DJI Mini 4 Pro gimbal motor overloaded or stuck: how to fix it

A "gimbal motor overloaded" warning on the DJI Mini 4 Pro usually means the camera was blocked when it tried to move at startup: the gimbal protector was still on, or the drone sat on grass or uneven ground. Remove the protector, set the drone on a flat, hard surface and restart. If the gimbal then works but the horizon is off, run gimbal calibration in DJI Fly.

Mini 4 Pro gimbal fixes — DJI's Mini 4 Pro manual says the gimbal motor can enter protection mode when it's blocked on uneven ground or grass, or hit by an external force.

Why the gimbal overloads

DJI's Mini 4 Pro manual says a gimbal motor may enter protection mode if:

The gimbal is obstructed when the drone is on uneven ground or on grass
The gimbal takes an excessive external force, such as in a collision

It also says not to touch the gimbal once the drone is on, and not to add any payload other than an official accessory, because that can cause abnormal behavior or permanent motor damage.

Fixes to try, in order

Remove the gimbal protector before power-on, and refit it when the drone is stored.
Power on flat. A table, a landing pad or pavement, not grass, sand or a bag. Hands off while the camera moves through its startup check.
Remove add-ons. Take off third-party ND filters, lens clips and stickers. If you use filters, use DJI's set made for the Mini 4 Pro. See Mini 4 Pro ND filters.
Look for grit. With the drone off, move the camera gently. Rough or gritty movement means debris near a motor. Clear it with a hand blower.
Let it dry. DJI says fog or cloud can wet the gimbal and cause a temporary failure that clears once it's dry.
Update firmware for the aircraft and controller in DJI Fly.
Calibrate. In DJI Fly camera view, open settings and go to Control. DJI's manual lists gimbal calibration and recentering under Gimbal Settings there. Keep the drone level and still. Full steps are in Mini 4 Pro horizon not level.

"Incompatible gimbal data"

DJI's manual doesn't list this message. The wording suggests the gimbal and the rest of the aircraft aren't agreeing, for example after an interrupted firmware update. Safe steps:

Charge the drone and controller above 20%, then update all firmware in DJI Fly.
If DJI Fly won't update, refresh the firmware with DJI Assistant 2 (Consumer Drones Series) on a computer.
If the message stays, don't fly. Contact DJI support.

Gimbal calibration fails

Calibration needs a still, level drone with nothing touching the camera. If it fails on a flat table after a restart and update, the gimbal is likely damaged. Calibrating the IMU and compass in DJI Fly under Safety > Sensors fixes drift during flight, not a stuck gimbal. See how to calibrate the compass and IMU.

When it needs repair

Start a repair if the warning returns on flat ground with no protector or filter, the camera hangs crooked or buzzes, calibration always fails, or it started after a crash. DJI Care Refresh covers crash damage. For this error on other models, read gimbal motor overloaded, and more about the drone is in the Mini 4 Pro guide.