Getting started with the DJI RC Plus 2
Many buttons, but only a few matter for your first flight. The Matrice 4 / 4TD controller explained simply, jargon-free.
The essentials
The 6 controls to learn first
If you only remembered these, you could already take off and land safely. The rest is for fine-tuning.
Fly the drone
Left: up / down + turn. Right: forward / backward + move left / right. (Mode 2, factory default)
Flight Pause
One press: the drone brakes and hovers in place instantly. The anti-panic reflex.
RTH
Hold the button: the drone returns to the take-off point on its own. Press again to cancel.
Turn on / off
Short press = battery level. Short press then press and hold = power on or off.
Tilt the camera
The gimbal dial raises or lowers the camera (toward the ground or the horizon).
Flight mode
Three positions: Normal, Sport, Function. Beginner: stay on N.
The controller map
Every control, by zone
The RC Plus 2 groups its controls into logical zones. Here's what each one does.
Front — flying
- The 2 sticks — drone movement (see above).
- RTH button — hold: automatic return to the take-off point.
- Flight Pause button — braking + instant hover.
- Mode switch — N / S / F.
- 5D button — multidirectional mini-joystick for shortcuts.
- Back/Function button — 1 press: previous screen · 2 presses: home.
- Power button — battery (short) / on-off (short then hold).
Top edge — the camera
- Gimbal dial (left) — camera tilt (up / down).
- Zoom dial (right) — zoom in / out.
- C4 dial — customizable in DJI Pilot 2.
- Record button — start / stop video.
- Shutter / focus button — half-press: focus · full press: photo.
- L1-L3 / R1-R3 buttons — functions shown in the Pilot 2 camera view.
Screen & customizable
- 7-in touchscreen — 1400 nits, readable in full sun; Android + DJI Pilot 2 built in.
- C1 / C2 buttons (rear) — customizable shortcuts (under your fingers).
- C3 button — customizable, near the record button.
- Combinations — Back button + another = advanced shortcut.
Underside & connectivity
- Removable WB37 battery — external, on top of the internal battery (extended runtime).
- Cellular dongle — slot for 4G (reinforced transmission).
- USB-C · USB-A · HDMI — charge/data, USB stick, external monitor output.
- microSD card — removable storage.
- Speaker & alarm — audio alerts (handy to locate the controller).
First flight
Your 5 first moves
A simple, ordered sequence for a calm first take-off.
Turn on the controller
Short press on the power button, then press and hold. DJI Pilot 2 starts on its own.
Wait for the right signals
Check in Pilot 2: enough GNSS/satellites, compass OK, and the level of both batteries (drone and controller). Without GNSS, Pause and RTH don't work.
Set your framing
Left dial to tilt the camera, right dial to zoom. Build the habit before taking off.
Take off in Normal mode (N)
Use Pilot 2's auto take-off, or the sticks. Always keep your thumb near the Pause button.
Come back and land
Hold RTH for an automatic return, or land by hand. When in doubt: Flight Pause, breathe, resume.
The mode switch
N, S, F — which to choose?
Three physical positions on the controller. Only one is made for learning.
Normal
The default mode. Stable, precise flight, obstacle avoidance active, intelligent modes available. Stay here to learn.
Sport
Faster and more responsive, but no obstacle avoidance and longer braking distances. Avoid while learning.
Function
Set in Pilot 2 to Tripod (speed-limited, very smooth) or Attitude (advanced). For specific needs.
Keep in mind
Beginner pitfalls
No flight without a GNSS lock. Precise hover, Pause and RTH all depend on it. Wait for the satellite signal.
Check the Home point before relying on RTH, and set its altitude above obstacles.
Don't mix up the dials: left = camera tilt, right = zoom.
Watch two batteries, the drone's and the controller's.
The C1-C4, L1-R3 buttons are customizable. Check their assignment in Pilot 2 before flying.
Sport mode = no obstacle avoidance. While learning, stay in Normal mode.
The reflex to burn in
A doubt, a scare, an obstacle? Flight Pause — the drone stops and waits. Only then do you decide: take back control or trigger RTH.