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TroubleshootingSafety relevant

Why is my drone drifting?

Short answer

Common causes are weak positioning, wind, poor lighting under the aircraft, damaged or incorrect propellers, sensor errors, or magnetic interference. Land before diagnosing.

Why

Stable hover blends GPS, inertial sensors, compass data and downward vision. If one input becomes unreliable, the aircraft may drift or switch modes. Repeated compass calibration is not a universal fix and can make diagnosis worse.

What to do next

  1. 01Land in a clear area and inspect all propellers and motors.
  2. 02Review app warnings and satellite/vision status.
  3. 03Move away from steel, reinforced concrete, vehicles and power infrastructure.
  4. 04Calibrate only when the manual or app directs it, on the correct surface.

Important exceptions

  • Small movement in wind can be normal.
  • Indoor hover depends heavily on texture and lighting.
  • Sudden uncontrolled movement after a crash requires professional inspection.
Safety note: Aircraft behaviour varies by model, firmware and configuration. For legal or safety-critical decisions, use the current manual and official aviation authority guidance.