DJI Compass error is another common DJI drone error. Users have been asking for solutions for this error for a long period of time in every DJI drone forum. Also, this error is a serious one and affects drone take-off.
Hence, this error can’t be ignored, this needs to be fixed as soon as possible. Therefore I started researching the error through forums, articles, and videos. Luckily I was able to collect information about why the DJI Compass error is thrown and how to fix the compass error. Hopefully, this article will help with fixing your DJI Compass error.
Causes For DJI Compass Error.
1. Placing the DJI Aircraft near an electromagnetic field.
Placing the aircraft near an electromagnetic field is the common reason why users confront the error. Once the DJI aircraft is placed near a magnetic field, it assumes the artificial magnetic field as the earth’s natural magnetic field. Then it pops “Compass Error” when the drone checks its orientation against its GPS position and finds a discrepancy. That’s why you need to calibrate the IMU and compass if you carried the aircraft to a different location cause it might have been placed near an electromagnetic field.
2. Miscalibrated DJI Compass.
miscalibrated compass is another reason for DJI compass error. Calibrated DJI Compass is essential for safe aircraft flight. Therefore once the aircraft detects miscalibrated compass it throws the compass error.
3. Firmware glitches.
Firmware is the software of the drone which manages data and actions of the drone (including calibrating the compass and informing errors to the user). So if the firmware is glitched it might cause an improper compass calibration or faulty data which ultimately causes DJI Compass error.
4. Temporary or permanent faulty settings.
If the aircraft has stored faulty compass data, it also could cause compass error. So those settings need to be cleared or back to the factory settings to fix the error.
5. Damaged or faulty compass.
If you have crashed the drone recently or you just bought the drone and face this error even after calibrating the compass, the compass component might have been damaged or faulty.
6. DJI mobile application error.
The DJI mobile app is the medium that informs aircraft errors to the users. So it’s better to suspect that DJI mobile app (DJI GO/ DJI Fly) glitch could cause throwing faulty error, even though the compass is all right.
How to Fix DJI Compass Error.
Next, we would go through step by step procedure to fix the compass error by clearing the reasons for the DJI compass error. So follow these steps to clear the causes of the DJI compass error and ultimately fix the DJI compass error.
1. Restart the DJI Aircraft.
As I said before temporary faulty compass data might cause the compass error. Therefore you need to clear the temporary faulty setting by restarting the aircraft. Restart the aircraft and check whether the error is gone.
2. Update DJI mobile app ( DJI GO/ DJI Fly)
Having an outdated or glitched DJI mobile app causes faulty compass calibration or faulty error communication which ultimately might cause the error. Therefore we need to update the DJI mobile app (DJI GO/ DJI Fly) before going next steps.
How to update DJI GO/ DJI Fly app.
Android users.
If you are android user, you have to install DJI GO/ DJI Fly app manually. Never install DJI apps on the Playstore. Because most of the time they are glitched and DJI doesn’t publish their apps on Playstore.
- Uninstall the current DJI GO/ DJI Fly app from your device.
- Visit the DJI Downloads center and click on the app for your DJI drone. Then you will be directed to the download page.
- Then click on the Android icon and the “.apk” file would be downloaded to the Downloads directory of the device.
- Once it is completely downloaded, visit the Downloads directory of the device and click on the downloaded “apk” file. Then you will be directed to the apk installation process according to your OS. follow those steps and wait until it is completely installed.
IOS users.
IOS users can install/ update the DJI GO/ DJI Fly app on Appstore because DJI officially releases their apps on Appstore.
- Visit Appstore and search the app name on the search bar. Once the right app is appeared Then click the “GET” button and install/update the current app. If you are struggling with searching the app on the Appstore, Visit the DJI Downloads center and click on the app for your DJI drone. Then you will be directed to the download page. After that click on the IOS icon and the DJI app’s Appstore screen would be opened.
3. Calibrate DJI Compass.
As I said before if your DJI drone’s compass is miscalibrated, the compass error is thrown. So let’s see how to calibrate the DJI Compass properly. Check whether the error is gone after the compass is calibrated.
How to Calibrate DJI Compass.
- Move to a different location if you are getting the Compass error.
- Power on the DJI aircraft and remote controller.
- Open the DJI App (DJI GO / DJI Fly) and enter the camera view.
- DJI GO users click on the three dots at the top left corner and click on the drone icon go to Main Controller Settings > Advanced Settings > Sensors > Compass and hit the “Calibrate Compass” button.
- If you are using the DJI Fly app click on the three dots at the top right corner and open the menu bar. Then click on “Safety” and scroll down until you found the ”Compass normal” under the “Sensors” section. Then click on the “Calibrate” button. And hit start.
- Then put the remote controller away where you can see the app screen.
- Take the aircraft into your hands and hold it horizontally and about 4 feet away from you. DJI aircraft’s indicators should be light yellow right now. Then spin around 360 degrees until those indicators turn to solid green.
- After that, hold the drone vertically and spin again around 360 degrees until indicators turn to solid green.
- Then place the DJI drone down and you are ready to go.
- If the DJI drone indicator lights blink red and yellow alternatively after calibration, this means that it has failed. There could be a high level of magnetic interference. Change location and try the calibration again.
4. Update/ Downgrade firmware using DJI Assistant 2.
If you are still getting the compass error after calibrating the compass, next you must try calibrating the compass after updating the firmware using the DJI Assistant 2. I personally like to update the DJI firmware using the DJI Assistant 2 PC application because there is a low risk of glitched firmware updates.
- Download and install DJI Assistant from the DJI Download center.
- Power off the aircraft and connect to the computer through the charging port using a micro USB cable.
- Power on the aircraft.
- Open DJI Assistant 2 application on the PC and log in to your DJI account.
- Then select your DJI Drone and click on the “Firmware Updates” on the left panel and click on the “Upgrade” option.
- Click on “Start Update”.
- Wait until the firmware is completely downloaded and the firmware update process would start automatically.
- Follow the same steps to update the controller’s firmware.
Once the firmware is successfully updated or refreshed, calibrate the compass again as explained in step 4.
5. Factory reset the aircraft.
As I explained before, If your aircraft have stored permanently faulty compass settings or data, it also could cause this error. So you need to reset the aircraft to the default settings for clearing those faulty settings or data.
How to Factory Reset DJI aircraft.
- Download and install DJI Assistant 2 and connect the aircraft to the PC and turn it on. Open DJI Assistant 2 application and log in to your DJI account. Once you logged choose DJI drone and hit “Factory Restore Defaults”.
After factory resetting the aircraft, calibrate the compass as explained in step 4. Then check whether the error is gone.
6. Contact DJI Support.
Read the detailed article: How to get DJI Support to repair/fix your DJI drone issue.
If you are still struggling with the compass error, your aircraft’s compass is damaged or faulty. So you might need to repair or replace the compass. There are tons of videos about replacing different DJI drone’s compass on the youtube but I think it’s advisable to contact DJI Support for replacing or repairing the compass.
