DJI Go App: A Step-by-Step Guide Through Every Menu & Button (Video & Written Tutorial)

 

In this written post and video tutorial I do a complete walk through of the DJI Go App.

I go over every single menu, setting and button to help you better understand this incredibly powerful yet complex app. Whether you have a DJI Mavic Pro, DJI Phantom, or a DJI Inspire, this tutorial is for you.

For example, do you know the answers to the following questions?

  • Do you know how to change the sensitivity of your control sticks?
  • Know how to fix live video feed lagging issues?
  • Are you taking advantage of the Configuration 1, 2 and 3 settings?
  • Do you know what IMU is and why it’s an important setting to keep your eye on?
  • Why the ‘EV’ setting can be helpful for setting exposure?
  • Do you know what the ‘Video Caption’ setting does?
  • Why should you ‘Enable Hardware Decoding’?
  • Are you taking advantage of your C1 and C2 buttons?
  • Do you know why ‘Cache Map Data’ is helpful for devices that have no cell service?

 

Down below I talk about the answer to each one of these questions and so many more.

After making your way through this post I guarantee you’ll learn something and feel more confident as a drone pilot!

So pick your preference of either watching the video tutorial or the written post.

 

Quick note though…because the DJI Go App is so packed with settings and features, both the video and post are very long…you have been warned ;)

 


 

Top-Bar-DJI-Go-App-Drone

 

What is the DJI Go App?

The DJI Go app let’s you connect a smart device like a tablet or phone to a DJI Mavic ProDJI Phantom, or a DJI Inspire‘s remote controller so that you can get so much more out of your flying experience.

Once you connect the app you can then see what your drone’s camera is seeing, tweak camera settings, review imagery you’ve captured, adjust control movements to your preference, engage Intelligent Flight modes and so much more.

I’ve created this tutorial using a DJI Phantom 4 so if you have another DJI drone, or a different app version some menus and settings might look slightly different but rest assured the main features, functions and concepts are the same.

So let’s get started!

 

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1) AIRCRAFT STATUS

This menu provides an overview of how everything is working on the drone. To enter into this menu, click on Ready to Go at the top of the screen.

If you see that your settings say “Normal” and you don’t see anything that is colored red, then that likely means the drone is functioning properly and is ready to fly.

Aircraft Status-DJI Go App Drone

Compass

One very important setting you want to check is the Compass since it is responsible for letting the drone know where it is in the world.

It’s widely recommended that you always calibrate the drone’s compass at any new flight location.

This is because the compass is very sensitive to electromagnetic interference, which can lead to compass data problems that will likely result in poor flight performance or even flight failure.

Therefore regularly calibrating your drone’s compass when you fly in new locations will help maintain optimal performance.

 

To do a Compass Calibration click on Calibrate and follow the on-screen instructions.

Calibrate Compass-DJI Go App Drone

Check out the following link to see a video of how I calibrate the drone’s compass (it’s at the beginning of the tutorial).

Important notes regarding calibrating the compass:

  • Don’t calibrate the compass near any strong magnetic interference from sources such a magnetite, parking structures, and subterranean metal structures.
  • Don’t calibrate the compass in near any large metal objects.
  • Don’t calibrate the compass indoors.

 

 

Remote Controller Mode

Master Stick Mode 2 - DJI Go App drone

I have my controller set to Mode 2 which means the left stick controls throttle and yaw, and the right stick controls tilt and movement.

For more info on how the sticks/remote controller settings work check out my tutorial How to Fly a Drone: The Ultimate Guide

Mode 2 is the most popular controller configuration outside of Asia and how most people in the states learn how to fly a drone.

Once you set your controller mode you don’t have to worry about it since the drone will remember the setting for future flights.

 


 

2) MAIN CONTROLLER SETTINGS

This is where you’ll find the settings for marking the Home Point, enabling multiple flights modes, turning beginner mode on/off and setting max altitude & distance.

Main Controller Settings-DJI Go App Drone


Home Point

Home Point setting with the arrow = this sets the current position of the drone as the home point.

Home Point setting with the little guy = this sets the home point to the location of the controller.

This is handy if you are controlling the drone from a moving object like a boat or car.

 

Multiple Flight Modes

Positioning mode (P-MODE)
This mode means all the drone’s sensors are enable which will result in a more sticky but stable flight.

So when you let go of the sticks the drone will automatically brake, then hover and stay in place thanks to GPS.

Attitude or ATTI mode (A-MODE)
In A-Mode mode the drone’s sensors are disabled which will result in a more squirrely flight because wind and air currents can move around the drone.

Basically put, there is no “automatic brake” to stop your drone so you have to move the sticks in the opposite direction to stop it.

Many experienced pilots like to film in ATTI mode so they that can get the smoothest movements possible since auto braking is disabled.

Sport mode (S-Mode)
In S-Mode you unleash the full potential of your drone which allows you to go full speed while still allowing your aircraft to connect to GPS satellites.

Keep in mind the obstacle avoidance technology is disabled in this mode.

 

 

Return to Home Altitude

This is an important setting because if the drone gets disconnected with the controller then you have control over how it will respond altitude wise.

I have mine set to 60 meters, which is about 200ft. I do this because that altitude is well above any trees or buildings in the areas where I usually fly.

