The DJI Air 3 is a versatile drone that caters to everyone: those new to flying drones, enthusiasts, content creators, and professionals.
What makes the Air 3 such a well-rounded drone is its 12 MP and 48 MP photos, dual cameras, and high-resolution video capabilities.
For those who need varying sizes of storage to accommodate larger-sized content files, or would like to take screenshots or screen recordings of their DJI RC 2, the Air 3 can easily accommodate you.
This article and the included YouTube video will be a step-by-step tutorial walking through inserting, ejecting, and formatting the micro-SD card, for both the Air 3 drone and the DJ RC 2.
To help, we’ve identified and reviewed the best drone courses for beginners and professionals.
Inserting the Micro-SD Card (Air 3)
As DJI drones progress and improve over time, they can accommodate larger-capacity SD cards.
It seems just recently that the 64 GB SD cards in the original Mavic Pro were too large to fill. As media file sizes get larger and larger, the Air 3 can store photos and videos on SD cards up to 512 GB.
To insert SD cards into the Air 3:
STEP 1: Make sure the Air 3 is powered off.
While holding the Air 3 in one hand, open the USB-C and SD card port.
Carefully insert the SD card into the Air 3’s SD card slot, with the gold pin set pointed up (towards you). Do not push the card in all the way just yet, as it can eject and fly away from you.
STEP 2: While the SD card is in the slot, using your fingernail at a slight angle, push the SD card in until it makes an audible “click”.
Because the SD card slot is spring loaded, if you don’t press the SD card in with a nail at a slight angle, your finger could slip, causing the card to force eject and be lost.
Inserting the Micro-SD Card (DJI RC 2)
If you own the combo with the DJI RC 2, you’ll see that there is also an SD card slot in the remote controller as well.
The SD card on the DJI RC 2 is currently used for storing screenshots and screen recording clips. Time will tell if DJI adds more items that can be saved to the SD card.
To insert an SD card into the DJI RC 2:
STEP 1: With the DJI RC 2 powered off, partially insert the SD card into the DJI RC 2 SD card slot, this time with the gold pin set pointed down or away from you.
STEP 2: Push the SD card in until it makes an audible “click”.
Formatting the Micro-SD Card (Air 3)
The process for formatting SD cards that are in the Air 3 is done within the DJI Fly app, whether you have a DJI RC 2 or the RC-N2 remote controller.
To format the SD card, after powering on both the Air 3 and your current RC:
STEP 1: While in the DJI Fly app, go into your settings and locate the CAMERA tab.
STEP 2: Under storage, press format. You will be presented with an option to format either the SD card or Internal Storage. Choose SD card and press Format.
Formatting the Micro-SD Card (DJI RC 2)
Unlike formatting the SD card in the Air 3, to format the DJI RC 2’s SD card you can do so from any screen while the RC is powered on.
To format the DJI RC 2’s SD card:
STEP 1: Pull down the DJI RC 2’s notification screen by double-swiping down.
STEP 2: Press the settings/options gear in the upper right-hand corner of the screen.
STEP 3: Tap STORAGE
STEP 4: On the bottom of the screen, under Portable Storage, you will see your SD card. Mine is labeled DJIRC2.
Tap on your SD card’s name. You’ll see your SD cards used space.
STEP 5: Press Format. You’ll then be asked to format the SD card. If you choose to format at this time, press FORMAT SD CARD or otherwise choose CANCEL
Ejecting the Micro-SD Card
Ejecting the SD card from either the Air 3 or DJI RC 2 is handled the same.
Caution must be exercised when removing either SD card, as a finger slip can cause the SD card to force-eject randomly.
To eject either the Air 3 or DJI RC 2 SD card:
STEP 1: Using a thumbnail, at a slight angle, push the SD card in and then slowly remove your thumb.
STEP 2: Carefully pull the SD card out.
Tip: If you have larger fingers, or find it difficult to remove the SD card, simply attach a piece of scotch tape to the end of the SD card, effectively creating a tab to pull the SD card out.