manual Mode

DJI Fly Final Thoughts #

We have only touched the surface of all that the DJI Fly app does. We primarily went through the information that will get you off the ground and in the air, as well as the most important safety settings.

If you would like information that goes deeper into the DJI Fly app, as well as go into advanced camera settings, please see the following articles:

» MORE: DJI Fly app for the DJI Mini 2

Remote Controller #

Briefly, we will highlight the various functions of the RC-N1 and DJI RC remote controllers.

RC-N1 Controller #

As mentioned earlier, to power on the controller, press the power button once, then long-press-hold until the RC makes an audible signal. This denotes that the remote is powering on.

What is found on the front of the controller:

• Power button
• 4 LED indicator/status lights
• Cine, Normal, and Sport mode switch
• Return to Home button (RTH)
• FN (Function) button which can be customized in a variety of ways
• Camera button 

The top of the RC has the following:

• The slide-out integrated antenna and smartphone holder/mount
• The camera/video trigger button
• Scroll-wheel to adjust the pitch of the camera gimbal
• 2 indented pads to lock the smartphone in

» MORE: See here for a more detailed look into all of the buttons and functions the RC-N1 has

DJI RC Controller #

The DJI RC is a welcome addition to the DJI line of Smart Controllers. Although substantially cheaper than the DJI RC Pro and DJI Smart Controller, the DJI RC has a bright-enough screen at 700 nits and a 5.5″ integrated screen.

Similar to the RC-N1, to power on the controller, press the power button once, then long-press-hold until the RC makes an audible signal. You will soon see the DJI splash screen.

The face of the DJI RC has the following:

• Return to Home button (RTH)
• Cine, Normal, and Sport mode switch
• Power button (press then long-press-hold to turn on)
• 4 LED indicator/status lights and a Power On LED
• 2 Removable Control Sticks

The back of the DJI RC has the following:

• C1 and C2 buttons
• 2 Slots to store the removable control sticks

The top of the DJI RC has the following:

• 2 scroll wheels
• Video record button
• Photo shutter button
• 2 flush/integrated antennas

For more discussions and thoughts on the DJI RC in greater detail, please see the following article:

» MORE: DJI Mini 3 Pro with DJI RC

Final Thoughts #

The Mini 3 Pro, as its name denotes, is capable of doing so much more than flying around. Using the preceding information to set up your Mini 3 Pro for flight will allow you to explore taking great photos and exceptional 4k videos.

After taking the time to really get to know the flight characteristics of the Mini 3 Pro, delving into the DJI Fly app and going through the many settings for photo and video is going to be an exciting part of your new Mini 3 Pro journey.

» MORE: DJI Mini 3 Pro Longterm Review