How to set the home point and Return to Home on the DJI Mavic 3 Classic

The DJI Mavic 3 Classic records its Home Point at the first spot where it gets a strong GPS signal (white GPS icon), and you can update it before takeoff or mid-flight in DJI Fly's Safety settings. To bring it back, press and hold the RTH button on the controller until it beeps, or tap the RTH icon in DJI Fly. Set the RTH altitude (default 100 m, or 328 ft) and choose Optimal or Preset Advanced RTH under Settings > Safety > RTH before you fly.

Mavic 3 Classic RTH setup — Default RTH altitude is 100 m (328 ft). Use Preset near power lines or towers the drone can't detect.

The Home Point

Recorded at the first location with a strong to moderately strong GPS signal.
Can be updated before takeoff whenever the signal is strong; it won't update on a weak signal.
Update it manually in DJI Fly's Safety settings if you move, for example on a boat or walking along a trail.

RTH settings

Go to the camera view in DJI Fly, tap settings, then Safety > RTH:

Optimal: the drone plans the shortest safe path and picks its own altitude based on obstacles and signal, regardless of your RTH altitude.
Preset: farther than 50 m away, it flies to open space while avoiding obstacles, climbs to your RTH altitude, then returns. Between 5 and 50 m it comes back at its current altitude.
Auto RTH altitude: default 100 m (328 ft). Set it above the tallest obstacles and within the 400 ft legal limit.

DJI recommends Preset if there are power lines or towers on the way back that the drone can't avoid, with RTH altitude higher than all of them.

The three kinds of RTH

Smart RTH: you trigger it with the button or the app. In good light it uses Advanced RTH and avoids obstacles and GEO zones.
Low Battery RTH: DJI Fly warns when there's only enough power to get home. If you cancel, the drone may not have enough battery to land safely.
Failsafe RTH: starts after the controller signal is lost for more than six seconds, if the signal-lost action is set to RTH.

When it can't see well

In poor light, Advanced RTH isn't available and the drone uses Straight Line RTH:

Distance from Home Point	What it does
Under 5 m	Lands immediately
5 to 50 m	Flies home at current altitude (climbs to 2 m if lower)
Over 50 m	Climbs to RTH altitude, then flies straight home

On a failsafe return in poor light, it first flies backward 50 m along its original route, then switches to Straight Line RTH. In these modes it can't avoid obstacles, so your RTH altitude does all the work.

Control during RTH

Push the pitch stick to change speed, or pull it all the way back to brake, hover and exit RTH. Press the RTH button or tap the app icon to cancel. You can't change the RTH altitude once RTH starts.

AR helpers

With a good video signal, DJI Fly shows the AR Home Point, the AR RTH route and an AR shadow of the drone when it's 0.5 to 15 m above the ground. Turn them on or off in System Settings > Safety > AR Settings. Treat the route as a guide only.

Test it

Fly out about 100 m over an open field, set RTH altitude to clear everything around you, and hold the RTH button. Watch it climb, turn and land. If it doesn't behave, read DJI Return to Home not working.

More setup help: Mavic 3 Classic app and Mavic 3 Classic quick start. Shop the DJI Mavic 3 Classic.

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