How to Factory Reset a Parrot Skycontroller 2 (Easy Guide)

Released in August of 2016, the Skycontroller 2 is the second generation model of the Skycontroller. The Skycontroller 2 is a lightweight controller made by Parrot that can be used with such drones as the Bebop 2 or the Bluegrass. 

The controller has two precision joysticks that make flying a simple experience. It is compatible with any smartphone that has the FreeFlight Pro app installed. Sometimes, your Skycontroller 2 can become corrupted by bugs, and therefore you may find it helpful to reset your controller. I couldn’t find much information about how to reset the Skycontroller 2, so I reached out to Parrot support to learn how it’s done. Here’s what I learned. 

To factory reset your Skycontroller 2, you simply need to disconnect the battery from the controller, keep it disconnected for 1-2 minutes, then reinstall the battery. Your Skycontroller 2 will automatically reset with this procedure.

Like with any piece of technology, Parrot drones, whether it’s the drones themselves or the controllers such as the Skycontroller 2, have been reported to have tendencies to certain types of problems. 

Some users complain that Parrot customer support is less than helpful with these problems, and even when they do offer solutions, their solutions are cryptic and don’t make sense. One of the common problems users have reported is with their controllers, especially the Skycontroller 2. 

At times, problems with this controller may mean you have to reset it. If you search the web, whether it’s forums or the Parrot website or tech blogs, there are not many answers to be found as to how to reset your Skycontroller 2.

So, even though I don’t currently have a Parrot drone myself, I thought it would be worthwhile to contact Parrot myself to find a solution to this problem. Parrot support got back to me within about 3 business days (not remarkably fast, but not terrible, either) to answer my question about factory resetting the Skycontroller 2. 

The very simple answer given was to **remove the battery and then reconnect it. Presumably, this will effectively reset the controller. I would add my own suggestion that you keep the battery out for at least a minute or two before reinstalling, as this will give the device time to clear the memory before rebooting. **

How do I update my Parrot Skycontroller 2? #

The truth is that it isn’t uncommon for the Skycontroller 2 to have issues. At times, finding the problem and the solution can be quite confusing, especially to an inexperienced owner.

So, it’s quite understandable if you can’t find any material on how you can safely update your Skycontroller 2. If you’ve been stumped by this to far, you’ll be glad to know that in this section, I’ll give you the steps you need to successfully update your Skycontroller 2.

If you are reading this, you are probably at your wit’s end on how you can update your Skycontroller 2. Well, here’s how you can go about it! Follow these simple steps, and you’ll be good to go.

• Using a micro-USB cable, connect your smartphone to your Skycontroller 2. For iOS, use your phone’s cable.
• Once your Skycontroller 2 and smartphone are connected, switch on your Parrot Skycontroller 2, and the FreeFlight Pro app will start up automatically.
• When in the FreeFlight Pro app, go to FLY & FILM.
• Then go to settings and scroll down. Press the controller icon you’ll see.
• You should easily spot the Firmware section. Once there, press Check for Updates, and a pop-up window will appear, prompting you to install the update.
• Once you’ve done the above, press OK, and the update will start.
• Press OK once more to continue the update. The FreeFlight Pro app will download the update and install it automatically.

How do you connect the Skycontroller 2 to your Parrot Drone? #

One of the first things you need to do before flying your drone is to connect the controller to the drone. But, just like any other technology, drones are prone to technical glitches, and at times you may experience issues like connection failure.

There are several reasons why your drone may fail to pair with your controller. These may include low or dead batteries, the controller not syncing properly, or a technical glitch. 

So, if you are having trouble connecting your Skycontroller 2 with your Parrot drone, here’s a little help. In this section, we will give a step-by-step guide on how to connect your Skycontroller 2 with your Parrot drone. Just follow the steps below:

• Firstly, place your Parrot drone on a flat surface and then press the ON/OFF button to turn it on. The light should flash red then green.
• Press the ON/OFF switch on your Parrot Skycontroller 2.
• Wait until the warning light turns green, and you will be connected to your Parrot drone.

If the warning light continues to flash red, then you’ll have to calibrate your drone. To do this, follow these simple steps:

• Go to the FreeFlight Pro app, and then proceed to Fly & Film and then Position, Distances, and Limits, and then press Calibrate.
• Rotate your Parrot drone on the Z-axis (yaw).
• Rotate your Parrot drone on the Y-axis (pitch).
• Rotate your Parrot drone on the X-axis (roll).

The warning light should flash green, and your Parrot drone is calibrated. After successfully calibrating, it shouldn’t have any trouble connecting with the Skycontroller 2.

How do you charge a Parrot Skycontroller 2? #

Just like charging the drone battery is essential before every flight, equally important is charging your remote controller battery. This may seem simple, but you’d be surprised at the number of people out there who simply forget that this is necessary, and maybe you are too.

In this section, we explore how to charge your Skycontroller 2 battery correctly so you don’t damage it.

• Connect the Skycontroller 2 to its charger and then connect the charger to the power outlet.
• Turn on the power outlet. On your Skycontroller 2, the indicator light will turn orange, letting you know the controller is charging. When your controller is fully charged, the battery charge indicator light on your controller will turn green.
• Remove the controller from the charger as soon as it is fully charged. 

In conclusion, should you be having any troubles with your Skycontroller 2, you should probably try resetting it, which should fix the problem. Follow the tips in this guide, and all should be well.

Image Credit: Parrot