How to Unlock DJI Geofencing and Warning Zones in 2024

So who has driven 20 miles to the boonies, only to find out you're locked out. No wifi. Now what?

Thanks for much for this well produced video that answered all my questions. I got my LAANC approval for the first time flying in a controlled airspace and I didn't know that I had to unlock geo zones. I'm glad I did more research prior to my flight.

I was hoping for a jail break.

Don't bother asking questions, they don't reply.

Excellent video. thank you for sharing your knowledge

I wish I saw this video a few weeks ago when I had FAA approval to fly in an area and my drone would not take off! I was so confused. Thank you for this explanation. New subscriber 👍

This video was so helpful! Thank you for taking the time to put a lot of scenarios and details in it. I have a Mavic pro 2 and Air 3.

DJI has no authority to implement these GEO zones. I don't care what they say.

I have a mini 3 pro.anf had this experience, yes it was in a restricted zone and I was going to fly inside a very large shed used to house a model railway
Thought I could get some good aerial shots and thought I'm not flying illegal as I'm no outdoors.
Well it did take off and ran for a few minutes but then got a warning saying restricted zone and the drone would land in it slowed a count down and it was 97 second and counting down

I ‘guess’..or SUPPOSE you could file this under personal opinion. I think it’s BOGUS..BIG-time, that a FOREIGN entity, a foreign MANUFACTURER of virtually any product, unless government sanctioned or has in place some form of government influence (OUTSIDE of what they ALREADY do), a voluntary policy of this magnitude WITH THIS AMOUNT OF “interference”..or again influence. This is FAA territory. Basically DJI has become an “arm” of a governmental agency from OUTSIDE our country..even being at the SAME time, a completely separate but albeit “unofficial” adversary untrustworthy by AT LEAST half of our government! The ‘questionable’ politicians that the OTHER HALF cannot trust. What a conundrum for the rest of us…

Thank You, Thank You, Thank You. This is the only Comprehensive and clear instructions on how to proceed through the entire process. ADDITIONAL TIP: I was having problems downloading the unlock file to my controller even after connecting it to the wi-fi. Turns out I was no longer logged into my DJI account but it wasn't obvious. I was getting a server error instead of a prompt to log in.

Hero

Nice rational explanation on the process. It might be worth mentioning that DJI uses a different theory from the FAA for creating its restricted zones. It is based on aircraft flight paths on and off the runways. DJI restricts where the aircraft are most likely to be in the approaches to a particular airport. They did not choose the zones just to give us a hard time. The FAA chose the easier means to create zones - in most cases just draw circles.

Excellent job on this video...thank you!

thanks, but if you are like me and still fly with DJI FPV drones, none of this works as easy as you made it. I had been flying with a db120 module, along with guidance from FAA limitation maps, all was good. like a dumb ass i updated the firmware, which added the remoteID function and now i have too many hoops to jump to. what commercial pilot has that much time? ill just use my home builts with a module, until DJI gets with the program. great video though.

Excuse me HOW LONG YOU CAN FLY AFTER YOU SEND A UNLOCKZONE ?

Great video, I have a mini 3 pro. I live in an authorization zone. I go to my fly safe site and unlock it, but it only gives me I believe 48 hrs. I have to keep going back to unlock the zone. Do you know a way I can get it unlocked for a longer period of time? If you can help, that would be great ,Thanks

Very helpful, thank you.

Very clear video! I followed all the steps and was able to unlock the zone before flying for a roof replacement project. Thank you for making this!

Great video! Fun Fact: The only collisions between manned aircraft and drones in canada were committed by the Police! RCMP smashed a $200k drone into there own RCMP helicopter when they were spying on FN's and York Regional Police crashed their drone into a Cessna at the Buttonville Airport

I have an issue with an "uncontrolled airport" so no tower. FAA has no boundaries noted on the FAA Data map and stated we just need to follow Part 107 (i believe they said Zone G). Will the Fly Safe Unlock Request still work in this instance?

Here's another geofencing question: Due to the canyons and heavy tree cover I encounter in many of the places I expect to fly, cell signals often cut in and out or don't exist. So if I don't have a cell signal, will I be able to fly if there are no restrictions or go through the unlocking process you demonstrated?

Super video explaining a complex process. What a chore is all I can say. I live in the SF Bay area and things are pretty locked down here, which will no doubt impact my drone purchase choice: Mini 3 Pro vs. Nano+.

This brings up the general topic of the geofenced DJI world vs the non-fenced world of Autel, which matters to me for doing work. Several months ago, your review of those 2 drones was quite good, but I understand that Autel has pushed out additional firmware updates that appear to be cleaning up the Nano+'s rough spots. In particular, are you aware of improved flight tracking and stability? I also noticed that there seemed to be spurious camera and/or drone movements, have those been improved?

