HOW TO: Optimize Apple device for the best DJI GO app performance

msinger · Jul 18, 2015

Here are some tips to help ensure the DJI GO app is able to run as smoothly as possible on your Apple device:

1) In the iOS Settings, turn on Airplane Mode if you do not need to access the Internet to download maps or stream to YouTube. If you're using a phone, this will also ensure that you're not interrupted by a phone call and/or text message as you're flying.

Note: For the P3S, you'll need to turn on Wi-Fi after turning on airplane mode -- since turning on airplane mode turns off Wi-Fi..

2) In the "General" --> "Usage" section of the iOS Settings, verify that you have at least 1GB of storage space available. If you're low on available storage space, uninstall apps that you're no longer using and/or remove all unneeded photos/videos from your device.

3) Shut down all apps that you're not actively using. To close running apps, double tap the Apple Home button and touch and flick the apps you'd like to close toward the top of the screen. Keep in mind that apps will always be running in the background after launched until you manually close them or restart your Apple device.

4) In the "General" --> "Background App Refresh" section of the iOS Settings, turn off the Background App Refresh feature. This will ensure that any running apps are not doing unnecessary work as you're flying in the DJI Pilot application.

5) In the "General Settings" section of the DJI GO app, enable the "Enable Hardware Decode" setting. This will allow the Apple device's GPU to be used to decode the video stream -- as opposed to the slower method of decoding via software.

6) In the "General Settings" section of the DJI GO app, enable the "Cache Map in the Background" setting. This setting must also be enabled before you're able to cache maps if you normally fly when disconnected from the Internet.

7) In the "General Settings" section of the DJI GO app, set the "Video Cache" setting to "Disabled" if you are not planning on using the DJI GO Director feature to create videos from your recorded video clips.

8) If it's hot outside, it's best to remove your iPad from its case (if it's in one). It'll generate a lot of heat while you're flying, so you want to make sure it's well ventilated.

Got any other tips to add? Please share them below

Note: Check out this knowledgebase article for more tips:
Install DJI GO on an Apple Tablet or Phone (Step-by-Step Guide)

wotblake · Jul 18, 2015

Closing all apps and restarting the iPad before I leave to go fly is the biggest thing for me. After that I cache the maps I want to use and flip to airplane mode.

Great guide, btw.

msinger · Jul 18, 2015

Good tip! Thanks for sharing

F6Rider · Jul 19, 2015

I do all of this, and my iPad Air 2 has preformed awesomely even in 90º heat, I also close all apps and reboot prior to taking it off the charger. Don't need the director and it just requires processor time to cache the flight.

Hessam · Jul 19, 2015

A while ago on a hot afternoon, live view stream on my iPad air was glitchy and not usable at all. Turning off video cache on pilot app solved the problem!

Kman · Jul 19, 2015

The only time my iPad Air 2 has rebooted mid-flight is when I had hardware decode on.

j3yps · Jul 19, 2015

Thanks for posting this

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Hono · Jul 19, 2015

Although no.7 is a good idea,I am not recommend switch off the video cache,it is because you can keep the Video record when your phantom3 cannot come back or fly away automatically,in order to send it for DJI follow

GordonT · Jul 19, 2015

This is very helpful thanks

Zalama · Jul 19, 2015

Anyone tested latest IOS 9 beta 3 and DJI apps ?

duse500 · Jul 19, 2015

Hono said:
Although no.7 is a good idea,I am not recommend switch off the video cache,it is because you can keep the Video record when your phantom3 cannot come back or fly away automatically,in order to send it for DJI follow

Any replies to this?
Is this statement accurate ?

msinger · Jul 19, 2015

Having just the video is not going to be enough to get a replacement from DJI. They are going to want the flight data. If you're worried about a fly away, then you'll definitely want to pick up a tracker -- like the Trackimo GPS tracker.

