DJI Geozone Unlock: Destroy the Limits!

Flying drones allows you to enjoy viewing the world from above and appreciate the beauty of nature. Nevertheless, some people tend to misuse drones. As a result, popular brands like DJI have resorted to adding extra features to their drones to make the skies safe.

One of the latest safety features that DJI has added to their drones is geofencing, which limits the use of DJI drones near sensitive areas like stadiums, jails, high-profile events and nuclear power plants. In this article, we’ll explain the meaning of DJI geofencing, the types of geo zones, and the DJI Geo Zone unlock procedures. Let’s get started.

What is DJI Geofencing?

Geofencing is modern technology that uses GPS, and other navigational satellite signals, to prevent your drone from flying in prohibited areas like airports, jails, and other locations where security is an issue. It protects the drone operator from running into trouble and reduces the risk of getting involved in accidents.

Go through our article on drone geofencing for more information on how it works.

Types of Geo Zones

Geofencing is divided into different zones. Let’s have a look at them,

Restricted Zones

Restricted zones refer to areas where drones are not allowed to fly completely, such as airport runways. Correctional facilities also fall under this category.

When you try to fly your drone over these areas, a warning message will appear on your screen, and you have to stop. If you must fly your drive over these areas, you have to get written permission from the relevant authorities.

Altitude Zones

Altitude zones are areas with altitude restrictions, like airport runway extensions. Drones must abide by these zone restrictions because manned aircraft fly low as they prepare to land. Otherwise, a collision could occur.

A drone’s maximum height in high-risk airports is 162 feet, which is 2.1 miles away from the runway, and 492 feet, 5.2 miles away, starting from the preceding altitude zone region.

When your drone enters the restricted altitude zone, a warning sign will appear on your DJI app, and your drone’s height will be restricted

Authorization Zones

Drones are restricted in the authorization zones by default. These are typically oval-shaped zones formed by connecting the ends of two 2.5 mi semicircles on an airport runway. However, if you’re a legal DJI drone owner, you can submit an application for a self-unlock through the DJI Fly Safe  website Trusted Source Seven Aspects Of Website Design Crucial For Drawing In Customers When drawing in clients or customers, it is important to remember that each interaction they have with you or your company reflects upon your brand as a whole. www.forbes.com .

The Authorization zone varies based on the airport’s risk level. In high-risk airports, the authorization zones would extend to the areas surrounding the runway, while in low-risk airports, it’s the runway area only.

Warning Zones

Warning zones are the areas surrounding the authorization zones. A good example is Class E airspace. When using a DJI drone, you can switch the warning zones ON or OFF in the DJI FlySafe GEO map.

Enhanced Warning Zones

Enhanced warning zones typically extend 1.3 mi from the authorization’s zone borders. These areas usually come before warning zones in airports with a high or medium risk. However, in low-risk airports, they may mark the runway area.

You can unlock this zone through the same procedure you used in unlocking the authorization zones.

Regulatory Restricted Zones

This refers to areas that can’t be unlocked due to local regulations. They include government buildings, military camps and prisons.

Recommended Zones

Recommended zones are the areas where you can legally fly your drone without getting a warning message on your screen. These areas are normally highlighted in green and you can choose them for your next flight arrangement. When choosing your flight path, consider using a mapping software. If you’re looking for one go through our best free drone mapping software article.

How to Know if Your Flight is Within a Geofenced Area?

When using the DJI drones, you can easily know whether or not you’re flying in the geofenced areas through the DJI’s Fly Safe Geo Map.

Using the DJI’s Fly Safe Geo Map is a simple process. First, enter the address of the area where you want to fly in the search box on the upper left side of the interactive map on the Geo Map page. After that, click on the area to complete the geofencing zones in the region where you want to fly.

Once you do that, you’ll notice a color coding indicating the region’s different geofencing zones. Here are the meanings of each color.

• Red zones– Red zones indicate restricted regions which require Custom Unlock for your drone to fly in the area.
• Gray zone– This color normally indicates the areas with altitude restrictions, such as those around airport runways. You can’t turn off the gray zones due to safety reasons. However, if you must, you can go to the DJI website and follow the necessary procedure.
• Blue zones– The blue zone refers to the risky area, but it’s up to you to decide whether or not to fly your drone in that region. To unlock this zone, you have to complete the self-unlock procedure.
• Yellow zones– The yellow color indicates high-risk areas, but you don’t need unlocking to fly your drone there. These areas include warning zones and enhanced warning zones. If you decide to fly your drone in these areas, a warning message will appear on your screen, asking you to take full responsibility for flying your drone in the area by ticking a box.
• Green zones– This refers to areas where you can legally fly your drone.

Ensure you take note of these colors so you can know where you’re allowed to fly your drone and avoid landing in trouble.

