DJI drones want a minimum of an SD card (MicroSD) to retailer images and movies.
Nonetheless, we generally have causes to format these SD playing cards – they’re both full or corrupted. You may also format the cardboard to repair compatibility points or preserve them wholesome.
How you can format SD playing cards in DJI drones?
The simplest method to format an SD card in a DJI drone is to take away and format it in your Home windows or Mac PC. You may as well format it by way of the DJI Fly App whereas the drone is on or instantly within the DJI FPV and Avata goggles.
I’ll cowl every step of correctly formatting SD playing cards in DJI drones, together with many illustrative pictures.
Prime Drone Programs
What are SD playing cards, and why do we’d like them for DJI drones?
SD playing cards, particularly MicroSD, are storage units for drones to save lots of movies or retailer photos.
Most DJI drones lack inside storage. Some have a little bit of inside storage, however not sufficient to retailer greater than a flight session of recordings.
This can all depend upon the decision you {photograph} or movie and the framerate.
As an illustration, a brief video recorded in H.265 (D-Cinelog) on the DJI Mini 3 Professional in 4k at 24 frames per second would require about 700 MB per minute. This drone solely has 1.2GB of inside storage.
» MORE: How you can Obtain Mavic Air 2S Inner Storage
That’s why high-dimension MicroSD playing cards like 64, 128, or 256GB are essential.
Nonetheless, these playing cards have to be formatted to cut back recording points.
Within the meantime, let me share with you our prime three advisable SD playing cards suitable with most DJI drones (high-capacity and nice velocity) to report even past 4k at 60 frames per second.
- SanDisk Excessive 128 GB
Constructed for and examined in harsh circumstances: Temperature Proof, Water Proof, Shock Proof, and x-ray Proof.
We earn a fee in the event you make a purchase order, at no extra value to you.
08/22/2023 07:11 pm GMT
Notice: Don’t confuse standard-sized SD playing cards which can be incompatible with DJI drones with MicroSD playing cards, that are those to search for. Each point out of SD playing cards from this matter refers to those MicroSD playing cards wanted to retailer video and images on DJI drones. MicroSDXC is simply a complicated sort of MicroSD card.
Greatest SD card codecs to make use of with DJI drones
DJI drones should have an SD card in a particular format, FAT32 or exFAT.
No different choices will help the SD playing cards in your DJI drone.
Most DJI drones needs to be suitable with each codecs, but when one creates an issue, format and change to the opposite.
Probably the most advisable format for SD playing cards is exFAT.
» MORE: What SD Card Do I Want for DJI Air 2S?
FAT32
The FAT32 is an older file system and normally is advisable if the cardboard has complete storage beneath 32GB.
You may format any dimension SD card to FAT32, and it is best to be capable of use it with out points.
The utmost file measurement for FAT32 is 4GB. So, a steady giant video might be cut up into a number of 4GB video recordsdata in your SD card.
In case you have points with an SD card on a DJI drone formatted on FAT32, try and reformat it on exFAT to see if this fixes the difficulty.
» MORE: All About SD Playing cards for DJI Mavic Mini and Mini 2 Drones
✅ Professionals
- It retains the file protected in case of a vital energy loss. You’ll lose solely your final 4GB of video file that hasn’t been accomplished.
- Virtually all drones, even very outdated ones, needs to be absolutely suitable with the FAT32 format system.
❌ Cons
- You’ll have to take care of many video recordsdata for one recording session.
- There could also be just a few body gaps between one video and the opposite, interrupting a clean steady recording expertise.
exFAT
exFAT is the cardboard format to make use of when you’ve got a bigger SD card, normally past 32GB.
These days, as SD playing cards are low-cost and of upper dimensions, there’s little motive to make use of FAT32. It’s possible you’ll wish to keep away from it when formatting a high-capacity MicroSD card.
Nonetheless, when you’ve got points along with your DJI drone recording easily on exFAT, try and format it in FAT32.
» MORE: Greatest SD Playing cards for DJI Mavic Air 2
✅ Professionals
- Single video file per recording.
- Easy to take care of.
- It’s essentially the most trendy method of card formatting.
