How to Transfer Video from DJI Mini 2 to Computer (Step-By-Step Guide)

The DJI Mini is a relatively new model of drone. The first model was released in 2019, and it was followed shortly after by the Mini 2 in 2020, and in early 2022 the 3rd model was released.

This may seem like a quick turnaround, but drone technology hasn’t stopped improving this fast since it began gaining popularity in the commercial and consumer markets.

The first upgrade took the drone from a meager 2.7k video quality (barely enough to be worth the price for the simplest video and photo tasks) to 4k video, which was a huge step in drone cameras as small as the mini model holds.

These sub-250g gram drones are in high demand. As small as they are, certain laws do not apply to them, and numerous pilots with and without experience have come to love this model.

This model was created for a variety of reasons to encourage more people to enter the industry and allow content creators to fly in smaller spaces and more remote places.

Transferring video files from your Mini 2 to your computer can easily be done using a USB-C cable to connect your drone directly to the computer. Alternatively, you can remove the SD card from the Mini 2 and use an SD card reader to transfer the files to your computer.

In this article, I am focusing on the most popular Mini 2. However, many of the steps and processes described here will also apply to some degree to the other versions of the DJI Mini.  

Transferring video #

Without the ability to transfer photos and videos from a drone to another device, the machine loses almost all value. It is of extreme importance to have the ability to transfer files because of editing and reading what was captured by the drone.

As with every camera, there is more to a drone than meets the eye, but there is only so much a camera can do beyond physically taking pictures and videos.

Knowing how a camera works is crucial and requires prior understanding, but it is almost as important to know how to take images from the camera and put them somewhere that will make a difference.

One of the highlights of this drone is the simplicity of transferring files to a computer.

Almost every drone on the market comes with a slot for an SD or Micro SD card to store videos and photos; the Mini 2 is no different.

A quick glance at the back of the drone below the battery will reveal an easy slot to slide a memory card into without having to extend the arms or open any compartments.

This makes taking the SD card out and putting it into a computer that much easier. However, there is an even easier way to transfer your files.

Step-by-step Guide to transferring video from Mini 2 to computer (with USB-C cable) #

1. Turn computer on
2. Turn the DJI Mini 2 on
3. Wait until the LED light on the Mini 2 stops flashing yellow
4. Plug the drone into the computer using the USB-C on the back of the drone underneath the battery
5. Open file explorer on your computer
6. The drone will appear as a USB drive
7. Open file>DCIM>100 MEDIA
8. Footage will appear and can be easily moved to your computer hard drive

Video footage is becoming easier and easier to transfer from cameras to other devices and allows content creators and other pilots to improve their process.

Each drone that is released attempts to make things more efficient, and this one does a good job.

Being able to plug in the drone without any hassle directly into a computer makes processing easy.

The size of the drone itself also makes a difference because it is much easier to clear a space and place it next to any computer.

Apart from plugging the drone itself into the computer, there are a few other ways that allow you to transfer your photos and videos to the computer and even your phone.

First of all, if you have a small space to work with, you can always take the micro SD card and plug it directly into the computer, which allows you to work the same way as if the drone was plugged in, but without the aircraft itself needing to be on the same desk.

Either of these two ways works, and they provide the best quality files that transfer onto your computer.

Transferring video to your phone #

Sometimes we may not have access to a computer, or we just want to quickly post on social media, and a computer would just get in the way.

Luckily there is an easy method to transfer photos and videos to your phone without plugging anything in!

It is important to note that even though this method is quick, it does provide a slightly lower quality image than if the file were copied to a desktop or laptop.

To accomplish this method, follow these steps:

1. Open the phone to DJI Fly app and turn on WI-FI and Bluetooth
2. Connect the phone to the controller
3. Turn DJI Mini 2 on and wait for diagnostics to complete
   1.  This is indicated by a flashing yellow LED on the bottom of the drone
4. Go to your album to view photos and videos
5. Click the quick transfer button to transfer photos and videos to your phone

After first connection #

Steps 1-3 apply every time, but steps 4-5 only apply the first time you are connecting to a device.

The following will occur at each proceeding transfer. There is no need to connect your phone to the controller after the first transfer.

1. After diagnostics complete, press and hold the button on the bottom of the drone that was just flashing. The button will turn blue, indicating the drone has switched to quick transfer mode.
2. A prompt will appear on your phone screen to connect to the drone.
3. Once connected, the app will ask to go to your album and will already be ready to transfer photos and videos.

Phones are something almost everyone has in their pocket.

As technology improves, we are able to do more and more with them. Sometimes it may not be worth the hassle of pulling out a computer and transferring data when it can be done in less time onto your phone.

Especially with so many apps available to edit and post with, there becomes less of a need to take a photo or video into a major editing software to change only a few things on.

Phones have become computers that fit in your pocket and can do almost everything a computer can to some degree.

Conclusion #

Phones may make things easier, but there continues to be a sacrifice of quality when they are used. The camera can be the best on the market, but transferring files can degrade files quickly if not done properly.

Luckily there are multiple ways to do so, and when other methods are used, technology has made it so that there is minimal loss all around.

Most people do not need more than what the phone offers, but there are multiple ways to transfer files to allow any need to be met.

Each pilot needs to make the decision on which to use when, but it is always beneficial to know how to do both.

This is one of the reasons the DJI Mini 2 is in such high demand because the combination of its size and easy-to-use photo transfer methods, the possibilities become endless.

Whether you are on the go or have some time at home, videos and photos can be moved from the drone to another device for editing and posting.

Using the above steps, anyone can learn how to transfer both videos and photos from their drone to a phone or computer.

There are multiple ways to move files from the drone, but after learning about the advantages and disadvantages of each, the process should be much easier.