Despite the considerable technological advances made on drones in recent years, it still happens that they encounter more or less annoying malfunctions. When your drone categorically refuses to take off, it obviously loses all interest. And nothing more frustrating when it happens when you have a great plan idea! Find out then the different causes that can explain that your drone does not take off. And how to try to solve this problem so that it flies on its own again without having to go through customer service or a repairer.
Why does my drone not take off?
When your drone does not take off, you can find yourself in two situations: a drone turned on but refusing to take off, or a completely powered off drone which does not respond at all (inactivity of LEDs or transmission).
In the first case (drone on but not taking off), the problems will often be repairable by your own means because, on the one hand, the errors and problems are often communicated through messages on the application or the remote control; And on the other hand, the potential causes are often related to user errors or small software or hardware bugs :
- take-off prohibited zone
- outdated update
- weak or faulty battery
- bad configuration of the drone or the remote control
- propeller or engine fault
- incompatible or faulty SD card
- general drone system bug
All of these problems will usually be easily repairable by your own means. Moreover, in this situation, it very often happens that your problem is indicated by a error code. If this is the case, remember to check now on the user manual corresponding to your drone (or the manufacturer's website) if a solution is provided for the error code you are encountering.
In the second case (drone completely off), un significant hardware or software problem is often the cause and repairs will then require the intervention of a professional.
Note that if your drone does not take off after a shock, a fall or after taking on water, there is a good chance that a internal component is broken or oxidized. Check that the propellers are not damaged in the event of shocks. If so, they will need to be replaced. Otherwise, unfortunately, it is probably a defective component which then requires professional support. Be careful, remember that if your drone is under warranty and you replace parts yourself, you will lose the warranty.
Note: Some drones may take several minutes to calibrate, receive communication messages and therefore simply start up. This is the case of the most advanced drones which must launch many software settings. You should see the start-up time required for the drone indicated on the user manual.
Drone takeoff problem, what to do?
Who says many factors that can be the cause of a drone that does not take off, also says many potential solutions to solve the problem. This is why it will be necessary to eliminate each hypothesis one by one in order to try to identify the problem in question and solve it effectively. For this reason, we advise you to follow the troubleshooting steps below in order.
Check that you are not in a prohibited take-off zone
When it appeared, the drone posed security problems. This is why laws and restrictions specific to each country have been put in place over the years and certain flight zones are now prohibited (NFZ) for drones. And when you are in one of its areas, the drone is programmed not to take off.
Several prohibited take-off zones are concerned :
- military bases
- the airports
- geo-frequented areas (conurbation, major events, parks, tourist sites)
- certain roads or highways
- schools
- the prisons
- hospitals
- historical sites
- power plants or hazardous industrial sites
- some nature reserves
- and other places considered dangerous
In principle, when you are in one of these areas, the drone willindicates on the screen on the remote control or on the app. You can also use a mapping application (Geodrones, Geoportal in France for example) which provide real-time information to ensure that the area in which you want to use the drone is authorized. Note that an area may be temporarily unauthorized in the event of specific events or threats (example: forest fire).
If your drone does not take off in a foreign country, you certainly need to perform a GPS update to update the country data. It may also require registration in the country or state you are in. If you have just registered the drone, a delay may also be necessary (up to 1 day). Finally, check that drones are authorized in the country where you are using it. Take the opportunity to check the rules and laws in force in terms of drone use, because from one country to another the restrictions are not similar.
Note: In France, all Class C1, C2, C3 or C4 CE marked drones must be registered with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGAC) to be able to take off and fly.
Check that the drone battery is fully charged
It is possible that the drone also does not take off due to a charging or battery problem. This is more likely if your drone does not power on and shows no signs of life (no lights, beeps, or screen on) or if it powers on but the propellers spin slowly or not at all. everything.
In this case, make sure that the battery is fully charged. Be sure to follow the precautions for using the charger and the batteries. Remember that drone batteries continue to discharge even when not in use. That is why, if you haven't used the drone or haven't charged the battery for a long time, proceed to a long charge, i.e. charge the battery for at least 1 time. The best thing is to recharge the battery(ies) before each use so as not to end up with a problem with the drone taking off because of the low battery.
