A "gimbal motor overloaded" warning or a stuck gimbal on the DJI Mavic 4 Pro usually means the gimbal was blocked, knocked or left tilted when it tried to start up. Take the storage cover off, set the drone flat on a hard surface, and wait for the gimbal to recover or restart the drone. If it keeps coming back on flat ground, the gimbal needs DJI service.
Why the Mavic 4 Pro gimbal stops
The Mavic 4 Pro's Infinity Gimbal carries three cameras and rotates much further than older Mavics: DJI lists a controllable tilt of -90° to 70°, and the roll axis can turn a full 360°. That range makes it sensitive to anything that gets in the way at startup. DJI's manual says the gimbal may enter protection mode when:
- It's blocked by an object, for example when the drone sits on uneven ground or grass
- It takes an excessive external force, such as in a collision
- The aircraft isn't placed flat for a long time after power-on, or is shaken hard
In those cases DJI's fix is simple: place the aircraft flat and wait for the gimbal to return to normal, or restart it.
Fixes to try, in order
- Remove the storage cover before powering on, and put it back on when you're done flying.
- Power on flat. Use a table or flat pavement, not grass, sand or a bag. Don't touch the camera while it runs its startup movement.
- Restart. Power off, wait a few seconds, and power on again on a flat surface.
- Remove add-ons. DJI warns that any payload other than an official accessory can make the gimbal behave abnormally or even damage a motor. Take off third-party filters, lens clips and stickers.
- Check for grit. With the drone off, look for sand or dust near the gimbal motors and clear it with a hand blower.
- Dry it out. Fog or cloud can wet the gimbal and cause a temporary failure. It recovers once dry. If you were caught in rain, land and clean the gimbal promptly.
- Update firmware for the aircraft and remote controller in DJI Fly.
- Calibrate. If the gimbal works but drifts in flight, DJI's answer is to calibrate the IMU and compass in DJI Fly, then contact DJI Support if it persists. See how to calibrate the compass and IMU.
Shaking or the gimbal moving on its own
Some movement is normal behavior, not a fault:
- Strong wind: DJI says the gimbal may vibrate while recording in strong winds.
- Limit protection: if the gimbal is tilted up steeply and the drone pitches forward while accelerating or braking, the gimbal enters limit protection and tilts down on its own.
- Movement limits: roll rotation and True Vertical Shooting in strong wind or at high speed can push the gimbal to its limit. In vertical mode the pan axis only travels ±22°.
If footage has fine, wavy jello rather than shaking, check the propellers first. See wavy jello drone footage.
When it needs repair
Start a repair if the warning returns on flat ground with nothing attached, the camera buzzes or hangs crooked, one camera's image stays tilted, or the problem began after a crash. DJI also warns not to point the front of the gimbal at the ground or sharp objects, because the camera is exposed. Crash damage is covered by DJI Care Refresh if you added a plan in time.
For this error on other drones, read gimbal motor overloaded. More on the drone is in the Mavic 4 Pro guide.
Related guides
- DJI Mavic 3 Pro gimbal motor overloaded or stuck: how to fix it
- DJI Mavic 3 Classic gimbal motor overloaded or stuck: how to fix it
- DJI Mini 4 Pro gimbal motor overloaded or stuck: how to fix it
- DJI Mini 5 Pro gimbal motor overloaded or stuck: how to fix it
- DJI Mavic 4 Pro repair: arms, gimbal and motor replacement
- DJI Air 3 gimbal motor overloaded or stuck: how to fix it
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