DJI Mini 3 Pro App (Read this Before Downloading)

The DJI Mini 3 Pro is the most recent mini drone from DJI. Featuring 4K at 60fps video quality, obstacle avoidance, a 30-minute flight time, and some intelligent flight modes while weighing less than 250 grams, the DJI Mini 3 Pro is a drone that most people will find useful.

However, to fully exploit this drone, you need to understand how to use the DJI Mini 3 Pro app.

The DJI Mini 3 Pro uses the latest version of the DJI Fly App. All you have to do is select the drone you will be using, and you will have access to the specific features of the drone.

Please keep reading to learn more about the DJI Mini 3 Pro app and how to navigate it.

What app does the DJI Mini 3 Pro use?

The DJI Mini 3 Pro uses the DJI Fly App. DJI built this app as an upgrade to the DJI GO app, which still works with some of their older drones and some enterprise drones.

But the DJI Fly App is designed to work with most of their latest consumer drones, including the DJI Mini 2, Mini SE, Mavic 3 Classic, DJI Avata, DJI FPV, and DJI Mavic 2.

Once you download the app, you need to select the drone you have, and you will have access to the specific features of that drone within the app.

DJI Fly app compatibility

The DJI Fly App works with Android 6 and above and iOS 11 and above for iOS devices. Nowadays, most of the devices running this software are compatible with the DJI Fly APP.

But the official devices that DJI recognizes to run the DJI Fly App efficiently include:

- Samsung Galaxy S2

- Samsung Galaxy S20

- Samsung Galaxy S10+

- Samsung Galaxy S10

- Samsung Galaxy Note20

- Samsung Galaxy Note10+

- Samsung Galaxy Note9

- HUAWEI Mate40 Pro

- HUAWEI Mate30 Pro

- HUAWEI P40 Pro

- HUAWEI P30 Pro

- HUAWEI P30

- Honor 50 Pro

- Mi 11

- Mi 10

- Mi MIX 4

- Redmi Note 10

- OPPO Find X3

- OPPO Reno 4

- vivo NEX 3

- OnePlus 9 Pro

- OnePlus 9

- Pixel 6

- Pixel 4

- Pixel 3 XL

If your smartphone is not listed above, don’t worry. I own an Oppo A15, which works fine with DJI Fly App.

Sometimes you need to download and test the app before purchasing a new device.

However, the device needs to have at least an:

- Octacore processor

- Run a 64-bit system

- And have a minimum of 4GB RAM

Where can I download the DJI Fly app?

You can download the DJI Fly app from DJI’s download center for Android devices, and Apple’s App Store for iOS devices. (DJI Fly app is no longer available on the Google Play Store).

But if you use the DJI RC Pro controller with an inbuilt screen, it will come with the DJI Fly App already installed.

I’d avoid those SDK download websites since they may not always have the version of software you are looking for, and the app may sometimes come as malware disguised as the DJI Fly App.

DJI Fly app features

Once you download the app, you will have access to the following features before you connect your drone.

- Recommended Zone – This map allows you to identify areas where you are allowed to fly, where you are not allowed, and where you will need to request authorization. You will need to turn Location on your device so the DJI Fly app can give more accurate information about the local airspace.

- Academy – These are upgraded courses and manuals to help you understand better the drone you want to use. They have at least 14 courses about the DJI Mini 3 Pro and many other tutorials to help you get the most out of any drone model.

- Album – This is where the videos and photos you take are stored. You can then transfer them to your PC for further editing or directly post them to social media from your smartphone. Some flight modes allow you to edit photos and videos within the app.

- SkyPixel – This platform allows you to post your best footage and view footage from other talented photographers to learn and gain more creative ideas.

- Profile – This is where you can access your profile. To use DJI products, you need to have a profile where you can manage data about your aircraft, including flight hours, distance, and other flight data.

- Connection guide – This is a step-by-step process to connect your specific drone model to the controller.

How to use the DJI Mini 3 Pro app

Below is how to get started with the DJI Fly app with your DJI Mini 3 Pro and how each feature can help you get the most out of your drone.

Updating the firmware

The first thing you need to do after downloading the app is to update the firmware. In most cases, if there’s a firmware update, you will get a prompt asking you to update, as shown below.

Turn the aircraft and the controller on, click “Update,” and give it a few minutes to complete the process. You will need an internet connection to update the firmware, so ensure you update it before flying outdoors.

Accessing your dashboard

Once you connect your DJI Mini 3 Pro to the controller, instead of seeing the screen I showed earlier, you get a screen with the DJI Mini 3 Pro in the background, and the Connection Guide button now changes to Go Fly.

Click on it, and you should start seeing your drone’s live footage and the dashboard. You will need to control every other aspect of the drone.

» MORE: DJI Mini 3 Pro – How to Connect to the Controller

Main features on the dashboard

Now let’s go through everything you should be seeing on your screen in a clockwise fashion.

Mode    

This is the first thing you see in the top left corner, representing the drone’s mode. The DJI Mini 3 Pro has 3 modes, which you select on the controller:

- Normal

- Cine

- Sport

In Normal mode, you should see an N, Sport Mode S, and Cine Mode C.

Altitude zone

This section allows you to adjust everything related to altitude. Click on it, and you will have Flight Status at the top.

If you are in an unrestricted zone, it should show Normal. But if you are in a restricted zone, it will let you know what to do.

You also get to set the RTH height, the height the drone flies to when you use the RTH option. You can set it higher in areas with trees and buildings to prevent the drone from crashing into them.

 The other adjustment you can make is the Maximum Altitude you can fly in. You must fly within 400 feet in most regions, so you can set it to that.

