Question about activation and Care Refresh

[AL GUY]

I have a spare new DJI drone that has not been activated. I would like to hold the drone in reserve until I need it but I would like to verify that I can pair it to it's controller. I do not want to fly the drone I just want to see if it will bind with it's controller. Can I do this and leave it unactivated so I can activate later when I am ready to use the drone and then get the DJI Care Refresh at that time.

 

[Thomas B]

I believe activation is required to pair it.

 

[DanMan32]

No it's not. After all, the app needs to be in contact with the AC in order to activate it, and in order to be in contact, has to be paired.
Activation enables starting the motors.

So you can bind, mess around with settings, etc. Just can't fly it until activated.

 

[African wildlife]

I would suggest you don't wait and also do a test flight. If something is wrong with the drone, you'll need to send it back for a replacement. Retailers will do this, but not if time has passed. We had a tiny issue straight and discovered it when turning everything on indoors to set up activation/registration etc, so it does sometimes happen. If we had waited, we would have been in the dark as the to slight fault.