A DJI low battery warning means the drone has calculated it has only enough power left to fly home, and it will start Return to Home after a short countdown unless you cancel. A critical low battery warning means it only has enough to land, so it descends where it is. "Critically low voltage" is different: the battery's voltage has sagged, usually from cold or full-stick flying, even if the percentage looks fine.
Low battery RTH
DJI drones constantly estimate whether the battery can get them back to the Home Point from the current distance, height and wind. When the margin runs out, DJI Fly shows a warning and the drone heads home after a countdown. You can cancel it with the RTH button, but DJI warns that the battery may then not have enough power to land safely. Cancel only if you're close and flying home yourself.
Critical low battery and auto landing
If the remaining charge can only support a descent from the current height, the drone lands automatically. On the Mini 4 Pro, DJI says this landing can't be cancelled, though you can still steer sideways and slow the descent. When the battery is fully depleted, the drone force lands and the throttle no longer changes the descent rate. Guide it toward a clear spot.
On the status light, slow red blinking means takeoff is disabled, for example because of low battery, and fast red blinking means critically low battery.
DJI Neo low battery
The Neo lands automatically when it reaches critical low battery, including in Palm Control. DJI's manual says not to keep it from landing when the battery is critically low, or the battery can be damaged or the Neo can crash. Keep the area under it clear and catch it in your palm if the ground is bad.
Critically low voltage
DJI's help center gives two common causes:
- Cold. A cold pack can't deliver its rated voltage, and the voltage drops sharply on takeoff.
- Hard flying on a half-empty pack. Holding the sticks at full deflection at around 40% battery pulls a lot of current and makes the voltage fall fast.
Either can trigger a forced landing. DJI recommends warming the battery before flying and avoiding full stick input when the level is low. Below -10° C (14° F) DJI batteries can't be used at all, and capacity drops a lot between -10° and 5° C. See flying in cold weather.
Controller low battery
The remote controller beeps too. On the Mini 4 Pro's controllers, DJI says a low battery alert sounds at 6 to 10% and can be silenced with the power button. The critical alert below 5% can't be silenced. Charge the controller before every session.
Stop getting warnings early
- Fly on fully charged batteries, and plan to land at 20 to 30% instead of waiting for the warning.
- Turn back sooner in wind. Flying home into a headwind uses far more power than the trip out.
- Keep spares warm in winter and start the drone a few minutes before takeoff to warm the pack.
- An old battery with short flight times or fast voltage drops is worn out. See drone battery care.
If the warnings come with an error instead of a percentage, read DJI battery error. More power means more flying: a spare Mini 4 Pro battery or Neo battery is the simplest fix, and our guide to how long a drone can fly compares flight times.
Related guides
- DJI battery error, "non-DJI battery" and battery warnings
- DJI battery hibernation mode: how to wake a battery after storage
- DJI battery not charging? Fixes for hibernation and blinking lights
- DJI battery not holding a charge? Causes and fixes
- How to change and install a DJI drone battery
- Swollen or damaged drone battery: is it safe and how to dispose of it
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