FAA DroneZone not working? Fixes for login, payment and serial errors

When FAA DroneZone isn't working, it's usually one of four things: you're logging in with a different email than the one you registered with, the password reset email isn't arriving, the Remote ID serial number is being rejected, or the browser is stuck on an old session. Make sure you're on faadronezone.faa.gov, reset your password with your original email, and enter the serial exactly as it appears on the drone. If it still fails, call the FAA UAS Support Center at 844-FLY-MY-UA (844-359-6982).

Can't log in

The FAA says that if you're having trouble logging in, you may need to reset your password, and to "use the email address you used when you originally registered your drone." A new account under a different email won't show your old registration.

The FAA's password reset steps:

1. Go to faadronezone.faa.gov and click LOG IN at the upper right.
2. Click I Agree, then Forgot Password?
3. Enter your email address and press Send Email.
4. Click the link in the email and create a new password.
5. Log in and open the right dashboard (recreational or Part 107).

The new password needs at least 8 characters with upper case, lower case, numbers and a special character.

Reset email never arrives

• Check spam and junk folders.
• Proton Mail users: the FAA warns that proton.com addresses may not receive FAA emails, and messages sent through some FAA pages may not reach them. Call the support center to update your email.
• Wait a few minutes before requesting another link, and use the newest email you receive.

Serial number rejected

Drones that must be registered also must comply with Remote ID, and DroneZone asks for the Remote ID serial number from the manufacturer. For DJI drones with built-in Remote ID, that's the aircraft serial number. Common mistakes:

• Entering the remote controller's serial instead of the drone's.
• Confusing O with 0 or I with 1.
• Typing a serial from the box of a different unit.

Our find your DJI serial number guide shows where it's printed and where it appears in DJI Fly.

Wrong dashboard

Recreational and Part 107 registrations are separate. The FAA says a drone registered under the Exception for Limited Recreational Operations can't be flown under Part 107, and registrations can't be transferred between the two types. If your drone seems to be missing, check the other dashboard. See Part 107 vs recreational.

Page won't load or payment fails

• Try a different browser, or a private window to clear an old session.
• Turn off ad blockers and extensions that block pop-ups or scripts.
• Make sure the billing address matches your card.
• If the site is slow or down, try again later rather than paying twice.

The FAA fee is $5. For recreational flyers, that covers all your drones for three years. For Part 107, it's $5 per drone for three years. Use the FAA's own site, not a third-party registration service.

Still stuck?

Call 844-359-6982 or use the email form on the FAA's contact page. Once you're in, our guides on FAA registration and registration renewal walk through the rest.

Remember: drones under 250 g flown only for fun don't need FAA registration. A Mini series drone like the DJI Mini 5 Pro keeps it simple.

Related guides

• DJI Mini 5 Pro QuickTransfer not working: fixes
• DJI Fly says "registration number format error": how to fix it
• Does the DJI Air 3S have Remote ID? Serial number and FAA registration
• Does the DJI Flip have Remote ID? Serial number and FAA registration
• Does the DJI Mavic 4 Pro have Remote ID? Serial number and FAA registration
• Does the DJI Mini 5 Pro have Remote ID? Serial number and FAA registration

All troubleshooting →