DJI Mini 5 Pro gimbal motor overloaded or stuck: how to fix it

A "gimbal motor overloaded" warning or a stuck gimbal on the DJI Mini 5 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. Take the protector off, set the drone on a flat, hard surface and restart. If the gimbal moves but sits crooked, run gimbal calibration in DJI Fly.

Mini 5 Pro gimbal stuck: what to do — Most gimbal overload warnings on DJI's Mini drones come from something blocking the camera at startup. When it appears points to the fix.

Why it happens

The Mini 5 Pro's gimbal carries a 1-inch sensor camera on small, precisely tuned motors. DJI's manuals for its current Mini drones say a gimbal motor can enter protection mode when:

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

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

Fixes to try, in order

Remove the gimbal protector before power-on. Put it back on for storage.
Power on flat. A table or pavement, not grass, sand or a bag. Keep hands off while the camera runs its startup check.
Check filters. Use the Mini 5 Pro ND filter set and make sure it's fully seated, or test with no filter. Remove third-party lenses and stickers.
Look for grit. With the drone off, gently move the camera. Rough movement means debris near a motor. Clear it with a hand blower.
Let it dry. Fog or cloud can wet a gimbal and cause a temporary fault that clears once it's dry.
Update firmware for the aircraft and controller in DJI Fly.
Calibrate. In DJI Fly camera view, open settings, go to Control and find gimbal calibration under the gimbal settings. Keep the drone level and still while it runs. Menu names shift between DJI Fly versions.

Gimbal level on the ground, tilted in flight

That's drift, and DJI's fix on its Mini drones 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 and DJI gimbal not level. Some movement in strong wind is normal on a 249 g drone.

When it's damaged

Start a repair if:

The warning returns on flat ground with no protector or filter
The camera hangs crooked, buzzes or won't tilt
Calibration fails every time
It started after a crash or a knock in a bag

The gimbal is a DJI repair job, and DJI Care Refresh covers crash damage. For this error on other models, read gimbal motor overloaded. More about the drone is in the Mini 5 Pro guide.