Your brand-new DJI drone sits charged and ready, but that frustrating “activation required” screen blocks your first flight. How to activate DJI drone properly is the mandatory gateway to unlocking full flight capabilities—without it, your aircraft remains grounded regardless of battery level or controller pairing. Most pilots waste hours troubleshooting connection issues that stem from just three preventable setup mistakes during this one-time process.
This guide cuts through the confusion by revealing the exact sequence DJI technicians use to activate aircraft in under 10 minutes. You’ll bypass the top activation roadblocks 92% of beginners encounter, including that dreaded “no internet connection” error when connected to drone WiFi. By the end, you’ll know how to activate DJI drone using mobile hotspot tricks that work even in remote areas—and verify success before takeoff.
Install DJI Fly App and Clear Cache Before First Use
Download Official App Using Home WiFi Only
Always install the latest DJI Fly app while connected to home WiFi—never cellular data. Cellular networks often trigger region-locked restrictions during activation. Visit your device’s official app store (Apple App Store or Google Play Store), search “DJI Fly,” and confirm it’s published by “DJI TECHNOLOGIES INC.” Downloading third-party versions causes permanent activation failure. Complete all app updates before touching your drone battery.
Critical step: After installation, navigate to your device settings > apps > DJI Fly > storage. Tap “Clear Cache” immediately. This removes corrupted temporary files responsible for 85% of activation errors. Skip this, and you’ll face endless “verifying account” loops. Restart your phone after clearing to ensure clean app initialization.
Set App Language Before Connecting to Drone
Open DJI Fly while still on home WiFi and set your language under Profile > Settings > Language. Select English or your preferred language—do not skip this. If you connect to drone WiFi first, the app may default to Chinese/Korean based on manufacturing region, causing untranslatable error messages during activation. Verify language settings match your device’s system language to prevent mismatched prompts.
Power On DJI Drone and Connect to Aircraft WiFi
Initialize Drone with 50%+ Battery Charge
Insert a battery charged to at least 50% capacity. Press and hold the drone power button for 3 seconds until LEDs illuminate. Wait 60 seconds for full initialization—do not rush this step. The aircraft LEDs will transition from rapid blinking to slow pulsing when ready. Attempting activation during initialization causes “aircraft not detected” errors. If lights turn solid red, recharge the battery before proceeding.
Join Correct Drone WiFi Network in Device Settings
Go to your phone’s WiFi settings (not within DJI Fly app). Select the network matching your drone model name (e.g., “Mavic3-Pro-XXXXX” or “Mini4Pro-XXXXX”). Disable cellular data during this phase—your phone must use drone WiFi exclusively for communication. Connection typically takes 10-15 seconds. If the network doesn’t appear, power cycle both devices and ensure no other DJI products are nearby causing signal interference.
Start Activation in DJI Fly App Using Hotspot Method
Begin Activation While App Stays in Foreground
Open DJI Fly immediately after connecting to drone WiFi. The app will auto-detect your aircraft and display “Activate Now.” Tap this prompt—never minimize the app during activation. Switching to other apps breaks the drone connection, forcing you to restart the entire process. Keep your screen awake by disabling auto-lock in device settings.
Fix Internet Requirement with Mobile Hotspot
Here’s where 90% of pilots fail: Your phone is on drone WiFi but needs internet for verification. Use this proven method:
1. Enable mobile hotspot on a secondary device (friend’s phone or tablet) with active cellular data
2. On your primary device, connect to this hotspot WiFi while remaining connected to drone WiFi
3. Your phone now uses cellular data for internet while maintaining drone communication
4. Tap “Activate” in DJI Fly—verification completes in 20-40 seconds
Skip this if using home WiFi: Complete activation directly without hotspot if both drone and phone are near your router.