TIA, SBardley

What did you put for the type of industry and if you have a business or LCC should you go with organization over personal?

Outstanding demonstration on understanding and unlocking Geofencing with DJI drones! It took me a while to be comfortable with this unlocking process but it does get easier over time. Surely, it is NOT my favorite thing to do! It does have pros and cons because it can keep an ignorant person out of trouble because the drone just will not take off at all in a restricted zone without DJI clearance. However, the lesser zones that allow take off becomes the pilots responsibility or could be an expensive headache. By the way... I am against the upcoming Remote ID regulation coming in September but I will not be breaking any rules. Thanks for sharing.

So much info…my head is spinning. Thank you.

This has been the absolute worst process for using LAANC authorized missions. It used to be much simpler and this is so ridiculous. You kill your aircraft batteries just taking so long getting unlocked.

I was going to buy a Mavic 3 after having used a Mini 3 for a few months now. I never ran into a restricted zone problem until today.

They can kiss that money goodbye lol.

I'll be looking into what alternatives I can find, up for suggestions!

Nice tutorial on DJI Geofencing. Thanks for sharing.

i need to unlock the 500m altitude limit on my mini 3, is that possible?
I often fly in the mountains and loose signal after a few hundred meters because the mountains are so big.

Thank You… very informative. Appreciate the detailed explanations. New subscriber.

The bottom line is more and more restrictions. Getting more and more difficult to fly in any metro area. Fly in rural areas. And the video you just showed is probably beyond VLOS. It is impossible to be in 100% compliance. But the question is this. Does the FAA need to actually see you in real time?

It boggles the mind how Americans tolerate communist DJI's draconian and tedious geofencing. No other drone manufacturer dares to tell the buyer of their products where and when they can fly, so why do we let DJI get away with this? Imagine if your car refused to let you drive to a certain destination based solely on the carmakers discretion? It's madness! DJI is a communist company based in communist country and their policies reflect that. DJI doesn't care if we hold a Part 107 ticket or even if we've received LAANC authorization because in DJI's twisted view they supersede the FAA and we don't actually "own" their product. No, at best we merely purchase the right to use their drones when and how DJI dictates, and until someone with the means steps up and files a proper class action lawsuit to put an end to this [aside from LAANC authorizations] flying DJI drones will never, ever be a spontaneous experience.

This is one thing from this CCP company that IRKS me. When we BUY these things, WE own them . WHY is DJI making it difficult to Fly OUR Property when WE are in compliance with our Local Governments Rules and Regs.
It's NONE of their business.

Dji unlocking is BS.

DJI took so much effort to make their drones fool proof and now everybody is wondering why all the fools fly drones doing bs. Isn't it ironic?

The flying brick from Autel dosen't have this problem

I'm not worried at all because I'm not going to America

Mod the drone!! Also shut off Auto Updates and don't share data to dji!!

Just curious if the remote if changed any of this? Can’t think of any reason it would.

sucks to spend a lot of money only to be restricted on a device you so call own. (DJI) gotta say i'm a little disappointed .

Great video Ken! Nice work. That's going to help a lot of people. IMO DJI should provide full geofencing waivers to those with a 107...but that's me. ;-)

Great video with clear and concise explanations. Thanks for making this. When I first started flying I found this process incredibly confusing, but you did a really good job of making it understandable.

I'm basically a tech-retard. I have yet to buy my first serious drone. I've had my eye on a couple of the DJI drones but the only reason I haven't committed to buying any of them is because of this Geofencing bull$hit.
I hate the fact that there are few other drones with the quality or features of the DJI drones that don't have this geofencing hurdle to have to go through. I've been biding my time hoping that a new crop of drones will come on the market with the beginning of the Remote-ID regulation.
To me the geofencing is just an elaborate "Lawyer-Proofing" put in place by DJI in hopes of staving off the potential banning of DJI all together.
Good video by the way. Very informative.

Great video. I unfortunately live in a complex airspace area and have had to fumble through this DJI process once too often. Thanks for the review.

DJI's zones are ABSURD. I fly along a river in class E airspace with a 700 foot harddeck. The FAA doesnt care about my flying in this area, but DJI restricts me from flying in them. Its sad that DJI feels the need to operate these geofencing. I can request an instant approval to unlock this zone. It should be a warning that I have to acknowledge. I have no problems with a reminder or alert like this to make me aware of areas around me. However thats where it should end. Let me acknowledge and take responsibility for my flight.

Any "unofficial" ways to unlock these zones 🤔 especially when DJI is imposing restrictions when there isn't actually any?

I have the easiest solution. Buy an Autel drone with no geofencing and impressive cameras.