DJI Neo won't turn on or charge: what to do

A DJI Neo that won't turn on usually has a flat battery, a battery that's too warm or cold to charge, or wasn't switched on with the two-step press. Charge it over USB-C at room temperature, then press the power button once and press again and hold. A single press only shows the battery level.

Power it on the right way

DJI's manual: press, then press and hold the power button to turn the Neo on or off. The battery LEDs light up and the status light blinks red, yellow and green during the self-check. A single short press only shows the battery level.

Remove the gimbal protector before power-on. DJI says leaving it on can affect the self-check.

Not charging

1. Turn the Neo off. DJI says the battery can't charge while the drone is powered on.
2. Use the right charger. DJI says to use at least a 10 W (5V/2A) charger. The Neo's USB-C port takes up to 15 W. DJI recommends its 30W USB-C Charger or 65W Portable Charger, and says a full charge in the drone takes about 50 minutes.
3. Check the temperature. The battery only charges between 5° and 40° C (41° and 104° F), and stops if the cells pass 55° C (131° F). Let it cool after flying, or warm up indoors.
4. Read the LEDs. LED4 blinking twice per second means too cold, three times means too hot. Other blink codes flag overcurrent, short circuit or a bad charger: unplug and plug back in.
5. Four LEDs blinking together means the battery is damaged, per DJI. Stop using it.
6. Two LEDs blinking together while it's in the drone means a battery malfunction. DJI says to remove the battery and reinsert it securely.

Charging hub not charging

The Neo Two-Way Charging Hub charges by charger power. Under 30 W it charges one battery at a time. From 30 W it does two, and above 45 W all three. DJI quotes about 60 minutes for three batteries with a 60 W charger. Seat each battery fully, and if the LEDs blink in sequence, the hub thinks no battery is inserted.

Turns on, then shuts off or won't stay on

• Low battery. A nearly empty battery can power on and drop out. Charge it fully.
• Loose battery. Reseat it until it clicks.
• Critical error. A solid red status light means a critical error, per DJI's manual. Restart once; if it stays red, contact support.

Won't activate or take off

The Neo must be activated in DJI Fly with an internet connection. DJI also disables takeoff if it hasn't connected to the app on a phone with internet for over 90 days. Reconnect with mobile data on. A slow red blink means takeoff is disabled, often for low battery; check the prompt in DJI Fly. See Neo not connecting.

When it's the drone, not the battery

Try a second charged battery. If a known-good battery won't power it, or a battery is swollen, cracked or hot while idle, stop using it and start a repair. See swollen drone battery.

A spare Neo battery makes it easy to tell a bad battery from a bad drone, and the Two-Way Charging Hub charges three at once. More fixes: DJI battery not charging and the Neo guide.

Related guides

• How long does the DJI Neo battery take to charge?
• DJI Air 3 won't turn on or charge: what to do
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• DJI Avata 2 won't turn on or charge: what to do
• DJI controller won't turn on or charge: fixes
• DJI drone won't land or turn off: what to do

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