DJI announces changes to identification systems for Mini 3 and Mini 4 drones, providing details on what these updates entail.
In the ever-evolving landscape of drone regulations, DJI's recent update for the Mini 3 and Mini 4 drones is a significant step towards ensuring **Remote ID compliance**, a key requirement set to take full effect in 2026 in various regions including the UK and Singapore. This update allows drones to broadcast real-time identification and location data, acting as an "electronic license plate" for enhanced security and accountability [2][3].
**Streamlined Operator ID Registration:**
The update allows pilots to input their Operator ID directly into the drone’s system via the DJI Fly app under the Safety menu in the UAS Remote Identification section. This feature is essential for satisfying the "Direct Remote ID" requirements, such as those in Singapore and soon to be implemented in the UK and other jurisdictions [3].
**New Rules for Small and Large Batteries:**
While the focus has been on Remote ID and operator registration, DJI’s updates and drone regulations differentiate operational rules based on battery size due to implications on weight, flight time, and safety.
- Small batteries, typical of the Mini series, support lighter, more recreational drones that fall under less stringent rules but still require Remote ID compliance. - Large batteries may increase the drone’s total weight, potentially changing its regulatory class, thus imposing additional restrictions or requirements such as more stringent registration, operational limits, or pilot qualifications.
Pilots using larger batteries with drones like the Mini 4 Pro must ensure the drone is fully updated, registered, and that the Remote ID system is functional to fly legally [1].
**Meeting the Legal Requirements:**
To meet the upcoming 2026 regulations, pilots must update the drone’s firmware and use the DJI Fly app to upload the registered Operator ID, ensuring broadcasts carry the correct identification. This update applies consistently to DJI Mini 3 and Mini 4, along with other DJI models, as part of the company’s standardization of Remote ID protocols across its product lines [1][3].
If you fly a DJI Mini 3 or Mini 4, you should check for the latest DJI firmware updates, input your Operator ID via the DJI Fly app, and review local laws for any specific battery-related flight limitations.
- If flying recreationally with a registered DJI Mini 3 or 4 drone, you must comply with Remote ID rules by using a Remote ID module with the small battery. - If flying commercially with the small battery, drone registration under Part 107 and compliance with Remote ID rules are required, with the use of a Remote ID module. - If owning both battery sizes for DJI Mini 3 and 4, you may need to use a Remote ID (RID) module to comply with FAA regulations. - If using the large battery, drone registration is required, and the built-in Remote ID capabilities of the drone can be utilized during registration.
In summary, DJI’s recent firmware and software update ensures that Mini 3 and Mini 4 drones are Remote ID compliant by providing a streamlined process for operator ID registration and broadcasting. Pilots must use the DJI Fly app to enter their Operator ID and keep firmware up to date to meet legal requirements starting in 2026. Both small and large batteries require adherence to these Remote ID rules, but larger batteries might affect the drone’s classification and operational constraints as per evolving regulations [2][3].
- In light of the new DJI firmware update, gadget enthusiasts using a Mini 3 or Mini 4 drone should ensure their Operator ID is registered within the DJI Fly app to comply with the remote identification requirements, a crucial aspect of Part 107 drone regulations.
- As the technology advances and regulations evolve, the use of Remote ID modules becomes necessary for both recreational and commercial operations of DJI Mini 3 and Mini 4 drones, depending on the battery size used, to conform to upcoming 2026 rules in various regions.
