PHANTOM 3

Quick Start Guide

V1.2

ADVANCED
Phantom 3 Advanced

It’s time to meet your Phantom.

The Phantom 3 Advanced’s camera records video at up to 1080p/60fps and captures 12 megapixel photos.

Review the diagram below for a full list of your Phantom 3 Advanced’s parts:

1. Gimbal and Camera

2. Vision Positioning System

3. Camera Micro-SD Card Slot

4. Aircraft Micro-USB Port

5. Camera Status Indicator 

6. Front LEDs

7. Motors

8. Propellers 

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10. Antennas

11. Intelligent Flight Battery

12. Power Button

13. Battery Level Indicators

14. Link Button

15. Camera Micro-USB Port

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Remote Controller

This powerful Remote Controller allows you to pilot and maneuver your Phantom 3 Advanced at distances over 16,400 

feet (5 km)* away, while putting selected camera controls at your fingertips.

Built into your Remote Controller is a rechargeable LiPo battery and DJI Lightbridge, which when paired with a compatible 

mobile device gives you a live HD view from the Phantom’s camera.

This maximum transmission distance was tested in a lab environment and is for reference only. The maximum operating distance may vary depending 

on conditions in your immediate surroundings.

11. Gimbal Dial

12. Camera Settings Dial

13. Video Recording Button

14. Flight Mode Switch

15. Shutter Button

16. Playback Button

17. C1/C2 Buttons (Customizable)

18. USB Port

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1. Power Button

2. Return to Home (RTH) Button

3. Control Sticks

4. Status LED

5. Battery Level LEDs

6. Power Port

7. Mobile Device Holder

8. Small Device Positioning Tabs 

(such as mobile phone)

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10. Handle Bar

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࢒ Environmental Considerations: 1. Do not fly in severe weather conditions. This includes high winds (speeds of 22 mph or 10 m/s or more), snow, rain, and fog.

2. Only fly in open areas. Tall buildings and steel structures may affect the accuracy of the on-board compass and GPS signal. 

3. Avoid obstacles, crowds, high-voltage power lines, trees, and bodies of water.

4. Minimize electromagnetic interference by avoiding areas with high levels of electromagnetism, including mobile phone base stations, 

radio transmission towers, or Wi-Fi hotspots.

5. Aircraft and battery performance are subject to environmental factors such as air density and temperature. Be very careful when

flying 19,600 feet (6 km) or more above sea level, as battery and aircraft performance may not be at peak efficiency.

6. The Phantom 3 Advanced cannot operate in P Mode or use GPS at polar latitudes. Only ATTI Mode and the Vision Positioning 

system will be operational.

࢒ Calibrating the Compass:

Make sure to calibrate the compass at every new flight location. The compass is very sensitive to electromagnetic interference, which 

can cause abnormal compass data, leading to poor flight performance or even failure. Regular calibration is required for optimal 

performance.

1. DO NOT calibrate your compass where there is a chance of strong magnetic interference, such as magnetite, parking structures, and 

steel reinforcements underground.

2. DO NOT carry ferromagnetic materials with you during calibration such as keys or cellular phones.

3. DO NOT calibrate beside massive metal objects.

4. If the Aircraft Status Indicators are showing solid red, then try to calibrate again. If they are blinking red and yellow alternately after 

placing the aircraft on the ground, the compass has detected magnetic interference. Change your location.

Fly Safe

࢒ P Mode:

In this mode, the Phantom 3 Advanced can use GPS and the Vision 

Positioning system, allowing it to hover accurately in position indoors 

and out. When GPS is available, a Home Point will be locked so that the 

Phantom 3 Advanced can Return to Home if the Remote Controller signal 

is lost.

There are three states in P mode:

P-GPS: GPS works best when outdoors and in a wide open area. 

Your Phantom 3 Advanced uses GPS to hover in place when there is 

a strong GPS signal. 

P-OPTI: If GPS is not available, the aircraft can use the Vision Positioning 

system to hover accurately. 

P-ATTI: Neither GPS nor the Vision Positioning system are available. 

The aircraft will only use its barometer for altitude and other on-board 

sensors for attitude stabilization. 

Note that the Vision Positioning system may not work properly when 

the Phantom 3 Advanced is flying over water, over surfaces without a 

clear pattern, or in a low-light environment.

࢒ Return to Home:

When there is a strong GPS signal, the aircraft will be able to 

record a Home Point and return to that Home Point when 

required. The Home Point location is recorded when the GPS 

signal icon in the DJI GO app is either yellow or green.

The aircraft will return to the Home Point automatically in the 

following scenarios (all require a strong GPS signal):

Smart RTH: When the RTH button on the Remote Controller 

or in the DJI GO app is pressed.

Low-Battery RTH: A notification will appear in the DJI GO 

app requesting the pilot to take action when the battery level 

falls under a certain level.

Failsafe RTH: When the Remote Controller’s signal is lost.