But be sure to set this altitude to something that is much higher than any surrounding obstacles in the area.

 

 

Beginner Mode

This mode is great if you are new to flying. Basically it disables many of the advanced features and then it automatically sets an altitude, distance and speed limit on your drone so if you are flying in a big wide open space there isn’t much to think about.

This also is a great mode to practice in because you can work your way up to the more advanced settings the more comfortable you get with flying.

 

 

Max Flight Altitude

This determines how high your drone can go. To follow the rules here in the U.S. I have mine set to 120 meters, which is about 400ft.

Click here to read more about the drone rules.

 

Max Distance

This setting determines how far your drone can go from the remote controller.

You can set this to a ridiculous amount like a few miles but again here in the U.S. the FAA’s rules state that you must keep your drone within line-of-sight, which means you need to be able to see it.

 

Advanced Settings 

Gain & Expo Settings-DJI Go App Drone

The options in this menu basically allow you to fine tune how the drone moves. This can result in smoother pan and yaw movements.

The best illustration for this is to think about how someone plays a musical instrument like a guitar. The adjustments made in these menus allow you to “tune” your drone (guitar) depending on how you like to fly (play).

 

Gain & Expo Tuning

This determines how fast the stick inputs are translated into movement on the drone. Entering in a slower value will then mean you need to move the sticks even more before the drone will react.

Gain & Expo Tuning: EXP
EXP stands for Exponential Curve and it allows you to ease into controller movements.

Gain & Expo Settings - EXP-DJI Go App Drone

Stay tuned for a full tutorial on EXP settings! To be notified of when it is released, sign up for my drone newsletter!

 

Gain & Expo Tuning: Sensitivity
The section determines how sensitive your controls will be

Gain & Expo Settings - Sensitivity-DJI Go App Drone
Attitude = How quick your drone will react and level out.

Brake = How quick your drone will stop in GPS mode. A lower value means a slower and smoother brake.

Yaw Point End = The maximum stick input for yawing. A lower value means a slower yaw.

 

 

Gain & Expo Tuning: Gain
This menu determines how the drone will react to external forces such as air pressure and wind.

Gain & Expo Settings - Gain-DJI Go App Drone

Tweaking these settings will change the flight dynamics, which may result in undesired oscillation and/or wobble.

These settings are for advanced flyers that usually come from the world of building their own uav’s where tweaking these settings is necessary.

So you probably don’t want to change these settings unless you understand them.

More helpful info on this entire menu can be found here.


 

Sensors: IMU (Inertial Measurement Unit)

Gain & Expo Settings - IMU-DJI Go App Drone

This system includes the 3-axis accelerometer, a 3-axis angular velocity and a barometric altimeter which all work together to help keep the drone in it’s current position when flying.

If you have issues with weird flying, drifting or signal and compass errors then try fixing the issue by going through an IMU Calibration.

Just make sure you are on a level surface and you don’t move the drone or have it on a table can be bumped.

 

Sensors > Compass

This setting checks for compass problems or interference issues. This is also where you can calibrate the compass.

 

 

RC Signal Lost

This is one of the fail safes that is built into the drone so that if the controller gets disconnected from the drone the aircarft can either:

  • Return-to-Home which means the drone will fly back to the home point
  • Hover in place
  • Automatically land right where it is at

 

I have mine set to fly back to the home point so that it comes back right to the spot I took off from.

Be mindful that signal loss can happen for various reasons like when the drone flies too far, the controller loses power or the signal is blocked.

This is why I always make sure my home point is accurately set before takeoff.

 

 

Smart Return Home:

This handy feature let’s you know when you should think about bringing the drone back home based on the remaining battery life.

The status bar for this is found on the main screen. It’s that green, yellow and red bar that runs the width of the screen found near the top of the screen.

The further the drone gets from its home point, the more the bar will move to the left in the yellow and red zone.

Hot tip: be mindful of flying against the wind as that will require more battery power and you don’t want to wait until the last minute to bring your drone back.

 

 

Turn on Front LEDs

This option lets you turn off the front red LED lights.

This can be helpful if you are flying in low light since the red lights can easily enter the camera’s frame.

 


 

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3) VISUAL NAGIVATION SETTINGS

This is where you make changes to the settings that keep your drone airborne.

Visual Navigation Settings-DJI Go App Drone

 

Enable Visual Sensing System

This will turn on the obstacle avoidance sensors to help prevent your drone from hitting any objects that the sensors detect in the drone’s path.

Hot tip: The obstacle sensors stop working after you hit a speed of 22mph (35kph).

 

Enable Vision Positioning

This helps keep the drone steady when GPS signals are weak or when you’re flying indoors.

 

Active Track: Enable Backwards Flying

This will let you’re drone automatically fly backwards in the Active track intelligent mode if you’re subject reverses directions.

I recommend you only enable this setting if you are flying high or if you have the newest DJI Phantom 4 Pro since it has obstacle avoidance sensors in the back of the drone.

 

Advanced Vision Sensors

This gives you a status update of the navigation sensors. They should all read as “Normal”.

 


 

 

4) REMOTE CONTROLLER SETTINGS

This is where you make changes to the controller settings.

Remote Controller Settings-DJI Go App Drone

 

Gimbal Wheel Speed

This just depends how sensitive you want the physical gimbal control wheel to be.