- Extensively suitable with virtually all computing units.
- Helps excessive writing and studying speeds.
- Can format on exFAT big-size SD playing cards (e.g., half-terrabyte).
❌ Cons
- In case your drone abruptly loses energy, your complete video file might be corrupted and unusable.
- Not all DJI drones are suitable with the exFAT format.
How you can format an SD card on Home windows PC
That is essentially the most simple method to format an SD card.
Merely take away your MicroSD card from the DJI drone and insert it into an SD card adapter in case your laptop computer has one or a USB-C or USB-A MicroSD card reader.
STEP 1: Join the SD card to the Home windows pc, both with a card reader or adapter.
Step 2: Go onto “This PC.” Your card needs to be acknowledged as new.
STEP 3: Proper-click the SD card and press “FORMAT.”
STEP 4: A brand new window will pop up. Choose the file system (if beneath 32GB, FAT32, or above 32GB, exFAT). Don’t change allocation unit measurement. Tick “Fast Format.”
STEP 5: Press “Begin.” It can take just a few seconds for the SD card to be formatted. A brand new window will seem with “Format Full.”
» MORE: Greatest Drones for Newbies
How you can format SD playing cards on Mac
Formatting an SD card on Mac is identical throughout your complete working system. Listed below are the steps to observe.
STEP 1: Take away your MicroSD card out of your DJI drone and insert it into the Mac utilizing a correct adapter.
STEP 2: Go to “Highlight Search” and write “Disk Utility.”
STEP 3: Open the Disk Utility Program. Go to the left aspect and click on on the SD card you related beneath the “Exterior” supply. Afterward, click on “Erase” within the prime proper nook.
STEP 4: A window will pop up. Add a title for the cardboard (non-compulsory), choose format (exFAT; unlikely it is possible for you to to format FAT32 throughout all SD playing cards on Mac), after which click on “Erase.” Don’t change anything.
STEP 5: After it’s accomplished (will take just a few seconds), a window will seem as within the picture beneath.
Notice: Formatting an SD card will completely delete all present content material. Guarantee you’ve saved a backup of your movies or pictures from the cardboard earlier than formatting it.
Are you able to format an SD card from an iPad?
Sadly, Apple hasn’t added any choices to format an SD card or arduous drive instantly from the iPad.
Though you need to use, switch and edit any movies or pictures from an SD card taken with a DJI drone on iPad, you can be restricted to controlling and formatting the cardboard.
» MORE: Can You Fly a Drone with an iPad? (Defined for Newbies)
How you can format an SD card on a DJI Mini, Mavic, or Air drone (DJI Fly App)
The formatting course of is identical for all DJI drones using the DJI Fly App.
This is applicable to utilizing the DJI RC-N1 with a telephone related or formatting instantly from a DJI RC controller with a display screen.
You may additionally need to take a look at one of many following articles when you’ve got a Mini 3 or Mini 3 Professional:
» MORE: DJI Mini 3 Professional SD Playing cards: How you can Insert, Eject, and Format (Video)
Now, let’s take the formatting course of step-by-step.
STEP 1: Flip in your DJI plane (non-FPV) and the distant controller. If utilizing the DJI RC-N1, make sure you join the telephone and begin the DJI Fly App.
STEP 2: On the principle reside view display screen, faucet “MENU.”
STEP 3: Go to the “Digicam” tab and scroll down.
STEP 4: Beneath “Storage Location,” you may see two choices: Your SD card and Inner Reminiscence complete area in case your drone has one. Click on format on the fitting aspect.
STEP 5: Choose the situation you wish to format, both the interior reminiscence or the SD card.
STEP 6a: Choose “Inner Reminiscence” and faucet “Format” if you wish to format your drone’s inside reminiscence.
STEP 6b: Choose “SD Card” and faucet “Format” if you wish to format your DJI drone SD card.
STEP 7: After you’ve tapped to format your SD card or inside reminiscence, a message will seem letting you recognize the area you chose might be formatted (see picture beneath).
This course of will apply to about all commonplace DJI drones due to the frequent use of the DJI Fly App.