ȕWhile returning to the Home Point, the aircraft’s altitude can be adjusted to avoid obstacles. Tall buildings may affect the Remote 

Controller’s signal. The Failsafe Return to Home procedure will be triggered if the signal is lost. Be sure to fly higher than any nearby 

buildings to avoid crashing.

DJI encourages you to enjoy flying your Phantom 3 Advanced in a safe, responsible, and smart way. To do this, it is important to 

understand some basic flight guidelines, both for your protection and for the safety of those around you.

1. Fly in Open Areas: Always fly in locations that are free and clear of buildings, trees, power lines, and other obstacles. Do not fly above 

or near people or animals.

2. Maintain Control at All Times: Even when using DJI autopilot functions such as Auto-Takeoff, Auto-Landing, and Auto-Return to 

Home, always keep your hands on the Remote Controller and maintain control of your aircraft when it is in flight.

3. Maintain Line of Sight: Keep your aircraft in sight at all times, and avoid flying behind buildings or other obstacles that may block your view.

4. Monitor Your Altitude: For the safety of full-sized aircraft and other air traffic, always fly at altitudes less than 400 feet (120 meters)

above ground level, or in line with your local laws and regulations.

Visit http://flysafe.dji.com/no-fly for more information on critical safety features such as 

No-Fly Zones.

To enable P Mode, toggle the Flight Mode Switch 

to the P position.

Return to home

GPS Positioning

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Vision Positioning

Altitude

4. Charging the Batteries

Preparing Your Phantom 3 Advanced Before Flying

1. Download the DJI GO App

Search ‘DJI GO’ on the App Store or Google Play and 

download the DJI GO app to your mobile device.

ȕOnly use the official DJI Phantom 3 Advanced charger. Remove the Intelligent Flight Battery from the aircraft before 

charging.

ȕIt is recommended that you turn off the Intelligent Flight Battery or Remote Controller before charging.

ȕConnect the charger to a suitable power source (100-240V 50/60Hz). 

ȕConnect the charger to the Intelligent Flight Battery or Remote Controller. The LEDs will display the current charge level, 

and when fully charged, they will automatically turn off.

Watch the tutorial videos on www.dji.com or in 

the DJI GO app.

2. Watch the Tutorial Videos 

DJI GO app

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Remove the Intelligent 

Flight Battery

Read the User Manual and watch the video tutorials in the DJI GO app or on the official DJI website (www.dji.com), and 

read the following documents included in the box before using your Phantom 3 Advanced for the first time: Phantom 3 

Advanced Quick Start Guide, Phantom 3 Professional / Advanced Safety Guidelines and Disclaimer, Phantom 3 Professional / 

Advanced Intelligent Flight Battery Safety Guidelines, In the Box.

ȕFor the best experience, use a mobile device that runs iOS 8.0 or above or Android 4.1.2 or above.

3. Check Battery Levels

Pressing the Power Button once on either your Intelligent Flight Battery or Remote Controller displays the battery level. 

Be sure to fully charge both batteries before your first flight.

Phantom 3 tutorial videos 
ȕTo avoid signal interference, do not use other 2.4GHz devices when flying.

ȕYou can customize or change these controls through the DJI GO app.

6. Flight Controls

Here are the default flight controls (Mode 2). The left stick controls altitude and rotation, while the right stick controls the 

forward, backward, left or right movements. The gimbal dial controls the camera’s tilt.

5. Preparing the Remote Controller

Tilt the Mobile Device Holder to the desired position, and 

then adjust the antennas as shown. The strength of the 

Remote Controller’s signal will fluctuate depending on the 

positions of the antennas.

Strong Weak

1 Press the button on the side of the Mobile 

Device Holder to release the clamp.

Place your mobile device into the clamp and 

adjust it so that the mobile device is held 

securely in place.

Connect your mobile device to the Remote 

Controller with a USB cable. Plug one end of 

the cable into your mobile device, and the 

other end into the USB port on the back of 

the Remote Controller.

The transmission signal between the aircraft and 

Remote Controller will be strongest within the 

range illustrated here. If the signal is weak, adjust 

the positions of the antennas and fly the aircraft 

closer to achieve optimal signal performance.

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Forward

Backward

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Left Stick Right Stick Gimbal Dial

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Before taking off, make sure the Aircraft Status Bar in the DJI GO app 

indicates ‘Safe to Fly (GPS)’ or ‘Safe to fly (non-GPS)’ if flying indoors.

8. Flight

Safe to Fly ( GPS )

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Tap and slide to confirm automatic takeoff. 

The aircraft will automatically takeoff and 

hover at 4 feet (1.2 meters).

7. Getting Ready for Takeoff

Remove the gimbal clamp as shown on the right. 

Place your Phantom 3 Advanced on a flat surface, 

in an open space, with the nose facing away from 

you. Then follow the steps below in this order:

Your Phantom 3 Advanced can automatically takeoff and land at the tap of a button in the Camera screen of the DJI 

GO app.

Tap and slide to confirm automatic landing. 

The aircraft will automatically land.

