The Mini 5 Pro introduces new features for storing and transferring files compared to previous DJI lightweight models
In this article, I will show all the different ways to transfer and store files from the Mini 5 Pro to various devices: a phone, a tablet, or a computer
Other related article you may find interesting:
- Mini 5 Pro photography
- Mini 5 Pro video quality
- Mini 5 Pro Hyperlapse tutorial
- Mini 5 Pro Panorama photography
From the SD Card
The simplest way to store footage and photos is by using a Micro SD card inserted into the aircraft
In the Camera tab of Settings in DJI Fly app, scroll down to Storage, where we can switch the storage location between the SD card and the internal memory; the available space is displayed below. In the same location, we can also format the card if needed
We can access the same settings in the White Balance window in the lower-right part of the screen
Even though larger cards are available, a 128GB micro card is more than enough, as it can store about three hours of 4k footage
To transfer files from a micro SD card to a computer, smartphone, or tablet, we need a card reader that attaches to the device via USB. Some laptop computers have a built-in SD card slot; in this case, a card reader is not needed
When the card is connected to an Android device, PC, smartphone, or tablet, a folder named SD card will be visible. Open it in a new window, and then open the DCIM folder and then the folder named DJI_001, which contains the footage and photos. You can then copy the files to the desired storage location
The procedure is similar for IOS devices; however, the names of the folders may be different
From the Internal Storage
The Mini 5 Pro has a generous internal storage of 42Gb, a major improvement over the 2GB of the Mini 4 Pro and the Flip
If we forget to bring a memory card to our filming location, our trip is not wasted, as we can still take about an hour of 4k footage. If we need more, we can transfer the files to a laptop, smartphone, or tablet, format the internal storage, and start again
To transfer the content of the internal memory to a computer, smartphone, or tablet, the remote controller is not needed. Connect the drone to a USB slot in the device with the USB-C cable supplied. You don’t need to power on the aircraft.
A folder named Internal Storage will appear; it contains two folders. By opening the folder DCIM, we access another one named DJI_001 with the content of the drone’s internal memory. We can now copy it to a new folder on the PC
If an SD card is inserted into the drone, another folder named SD card will be shown, and we can transfer its content using the same method. It can be handy if we don’t have a card reader available
Quick Transfer to Mobile Devices
Quick Transfer is an alternative method for wirelessly transferring files from the SD card or the internal memory to a smartphone or tablet
This method cannot be used to transfer files to a computer, in which case one of the two methods shown in the previous chapters should be used
There are two methods for Quick Transfer, both involving the DJ Fly app
Let’s start with the traditional one. After launching the DJI Fly app on the remote device, turn on the Mini 5 Pro. Make sure that Bluetooth and WiFi are enabled on the device
If you are using the Mini 5 Pro for the first time, the drone must be paired to the device. Simply follow the on-screen instructions
On the left of the screen, a message notifies that the Mini 5 Pro has been detected. We can now press the button on the left of the aircraft. We are prompted to connect the Mini 5 Pro to the device
Once the connection is established, all the files available on the internal memory and SD card are shown. At the top, we can select options to show only the videos, only the photos, or only the favourites
We can select an item by long pressing, and view the clip or download it by tapping the icon in the lower right corner
A window proposes a choice between full or trimmed download. With the second option, we can set a start and an ending point for downloading only a portion of the clip. This is useful when we want to transfer just a short clip to share it immediately, while the full file will be edited later on at home on a computer
The icon at the top right activates Batch Select to select several files by tapping the empty square at the top right of each thumbnail. The top of the window displays the number of selected files and the resulting size. Finally, we can hit the download icon at the bottom right
With this method, at the moment, only footage taken in H. 264 format can be transferred, so make sure to select this format in the Camera settings. Videos shot in H. 265 format can only be transferred to a computer. When it comes to photos, only JPEG files can be transferred
To exit QuickTransfer, tap the lightning icon to the left of the one for Batch Select
The Mini 5 Pro introduces a second transfer method not available in previous lightweight models, named QuickTransfer in Sleep
This method must be enabled at the bottom of the Safety tab of the Settings. Now we can launch DJI Fly app without powering on the drone
On the left of the screen, under Quick Transfer, the aircraft has been detected. Tap on it to connect the Mini 5 Pro to the WiFi network. The gallery view of all the files appears, and we can download any of them using the same methods described above
With this method, we don’t need to power on the drone; it is useful when we want to download in the car or while sipping an exotic drink in a pub, as the aircraft can be left in its bag. It will remain in sleep mode for approximately 12 hours as long as we don’t change the battery