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How to Update DJI Drone Firmware: OTA, DJI Assistant 2, and Rollback

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By Paul Posea

How to Update DJI Drone Firmware: OTA, DJI Assistant 2, and Rollback - drone reviews and comparison

Drone Firmware Update Prerequisites and What Can Go Wrong

50%min battery (OTA via DJI Fly)
40%min battery (DJI Assistant 2)
30%min RC battery for update
~10 mintypical OTA update time

What Firmware Controls

Firmware is the software that runs directly on the drone's hardware: the flight controller, ESC motor drivers, camera processor, gimbal stabilization system, geofencing data, and obstacle avoidance algorithms. Updates can add new features (the October 2025 Mavic 4 Pro update added seamless focal length switching during recording), fix stability bugs, improve battery algorithms, and update the restricted zone database.

Keeping firmware current also keeps the drone legal for flight in areas with active geofence restrictions. Outdated firmware may reference an older geofence dataset, which can either allow flights that are now restricted or incorrectly block areas that have been unlocked. FAA Remote ID compliance also depends on current firmware on US-registered drones.

Prerequisites Before Starting a Drone Firmware Update

Check these before tapping Install:

  • Aircraft battery at least 50% charge
  • RC controller battery at least 30% charge (for controllers with built-in screens: RC 2, RC Pro, RC Pro 2)
  • Phone battery at least 30% if using DJI Fly OTA method
  • Stable internet connection (WiFi preferred over cellular for large downloads)
  • Do not interrupt: do not power off the drone, disconnect the RC, close DJI Fly, or let the phone screen sleep during the update
Warning: Cutting power to the drone mid-firmware flash is the most common cause of a bricked drone. The firmware is being written directly to the flight controller chip. Interrupting this process leaves the chip in a partial-write state that may prevent normal boot. Always ensure the aircraft battery is above 50% and fully seated before starting.

How to Update DJI Drone Firmware via DJI Fly (OTA)

The Standard OTA Update Process

The over-the-air update via DJI Fly is the correct method for most consumer drones: Mini 4 Pro, Mini 5 Pro, Air 3S, Mavic 4 Pro, DJI Flip, DJI Neo, and DJI Neo 2. The process:

  1. Power on the drone and RC. Connect in DJI Fly.
  2. DJI Fly shows a firmware update notification at the top of the screen, or go to Profile (lower right) and look for a Software Update badge.
  3. Tap the notification or go to Profile, then the firmware update section.
  4. Tap Download. The app downloads the firmware package over your internet connection. This takes 2 to 5 minutes depending on connection speed.
  5. Tap Update after download completes.
  6. The drone restarts automatically. Status LEDs will flash and the drone may restart more than once. This is normal.
  7. DJI Fly prompts for the RC firmware update as a second step after the aircraft update completes. Do not skip this prompt.
  8. After both updates complete, power off and back on before flying.

The full update typically takes 8 to 12 minutes. During this window, keep the drone stationary on a flat surface and keep the phone screen on.

How to Manually Check for a Drone Firmware Update

DJI Fly only shows the update banner when the phone has an active internet connection at the moment the app connects to the drone. If you were flying in an area with poor signal, you may never have seen the prompt. To check manually: Profile (lower right), then Settings (gear icon), then Software Update, then Check for Updates. If a new version is available, it will appear here even if the automatic banner never appeared.

Aircraft vs. RC Firmware: The Component Pilots Skip

Aircraft firmware and RC controller firmware are maintained separately. When DJI Fly shows an update notification, it covers the aircraft first. After the aircraft update finishes and the drone restarts, DJI Fly prompts for the RC controller update as a second step. Many pilots tap through the aircraft update, see the drone restart, and close DJI Fly before completing the RC update.

A partial update where the aircraft is updated but the RC is not creates a firmware mismatch. Features may be unavailable, the drone may show connection warnings, or some models refuse to arm. Always complete both the aircraft and RC updates in the same session.

Update DJI Drone Firmware via DJI Assistant 2 (USB/Computer Method)

DJI Assistant 2 firmware update interface on computer via USB
DJI Assistant 2 is the fallback when OTA updates fail repeatedly, and it is the only method for rolling back to a previous firmware version.

