DJI App Not Working: 10 Fixes for DJI Fly Connection and Crash Issues

Force-Quit, Restart, and Update

Start with the fastest three checks before anything else:

1. Force-quit DJI Fly (on Android: recent apps button, swipe away; on iOS: swipe up from home, swipe away the app card) and reopen. A background process stall clears on restart and this resolves app freeze issues about 30% of the time.
2. Check for a DJI Fly update. On Android: go to dji.com/downloads and compare the version number listed there against the version shown in DJI Fly (Profile icon, bottom right, version shown at the very bottom). If newer, download and install the APK. On iOS: check the App Store for a pending update.
3. Restart your phone completely. Background apps interfere with DJI Fly's USB communication, and a clean restart clears any conflicting process.

Clear App Cache (Android)

DJI Fly stores cached flight data, map tiles, and session files. After a failed update or an unexpected shutdown mid-flight, the cache can corrupt and cause crashes on launch.

To clear on Android: Settings, Apps, DJI Fly, Storage, Clear Cache. Do not tap Clear Data unless you want to reset all app settings and accounts (Cache only removes temporary files, not your logged-in account or preferences). After clearing, reopen DJI Fly. If the crash was cache-related, the app will load cleanly.

Phone Compatibility Check

Not all phones run DJI Fly reliably. DJI maintains a compatibility list for each app version. The minimum requirements are Android 10.0+ or iOS 11.0+. Phones with unusual screen resolutions or modified Android builds (some budget brands) have known compatibility issues. Check the DJI Fly download page for the current compatibility list before assuming the app or drone is the problem.

Why DJI Fly Is Not on Google Play (and How to Fix It)

DJI removed DJI Fly from the Google Play Store in 2021 and has not returned it. Any version of DJI Fly installed from Google Play is years out of date and will fail to connect to all current DJI drones. The correct installation method for Android is:

1. Open a browser on the Android phone and go to dji.com/downloads/djiapp/dji-fly.
2. Tap the download button for the latest APK version.
3. When prompted, allow installation from this source (Settings, Install Unknown Apps, allow for your browser).
4. Install the downloaded APK.
5. Open DJI Fly and log in.

If you previously had an outdated Google Play version, uninstall it first. Having two installations of DJI Fly can cause launch failures.

Disable WLAN+ and Smart Network Switch (Android)

Android's WLAN+ (also called Smart Network Switch, Wi-Fi Assistant, or Adaptive Wi-Fi depending on the phone manufacturer) automatically disconnects from WiFi networks with no internet access. The RC-N1 controller creates a local WiFi hotspot with no internet, so Android treats it as a weak network and switches back to cellular mid-session. DJI Fly loses the controller connection without any error message.

To disable: Settings, Wi-Fi, Advanced (or the three-dot menu), and turn off WLAN+, Smart Network Switch, or Wi-Fi Assistant. The exact label varies by manufacturer (Samsung, OnePlus, Xiaomi each name it differently). If DJI Fly disconnects from the RC while flying without any cable change or obvious trigger, this is the most likely cause.

USB Mode and Developer Mode for RC-N1 Controllers

Drones using the RC-N1 controller (Mini 3, Mini 3 Pro, Mini 4 Pro, Air 3, Air 3S) connect to the phone via USB cable. The phone must recognize the cable as a DJI controller input, not a generic charging cable. Two Android settings affect this:

• USB mode: When you connect the RC-N1 to your phone, a prompt appears asking for the USB connection mode. Select "Charge only" (on some phones: "No data transfer"). Selecting "File transfer" or "MTP" can prevent DJI Fly from recognizing the controller.
• Developer Mode: On some Android phones, enabling Developer Mode (tap Version Number 7 times in Settings, About Phone) and then enabling USB Debugging resolves persistent RC-N1 recognition failures. This is a workaround for Android phones where the DJI connection is treated as an unknown accessory.

Also confirm the USB cable is undamaged. RC-N1 controllers come with a short USB cable specific to DJI. Third-party cables that only carry power (charge-only cables with no data wires) will not pass the controller signal to the phone even if the drone charges through them.

