Drones, also called UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles), have evolved to become more than devices for just capturing amazing photos and videos. These machines can now inspect construction sites, perform search/rescue missions, produce films, and aid in precision agriculture. While most drones come with their controller and screen, you can connect them to your smartphone. Which brings us to the question, how do you connect a drone to an iPhone?
To connect a drone to an iPhone, download the app for the drone from the App Store. Next, power up the drone, connect it to the same Wi-Fi network from your iPhone’s settings, and configure the app and the drone remote to work in sync.
Connecting your drone to your iPhone has many benefits, such as flight control, GPS control, diagnostic data, and setup. It does not matter whether you are a beginner, intermediate or professional drone pilot; you should be able to connect a drone to an iPhone with utmost ease.
This article elaborates on the steps to connect a drone to an iPhone.
Step-by-Step Guide on Connecting a Drone to an iPhone
The capabilities of drones vary from model to model, but most drones allow for autonomous flying, recording, and live streaming. Some drones can also be controlled with a smartphone, while some require a separate controller. The idea is that you can connect some drones to an iPhone while some simply wouldn’t.
So, the first thing you want to establish is whether or not you can connect your drone to an iPhone. Once that is established, connecting the two is pretty straightforward. And the process is relatively similar across the board, with a few discrepancies amongst different high-end drones. But if you follow the steps below, you should be able to connect most drones to your iPhone.
Step #1: Download the Respective App
The first step in connecting a drone to an iPhone is downloading the respective app. Note that different types of drones use different drone apps. While some apps might work for multiple drones, some wouldn’t. To know the right app for your drone, refer to the drone’s manual; you should find the name of the app that works on the drone. Most of the time, you would find the app you need for your drone in the App Store.
However, if the app is unavailable in the App Store, your drone manufacturer might include a barcode you can scan or a link you can follow to download the appropriate app.
Step #2: Turn On the Drone
After getting the app, the next thing on the agenda is to power on the drone. Turning on a drone can be a bit technical, depending on the model of your drone. Most drones come in pieces, particularly with the battery and the fan not attached. So, refer back to the user manual on how to put the drone together.
After coupling the drone together, look for the power button. Often, the power button is located under the hood of the drone. Press the power button for about 2 seconds or until the LED lighting of the drone comes up.
Step #3: Connect the Drone and iPhone to the Same Wi-Fi Network
Once the drone successfully powers up, you can proceed to connect it and your iPhone to the same Wi-Fi network. Connecting your drone and iPhone to a Wi-Fi network means you can only use the drone over a limited flight range before you lose connection. If you want a drone with a more extended range, then go for a drone that uses a cellular network.
If you want to connect your drone and iPhone to the same Wi-Fi network, head to the Settings app of your iPhone and tap on “Wi-Fi”. Toggle the Wi-Fi switch and then search for available Wi-Fi networks. Find the name of your drone and tap it to connect to it.
Step #4: Connect to the Remote
If your drone has a remote, you should use the cable provided to connect it to your iPhone. Or, if it is a wireless remote, use the Wi-Fi or Bluetooth functionality to connect the remote to your iPhone. In case your drone does not come with remote control, or you don’t want to use the remote control, you can always use your iPhone as the control.
Step #5: Connect the Drone to Your iPhone
Finally, launch the app you downloaded initially on your iPhone and configure it to work with your drone. In most cases, drone applications are pretty straightforward to set up, so follow the prompts in the app to establish a connection.
However, the app will pick up on the drone automatically, and you wouldn’t need to adjust any settings. Once the drone and your iPhone are connected, you will get a prompt in the app.
If you find connecting your iPhone to your Wi-Fi challenging, check if your drone has a Wi-Fi switch; if it does, ensure it is toggled on, and if it is already on, try rebooting your drone and iPhone.
Conclusion
Connecting your drone to your iPhone is easy irrespective of your drone type. However, drone manufacturers use different apps with varying support levels and quality.
While these apps are great, you should expect to experience some bugs as different models of phones behave differently and operating system change frequently. To avoid these bugs, ensure your smartphone and your drone’s application are up to date.