Types of Unlocking You Can Do

There are two main types of unlocking you can perform on your DJI drone, as discussed below.

Custom Unlock

This unlocking procedure is normally used by people allowed to fly in restricted zones. Here are the steps you can follow.

1. Go to the DJI FlySafe website
2. Select ‘Unlocking Requests’
3. Fill out the ‘Basic Information’ form. Examples of the information you be required to fill in include your name, confirmed DJI account information, flight controller serial number, operation information, and authorization papers.
4. After filling out the form, click on the Next Step button, and you will see the ‘Unlocking Area’ page
5. From the drop-down menu, choose the appropriate drone model for this task
6. Enter the flight location address into the Geo Map’s search field
7. Choose the red pin covering the area you wish to unlock
8. Enter the proposed flight radius, flight height, and the name of the unlocking zone on the right-hand side of the geo map
9. Review all the information and click “confirm” if everything is correct
10. When prompted, input the verification code and click “Confirm” again
11. Read the terms and conditions and click “Agree”
12. Wait for DJI to review your request and confirm. Normally, you may have to wait one hour for DJI to send a confirmation email.

Documentation usually differs according to the selected zones. Therefore, you have to be sure which zones you want to select and get the relevant documents.

Self-Unlock

Self-unlocking is suitable for locations such as Authorization Zones, where a DJI account is the only requirement for identity verification. You can perform self-unlock before you fly or when you’re already at the location where you intend to fly the drone.

How to Perform a Self-Unlock Before You Fly

1. Go to DJI’s Self Unlock webpage and log into your account
2. Enter the flight location address into the search box in the Geo Map
3. Fill in the flight location address into the Geo Map’s search field
4. Choose the blue pin that encloses the zone you want to open
5. Enter your flight controller’s serial number
6. Choose the date when you want to fly your drone and click the “Submit” button. Unlock will begin at midnight on the day you choose and will be active for the next 72 hours
7. Read the terms and conditions and click “Agree”
8. Verify your identity using your phone number or credit card number linked to your DJI account. If you use your phone number, you’ll receive a code via text, which you’ll use for verification.
9. A popup indicating “Verification Complete” will appear if the verification was successful, at which point you can click “Proceed”
10. Confirm if you’ve downloaded the flight license.

Use the following steps when confirming if you’ve downloaded your flight license.

1. Go to camera view
2. Select General Settings.
3. Click on the Unlocking License button
4. select Unlocking List in the DJI GO and check if your license has been downloaded

How to Perform a Self-Unlock While on Location

1. Open your DJI Go app
2. When the flight limitation alert appears, click “Yes”
3. Verify your identity using your phone number or credit card number linked to your DJI account
4. To enable self-unlock in the area where you intend to fly, click “Confirm”
5. Ensure your unlocking license appears on the app

For the self-unlock procedure to be successful while on location, your devices need to be connected to the internet.

How to Unlock GEO zones

Enhanced Warning Zone

The enhanced warning zone is the easiest to unlock. All you have to do is agree to take full responsibility for anything that might happen when flying in this zone.

Authorization Zone

If you want to unlock the Authorization zone, use the self-unlock procedure. Use the steps outlined above.

Restricted Zone

Unlocking the restricted zone requires you to show that you’re allowed to use the DJI drone. You can do this by sending an email to  [email protected] Trusted Source DJI - Official Website DJI technology empowers us to see the future of possible. Learn about our consumer drones like DJI Mavic 3 Classic, DJI Mini 3 Pro, DJI Air 2S. Handheld products like DJI OM 5 and DJI Pocket 2 capture smooth photo and video. Our Ronin camera stabilizers and Inspire drones are professional cinematography tools. dji.com .

Altitude Zones

Altitude zones don’t allow users to unlock them. Therefore, you should plan your flight path according to the set limits.

Regulatory Zones

Drone users can’t unlock Regulated zones. Check out our article to know the areas where drones are banned for more information.

How to Unlock Your Drone in the DJI Fly App

Besides unlocking your drone using the DJI Go app and DJI FlySafe website, you can also do it using the DJI Fly App.

Before using this method, there are some things you have to do. First, power ON your drone and remote controller and ensure they’re connected. Next, ensure your FlySafe is up to date by running the most recent DJI Fly and firmware versions. After that, check the satellite indicator. For everything to run smoothly, the satellite indicator on the aircraft should show at least 10. Finally, ensure you’re connected to  fast Trusted Source Digital 8 Tips to improve your internet speed - Digital Updates from the Scottish Government’s Digital Directorate blogs.gov.scot and strong internet.

After completing these checks, you can now unlock your drone in DJI Fly. Here are the steps to follow.