Oso · Jul 19, 2015

msinger said:
Here are some tips to help ensure the DJI Pilot app is able to run as smoothly as possible on your Apple device:

1) In the iOS Settings, turn on Airplane Mode if you do not need to access the Internet to download maps or stream to YouTube. If you're using a phone, this will also ensure that you're not interrupted by a phone call and/or text message as you're flying.

View attachment 25214

2) In the "General" --> "Usage" section of the iOS Settings, verify that you have at least 1GB of storage space available. If you're low on available storage space, uninstall apps that you're no longer using and/or remove all unneeded photos/videos from your device.

View attachment 25215

View attachment 25216

3) Shut down all apps that you're not actively using. To close running apps, double tap the Apple Home button and touch and flick the apps you'd like to close toward the top of the screen. Keep in mind that apps will always be running in the background after launched until you manually close them or restart your Apple device.

4) In the "General" --> "Background App Refresh" section of the iOS Settings, turn off the Background App Refresh feature. This will ensure that any running apps are not doing unnecessary work as you're flying in the DJI Pilot application.

View attachment 25217

View attachment 25218

5) In the "General Settings" section of the DJI Pilot app, enable the "Enable Hardware Decode" setting. This will allow the Apple device's GPU to be used to decode the video stream -- as opposed to the slower method of decoding via software.

View attachment 25220

6) In the "General Settings" section of the DJI Pilot app, enable the "Cache Map in the Background" setting. This setting must also be enabled before you're able to cache maps if you normally fly when disconnected from the Internet.

View attachment 25221

7) In the "General Settings" section of the DJI Pilot app, set the "Video Cache" setting to "Disabled" if you are not planning on using the DJI Pilot Director feature to create videos from your recorded video clips.

View attachment 25222

Got any other tips to add? Please share them below

I thought that prior guidance from DJI reps was to NOT enable hardware decode with A8 processors due to the risk of random reboots. The A8 works well on its own without using the GPU. Are you saying that the guidance is now to use it with A8 processors?

F6Rider · Jul 19, 2015

Oso said:
I thought that prior guidance from DJI reps was to NOT enable hardware decode with A8 processors due to the risk of random reboots. The A8 works well on its own without using the GPU. Are you saying that the guidance is now to use it with A8 processors?

Oso, I am using hardware acceleration as a test, the iPad Air 2 definitely runs cooler with it on. I haven't had any reboots so far but I am only about 9 flights in with it on. If I start getting reboots I will turn it back off. I do all of my practice flights with the prop guards on as I can see the bird out to 2000' so have LOS in case of a reboot.

msinger · Jul 19, 2015

Oso said:
I thought that prior guidance from DJI reps was to NOT enable hardware decode with A8 processors

Tahoe Ed said to enable it here.

pstockton · Jul 19, 2015

Zalama said:
Anyone tested latest IOS 9 beta 3 and DJI apps ?

I've flown with my iPad Air 2 running iOS 9 betas 1, 2 and 3 - had no problems at all.

Oso · Jul 19, 2015

msinger said:
Tahoe Ed said to enable it here:
http://forum.dji.com/forum.php?mod=redirect&goto=findpost&ptid=10714&pid=81545&fromuid=6149

Thanks. I checked out the link and it does appear that he means to have it enabled with an A8, but then he says the other processors don't need it enabled which sort of adds confusion.

I recall seeing that thread a while back, but thought back then that he meant the option was added for the A8 so that it could be disabled to help with the known issue of random reboots. Disabling was a way to avoid that happening. When I read it today it seemed to be the opposite. My bad I guess. I was so sure that A8 was off, A7 and below was on. Sorry.

In any event, I have flown with it both enabled and disabled using an Air 2, and didn't really notice a difference. No reboots for me, but @Kman has seen at least one reboot. I think I will continue to keep it disabled for now.

AerialEyeProductions · Jul 19, 2015

Thanks for the great list!!

jcknows0 · Jul 19, 2015

I flew in 90+ degrees today twice and only had glitches twice so I'm keeping it on from now on (thought I had read mini 2 leave it off). Will have to test out the map cache once I get my mini 2 w 64gb and LTE