Litchi for DJI Mini 3 Pro (Explained for Beginners)

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Litchi is a third-party app for DJI drones with smart waypoint planning, photography modes, drone tracking, and an FPV mode.

Naturally, it’s a great accompaniment if you own the Mini 3 Pro, but does Litchi work with this drone yet?

Litchi does not yet work with the DJI Mini 3 Pro, but DJI recently released MSDK 5.3.0 with Mini 3 Pro support, so it seems like it’s only a matter of time before Litchi will work with this beloved drone.

Now is a great time to explore Litchi in-depth so you can get ready for its inevitable release for the Mini 3 Pro.

This article will explain what Litchi is, how to download it, and how to use it so you can take your Mini 3 Pro to new heights!

What is Litchi? #

Litchi is a third-party app designed for augmenting DJI drones.

Although DJI has its own litany of apps for its collection of drones that suffice for many pilots, Litchi is more than a drone diagnostics and flight performance app.

As mentioned in the intro, it includes automated modes that take over your drone flight.

Litchi costs $24.99, but it’s worth it in the opinion of many pilots. It’s compatible with many DJI drones and even several DJI monitors such as the Phantom 4 screens, CrystalSky, and the Smart Controller.

Does Litchi work with the DJI Mini 3 Pro? #

The Mini 3 Pro was released on May 10, 2022. Here we are, over a year later, and no Litchi support.

As 2023 got underway, it seemed unlikely for that to change. Pilots felt dismayed. Some held off on purchasing the Mini 3 Pro because of the lack of Litchi support.

The reason Litchi didn’t work for the Mini 3 Pro had to do with DJI’s Software Development Kit or SDK releases.

Until 2023, the SDK didn’t support the Mini 3 Pro. That all changed in the spring, when DI announced the MSDK 5.3 release, which will include the titular drone.

As a third-party software, Litchi is at the mercy of DJI’s SDKs to update its roster of supported drones.

Now that we’re getting that long-awaited SDK update, Litchi can finally add the Mini 3 Pro to its huge roster of compatible drones.

It just hasn’t happened quite yet.

You see, as of this writing, Litchi operates using DJI’s SDK 4 framework, so it will have to update all its drone support with this new MSDK 5.3 release.

If that sounds like no small feat, that’s because it isn’t!

However, Litchi has been known to work its magic quickly, offering support for DJI drones in what seems like the blink of an eye.

That could happen this time with the Mini 3 Pro, or we could be in for a longer wait due to the more complex SDK update.

Litchi hasn’t updated since November 2022, so it’s due for one. Hopefully, the app can incorporate the Mini 3 Pro into its supported roster of drones quickly once the new SDK hits.

Downloading and Running Litchi #

While we wait for Litchi to support the Mini 3 Pro, why not download the app and get it set up? You’ll need it sooner or later.

You can download Litchi from the Google Play Store for Android devices or the Apple App Store for Apple devices.

Search for “Litchi” in your app store on your phone or download the app from Litchi’s website (here’s the link for you again).

Once you’ve got the app downloaded, it’s time to connect.

Connecting Litchi to an iOS device #

Close any DJI apps, including DJI Go or DJI Fly. Check that you don’t have these apps open in the background.
Turn on your remote controller and drone, allowing both to initialize.
Plug one cable end into your iOS device and the other into the drone’s remote.
Link up to the Wi-Fi network if you’re using the Spark, Phantom 3 Standard, or Phantom 4K.
Open Litchi on your iOS device and log in.

Connecting Litchi to an Android device #

Turn off any DJI apps running on your Android device. Double-check you don’t have them open in the background.
Change your app settings so your DJI app doesn’t open by default when you link your remote. In your Android device settings, select Settings, then Apps. Find DJI Go or DJI Fly and clear the defaults.
Power on the remote controller and drone, initializing them.
Plug in the Android device and drone remote of your Inspire, Phantom 4, Phantom 3 Pro or Advanced, Mavic, or Mini drone. Keep one port open, as Litchi can’t connect if you use both ports at once.
Wait for a pop-up to appear asking you about which app to run and choose Litchi.

Using Litchi with the DJI Mini 3 Pro #

While you can’t yet use Litchi with the Mini 3 Pro, the app has supported the Mini 2 for a while. This indicates to us how the app should work with the Mini 3 Pro.

Let’s go over the Mini-compatible features you can enjoy when using Litchi.

Gimbal adjustments #

The included Gimbal Pitch Indicator within Litchi tells you how much you’ve titled the gimbal. Tap the indicator to adjust the top and bottom gimbals individually.

The bottom will be -90 degrees over the horizon by default and the top gimbal 30 degrees.

Camera zoom #

The Mini 3 Pro can zoom between 2x and 4x, but why stop there? Litchi allows you to customize the magnification rate within the app using Zoom Out and Zoom In mechanics.

Exposure metering #

You can’t change m the Mini 3 Pro’s aperture settings, but you can adjust its exposure. Litchi sets default exposure levels when using Average mode.

To change it, open the video preview and select Spot metering mode. You can switch back to Average metering mode by tapping the icon indicating Spot metering mode.

When you no longer see that icon, you’ve successfully switched.

Camera settings #

Litchi allows you to set camera settings such as exposure, shutter speed, ISO, and shooting modes (interval, AEB, burst, HDR, and single shots).

However, just to reiterate, you won’t be able to change the aperture of the Mini 3 Pro, even though Litchi has a setting to.

Record photos/videos #

Litchi has a convenient Take Photo/Record button that works when the Mini 3 is in photo mode. Tap the button again once you’ve begun recording a video to stop it.

Home points #

Throughout your flight, the home points will appear on Litchi’s maps. You can adjust the home point by manually dragging the marker elsewhere on the map while your drone flies.

Aircraft location #

The Aircraft function allows you to track the Mini 3 Pro as it flies using Litchi’s map. You can also use this feature to establish Points of Interest or Waypoints by tapping.

Track mode #

Litchi’s Track mode enables the drone to use functions like Follow or Orbit. You can also set a target and watch as your drone seamlessly tracks it while keeping the target centered thanks to Litchi.

Litchi will generate flight logs when you use these and other modes.

What DJI drones can you use with Litchi? #

If you want to get a feel for Litchi before it releases a new edition with support for the Mini 3 Pro, here’s a master list of drones this third-party app is compatible with: