DJI Air 3 quick start: setup and first flight

To set up a new DJI Air 3: charge the battery, remove the gimbal protector, unfold the front arms before the rear arms, check the propellers, then power on and activate the drone in the DJI Fly app. Before it leaves the ground outdoors, register it with the FAA ($5, valid 3 years), because at 720 g it's well over the 250 g limit. Plan about an hour for charging and setup.

What's in the box

The standard Air 3 kit includes the aircraft, the RC-N2 controller, one Intelligent Flight Battery and spare propellers. DJI does not include a wall charger. DJI recommends its 65W portable charger or 100W USB-C adapter, and any USB Power Delivery charger works.

Step 1: charge and wake the batteries

Batteries ship in hibernation mode and wake up when you first charge them. Charging in the drone with a 65W charger takes about 1 hour 20 minutes. With the 100W adapter and the Air 3 charging hub, a battery takes about 1 hour. Charge the controller over USB-C too.

Step 2: unfold and attach propellers

1. Remove the gimbal protector by pressing it slightly and unclipping it.
2. Unfold the front arms first, then the rear arms. Doing it the other way can damage the arms.
3. Check the propellers. Propellers with grey circle marks go on motors with grey marks; unmarked ones go on unmarked motors. Press down, twist in the lock direction until it pops up, then unfold the blades.

Always remove the gimbal protector and unfold all arms before powering on, or the self-check can fail.

Step 3: install DJI Fly and activate

1. Install DJI Fly (App Store, or the APK from dji.com for Android). See Air 3 app setup.
2. On the RC-N2, mount your phone and connect the cable. On Android, choose "charge only" if a USB prompt appears.
3. Power on: press once, then press and hold. Do the controller first, then the drone.
4. Follow the prompts to activate. You need internet and a DJI account.
5. Install any firmware update offered. See Air 3 firmware update.

Step 4: the legal part (US)

• Register at FAADroneZone and put the number on the outside of the drone. See FAA registration.
• Recreational pilots: pass the free TRUST test and carry proof. Paid work: you need a Part 107 certificate.
• Remote ID is built into the Air 3. Nothing to add.
• Check airspace with B4UFLY or Aloft. Controlled airspace near airports needs LAANC authorization.

Step 5: set safety settings

In DJI Fly, open settings and then Safety:

• RTH altitude: the default is 100 m (328 ft). Set it above the tallest trees or buildings around you.
• Max altitude: keep it at or below 400 ft above ground.
• Signal lost action: leave it on Return to Home.
• Wait for the app to announce that the Home Point is recorded before you take off.

Step 6: your first flight

1. Pick an open field away from people, roads and power lines.
2. Use auto takeoff in DJI Fly, or the stick command. The drone hovers a few feet up.
3. Practice slow moves in Normal mode: climb, turn, fly out 50 feet and back.
4. Test Return to Home once at a short distance so you know what it does.
5. Land with the auto-land button or by holding the left stick down.

Rated flight time is 46 minutes per battery, but plan to land with 20 to 30% left.

Manual and tutorial videos

DJI's full user manual (PDF), quick start guide and DJI Assistant 2 are on the Air 3 downloads page. For flying basics, read our drone flying tips.

Still choosing? See the DJI Air 3 or compare it with the newer model in Air 3 vs Air 3S.

Rules current as of October 2026. This is general information, not legal advice.

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