With so many different apps for DJI drones, it can be confusing about which one you need to use with the newest drones.
The DJI Mavic Air 2 is controlled by the DJI Fly app. The App is used to pilot the Air 2 and display the camera stream during the flight. The DJI Fly App is also used for the DJI Air 2S, Mavic mini, DJI FPV, Mavic 3 and other recent DJI drones.
When I first purchased my first DJI drone, I utilized the GO4 App. Even though many people like the older apps DJI now only uses and promotes the Fly App for its latest drone releases. Recent updates to the fly app mean that it is just as good as the older versions, and on some drones, you can use the Fly App as well.
You can download the DJI Fly App for Android and iPhone at the links below:
To run the App for the Mavic Air smoothly, DJI has some recommendations for the devices and operating systems that you should use on smartphones.
What are the smartphones for the Mavic Air 2?
DJI recommends the following devices for use with their drone app:
| Apple phones | Android Phones |
| iOS Version V 1.5.10 Requires iOS 11.0 or above. iPhone 13 Pro Max, iPhone 13 Pro, iPhone 13, iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 12 Pro Max, iPhone 12 Pro, iPhone 12, iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 11 Pro Max, iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone 11, iPhone XS Max, iPhone XS, iPhone XR, iPhone X, iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone 8 | Android Version V 1.5.10 Requires Android 6.0 or above. Samsung Galaxy S21, Samsung Galaxy S20, Samsung Galaxy S10+, Samsung Galaxy S10, Samsung Galaxy Note20, Samsung Galaxy Note10+, Samsung Galaxy Note9, HUAWEI Mate40 Pro, HUAWEI Mate30 Pro, HUAWEI P40 Pro, HUAWEI P30 Pro, HUAWEI P30, Honor 50 Pro, Mi 11, Mi 10, Mi MIX 4, Redmi Note 10, OPPO Find X3, OPPO Reno 4, vivo NEX 3, OnePlus 9 Pro, OnePlus 9, Pixel 6, Pixel 4, Pixel 3 XL |
How to connect your drone to your smartphone
1. Prepare the drone for connection
You must set up your drone for connectivity after downloading the app software to your phone.
In my experience, there are a few things you can do to make it less stressful, such as charging your drone batteries ahead of time, so you have plenty of time to connect if something goes wrong.
Before connecting to the drone, you should let the start-up cycle complete and notice a flashing standby light. My DJI Mavic Air, for example, flashes yellow when it is not attached to a remote or phone.
2. Connect the App to the drone
The remote control or a direct wifi connection is the most common way to connect to a drone.
Here are some samples of how to connect to the drone using each method and the general processes to follow.
Via remote control
Connect your smartphone to the drone and follow the instructions in the App.
Here’s how to link a DJI Mavic Air to the DJI GO4 app:
The following are the general steps for connecting the drone to the remote:
- Using the provided cords, connect your phone to the remote.
- Turn on the remote control.
- Start the App.
- Follow the directions on the screen.
- If this is your first time connecting, the drone may require you to hit a hardware button.
- Wait for the connection to establish.
- Fly your drone!
Via Wifi or Bluetooth
Wifi and Bluetooth can also be used to connect to drones.
Here’s how to use the GO4 App to connect to the DJI Mavic Air using a direct wifi connection:
If this is your first time connecting to the drone, you may need to scan a QR code or push a button on the drone.
All DJI Apps and compatible drones
Not all apps work with all drones. DJI is constantly improving and changing the piloting experience and, therefore, is releasing newer versions of apps and always updating their interface.
The most modern drones currently operate on the DJI Fly App. Here is a rundown of all of the apps currently available for piloting drones and the drones that they are compatible with according to the manufacturer.
| Drone | Compatibility |
|---|---|
| DJI Fly | Compatible for Mavic Mini, Mavic Air 2, DJI Mini 2, DJI FPV, DJI Air 2S, DJI Mini SE, DJI Mavic 3, DJI Mini 3 Pro |
| DJI Pilot | The DJI Pilot app supports the latest DJI enterprise drones. |
| DJI Pilot PE | DJI Pilot PE is a customized version of the DJI Pilot flight control app, which is exclusively deployed with FlightHub on a private cloud server. |
| DJI GO 4 | Compatible with the Mavic Series, Spark, Phantom 4, and more. |
| DJI GO | Capture the world from above. Compatible with the Phantom 3 Series, Matrice Series , OSMO Series, and more. |
| DJI GS Pro (iPad) | Enhance your drone operations with the DJI Ground Station Pro (DJI GS Pro), an iPad app. Conduct automated flight missions, manage flight data on the cloud, and collaborate across projects to efficiently run your drone program. |
| Tello App | the Tello app is an essential software for using the Tello |
| Tello EDU APP | TELLO EDU App adds building block mode, formation mode and remote control mode to control the drone. |
Is DJI GO the same as the DJI Fly app?
The DJI GO App and the DJI FLY App are not the same apps. They offer a different interface for controlling your drone and have different features built into the App.
Some pilots are not happy with the new Fly app as it does not offer as much flexibility and control over the drone as the older DJI Go App.
Some people describe the Fly App as:
an entry-level app for flyers who don’t want options or control.
The community has pointed out two major weak points of the DJI Fly App:
- Battery information – some of the battery information available on the GO App is now not available such as calculating when to discharge the battery.
- Sensors control – I have often disabled a sensor if I want to fly close to obstacles to get a better photograph or video. This switch is much harder to do in the Fly App.
Drone pilots want more control over their drones than some manufacturers allow.
Hopefully, in the upcoming updates and months ahead, DJI will slowly allow their customers to customize and fly their drones exactly how they want to.
Summary
This article has been through everything you need to know about what DJI app is required for the Mavic Air 2.
You should use the DJI Fly App to control and operate the DJI Mavic Air 2. Some people like to also use third-party apps and software for flying their drones because of the extra functionalities that come with them. My recommendation is to always fly your drone with the official app at the start and only try third-party applications once you are comfortable with the one provided by the manufacturer.You