This is located on the top left hand side of the remote controller.

Gimbal Wheel Speed-DJI Go App Drone

Remote Controller Calibration

If you’re having remote controller issues try calibrating it with this setting. Just know the drone will have to be off in order to do this.

 

Stick Mode

This changes the way the sticks control the drone. Again I have mine set to Mode 2 which is the most popular mode outside of Asia.

Master Stick Mode 2-DJI Go App Drone

 

Button Customization

This is a super handy setting. Under this menu you can assign a command to the Custom 1 and Custom 2 buttons without having to dive deep into the menu.

Button Customization-DJI Go App Drone

I have my buttons set to:

  • C1 = camera forward/down
  • C2 = advanced video settings

 

Linking Remote Controller

If your remote gets disconnected from your drone for some reason or you buy a replacement controller this is the menu where you can connect them together.

 


5) IMAGE TRANSMISSION SETTINGS

This menu determines the quality and range of your live feed transmission.

Image Transmission Settings-DJI Go App Drone

Most of the time I leave mine on Auto mode but if you have a choppy live video signal you can try changing the settings here using the Custom button.

Select Channel
Selecting a different channel mode may improve your live feed results, just look at how stable/unstable each channel is and chose one accordingly.

Transmission Quality
This determines how crisp and clear the image is going to be.

Be mindful though that the higher you push the quality of the image, the lower in distance the signal will travel.

 


 

 

6) AIRCRAFT BATTERY

This where you can get info related to your battery such as the energy per charge, temperature, the remaining power as seen in milliamps hours.

You can also see the flight time of the battery, how many times you’ve charged it and you can see the capacity of the battery which decreases the more you use and charge it.

Aircraft Battery-DJI Go App Drone

 

 

Critically low and low battery warnings

These are super helpful settings because they will give you warnings when your battery is getting low.

I like having my set to 10% and 30%.

 

 

Advanced setting > Time to discharge

Aircraft Battery Time to Discharge-DJI Go App Drone

Since these are smart batteries, you can have them set to automatically begin the discharge process.

This will help improve the life of the battery when you are not using them. I have my discharge time set to 3 days.

 


 

7) GIMBAL SETTINGS

This menu let’s you control how the camera’s gimbal will function.

Gimbal Settings-DJI Go App Drone

Gimbal Mode

You have 2 options:

  • Follow = This mode means the camera will always be stable and maintain the horizon. This is the setting I personally use.
  • FPV (First Person View) = This is handy if you want to orient yourself with the movement of the drone. So when the drone tilts to the side, so will the camera. This can give you the feeling that you are flying.

 

 

Advanced Settings

This menu allows you to set up 3 different configurations for how you want the gimbal to function.

Gimbal Settings - Advanced Settings-DJI Go App Drone

I highly recommend you play with each setting to fully understand how they work.

Essentially I like to have a setting move fast, normal and slow:

 

  • Configuration 1 = I set mine to the default movement speed.
  • Configuration 2 = I set mine so the gimbal has a fast movement speed. I primarily use this setting when I am shooting stills so I can whip the camera into place without missing any magical moments.

 

  • Configuration 3 = I set mine so the gimbal has a slower movement speed. I like to use them when I am filming so that my pans are silky smooth.

 

 

Centering Camera

This button will pop the camera into place horizontally or straight down.

If you remember I setup a shortcut for this feature using the Custom Buttons, which are found under the Configuration Menu.

 

 

Enable Upwards Gimbal Tilt Limit

Switching this on will allow the camera to tilt up beyond the 30˚ limit. Keep in mind that you will see the propellers in your shots though.

 

Adjust Gimbal Roll

This allows you to correct the tilt of the gimbal if something is off.

Adjust Gimbal Roll-DJI Go App Drone

This is handy if you need to temporary fix the orientation of your gimbal if you are out flying since you can fix it remotely without having to bring the drone back for a landing.

 

 

Gimbal Auto Calibration

Use this setting if you have any issues with the gimbal being crooked or the motor is constantly running.

Just note you cannot perform this while the drone is in the air because you have to have it on a level surface.

I usually perform a gimbal calibration if I am transporting my drone over long distances since there is a chance something got off due to all the banging around.

 


 

 

8) …GENERAL SETTINGS

This section provide various setting options for cache, live streaming and info about the drone.

General Settings-DJI Go App Drone

 

Enable Hardware Decoding

If you have lag issues and freezing problems with the live video feed try turning this on because it can help with the image transmission.

Basically this helps with the processing power that is required to decode the live video feed.

So if you are using an older or slow smart device turn this on because it can also help reduce overheating on the device since it wont have to work as hard to decode the live video feed that’s coming in from the drone.

 

Select Live Broadcast Platform

This is where you can share a live video stream of what your drone’s camera is seeing straight to Facebook, WeiBo or YouTube.

Live Broadcast Platform-DJI Go App Drone

 

 

Cache Map in Background

This is super handy! If you don’t have a smart device that can connected to the internet when you are out flying then turn this option on and load up your map data using WiFi before you leave home.

The DJI Go app will then save the map data so when you get to the location you are flying at you can see all the map infomation.

 

GEO System

This gives you helpful information on flight regulations and restrictions in the area.

 

General Settings > Video Cache

The settings here will determine how cached files are handled.

Video Cache-DJI Go App Drone

The DJI Go app saves low resolution photos and videos (proxy files) inside the app so you can quickly review the imagery that you capture.

This of course takes up space on your smart device so you want to properly manage the settings.

 

Cache During Video Shooting

If you are experiencing lagging live feed issues or you have an older smart device or a device that doesn’t have a lot of free space on it, then try turning off this off to improve results.

 

Largest Video Cache Capacity

Set this based on how much free space you can dedicate to the storage of proxy files within the DJI Go app.

I leave my video cache capacity set to 2GB.

 

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Clear Cache Automatically

Leaving this checked will allow the DJI Go App to clear out the cache when you pass the limit you set in the setting above.

 

Flight Log

Includes data about all your flights

 

Other

This is where you can name your device and find out the model and serial numbers on the aircraft.

 




 

9) RIGHT SIDE OF THE SCREEN

This area contains all the settings for adjusting how your imagery will look and what format it will be recorded in.

Side-Bar-DJI-Go-App-Drone


Gimbal Indicator
This line runs top to bottom and gives you an idea of how much more your camera can point down or up.

 

Video/Photo Switch
Switches the camera mode between Photo and Video.

 

Camera Shutter/Record Button
Takes a picture in photo mode or start/stops recording when in video mode.

 

Play button
Let’s you review the imagery you’ve captured.

 

Quick Menu
Adjust the camera settings.

Manual Camera Settings-DJI Go App Drone


Auto Mode
This is a great mode for beginners because the camera will automatically set the ISO and shutter (and aperture on some drones) for you.

 

Manual Mode
A more advanced mode that requires you to set the ISO, shutter (and aperture on some drones).

 

ISO
This setting adjusts the camera’s sensitivity to light.

The higher the ISO number the more sensitive the camera is to light. But this also means you’ll have more noise/grain in your image.

 

Shutter Speed
The amount of time your camera’s shutter is open, which can freeze motion or suggest motion.

 

Aperture
This controls the amount of light traveling through the lens and how blurry your foreground and background are going to be.

This option is usually only found on higher-end drone cameras.

 

EV (exposure compensation value)
When you are in manual mode you can see how far you are from the auto setting recommendation.

I find this to be helpful when I am trying to figure out what my settings should be when I am in manual mode.

 

 

Video Setting Mode (toggle must be switched to video mode to see these settings)

Video Camera Settings-DJI Go App Drone

 

Video Size
This is where you adjust the image size and frame rate you wish to record.

 

Video Format
This determines which video container format your videos will record in.

I personally use .MOV just because Apple developed this format and I use Apple products.

If you’re really curious learn more about the subtle differences between MOV and MP4 here.

 

NTSC/PAL
This is the where you select which display system format you want.

  • PAL is the most common format used in Europe and parts of Asia.
  • NTSC is the most common format used in most of the Americas and Canada.

Learn more about the differences between PAL and NSTC here.

 

White Balance
This has to do with the colorcast of your imagery and if set properly you can correct shades of yellow, red or blue.

This is what makes your imagery look natural, more warm (orange-ish) or more cool (blue-ish).

Ideally, you want whites to appear white, so you adjust the white balance to help the camera figure that out.

Just use one of the presets like Sunny, Cloudy, etc… and match it to the weather/lighting conditions you are flying in.

 

Style
This is where you can adjust the sharpness, contrast and saturation of the imagery you are capturing.

If you do any post-production editing on your computer then it is highly recommended that you shoot your imagery with flat settings.

For more on this check out this post on drone video tips or drone photography tips.

  

Color
This determines how your camera will process and render its imagery.

I have mine set to D-Log or None when in the Video Mode (it just depends on the shooting scenario) and I have it set to None in when in Picture Mode.

This is because I like my original media to be “flat” or “unedited” since do my editing on the computer.

 

 

Photo Setting Mode (toggle must be switched to photo mode to see these settings)

Photo Camera settings-DJI Go App Drone


Photo

Single Shot = snaps one picture at a time

 

HDR Shot (High Dynamic Range)

HDR images are created when the camera takes 2 or more photos with different exposure settings and then merges them together.

An HDR image will give you a photo with more information in the highlights (so the white pixels aren’t blown out) and more information in the shadows (so the dark pixels aren’t crushed too much).

This is known as having a wide dynamic range and can result in a punchier, more dynamic JPEG image.

If you own post-editing software then I highly recommend you try the AEB option discussed below for creating HDR images, instead of this option because the results in my opinion are much better.

 

 

Multiple

This will take a series of images back to back and can be helpful if you are trying to capture a specific action and don’t want to miss it.

Photo shooting modes DJI Go App Drone

 

AEB (Automatic Exposure Bracketing)

This setting is similar to the HDR setting above but it gives you more control over your final HDR image.

AEB is helpful when you want to create a photo that has a lot of variation in the scene between the bright and dark areas.

With AEB enabled the camera will choose an exposure and then take a picture, then it will immediately take one shot that is a little overexposed and that is a little underexposed.

You’ll then be left with 3 RAW images of the same scene that you can load into either Photoshop or Lightroom and combine them together into a single HDR image.

This is my favorite way to create HDR images.

 

Timed Shot

This mode allows you to shoot with a timed delay, which could be helpful if you are trying to take a selfie and need time to put the controller down or run into place.

 

Image Size

This is the aspect ratio for capturing photos. I keep mine set to the default 4:3 setting.

 

Image Format

RAW is considered a lossless format because the files are uncompressed.

This means that you’ll get every bit of the photo’s image data with little to no processing right from the camera’s sensor.

This then gives you lots of room to play with in post like when it comes to editing and you want to rescue or restore detail in the highlights and shadows.

It’s important to note that RAW files are much bigger than JPEG files and they can take a little bit longer to write to the memory card.

That is why I highly recommend you don’t get the cheapest memory cards and instead get one with fast read/write speeds. I own 5 of these cards and absolutely love them.

RAW is the setting I shooting in.


JPEG

On the flipside, JPEGs are considered a finishing format because the files are much smaller and compressed.

This means that they have already lost data related to the image so you will have little wiggle room to do any serious editing or detail recovery.

 

JPEG + RAW

This mode will let you capture your images in both the RAW and JPEG format.

The advantage to this is you can have large original RAW files and smaller JPEG files.

Just note when shooting in this mode, you’ll take up more room on your memory card and it will take a bit longer to write the image to the card since it is recording 2 different files at once.

 

 

CAMERA SETTINGS (gear icon)


Histogram
This is graph shows the overall brightness of a scene. You can read more about it what a histogram is here.

Histogram-DJI Go App Drone 

Over Exposure Warning
This will overlay “Zebra Lines” onto of your image which lets you know where your image is over exposed and where the pixel data is completely lost.

Zebra lines can help you get a properly exposed image because you just set the cameras settings until you don’t see a lot of Zebra Lines.

This works best when you are out doors and you can’t fully see your screen due to the glare and it being too bright outside.

Note: the zebra lines just provide you with a frame of reference and will not be recorded onto the images you capture.

 

3D noise Reduction
This option helps reduce the amount of noise when shooting. It can be helpful in low light situations.

However, some people report that it can create compression artifacts into images when used in bright settings so experiment with this setting to get the best results.

  

Video caption
This setting will store flight data and synchronize it with the video as a subtitle file.

So if you play your video with a player that supports this feature you can get the data of your flight automatically overlaid on the image.

 

Anti-Flicker
This setting should match the broadcast frequency of the country you will be displaying your videos in (NSTC or PAL).

I’m based in the USA (NTSC) so that means mine is set to 60 Hertz. If you’re using PAL this should read 50 Hertz.

 

File Index
This refers to how the files will be numbered on your memory card. I use Reset but this is really just a personal organizational preference.

  • Reset: Use this setting if you want the memory card to start counting images at 1 after its been formatted.
  • Continuous: Use this setting if you want the number to keep going forever even if you insert a new memory card in.

This might be helpful if you are trying to keep track of imagery for a project.

 

Grid
This will overlay grid lines on top of your live feed to help you with composing your imagery for capture.

Note: the lines will not be recorded onto the images.

 

Format SD Card
This will completely erase your memory card. I like to perform a reformat on my card before every shoot, after of course I’ve backed up my images from the previous shoot.

 

 

Reset Camera Settings
This will put all the camera settings back to their default state.

 


 

10) LEFT SIDE OF MAIN SCREEN

Side-Bar-DJI-Go-App-Drone

 

Auto Takeoff

This button will automatically launch your drone 4ft up in the air where it will then hover in place.

Auto Takeoff-DJI Go App Drone

 

Go Home (auto land)

This button will automatically bring your drone back to its Home Point and land.

 

 

DJI’s Intelligent Flight Modes

This is where you have access to DJI intelligent flight modes which offer various smart flying features that utilize impressive artificial intelligence technology.

Check out a video that shows a few of the DJI Intelligent Flight Modes in action.

Intelligent Flight Modes-DJI Go App Drone

Active Track
In this setting your drone will automatically recognize subjects like people, bikes, cars or boats and then follow them.

This can be helpful since it allows you to focus on controlling just the camera, not piloting the drone.


Tap Fly
All you have to do is tap a point on your screen and the drone will automatically fly along that route, allowing you to focus on controlling just the camera.


Point of Interest
This is where you can set a specific building, object or location as the Point of Interest and the aircraft will continuously circle or orbit around it.


Way Points
Here you can set multiple GPS points, or Waypoints, and the aircraft will automatically fly to them while you focus on controlling the camera.


Follow Me Mode
In Follow Me mode, the aircraft will automatically follow you.


Home Lock
This setting fixes your controls to be relative to the Home Point.

This allows you to easily pull back on the control stick to bring the aircraft back home, or push forward to fly farther away, no matter which way it is facing.

This is a super handy feature if you loose sight of your drone and want to bring it back closer to you.


Course Lock
In this mode the drone will only fly in a straight line (or course) even if the orientation of the nose (the front of the drone) is facing a different direction.

By activating Course Lock, the controls will be set to be relative to your aircraft’s current path.

This easy navigation allows you to fly the drone in straight lines while you control the camera.

 


 

11) MAP DIALOGUE

Click the box on the bottom right hand side of the screen to make the map go full screen. 

Maps-DJI Go App Drone

 

Warning Space Setting

This is the dialogue box where you can select what warnings you wanted displayed for the various Airspace Classes, nearby airports, heliports, etc…

 

 

Center Map

This will center the map and show you where your drone and controller’s position is.

 

Compass Icon

This will orient the map so that north is facing up on the screen.

 

Map Viewing Modes

Here you have 3 viewing options for how the map will be displayed.

 

  • Standard = Shows you an illustrative map with names of streets, highways, etc…
  • Satellite = Will show you just a picture of the surrounding area with no street or highway names.
  • Hybrid = Will show you a blend of the two. You will have street and highway names overlaid on top of the satellite view. This is the one I personally use.

Maps-DJI Go App Drone

 



 

11) TELEMETRY

Telemetry is a two-way data stream that sends data about your aircraft’s flight down to the display/controller.

This information is located along the bottom left-hand side row of the screen.

Telemetry-DJI Go App Drone

 

D = your controller’s distance from the aircraft

 

H = Show you the height based off the takeoff point

 

H.S. = This displays the horizontal speed of the drone

 

V.S. = This displays the vertical speed of the drone which is how fast or slow your aircraft is climbing and ascending

 

VPS = This is the distance to the ground based on the little cameras and sonar sensors underneath the drone. This is most helpful when your drone isn’t connected to GPS satellites.

 

Radar display = This shows you which way your drone is facing in relation to North.

Why is the radar display helpful? Because if you lose sight of your drone yet you know which way north is, you can have a better idea of which direction you need to point the stick in order to bring it back.

 

31 Essential Tips For Creating Epic Drone Videos #fromwhereidrone http://fromwhereidrone.com/essential-tips-for-creating-epic-drone-videos/

 

Conclusion

Are you still with me?! ;) Man, that was a doozy and probably the longest post I’ve written yet.

But I sure hope it was helpful to you and that you feel like you have a better understanding of what all the menus and buttons do inside of the DJI Go app.

If I missed something or if you need something explained even more in-depth then please leave a comment down below and I will help you out!

 …if you enjoyed this post could you please do me a HUGE favor?

Lastly, if you enjoyed this post could you please do me a HUGE favor and give it a thumbs up and share it on social media for me? Just click the big social media icons at the very top or very bottom of this page.

This blog is simply a hobby and labor of love and your support truly does help in keeping this website going!

Thanks so much!

Have a question or comment? Feel free to contact me directly at [email protected] or just drop a comment down below.

 

About this site
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Dirk Dallas, also known online as @dirka, is the founder and curator of From Where I Drone, a blog dedicated to inspiring and teaching drone pilots how to capture better aerial photos and videos.

 

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100 Comments on “DJI Go App: A Step-by-Step Guide Through Every Menu & Button (Video & Written Tutorial)

  1. Pingback: How to Fly a Drone - The Ultimate Guide -

  2. Dirk,
    Great Video! Most comprehensive P4 video I have seen yet!
    I would consider showing a compass calibration for those not familiar and also that the RTH point changes and updates from every different takeoff point on location. I learned the latter the hard way.

    Regards,

    John

  3. Could you do a video of how the flight records icon works. How to add or remove users etc. Thanx, Craig

  4. In between the satellite status and the controller status is a RED icon . Why is it red and what is that for ? Thanks

    • I second this question pertaining to the red icon. I can’t find the answer anywhere. Thanks

    • Hi Ken,

      This icon is apart of the Visual Navigation Sensing. So this specifically refers to the accuracy of the sensor/cameras that help you avoid objects.

      Hope that helps!

      –Dirk

  5. Thanks for the great guide and video which I’d call a ‘must read/see’ for those new to DJI drones.
    On the caution about flying upwind (in the Smart Return Home item), perhaps that could be clarified to point out that using RTH after flying downwind will consume battery power at a much faster rate on the return leg.

  6. Very good … helpt me a lot …. and still does !!!!

    Thanks

    Gr . From Belgium

  7. Please tell me why label livestreaming is extinguished and there is no possibility to select livestream platform

  8. Pingback: 8 Tips for Better Drone Photography -

  9. You are a genius my friend. I’ve surfed the web for info about how to fly my p4p+ for a week now and ended up finding a one stop shop right here. There’s one more question though. How long do you think it will take DJI to fix the ”non existence” of the pinch screen zoom function in the Android DJI GO app? Im new to all this and don’t really know how quick they work. It’s the one function i really want and just my luck,the android screen on my p4p+ has become more a pain than its worth.

    • Huge thanks Aussie, hopefully DJI has fixed it for you by now. I feel like they are generally pretty quick to make tweaks. All the best!
      –Dirk

  10. From Terry UK

    I am still waiting for my Mavic but i am trying to get a heads up on the controls etc before hand .
    This has been one of the best informative and clear tutorials i have read and seen.

    Thanks Dirk, much appreciated.

  11. Dirk thanks for your good work. Is there another way to access the tutorials you mention in the app through the web site? I rather look at stuff through the my desktop computer, but the navigation and information doesn’t seem to match up.

    Thanks Kevin

  12. hi great work
    could you please tell me why I have no enable buttons on my go 4 app I have a mavic pro and I am trying to turn off the beginners mode but there is no an enable button I can not change any thing because I do not have any enable buttons anywhere I hope you can help me out I have not used this drone yet

    • Hi Steven, it could be that you are in full frame view. Try clicking on the middle part of the screen a couple times to pull up the top menu bar. From there click the 3 little dots on the top right and then that first drone icon, from there scroll down to Beginner Mode and switch that off. Hope that helps! Good luck!

  13. Hi
    Thank you for your tutorial
    I have the Fantom 3 Pro I don’t see the option for Course lock ,way points ect ect on my DJI go app???Is there different version.
    Need help thanks
    Kind regards
    Mike

    • You should see it on the left hand side under the remote controller icon. If you don’t have it there it could be that you need to update your app. Best of luck Mike!

  14. Wow! Awesome tutorial. I have a Phantom 4 that I have not had airborne yet. Waiting for winter to finally go away here in Alberta, Canada. In the meantime I was searching for some detailed info on the DJI app. Finally found just the exact forum to learn what I need.
    Thanks so very much for your work here. Priceless!

    William R

    • Hi William, thanks so much for the kind words. Making something that is helpful is my goal so thanks for taking the time to share that! All the best with your new drone and keep me posted if you have any more questions down the line!

      –Dirk

  15. Hi was very interesting and have learnt so much Thank you very much. I have heard also there is a simulator also in the app will be good to practice with

  16. This is a great tutorial, especially for IOS. Will you consider modifying this to be applicable for Android? Thanks much.

  17. This is great!! I’m new to this and keep returning here for information. Good job putting this together. I do have a question, can you add more information, (directions) on how to predownload a map?

  18. I ran across this searching for clarification on all of the complicated settings for my brand new Mavic Pro and what a gold mine this is!! I will definitely bookmark this page and continue to use it as a reference. You did an excellent job writing this up. Thank you.

  19. Terrific tutorial! I do wish you’d covered some basics of the flight sim. I used the Go 4 sim at my kitchen table before going outside for real flying with my Mavic. No matter what, I couldn’t get the Go 4 app out of flight sim mode. Once I opted for flight sim, Go 4 defaults to flight sim mode on start-up every time. I tried every control, and none will take the app back to actual flight mode. And boy, does it eat up battery life on my I phone 6!

  20. I can’t thank you enough… Was looking for a Go 4 manual and found this. Everyone should have this link saved on their PC. I’m new to this sport and just learning to fly my Mavic Pro. This guide has answers several of my questions. Wish it were available in a PDF so I could print and read sitting in my Lazy Boy. Thanks again

  21. Hi. I can’t find anywhere what a little “pencil eraser” icon doing in a map view. It’s always situated in the bottom-right corner of the map and it’s visible when map is minimized and when its in a full-screen view too. You explain all the icons in your guide but don’t mention this icon.

  22. Can you recommend any way to mark dangerous points on a map? I have a lot of power lines in my area, and I’d like to be able to “draw” some of them on my map (by walking around the area before my flight) so I can check if I’m approaching them during flight.

    Today I realized that my drone flew close to one power line, but I couldn’t see on the screen if I’m close to it, if I already crossed it or if I didn’t reach it yet. I also didn’t want to raise the height of my drone, because there was a possibility that I was just below it. I ended up returning my drone, but later I checked the video and realized that I flew just few feet away from that line.
    Scary.

  23. Dirk: Thank you so much for your excellent post. This will be invaluable assistance to pilots both new and experienced.

  24. Nice video… watched it twice and found it really informative. However, it does appear you left out going over the top row of status icons/symbols. ;-)

  25. Great work. This is the best reference for the DJI Go I’ve seen on the net. Well done!

  26. Great tutorial. I do have one question though. You have your iPad hard wired to the controller, I use mine via wifi since the drone didn’t come with a cable. Is there an advantage to connecting via cable vs wifi? Do I gain additional features, or is it a waste of $20 for a lightning to micro usb cable. Thanks.

    • Wayne, I thought I would step in and answer your question. I would certainly get a cable and mount for the iPad. There are restrictions to speed, distance and intelligent flight modes that you can use when flying via WiFi vs being wired to the controller. In my opinion you get a better all around flying experience this way.

      Happy flying!

      • Thanks, I’ll go get the cable. I’ve posted this question on some other web site forums, this is the first time someone’s actually answered.

        • I have an additional question, my controller doesn’t have a sub port for a cable. I use the intelligent flight modes and as far as I’m aware of, they work to the fullest extent of the modes. My question is; does the cable give you more distance? (Phantom 4k)

          • Fred,
            I am not that familiar with the Phantom 4k. I assumed that all controllers had at least one usb port on the back or bottom of the controller. Interesting. I have a Mavic Pro so this is what I’m going from.

        • If you have a Mavic Pro you need to be sure the cable you get is shielded. If you get one of the cheap ones you will get a lot of disconnects between the controller and the device running the DJI Go app. You still have control of your Mavic, but the screen on the mobile device won’t show any info. The following cable has been recommended by many people if you use an Apple device: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0177L6A4O/ref=od_aui_detailpages00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
          Some people also recommend putting your mobile device in airplane mode to reduce the possibility of interference.

  27. Great blog post. Do you know if there is a way to remove items from the screen or ideally quickly clear the screen when filming? There is so many overlays it’s sometimes hard to frame a shot because you can’t see everything around the edges.
    Thanks.

