DJI Mini SE controller won’t charge… anyone else had this happen?

Hey folks,

So I’ve run into a weird issue. My DJI Mini SE controller suddenly stopped charging—no lights, no signs of life. I thought maybe it was just a bad unit, so I bought another one second-hand, but same exact problem.

Is there something I’m missing here or is this a known issue? It feels a bit too coincidental for both to act up the same way.

Appreciate any advice!

Sounds like you might be using an OTG cable by mistake. That cable is designed to send power from the controller, not to it. Try using a regular USB-A to Micro USB cable instead.

JamesHenry said:
Sounds like you might be using an OTG cable by mistake. That cable is designed to send power from the controller, not to it. Try using a regular USB-A to Micro USB cable instead.

Yeah, this one’s on me. I actually broke the connector on my first controller and randomly tried using a small OTG cable to charge it… not smart, I know :sweat_smile:

Totally didn’t work and might’ve made things worse. Lesson learned!

These remotes are a couple of years old now. If they’ve been stored wrong or deeply discharged, the battery might just be done. DJI’s battery systems are strict for safety—especially since drone failure can be a big risk.

I’ve actually got a working controller sitting here. Lost my drone to the sea, so if you want it, let me know.

Yeah this happens when folks use the USB-C OTG cable to charge—which doesn’t work since it only sends power out of the controller. You’ll need a standard USB-A to Micro USB cable.

Also, careful when plugging it in! DJI used a weird combo Micro USB port that’s easy to damage if you don’t look closely.

@Ronald
Honestly, it’s totally my fault. I feel pretty stupid about it. I damaged the connector on my old controller a while ago, and one morning I just randomly decided to try using a small OTG cable instead of a proper USB-A charging cable… obviously, it didn’t work, and now I think I might have messed things up further.

So yeah, lesson learned the hard way. :sweat_smile: