The DJI Mavic 3 Pro records its Home Point at the first spot where it gets a strong GNSS signal (a white GPS icon in DJI Fly), and you can update it during flight under Settings > Safety. To bring the drone back, press and hold the RTH button on the controller until it beeps, or tap the RTH icon in DJI Fly. Before every flight, set the RTH altitude (default 100 m, or 328 ft) and choose Optimal or Preset RTH.
The Home Point
- Recorded automatically at the first strong to moderately strong GNSS fix. DJI Fly confirms it.
- Updates before takeoff whenever the signal is strong again. It won't update on a weak signal.
- Update it mid-flight under Settings > Safety if you've moved, for example on a boat or walking along a trail.
Wait for the Home Point prompt before you fly. Taking off early is the most common reason a drone "returns" to the wrong place.
RTH settings
In DJI Fly's camera view, tap settings, then Safety > RTH:
- Optimal: the drone plans the shortest safe path and sets its own altitude from obstacles and signal, ignoring your RTH altitude.
- Preset: more than 50 m out, it flies to open space, climbs to your RTH altitude and returns. From 5 to 50 m, it comes back at its current altitude.
- RTH altitude: default 100 m (328 ft). It can't be changed once RTH has started.
DJI recommends Preset when power lines or towers the drone can't detect are on the way home, with RTH altitude above all of them.
Three ways RTH starts
- Smart RTH: you start it with the RTH button or the app icon. Press the button again, or tap the icon, to cancel.
- Low Battery RTH: DJI Fly warns when there's only enough power to get home and starts RTH after a 10-second countdown. Cancelling it can leave the drone without power to land.
- Failsafe RTH: starts after the controller signal is lost for more than six seconds, if Advanced Safety Settings is set to RTH (you can choose RTH, Land or Hover).
When it can't see well
Advanced RTH needs good light for the vision sensors. In poor light the Mavic 3 Pro uses Straight Line RTH:
| Distance from Home Point | What it does |
|---|---|
| Under 5 m | Lands right away |
| 5 to 50 m | Flies home at current altitude (climbs to 2 m if lower) |
| Over 50 m | Climbs to 20 m, then to RTH altitude, then flies straight home |
After a signal loss in poor light, it first flies backward 50 m along its original route, then switches to Straight Line RTH. It can't avoid obstacles in these modes, so RTH altitude does all the work at dusk.
Control during RTH
During Advanced RTH you can use the pitch stick to change speed. Pull it all the way back to brake, hover and exit RTH. DJI notes the drone can't detect thin branches or wires, so start RTH from open space when you can.
AR helpers
With a good video signal, DJI Fly shows the AR Home Point, the AR RTH route and the drone's AR shadow (from 0.5 to 15 m above the ground). Toggle them in Settings > Safety > AR Settings. Treat the route as a guide only.
Test it once
Over an open field, fly about 100 m out, set an RTH altitude that clears everything nearby, and hold the RTH button. Watch it climb, turn and land. If it misbehaves, read DJI Return to Home not working.
Keep the drone in sight on the way back, and stay at or below 400 ft. More basics in the Mavic 3 Pro quick start and Mavic 3 Pro app. Shop the DJI Mavic 3 Pro.
Rules current as of October 2026. This is general information, not legal advice.
Related guides
- How to set the home point and Return to Home on the DJI Mavic 4 Pro
- How to set the home point and Return to Home on the DJI Mavic 3 Classic
- How to set the home point and Return to Home on the DJI Mini 4 Pro
- How to set the home point and Return to Home on the DJI Mini 5 Pro
- How to set the home point and Return to Home on the DJI Air 3S
- How to set the home point and Return to Home on the DJI Avata 2
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