How to Flash and Update Betaflight Firmware: The Complete Guide By Mall of Aviation
In this guide, we will walk you through the essential process of flashing and updating the Betaflight firmware on your FPV drone’s flight controller (FC). Whether you are looking for new features or bug fixes, this tutorial covers the steps, potential pitfalls, and troubleshooting tips to get you back in the air safely.
Note: Flashing firmware often wipes your existing settings. If your drone is currently tuned and flying well, ensure you have a backup before proceeding.
1. What Does “Flashing” Mean?
Betaflight is the operating system for your flight controller, much like Windows or macOS for a computer. Developers frequently release updates to improve flight performance and squash bugs. “Flashing” is simply the technical term for installing this new software onto your FC’s chip.
Should You Update?
Before you begin, ask yourself:
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Is the drone flying perfectly? If yes, you might not need to update. “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” is a good rule for beginners.
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Are you comfortable re-configuring from scratch? If you don’t know how to set up ports, modes, and motors, learn those basics first.
2. Preparation: The Essentials
Get the Configurator
You need the Betaflight Configurator interface to talk to your drone.
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Web App: Use the browser-based version at app.betaflight.com.
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Desktop App: Download the latest installer from the Betaflight GitHub Releases.
Backup Your Settings!
Crucial Step: Before flashing, save your current configuration.
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Connect your drone and go to the Presets tab.
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Click “Save Backup” to download your configuration as a text file.
3. Connecting to the Flight Controller
Plug your FC into your computer via USB. Open the Configurator and select the correct COM Port (usually the one that appears when you plug the USB in).
4. The Firmware Flasher Tool
Navigate to the Firmware Flasher tab on the left-hand menu. This is your command center for updating the board.
A. Choosing the Correct Target
This is the most critical step. You must select the “Target” that matches your physical hardware.
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Auto-Detect: Click the “Detect” button. Betaflight will attempt to identify your board automatically.
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Manual Selection: If detection fails, check your manufacturer’s documentation.
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Warning: Flashing the wrong target can “brick” your FC (make it unresponsive).
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B. Select Firmware Version
Choose the latest Stable release from the dropdown menu.
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Tip: Avoid “Release Candidates” (RC) unless you are a developer testing new code. They may contain bugs.
5. Build Configuration (Cloud Build)
Modern flight controllers (like F411 and F722) have limited memory. The Build Configuration system allows you to include only the features you need, keeping the firmware lightweight.
Recommended Settings:
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Radio Protocol: Select CRSF for ExpressLRS/Crossfire, or your specific receiver type.
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Telemetry: Leave default for CRSF.
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Motor Protocol: Select DSHOT (standard for digital ESCs).
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Other Features: Enable GPS or LED Strip only if your specific build requires them. For a simple freestyle quad, disable unnecessary complex features to save CPU load.
6. Flashing the Firmware
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Load Firmware: Click “Load Firmware [Online]”. The software will download the specific build for your board.
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Flash: Once the button turns active, click “Flash Firmware”.
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Wait: The progress bar will fill up. Do not disconnect the USB cable during this process.
7. Troubleshooting: If It Fails
If the flashing process gets stuck or fails to open the port, your FC might need to be forced into DFU Mode (Device Firmware Update).
How to fix it:
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Boot Button: Unplug the USB. Hold down the physical “Boot” button on the FC. Plug the USB back in while holding the button.
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Driver Fixer: If the computer doesn’t recognize the board in DFU mode, download and run the ImpulseRC Driver Fixer. It will automatically repair the necessary drivers.
8. Post-Flash Setup
Once the flash is successful, click Connect. You will likely see a few prompts to get your drone flight-ready.
Calibrate Accelerometer
If you see a “Not Calibrated” warning:
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Place the drone on a flat, level surface.
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Go to the Setup tab.
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Click “Calibrate Accelerometer”.
Select Motor Protocol
If you see a “No Motor Protocol” warning:
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Go to the Motors tab.
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Under ESC/Motor features, select DShot300 or DShot600 (DShot300 is safer for most builds).
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Click Save and Reboot.
Mall of Aviation Tip: After flashing, reload your backup file carefully, or better yet, configure the drone from scratch to ensure no old, incompatible settings cause issues with the new firmware. Happy flying!