1. Go to your profile in the DJI Fly app and sign in with your DJI credentials.
2. Tap the ellipsis in the top-right corner of the screen while in the camera view
3. Click Unlock GEO Zone under the Safety tab.
4. Select “Import to Aircraft” next to the text “Flight Controller SN” on the “Account Unlocking Licenses” page. The message “License Imported Successfully” will show up
5. Slide the switch next to the “DJI Fly circle” in the “Aircraft Unlocking Licenses” section by tapping on it.
6. Choose “Agree” after selecting one of the two options in the “confirm the following statements” windows.
7. The switch will now show as active in blue where you previously activated it.
8. After activating the unlocking button, you should now see a purple circle on the map representing the unlocked area. You can also see the licensing information in the lower left corner of the screen
9. In the camera view, you should see a notification that reads “takeoff permitted” in the top left corner when the aircraft is inside the unlocked area
10. Verify the “Max Altitude” and “Max Distance” of the area you’ve unlocked, indicated by a green circle. To do this, hit the three dots at the top right corner of your screen, and you’ll go to the settings. It will be displayed in the ‘Flight Protection’ section of the Safety tab.

GEO Zone Unlocking Troubleshooting

Sometimes, your drone may refuse to unlock the Geo Zones due to several issues. Here are some things you can do to solve the issue.

Check Your Drone’s Firmware

If your drone refuses to unlock, the problem could be outdated firmware. Before starting the Geo Zone unlocking process, ensure your drone’s firmware is up to date. Most firmware updates contain feature enhancements and bug fixes to help you deal with Geo Zone unlocking issues. If you’re looking for a drone with the latest firmware, consider the DJI Mini 3 Pro.

Ensure Your Device is Connected to the Internet

Internet is crucial when it comes to Geo Zone unlocking. For this process to be successful, all your devices should be connected to a strong internet connection

Check Your Drone’s GPS Signal

Your drone uses GPS to determine where it’s supposed to fly. Poor GPS reception can make you experience Geo Zone unlocking issues with your DJI zone. If you’re looking for a drone with the best GPS reception, consider buying one of the drones in our best drones under $2000 guideline. A good example is the DJI Mavic 3.

Check Your Drone’s App

Different drones have different in-built apps that you can use to unlock Geo Zones. If your drone’s Geo Zones refuse to unlock, the problem could be an outdated app. Regularly update your DJI drone’s app to avoid such issues. Additionally, you can try to uninstall the app and reinstall it.

Verify Your Credentials

One of the crucial steps during Geo Zone unlocking is entering your credentials. Examples of information you may need to provide include your name, operation information, authorization papers and drone’s serial number, among many others.

If you enter the wrong information, you may experience difficulties unlocking the Geo Zones. The best solution here is double checking the information you entered to ensure it’s correct.

Ensure You Use the Right Geo Unlocking Procedure

The process for unlocking Geo Zone normally varies depending on the drone type and model. Always ensure you use the right unlocking Geo Zone procedure.

Turn Off Your Drone

When you experience Geo Zone unlocking issues, the problem could be your drone. The best way to solve this issue is by turning off the device.

Press down the power button at the bottom of your drone once and then release. Press and hold it again for at least two seconds, and your drone will go off automatically. Leave it off for a few minutes, then turn it on again.

Check the Status of the GEO Zone

Some zones, like the regulatory zones, cannot be completely unlocked despite the method you use. Therefore, if you realize a specific Geo Zone is not unlocking, always check the zone’s status. Check out our article on where drones are banned to familiarize yourself with these zones.

Check Your Drone’s Settings

Drones come with a setting that allows you to unlock specific Geo Zones. Always check your drone’s settings and ensure the Geo Zone unlocking feature is turned on.

Contact Customer Support

If you’ve tried everything but are still experiencing Geo Zone unlocking issues, contacting DJI  customer support Trusted Source Improving your customer service | Business Queensland The principles of good customer service, measuring your customer service and creating a customer-service program. www.business.qld.gov.au is the best option. These professionals will know how to handle such issues within a short time. They’ll analyze your issue and give you the best solution possible. When contacting customer support, ensure you give them all the necessary details.

Here are examples of the things you should give to customer support.

1. A video of your device’s screen when you try to unlock your drone. You can download a free app to record your phone’s screen if it doesn’t already have one.
2. A screenshot of your device demonstrating that you were signed in to your DJI account at the time you tried to unlock your drone
3. The current flying coordinates as they appear in a screenshot
4. A screenshot demonstrating that the drone and app are properly connected and that you’re in the right section
5. Take a screenshot of the “about page” once again while the drone is linked to the app
6. A screenshot of the no-fly zone as it appears in the app
7. The exact model of your gadget, the operating system and the version

Final thoughts

The geofencing feature on the DJI drones is essential since it prevents you from getting into trouble or getting involved in a collision. However, you may want to unlock it and fly your drone wherever you want. Go through our post to learn about the various DJI Geo Zone unlock procedures you can use.

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