When to Use DJI Assistant 2

Use DJI Assistant 2 instead of DJI Fly when:

  • The OTA update fails repeatedly (network error, stuck progress bar, update failed message)
  • You need to reinstall firmware cleanly after a partial or corrupted update
  • The drone is not recognized by DJI Fly after a failed update
  • You want to downgrade to a previous firmware version

How to Update Firmware via DJI Assistant 2

  1. Download and install the correct version of DJI Assistant 2 from dji.com/downloads. There are three separate versions: DJI Assistant 2 for Consumer Drones (Mini, Air, Mavic, Flip, Neo series), DJI Assistant 2 for Phantom Series, and DJI Assistant 2 for Enterprise (Mavic 3 Enterprise, Matrice series). Installing the wrong version will not detect your drone.
  2. Power on the drone. Connect it to the computer via USB cable.
  3. Launch DJI Assistant 2 and log in with your DJI account.
  4. Select the connected drone under "Connected Devices."
  5. Wait for the firmware list to load. The latest firmware appears at the top.
  6. Click Upgrade and confirm. Do not disconnect USB or power off the drone during the process.
  7. The drone restarts automatically when the flash is complete.

DJI Assistant 2 performs a complete firmware reinstall rather than an incremental patch. This makes it more reliable than OTA for correcting corrupted installs.

Note: RC 2 and RC Pro controllers can also be updated via DJI Assistant 2 by connecting them to the computer with a USB cable instead of the drone. If a firmware mismatch between the aircraft and RC persists after OTA updates, connect each component separately to DJI Assistant 2 and update both explicitly.

Should You Update DJI Drone Firmware Immediately?

DJI's Position: Update Promptly

DJI recommends keeping firmware current. Updates address stability issues, battery algorithm improvements, obstacle avoidance refinements, and geofencing data. Flying on outdated firmware increases the risk of encountering known bugs that have already been fixed. For compliance reasons (Remote ID in the US, flight restriction databases globally), current firmware is necessary.

The Professional Pilot's Position: Wait a Few Days

Many professional and commercial drone pilots do not update immediately before a job. The reasoning: every firmware release has a small but real chance of introducing a new bug. The affected pilots surface these issues on DJI forums and community groups within 48 to 72 hours of a release. Waiting 3 to 5 days after a major firmware release lets other pilots identify any new issues before the update goes on production equipment.

This is not paranoia. DJI has released firmware updates that caused compass calibration failures, SD card errors on previously working cards, and arming issues on specific models. These were caught and patched quickly, but a pilot who updated on day one before a paid shoot would have had a problem.

Update TypeRecommended Timing
Security or compliance patch (geofencing, Remote ID)Update promptly
Bug fix release (specific crash or error addressed)Update promptly if you have that bug; wait 2-3 days otherwise
Major feature releaseWait 3-5 days for community feedback before updating
Before a paid commercial shootNever update the day before; give yourself 2 weeks of test flights post-update

Drone Firmware Update Failed, Stuck, or Need to Roll Back

DJI Assistant 2 connected drone firmware rollback and reinstall
DJI Assistant 2 is the only tool that supports firmware downgrade. Select an older version from the firmware list to roll back after a problematic update.
Note: Gimbal goes limp and LEDs blink during update, this is normal. During a firmware flash, the gimbal intentionally loses power and hangs in whatever position it is in. The aircraft LEDs flash in irregular patterns. Both behaviors are documented by DJI as normal parts of the update process. Many pilots panic at this stage, unplug the cable, or cut the battery, which is the primary cause of a bricked drone. If you see a limp gimbal and blinking LEDs during an update, do nothing. Wait for the process to complete.

Fixing a Stuck or Failed Firmware Update

If the update progress bar stops moving or DJI Fly shows "Update Failed," do not panic and do not power off the drone. Wait 5 minutes first: slow network speeds and large update packages sometimes cause a long pause that looks like a freeze but is still downloading in the background.

