DJI Return to Home not working: settings to check

DJI Return to Home usually "doesn't work" for one of four reasons: no Home Point was recorded because GNSS was weak at takeoff, the Signal Lost action is set to Hover or Land, the drone is already close to home, or you're flying a drone like the Neo in a mode with no RTH at all. Check that DJI Fly says the Home Point is recorded before every flight, set the Signal Lost action to Return to Home, and set an RTH altitude above every obstacle.

DJI RTH: key numbers — From DJI's Mini 3 manual and our Neo guide. Without a recorded Home Point, or too close to it, a DJI drone won't fly home on its own.

The common causes

No Home Point. DJI records the Home Point at the first place the drone gets a strong to moderately strong GNSS signal (white icon). DJI's Mini 3 manual says the drone can't return if GNSS is weak or unavailable. Wait for the "Home Point recorded" prompt before you fly.
Signal Lost action isn't RTH. In DJI Fly's safety settings you choose Return to Home, Land or Hover. DJI says that with Land or Hover set, Failsafe RTH won't activate.
Too close to home. If the Mini 3 is within 20 m of the Home Point when RTH starts, DJI says it hovers in place and doesn't return.
Strong wind. DJI says the drone may not make it back in high wind.
GEO zones on the way can affect the route.
Settings reset after an update. DJI's Avata 2 manual warns that firmware updates can reset settings such as RTH altitude and max distance. Recheck them after updating.

Mini 3 not returning home

How to start it: tap the RTH icon in DJI Fly or press and hold the RTH button on the controller. When it loses the controller signal for more than 11 seconds with RTH set, the Mini 3 flies back 50 m along its route, climbs to RTH altitude, then flies straight home. If GNSS drops during RTH, it may enter ATTI mode, hover a while, then land. During RTH you can change speed and height, but not move sideways; push the stick fully opposite to cancel and hover.

DJI Neo: how to return home

The Neo only has RTH when flown with a remote control device, such as the RC-N3 or goggles with a motion controller. Palm control and phone control have no RTH, and DJI limits the Neo to 30 m high and 50 m away in those modes. With a controller:

RC-N3: press and hold Flight Pause/RTH until it beeps.
DJI Fly: tap the RTH icon, then press and hold.
RC Motion 3: press and hold the mode button.

The Neo has no obstacle sensing, so set the RTH altitude above trees and poles. Details are in Neo Home Point and RTH.

Neo 2 RTH settings

The Neo 2 follows the same principles: RTH needs a recorded Home Point and works through DJI Fly's safety settings, where you set RTH altitude and the Signal Lost action. Check those settings in DJI Fly before your first long flight.

Before every flight

Wait for "Home Point recorded".
Set RTH altitude higher than the tallest obstacle around you.
Set Signal Lost action to Return to Home.
If you move during the flight, update the Home Point in DJI Fly's safety settings.

Low battery RTH is covered in DJI low battery warning, and satellite problems in DJI drone has no GPS signal. Model page: Mini 3 Home Point.