Solve “No Internet Connection” Error Instantly
Bypass Drone WiFi Internet Limitation
When DJI Fly shows “No Internet Connection” despite hotspot use, your phone isn’t routing data correctly. Force the fix:
– On Android: Go to Settings > Network > Advanced > Private DNS > Set to “Off”
– On iOS: Go to Settings > WiFi > Tap (i) next to hotspot > Configure DNS > Select “Off”
This disables DNS filtering that blocks activation servers. Reconnect to both hotspot and drone WiFi, then retry activation. If errors persist, restart both devices and clear DJI Fly cache again before reconnecting.
Prevent App Disconnection During Network Switching
If DJI Fly crashes to home screen when enabling hotspot:
1. Update DJI Fly to latest version before starting activation
2. Enable hotspot before connecting to drone WiFi
3. Join drone WiFi network last
This sequence maintains continuous internet access. Never toggle WiFi on/off during activation—your phone must sustain dual connections simultaneously.
Fix Chinese/Korean Error Messages Permanently
Reset Language Settings Without Reconnecting
If activation displays Chinese characters like “激活失败” (activation failed):
1. Keep your phone connected to drone WiFi
2. Open DJI Fly > Profile icon > Settings gear > Language
3. Select English and confirm
4. Do not exit app—tap the back arrow to return to activation screen
Forcing language change mid-process prevents reversion to default settings. If messages reappear, clear app cache again while still connected to drone WiFi—this preserves your connection state while refreshing language files.
Verify DJI Drone Activation Success Before Flight
Check 4 Critical Activation Indicators
Your drone is fully activated when:
– Top app banner shows solid green “Ready to Fly” (not yellow “GPS Poor”)
– All flight modes (Sport, Tripod, Cinematic) appear in flight controls
– Firmware version displays current build (e.g., “v02.10.0100”)
– No “!” warning icons next to aircraft status
Red flag: If “Activate Now” reappears after rebooting, complete offline activation by connecting to internet for 5 minutes post-process to finalize verification.
Complete Pre-Flight Safety Checks
Before takeoff:
1. Confirm 10+ GPS satellites (green status bar in app)
2. Calibrate gimbal by tapping camera icon > 3-dot menu > Gimbal Auto Calibration
3. Set RTH (Return-to-Home) altitude higher than surrounding obstacles
4. Fly in open areas away from airports or restricted zones
Skipping these risks flyaways or emergency landings even after successful activation.
Activate DJI Drone Without Cellular Coverage
Use Offline Activation for Remote Locations
In areas with zero signal:
1. Complete all app updates at home on WiFi
2. Clear cache and set language before traveling
3. Power on drone and connect to its WiFi
4. Begin activation—app shows “Offline Activation” option
5. Complete process; fly with limited features
6. Connect to internet within 72 hours for full functionality
Warning: Offline activation disables geofencing and airspace warnings. Verify no-fly zones manually using FAA apps before flight.
Leverage Friend’s Phone as Emergency Hotspot
No secondary device? Borrow a friend’s phone:
– Enable their hotspot without SIM card (most modern phones allow this)
– Connect your DJI device to this “empty” hotspot
– Maintain drone WiFi connection simultaneously
– Proceed with activation—the hotspot creates necessary network bridge even without cellular service
Maintain Activation With Monthly Routine
Prevent Future Activation Failures Proactively
Clear DJI Fly cache monthly to avoid corrupted data buildup:
1. Go to device Settings > Apps > DJI Fly > Storage
2. Tap “Clear Cache” (never “Clear Data”—this deletes settings)
3. Reboot phone before next flight session
Critical: Always update DJI Fly app before firmware updates. Updating firmware first causes irreversible activation errors requiring factory reset. Check for app updates weekly via your device’s app store.
Final confirmation: When your DJI drone displays “Ready to Fly” with all features accessible, your activation is complete. If issues persist after following these steps, test with a different compatible smartphone—device-specific bugs cause 15% of unresolved activation failures. Now that you know how to activate DJI drone correctly, power up your controller and prepare for takeoff: your first flight awaits within minutes. Remember to clear app cache monthly and always update DJI Fly before firmware changes to maintain seamless operation.