If genuinely stuck after 5 minutes, try these in order:

  1. Switch from cellular to WiFi (or vice versa) and retry the download in DJI Fly.
  2. Try the update from a different phone running DJI Fly.
  3. Switch to DJI Assistant 2 via USB on a computer. DJI Assistant 2 downloads the firmware directly rather than relying on the phone's connection.
  4. If the drone is unresponsive after a failed update, connect to DJI Assistant 2. It can often detect and recover a partially updated drone and complete the firmware flash.

Rolling Back Drone Firmware

DJI does not officially support firmware downgrade in DJI Fly. The only supported rollback path is DJI Assistant 2, which shows a list of available firmware versions including older releases. Select an older version and click the downgrade option.

Rollback is not possible on all models or for all versions. DJI has locked downgrade past certain versions on some models (the Air 2S, for example, cannot be rolled back past a specific version that included a mandatory safety update). If DJI Assistant 2 does not show the older version in the list, that version is locked and cannot be restored. For persistent post-update issues where rollback is blocked, contact DJI support through DJI's support portal for a firmware recovery option.

Tip: Before updating, note the current firmware version number from DJI Fly (Profile, firmware version shown on the drone status screen). Write it down. If the new firmware causes an issue and you need to roll back, you will need the version number to find the correct firmware file in DJI Assistant 2.

FAQ

Power on the drone and connect in DJI Fly. When the update notification appears, tap it and follow the prompts: download the firmware, then tap Update. Keep the drone on a flat surface with the app open until the drone restarts and the update completes. DJI Fly will then prompt for the RC controller firmware update as a second step. Complete both before flying.

DJI Assistant 2 is a desktop app (Windows and Mac) that connects to your drone via USB cable and handles firmware updates, downgrade/rollback, and diagnostics. Use it when OTA updates via DJI Fly fail repeatedly, when you need to reinstall firmware cleanly after a corrupted update, or when you want to downgrade to a previous firmware version. Download it from dji.com/downloads, choosing the version for your drone family (Consumer Drones or Phantom Series).

Technically yes, but it creates a firmware mismatch. When DJI Fly finishes the aircraft update and prompts for the RC update, you can skip it. The drone will often still fly, but some features may be unavailable, the app may show persistent warnings, and some models may refuse to arm. Always complete both the aircraft and RC updates in the same session.

For security, compliance, or known bug fix releases, update promptly. For major feature releases, many professional pilots wait 3 to 5 days to let the community surface any new bugs before updating critical equipment. Never update the day before a paid shoot. Give yourself at least a few test flights on the new firmware before relying on it commercially.

Do not power off the drone. Wait 5 minutes to confirm the update is truly stopped, not just slow. Then try switching networks (WiFi to cellular or vice versa) and retrying in DJI Fly. If the drone is unresponsive, connect to DJI Assistant 2 via USB on a computer. DJI Assistant 2 can detect and recover partially updated drones in most cases. If it cannot, contact DJI support.

In some cases. Rollback is only possible via DJI Assistant 2, not through DJI Fly. Connect the drone to DJI Assistant 2 via USB, open the firmware section, and select an older version if available. DJI has locked downgrade past certain versions on some models for safety compliance reasons. If the older version is not listed in DJI Assistant 2, that version cannot be restored.

There is no set schedule. DJI releases firmware as needed, which means several times per year for active models. The Mini 4 Pro, Air 3S, Mavic 4 Pro, and Mini 5 Pro each received multiple updates throughout 2024 and 2025 covering stability fixes, new features, and battery algorithm improvements. Enable update notifications in DJI Fly so you know when updates are available.

Firmware updates do not delete flight logs stored in DJI Fly on your phone. They may reset some drone-side settings, particularly IMU calibration data and some flight mode preferences. It is good practice to run an IMU calibration after a major firmware update. Settings stored in DJI Fly's profile (geofencing unlocks, flight records) are unaffected by firmware updates.

Paul Posea

Paul Posea

Author · Dronesgator

Paul Posea is the founder of Dronesgator and has been reviewing and comparing drones since 2015. With a Part 107 certification, 195 YouTube drone reviews, and published work on Digital Photography School, he combines hands-on flight testing with data-driven analysis to help pilots find the right drone.