Reinstall from the App Store

On iOS, DJI Fly is distributed normally through the App Store and auto-updates alongside other apps. The most common iOS fix for DJI Fly not opening or crashing is a clean reinstall:

1. Hold the DJI Fly icon and tap Delete App (this removes the app and its cache).
2. Open the App Store and search for DJI Fly.
3. Download and install the current version.
4. Log in and test the connection.

iOS app state corruption is less common than Android cache issues but happens after iOS major version updates. A full reinstall clears any app state that became incompatible with the new iOS version.

"Accessory Not Supported" on iPhone

This error appears on iPhones when connecting the RC-N1 controller. It means the USB cable being used does not carry data, only power. Apple Lightning-to-USB cables that are charge-only (common in cheaper third-party cables) cause this error. The fix is to use the original DJI-supplied cable or a known-working Lightning cable with full data capability. USB-C iPhones (iPhone 15 and later) need a USB-C cable with data capability, not just power. Apple's own cables are reliable for this. Avoid cable adapters between Lightning and USB-C as they can strip data lines.

Background App Refresh and Location Permissions

DJI Fly requires location permissions ("Allow While Using App" is sufficient) to display the map and enforce geofencing. If location access was denied or reset after an iOS update, DJI Fly may open but behave incorrectly or crash when attempting to display the camera view. Check: Settings, DJI Fly, Location, and set to "While Using." Also confirm that DJI Fly is not blocked by Screen Time restrictions if flying from a device with parental controls.

Re-Pairing the RC to the Drone

DJI drones and controllers can lose pairing after a factory reset, a firmware update that resets RC settings, or swapping a controller between multiple drones. If DJI Fly shows the aircraft as disconnected even when everything is powered on and nearby, re-pair the RC:

1. Power on both the drone and the RC.
2. In DJI Fly: Profile, then the Remote Controller icon, then Link RC (exact menu path varies by model).
3. Follow the on-screen prompt, which typically asks you to hold a button on the drone or enter a linking mode.
4. Wait for the confirmation tone and the DJI Fly connection indicator to go green.

RC 2 and RC Pro controllers (with built-in screens) go through the same re-pairing process, but phone USB connection is not involved. If you are on an RC 2 and DJI Fly on the RC shows disconnected, the pairing or firmware mismatch is between the RC and the aircraft, not between the RC and a phone.

Firmware Mismatch Between Drone and Controller

When the aircraft firmware and the RC firmware are on different versions, DJI Fly may show a persistent connection warning, limit available features, or refuse to arm the drone. Firmware mismatches most often happen when one component is updated and the other is not.

Check: in DJI Fly, the status bar shows separate firmware version indicators for the aircraft and the RC. If either shows a pending update badge, update both before flying. The standard DJI Fly update flow updates the aircraft first, then prompts for the RC update as a second step. Some pilots cancel after the aircraft update and fly without updating the RC, which creates a mismatch. Complete both updates before testing.

DJI Fly Stuck on Academy Mode (Onboarding Screen)

A specific DJI Fly bug causes the app to get stuck on the Academy Mode onboarding screen on first launch. The "Next" button is there but invisible or unresponsive. The cause is a large system font size setting: DJI Fly's onboarding UI does not scale correctly with accessibility font sizes above the default, and the Next button renders off-screen.

The fix: in your phone's Display or Accessibility settings, reduce the font size to the default or one step below. Launch DJI Fly again. The Next button will appear. Complete the onboarding, then change your font size back if desired. This is a DJI Fly interface bug that has persisted across several app versions.

Submitting Log Files to DJI Support

If none of the above fixes resolve the problem, DJI support will ask for log files from the app. Log files contain error codes and connection state data that help DJI engineers identify the root cause. On Android, the log path is: internal storage, Android, data, dji.go.v5, files, LOG. On iOS, access logs through DJI Fly: Profile, tap the version number 5 times quickly to enter the diagnostic menu, then export logs. Submit them through DJI's support portal along with your device model, OS version, DJI Fly version, and drone model.

Alternative Apps When DJI Fly Cannot Be Fixed

For pilots who cannot resolve DJI Fly issues on a specific phone, Litchi is a third-party app compatible with Mavic 2, Mavic Air, Mavic Mini, Mini 2, Air 2, and Air 2S. It costs $22.99 on iOS and $24.99 on Android and uses DJI's Mobile SDK. Litchi does not support Mini 4 Pro, Air 3S, Mavic 4 Pro, Mini 5 Pro, or any model introduced after the SDK was frozen. For current models, DJI Fly is the only supported option.