The DJI Flip doesn't respond to hand-gesture commands like a wave or a palm signal; DJI's manual and FAQ don't list any. Instead it has palm control: you choose a mode with the button on its side, hold it out, and it takes off from your hand, films, and lands back on your palm. It also takes voice commands through the DJI Fly app in English or Mandarin. In palm mode it stays within 30 m high and 50 m away.
Ways to control the Flip without a remote
| Method | How | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Palm control | Mode button on the drone | No phone needed in flight |
| Mobile App Control | DJI Fly over Wi-Fi | On-screen sticks for fine-tuning |
| Voice control | Spoken commands in DJI Fly | English or Mandarin |
DJI caps all three at 30 m high and 50 m away, with no Return to Home.
Palm mode, step by step
- Connect to DJI Fly once. The Flip must have connected to your phone over Wi-Fi before palm control will work. Turn off any linked controller.
- Power on and keep the Flip still while it runs its self-check.
- Pick a mode. Press the mode button once to cycle. The Flip announces the mode by voice and lights the matching indicator: Follow, Dronie, Circle, Rocket, Spotlight or Custom.
- Hold it correctly. Grip the sides of the body from below with the camera facing you. Keep fingers out of the prop guards.
- Take off. Extend your arm, keep still, and press and hold the mode button. It counts down and lifts off, then flies backward a short distance. Make sure the space behind it is clear.
- It films automatically, following the mode's preset path.
- Land on your palm. When it's hovering, step toward it and hold a flat, open hand right under it with fingers extended. Keep still while it lands. It may rise slightly first.
To cancel takeoff, press the mode button once before the countdown ends.
The Custom mode slot
The Custom slot defaults to DirectionTrack after activation. In DJI Fly you can switch it to Helix, Boomerang or Dolly Zoom. DirectionTrack films you from the front as you walk toward it and from behind as you walk away; you unlock it through an in-app tutorial. See Flip ActiveTrack.
DJI's palm safety rules
- Fly in calm air whenever possible.
- Don't throw the Flip to launch it, and don't grab it out of the air.
- Don't move while it takes off or lands.
- Take off in good light, in a spot with a richly textured surface.
- Don't fly over water in palm mode.
- If takeoff fails, follow the Flip's voice prompt or check DJI Fly.
The Flip lands itself if the battery is critically low, if positioning fails, or if it detects a collision.
Voice control
Voice control runs in DJI Fly when your phone is connected to the Flip. DJI supports English and Mandarin, set by the app language. It arrived in DJI's January 2025 firmware, so update if you don't see it. See Flip firmware update.
Want gesture photos?
If waving at the drone to trigger a photo matters to you, that isn't a Flip feature. The Flip's answer is Smart Snaps and voice commands. For more control, add a remote; see Flip controllers.
Ready for palm launches? Shop the DJI Flip, and read the Flip quick start before your first flight.
Related guides
- Can you hand-land the DJI Air 3S? Palm takeoff and gestures
- DJI Mini 5 Pro hand gestures and palm takeoff: is there hand landing?
- DJI Neo hand gestures and palm takeoff
- Best DJI Flip accessories worth buying
- Best SD card for the DJI Flip (and internal storage)
- Buying the DJI Flip drone only: what else you need
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