Note: If you have just purchased the drone, note that the battery(ies) are probably not charged or have a low charge. In this case, put them on charge (at least 1h30) before you want to take off your drone.
if you have more than one battery available, try using another battery. If the drone takes off with another battery, the first one you used may be faulty. Indeed, the battery is a component sensitive to age and storage conditions. It has a limited lifespan and it is therefore normal that it will eventually give up the ghost after many uses. If your drone still won't take off, even with another battery, continue troubleshooting.
Check that you are making good use of the drone
If you drone is powered on but does not take off, the problem may be software or minor hardware. It will therefore be necessary to check that you are using the drone “correctly”. As obvious as it may seem for professional or long-time drone users, it happens, especially at the very beginning of the handling, that we are a little lost on the use of a drone.
Here is the few rules to follow when you want to take off and use a drone :
1 – Configure the drone and check the GPS connection
After downloading the application, you need to activate the drone and proceed with the updates and the activation of the GPS data so that the drone can take off. For the first use of most drones, you need an internet connection. If these prerequisites are not met, your drone will not be able to take off. Note that some recreational drones must have an internet connection and therefore a GPS connection to take off.
2 – Check the propellers
The propellers are also very often responsible for the fact that the drone does not take off. Make sure that you have properly unfolded the propellers of the drone, that they are not stuck, badly positioned or that nothing is blocking the propellers or its associated motor (dust, dirt, hair, etc.).
If the drone takes off sideways, forward or backward, check that you have not interchanged the propellers. Indeed, in the event that you have replaced them or assembled your drone yourself, remember to check that the propellers are correctly fitted. There are propellers for the right side, for the left side and sometimes even for the front and back of the drone.
3 – Check the transmission with the remote control
Check that the remote control is well directed towards the drone, that you are not too far away, that the antennas are unfolded and the joysticks correctly placed (if they come off). Also make sure that the remote control is well charged and that it is correctly programmed (go to the remote control settings of the application).
Read also: DJ mini 2 flashes red, what to do?
4 – Check that you follow the advice for using the drone
- Make sure that the take-off rules are respected: no obstacles above it, not too much wind, take-off in suitable terrain: not in dirt or sand, etc.
- Make sure that the ambient and drone temperature is suitable for the drone to take off. It is generally recommended to keep the battery temperature above 18°C before use. Some drones won't take off if the battery is too cold. This will certainly be indicated to you in a message on the drone's screen or application. Whether outdoor temperatures are below 0°C and above 40°C, your drone may also be configured not to take off. These items are safety measures that help protect the battery.
Other non-respected instructions specific to your drone may also be the cause of the take-off problem. Please refer to the user manual, especially if you have just received your drone.
Update the drone that refuses to take off
When your drone has a problem taking off, also think about check that an update is not pending. Indeed, obsolete software often causes the drone system to lock up and therefore its inability to take off. Make sure you have done the latest update available for your drone model. In principle it appears on the application, but if in doubt, consult the manufacturer's website.
Check the SD card of the drone
It also happens that the drone does not take off due to a memory card fault (generally micro-SD or SD card). Then try to remove the SD card from the drone. If it works, put the SD card back. If when the SD card is in the drone, it does not take off, then the problem may be an incompatibility problem or a faulty memory card. You can try reformatting it, and if that still doesn't work, try another card.
Reset the drone that does not take off
Finally, if nothing helps and your drone still categorically refuses to take off, you can try to reset the drone if the procedure exists for your model. Typically, this involves going to the app settings, and finding the “Reset” or “Erase all drone data” section. Refer to the instructions for use to find the exact procedure.
Contact the manufacturer
Unfortunately if these few solutions did not allow you to solve your problem, then your drone is probably not taking off due to a bigger hardware or software problem which will require the intervention of the manufacturer or a professional repairer.
We advise you to contact the manufacturer's after-sales service first so that he tries to find you a repair or a personalized solution, related to your model but also to the place and date of purchase. Indeed, do not forget that electronic devices have the right to guarantee legal compliance (valid for 2 years in France). Sometimes, you are also entitled to a commercial guarantee which extends the guarantee. Remember to inquire because in this case you should get the drone repaired or replaced free of charge.
If unfortunately you are no longer entitled to the warranty and the repair indicated by the manufacturer is too expensive, you can contact a independent professional repairer to ask for a quote.