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DJI GO 

app

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Toggle the Flight Mode Switch on your Remote Controller 

to the right (P Mode). P Mode is Positioning Mode, A 

Mode is ATTI Mode, and F Mode is Function Mode.

Turn on the Remote Controller by pressing the power 

button once, releasing it, and then pressing and holding 

for 2 seconds.

Insert the Intelligent Flight Battery into your Phantom 3 

Advanced. Turn on the battery by pressing the power 

button once, releasing it, and then pressing and holding 

for 2 seconds.

Ensure the LED on your Remote Controller is green, 

indicating it is ready to be used.

Connect your mobile device to the Remote Controller 

with a USB cable and launch the DJI GO app. Follow the 

instructions within the app.

In the app, tap ‘Camera’. Ensure your Phantom 3 Advanced 

is ready to fly by completing the on-screen Checklist. 

Beginner Mode is enabled by default when you launch 

the DJI GO app for the first time. The aircraft’s altitude and 

flight distance are restricted when flying in Beginner 

Mode. You can disable Beginner Mode in the Settings 

Page of the DJI GO app.

Calibrate the compass by tapping the Aircraft Status 

Bar in the app and selecting ‘Calibrate’. Then follow the 

on-screen instructions.

Attach the propellers with a black nut onto the motors with 

black dot and spin them counter-clockwise to secure. 

Attach the propellers with a grey nut onto the motors 

without black dot and spin them clockwise to secure.

ȕ Tighten the propellers with both hands before each flight.

ȕ If you wish to record photos or videos, insert a Micro-SD card into the Camera’s Micro-SD Card Slot. 

ȕ The Flight Mode Switch is locked in P Mode by default. Refer to the User Manual to learn how to unlock the switch and change 

to other modes.

ȕ When not in P mode, the Phantom 3 Advanced will only maintain altitude, not position, and will drift with wind or user input. Return 

to Home is not available in F mode.

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Appendix

To land, gently pull the left stick (throttle stick) 

down to lower the aircraft until it touches the 

ground. Then pull both sticks to the bottom inside 

corners to stop the motors.

Remote Controller is functioning normally,

but is not connected to the aircraft. 

Remote Controller is functioning normally

and is connected to the aircraft. 

B-B-B... Aircraft Low Battery Level Warning

 or Remote Controller error.

#ÿ#ÿRemote Controller has been

 idle for 5 minutes.

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࢒ Adjust the camera parameters using 

the Camera Settings Dial on the 

Remote Controller or through the DJI 

GO app. Press the Shutter Button or 

Video Recording Button to capture 

photos or record videos.

࢒Adjust the gimbal’s tilt using the 

Gimbal Dial.

࢒ Download photos and videos from 

the Micro-SD card to your mobile 

device through the DJI GO app. 

You can also use a SD-card reader 

to export files to your computer.

ȕ Never stop the motors mid-flight, otherwise the aircraft will crash. Only stop the motors when on the ground or as required in 

emergency situations to reduce the risk of damage or injury.

ȕ You cannot takeoff if the Intelligent Flight Battery is not sufficiently charged and the Critical Low Battery Warning is active.

ȕ The Intelligent Flight Battery must warm up if the outside temperature is low. A warning will appear in the DJI GO app in this scenario.

ȕ Once spinning, the rotating propellers can be dangerous. Do not start the motors when there are people nearby and always fly 

in a wide-open area.

ȕ Power off your Phantom 3 Advanced before switching off the Remote Controller after landing.

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Slowly: P-ATTI or ATTI Mode

Quickly: Not connected

to the Remote Controller

Slowly: Low Battery Level Warning

Quickly: Critical Low Battery Level Warning

Solid: Critical error

Blinking Alternately:

Compass calibration required

Slowly: Safe to fly, GPS working

Continuously: Vision Positioning 

system working, no GPS

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ȕ While returning home, you can still control your Phantom 3 

Advanced’s altitude to avoid any obstacles.

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RTH Button The app’s RTH Button

1. Press and hold the Return to Home Button on your 

Remote Controller until the LED surrounding the button 

starts blinking white and starts beeping. Your Phantom 

3 Advanced will return to the set Home Point. Press the 

button once to stop the procedure.

2. The DJI GO app will warn you if your Phantom 3 

Advanced’s battery level falls under a certain level. This 

warning threshold can be set in the app. The aircraft 

will land immediately if the battery power reaches a 

critical level and the Critical Low Battery Level Warning 

appears. 

3. Failsafe: The Phantom 3 Advanced will enter Return to 

Home Mode if the signal to the Remote Controller is lost.

©2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved

http://www.dji.com/phantom3 Designed by DJI. Printed in China.

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Start / Stop the motors Left stick up (Slowly) Left stick down (Slowly)

OR

Start the motors by pulling both control sticks to the bottom 

inside (or outside) corners. Release the sticks once the 

motors start. Slowly push the left stick (throttle stick) up to 

takeoff.
www.dji.com

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PHANTOM 3