Let’s Get One Thing Straight About The DJI Ban!

Okay, real quick video today regarding some misinformation that’s running rampant out there. And I feel obligated to at least do a little bit of my part to help get the message out. As I read through various Facebook group comments and the comments on many YouTube videos as well as on X, it’s very clear that there is not a good understanding of how the upcoming potential FCC ban on DJI products will affect current owners. And yes, I do say potential, but it’s looking like that’s what we are facing.

The Biggest Misconception

There are so many people that believe that the drones that they currently own will suddenly stop working on December 23rd of this year if the ban does happen. And more fuel was just added to the misinformation fire just this past week when the FCC approved for itself that it could retroactively ban access to our network to products that had previously received approval. So many people think that means that once a proposed rule goes through all of the hoops and it gets final approval, their current drones will no longer work or will be illegal to fly in the United States.

And I hope this is what you get. I hope this is the takeaway from this video: If you currently own a DJI drone or an action camera or a power station or anything from DJI, it will continue to function normally should an FCC ban occur. On December 24th, every DJI product that you have will continue to work.

What About Firmware Updates?

Now, will you be able to acquire and install firmware updates on those products? Most likely, yes, but no one is certain yet. There’s nobody that has officially stated that, and we really won’t know until after the fact. Anyone who tells you that they do know for certain what will happen with product firmware updates really has no clue. Are there educated guesses out there from people who know a lot more than I do? Of course. Do they know for 100% certain? No.

Understanding “Retroactive Ban”

So, what does this latest move from the FCC mean when they say retroactively ban? Let’s use the Mini 5 Pro for an example. Let’s assume that you get one of these for the holidays. Your spouse purchased it from Amazon on Black Friday—maybe using my affiliate link, of course, in the video description—and you open it on Christmas morning. Will it be bricked? I mean, is it a waste of money now since it’s after that FCC deadline of December 23rd?

No, because it’s already purchased and it was purchased as an FCC-approved device.

Now, what if you purchase this drone on January 1st of 2026? Will it work? Will it be legal to fly? Yes, because the Mini 5 Pro has already received FCC approval. And even though the FCC may vote to ban it retroactively in the future, that ban must go through the whole legal process of a notice of proposed rulemaking. There is a lengthy process that must occur and it has to be put out for discussion to the general public.

The Legal Process Takes Time

Now, let’s say it’s July of 2026 and the FCC has gone through the entire process of retroactively removing approval for the Mini 5 Pro. And let’s just assume that they choose a date of August 1st that the retroactive ban becomes active. So, does your Mini 5 Pro that you purchased back in January become a paperweight?

Well, this is where things get kind of cloudy. Some experts say no. Everything will work just fine and the worst thing that will happen is no one will be able to purchase a brand new Mini 5 Pro in the US any longer. But other people have said yes because it’s a ban on using our communications network that will limit how that drone will fly because it won’t be able to communicate with your controller or with your phone. So that aspect is still unknown.

Which Products Will Be Affected?

Personally, I do not think that the FCC is going to target drones like the Mini 5 Pro or the Mini 4 Pro or the Avata or a DJI action camera or anything like that when it comes to retroactive actions. I think—this is just my opinion—those retroactive bans are going to come into play for drones like the Inspire or the Matrice series or other industrial series drones, drones that are typically used for commercial or industrial purposes. The retroactive component will not be a blanket ban, you guys. It will be a targeted and focused ban.

So, anything purchased before DJI gets added to the FCC covered entity list, which is December 23rd of 2025, will most likely not be affected, at least not consumer drones. After that date, you won’t see any newly announced DJI products available in the United States. After that date, will you still be able to purchase and use products like the Mini 5 Pro? Yes, if you can find them, because it’s already received approval, and you will continue to be able to purchase DJI products after December 23rd as long as they had previously received FCC approval.

Key Points to Remember

Again, and I’m sorry to continue to repeat myself, but I want it to be very clear: A retroactive ban involves a process. It won’t be instant and it won’t be a blanket ban. At least that’s how it’s supposed to be.

Now, what do I mean when I say that? It means that our legislators, as often as they want, could change the rules and basically drop a nuke on the entire process. They can rewrite the rule book however they want to fit their agenda. Now, do I think that’s going to happen? No.

Impact on Commercial Users

But I do think by this time next year, any companies who use DJI drones for commercial purposes or entities that use them for fire safety, first responder purposes will be left out in the cold. The industries that rely on drones the most will take a decade step backwards. This move is going to hurt many businesses and industries for a very long time. And many of them won’t ever recover.

Now, forgive my language here, but it’s complete BS, you guys. And everybody knows it’s BS. You know it, and I know it. And our leaders know that there’s nothing we can do to stop it. And that makes it an even bigger pile of BS.

Final Thoughts on the DJI Ban

But I truly believe that the DJI products that the majority of us own right now or purchase in the coming weeks will not be affected at all. That is my honest opinion. But you need to base your purchasing decisions on your own perceived risk.

Wouldn’t it be nice if you just wake up one day here in a couple of weeks and see the news that DJI has passed the government audit and it won’t be added to the entity list? Then all these videos that people are making getting us all riled up, including myself, would be for nothing. We just stressed everybody out for no reason. I’d be okay with that. I don’t know about you, but I think that’d be pretty cool.

So, hit the thumbs up on your way out of the video today if you got anything of value. Share this video on your socials so the word gets out there that if you have a drone right now, it’s not going to stop flying on December 23rd. So, have a great day everyone. Thanks for watching. Fly safe and fly smart.

Did you just swear on your video?

Yeah, sometimes you have to swear to get your point across.