  28. Great tutorial, Dirk! May I have a question? 5) IMAGE TRANSMISSION SETTINGS – My DJI GO 4 (latest version, I hope) shows only channels and their quality, but doesn’t show auto/custom switch. Maybe this option could solve my problems with the app permanently crashing, but I just don’t see it. Have You encountered something like this? Thanks Jan

  29. Pingback: The Best Tips for Flying Your Drone in Cold Weather (Read or watch) – Drone Newz

  30. Good stuff – glad I found the site. I have a Mav, is there a way to fly a predetermined route using the app and the map? I know you can program one that you already flew, I’m talking about doing it “on the fly” while the bird is up.

  31. How can I download this in PDF? The first time I went to leave the page it offered to download it in PDF but I declined at that time. Now I can’t get it to offer that option anymore.

  32. I´d love to have your PDF-file but nothing happens when I sign up.
    Best regards
    Pontus

  33. Thanks for this Post! I fly a lot from a moving boat. I don’t want to set a Home Point at takeoff because my boat will have moved from that point by the time I land on the boat.
    Can I set a new Home Point based on the current location of my Remote Controller?

  34. Could you cover switching to/from full screen view? I’ve gotten into to accidentally and couldn’t figure out how to get back to where I could read all the telemetry info. There’s a setting in GO 4 for one finger or two fingers for full screen, but I still don’t understand how to switch.

    • Swipe up or down on the screen with one or two fingers, depending on which option you pick.

  35. Is there a way to have the app “point” to the controller the way the compass rose shows the orientation? The coordinates must be available as part of the RTH mode and, if this feature were enabled, the pilot could easily fly back home without activating RTH. (I recently launched from a riverbank with thick woods on all sides and then lost sight of the drone. At that point it was off-axis. I was able to get a rough idea of location from the compass rose and the distance heading, but it took some time to tack my way back…)

  36. Hi Dirk, I’m new to drones and yours is by far the most useful site i’ve visited – and I’ve visited a lot !
    Can you help me with one thing on my Phantom 4 please? In MC settings there is no indicator showing in “Enable Multiple flight mode”.
    I know it will be because I haven’t done something, but the trouble is, I don’t know what ?
    Kind regards,
    John

  37. Wow, awesome article Dirk! I am wondering if you can help me, I am trying to decide what tablet to by to use with my P4. Do you have any recommendations? I just read this article – http://www.droneriot.com/best-dji-go-compatible-tablets/ which suggests the Samsung Galaxy Tab S3, which I like the sound of more than an iPad.

    I have heard apple devices work better with the DJI GO app, would you suggests an iPad over an Android device?

    Thanks again for the in depth article, much appreciated!

  38. hi thank you so much…. it really helps…

    i have using phantom 4 pro… the video capture by the drone is always in fast forward mode…. i mean m not able to figureout the option to control the speed of video recording…. it records video in fast forward mode

    pleass suggest

  39. Thank you, first time Phantom user. Very helpful. First flight this weekend
    South Africa

  40. Thank you very much. A complete guide and very easy to understand even for beginners.
    Brasil

  41. Yes, good tutorial. I have a Spark for practice. However, I’ve discovered this morning that I have an unstable Gimbal as it pixelates, vibrates & flickers. Video feed is clear but do not understand how to correct this issue.
    I have looked at the channel status bar and too many orange “Unstable” bars peaking to the top of the graph.
    My Drone came preset on channel 149.
    Are these radio frequencies?

    So, that being said, would like some assistance with setting these features.

    Thanks
    Denver, Colorado

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  43. This made a difference. Thank you! Is there a way to change the point of view in Academy simulation? Such as if we are looking at the camera in the drone.

  44. Pingback: Dji Phantom 3 Standard Ipad Mount – Drone Buyer

  45. Super informative. Even after flying for a year, watching a hundred videos, I learned and relearned several important items for safe flying and better photography:)
    Thanks

  46. Thank you Dirk, very informative and stimulating…

  47. Thanks so much, this was very helpful, will be referring to it a lot

  48. Thanks Dirk. This has helped me alot on going thru the App. This has also showed me about the images I want to capture. Very good post. Book marked and will be referring to it a lot.

  49. Pingback: How To Fly A Drone? | drone-1 learn to use a drone beautifully

  50. Dude. You rock. Just got a DJI Mavic 2 and I’m good on the pilot controls but knew next to nothing in regards to photo settings. Learned a lot.

  51. Is there an option in the app to practice flying in FPV? I read there should be some “Change Perspective” tab in the settings for the Android app at least, but I cannot find it. Any advice? Thanks

  52. Thanks so much for the work that you have put into this, very informative!

  53. Hey Dirk, great vid. I have a problem trying to find out why my drone has the take off bar continually showing, “Cannot take off” No matter where I am, it keeps saying “cannot take off” can you tell me how to fix!!!!!! Thanks Frankie

  54. Forget running all over the net to find info! Its all in this post. I give it five stars………

  55. What does it mean when there is a PHONE icon in the middle of the red record button…..

    • Hi Mychelle, do you mean a “memory card” looking icon? If so that means there is a no memory card in the sd slot. If not I am not sure as I have not seen a phone icon before in the red record button

  56. I’m 90 and understand and appreciate all your help, what a man you are

  57. Pingback: what does smart return to home do inspire 1 – Top Smart Home Devices

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