And lastly, you have the Max. Distance. This is the distance you can fly the drone away from yourself (the controller). While you should always fly within line of sight and within the drone’s range, you can leave this at “no Limit.”

And at the bottom of this tab, you will have the option to switch between SD card storage and internal storage.

Battery power information

On the top right section, the first thing you’ll see is the battery level, which makes it easier to continuously monitor your battery as you fly.

And next to it, the app will try to estimate how much time you have left on the battery, how much time before RTH is activated, and how much time before the drone will force a landing. This time will fluctuate depending on the weather conditions and your flight habits.

Connection strength

Next to the battery information are the bars showing how strong or how weak the connection is between the drone and the controller. A weak connection is not ideal since you could end up crashing.

Obstacle Avoidance

Next to the bars is an hourglass shape indicating obstacle avoidance sensors are switched on. If this icon turns red, like when you are in Sport mode, it means the sensors are not working.

As you fly, a thin arc also appears on the screen to show an object on the drone’s path. The arc turns red when you get too close, and the drone stops moving.

Satellite count 

This icon indicates how many satellites the drone is connected to. These satellites enable GPS functionality, making it easier for the drone to maintain its altitude, register a home point, and enable features like GeoFencing.

Without a strong GPS connection, you may have to fly in ATTI mode, where the pilot maintains the drone’s altitude.

Menu

Indicated by the three dots, this is the Menu that allows you to further configure your drone (more on this later).

Camera settings

In the middle right section, we have the camera settings. The first option that looks like the old traditional negative films allows you to choose between:

- Photo

- Video

- Mastershots

- QuickShots

- Hyperlapse

- Panorama

- Normal

- Slow Motion

Below it is a big button, the shutter button, to take photos, start recording videos, or start the intelligent flight modes.

Below the shutter button is the play button that allows you to view the footage you’ve just taken.

Next to the shutter button, there’s a smaller menu.

The first option allows you to switch between vertical and horizontal views, a nice feature that comes in handy for social media content creators.

The next option is the zoom feature. You only have 1X, 2X, and 4X (in 1080p) with the Mini 3 Pro. You can zoom in and out with your finger when you press and hold this option.

And at the bottom of this smaller menu, you can switch between Manual Focus (MF) and Auto Focus (AF).

Auto vs. Pro 

At the bottom right section, you can switch between AUTO and PRO. Auto allows the drone to automatically set the appropriate Exposure values on the settings to the left, while PRO mode allows you to set them manually.

The other settings to the left of this button include:

- EV – This is the Exposure Value. The higher the value, the more exposed the footage will be.

- RS and FPS – This allows you to select the resolution and frame rate to film in.

- Storage – This tab lets you know how much storage you have left in terms of hours of footage.

When you switch to Pro mode, you now have more options. You can adjust the EV, white balance, color profile, ISO, shutter speed, and metering.

You can adjust these features by tapping on the subject of interest on the screen to select it and hold it to auto lock. A sun icon will also appear on the screen, allowing you to adjust the exposure on the selected section.

Location

On the bottom left, you have the distance and height from the home point and the drone’s speed.

On the far left is a radar-like feature showing your drone’s location in relation to the home point and in relation to your location, making it easier to orient your drone appropriately.

Auto takeoff and landing

In the left middle section is a circle and an arrow pointing up when the drone is on the ground, and after you take off, it changes into an H with an arrow pointing down.

This feature allows you to automatically take off and land if you don’t want to use the control sticks.

Gimbal

The DJI Fly app allows you to control the gimbal by tapping and holding on the screen.

Menu settings

Below are the main settings in the Menu and how to use them.

Safety

Under Safety, we have the following:

Flight Assistance

- Obstacle Avoidance action – This enables you to switch between three Obstacle Avoidance options; Bypass, Brake, or Off. Bypass is where the drone evades the obstacles. In Brake, the drone will stop when it senses an obstacle, and in Off, these safety sensors are switched off.

- Display Radar Map – If you want to see how you fly, see obstacles, and orient yourself as your fly, you can leave this on. The map appears at the bottom left section.

Flight Protection

Under Flight protection, we have the Max Altitude, Max Distance, and Auto RTH altitude, the same metrics I mentioned earlier in the top left section of the app.

In addition, you have the Update Home point section, which you should always crosscheck before flying to ensure it registers the takeoff point accurately.

Once you take off, you can also update the home point to be where the drone is, where the controller is, or a custom location, especially if you are moving around.

Sensors

Next, you have the Sensors, where you can calibrate the IMU and Compass. Once you click “Calibrate,” the drone app should guide you through the process.

Battery info

Here’s where you get all the information about your battery, including capacity, cells, charging cycles, battery levels, temperature, etc.

Unlock Geo zone

If you want to fly in a restricted area and have the necessary authorization to fly there, here is where you will request DJI to unlock the zone.

Find My Drone

This feature allows you to locate your drone in case it crashes and you are unsure where it fell. The drone will start beeping and flashing, and an arrow on the screen will show its last known location.

Advanced Safety Settings

Here you have two settings:

- Signal lost – Here, you tell the drone what to do when the signal is lost. You can choose RTH, Hover, or Descend. RTH works for most scenarios, but hover or descend would be ideal, too, if you are moving a lot or the GPS is not working.

- Emergency Propeller Stop – In case of an emergency and you want to land the drone immediately, you can pull both sticks downward and outward or inwards simultaneously.

Control

Below are the features in this tab.

- Units – Here, you choose whether to use Metric or imperial units.

- Subject Scanning – This feature allows the drone to choose subjects to track automatically. You can choose to have it on or off.

- Gimbal Mode – You can choose between Follow mode, where the horizon will be level, and FPV, where the horizon will bank as the drone banks.
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