The method will differ if you wish to format the SD card in your DJI FPV or DJI Avata.
» MORE: Greatest DJI Mini 3 Equipment
How you can format an SD card on DJI FPV or DJI Avata
Formatting your SD card on DJI FPV or Avata (plus Goggles) is as follows.
STEP 1: Flip in your DJI Avata or DJI FPV and goggles.
STEP 2: In your goggles, enter the “MENU” and scroll right down to “SETTINGS.”
STEP 3: Navigate to “Digicam.”
STEP 4: From Digicam, scroll right down to “Format.”
STEP 5: When you press “Format,” a brand new window will seem. Choose what you wish to format: The SD Card out of your DJI goggles, the DJI FPV or Avata drone, or the Inner storage (obtainable solely on Avata). After getting chosen your choice, press “CONFIRM.“
Notice: The DJI goggles will report solely what you see via the headset on its SD card, a special video from what your DJI FPV or Avata movie on the Plane SD card.
You want two MicroSD playing cards for DJI FPV or Avata to report correctly.
One MicroSD card must be on the goggles. If chosen, this may report the pure footage with none stabilization and OSD for Goggles 2 and Integra.
One of many essential roles of filming in your DJI Goggles is that in the event you crash your drone far-off from you, you’ll have the footage recorded on the goggles and may use it for orientation to seek out your drone.
The second SD card might be positioned in your DJI FPV or DJI Avata drones.
- The DJI FPV drone helps MicroSD playing cards as much as 256GB.
- The DJI Avata additionally helps the identical MicroSD playing cards as much as 256GB.
» MORE: DJI Avata – How you can View and Switch Video
Greatest SD Playing cards for DJI Mini 3/Mini 3 Professional
The DJI Mini 3 and Mini 3 Professional have comparable SD card necessities, so it’s advisable to make use of microSDXC playing cards A1 or A2 with a complete reminiscence of as much as 256GB.
Should you’re inquisitive about buying such MicroSD playing cards on your Mini 3 or Mini 3 Professional, we advocate checking for the next articles:
Such playing cards will enable your Mini 3 to report in 4k at 30 frames per second or Mini 3 Professional at 60 fps with out points, shatters, or lags.
Greatest SD Playing cards for DJI Mini 2/Mini 2 SE
DJI Mini 2 and Mini 2 SE have similarities in SD playing cards advisable to be used with out points.
In comparison with the Mini 3 Professional SD playing cards, the Mini 2 and Mini 2 SE have decrease necessities as a result of the framerate and recording decision are barely decrease, and these drones report at a decrease bit price.
This makes DJI Mini 2 and DJI Mini 2 SE suitable with varied SD playing cards of as much as 256GB.
Now we have lined the advisable SD playing cards on this article.
» MORE: Greatest DJI Mini 2 SD Playing cards (& Most-Frequent Issues)
The SD playing cards advisable for the Mini 2 SE are just like those instructed for the Mini 2 drone.
Greatest SD Playing cards for DJI Mavic 3 Collection
DJI Mavic 3, Mavic 3 Basic, or Mavic 3 Professional, whether or not commonplace or Cine variations, have a barely increased suggestion by DJI of which SD playing cards to make use of.
The bitrate, decision, and framerate are a lot increased than in regular drones, and these playing cards must help professional-level video at high-speed transfers.
All three varieties of drones are advisable to make use of a Kingston Canvas Go! Plus or V30 A2 microSDXC between 64GB and 512GB in measurement.
We even have a very good article for Mavic 3 SD playing cards that applies to the Mavic 3 Basic and Professional.
» MORE: Greatest SD Playing cards for Mavic 3
Greatest SD Playing cards for DJI FPV and DJI Avata
DJI FPV and Avata are two improbable FPV drones able to recording in 4k at 60 frames per second at a formidable bit price.
Avata can movie in 120 frames per second at 2.7k.
You need to have an SD card suitable with these drones with out the danger of video changing into corrupted or laggy because of lack of velocity.
Each drones help microSDXC playing cards with a most measurement of 256GB. A U30 A1 card is advisable for Avata, and each U30 A1 + A2 extra for the DJI FPV drone.