At a glance

Before you start

1. Firmware and known issues first

• Autel recommends updating the aircraft, smart battery and remote controller firmware before each use. If an update fails, restart and try again; if it still fails, contact Autel after-sales. [5][6]
• EVO Max: aircraft and RC on V1.8 or earlier will not pair with the other on V1.9 or later. Once updated to the current release you cannot downgrade. [7]
• EVO II Enterprise V3: after updating to V1.4.4 you cannot downgrade. [8]
• Current manuals, battery guidelines and release notes are on Autel's download pages for each series. [9][10]
• The EVO Max manual lists known issues: re-enabling visual positioning in flight can fail (re-enable only after landing), high ESC temperature warnings (reduce speed mode), and hot-swap failures below −10 °C. [1]

2. Protect the flight logs

• Without flight logs from the app, Autel may be unable to analyze an incident and may deny free after-sales service. Keep logs before any reset. [1][3][11]

3. Safety

• Power off before changing propellers or the gimbal. Wait at least 15 seconds after power-off before removing or fitting a gimbal so the internal capacitors discharge; let a hot gimbal cool first. [1][3]
• When you turn the aircraft upside down, protect the visual sensing lenses and strobe on the top of the body. [1][3]
• Do not use an aircraft that has been in an accident (crash or tip-over) or that flies abnormally until Autel authorized support has serviced it. [1]
• Autel's lifecycle policy: after a product's End of Marketing, hardware repair and spare parts continue until End of Support, for a maximum of 5 years. Lifecycle changes are posted in Autel's Latest News. [12]

4. Tools Autel mentions

Props & arms

EVO Max 4T series

1. Step 1

   Inspect before every flight

   Props are genuine Autel, intact and firmly installed, front and rear props on the correct motors, no debris in motor or prop, and each motor turns freely by hand. [5]
2. Step 2

   Use 1158 only

   The model is printed near the blade root next to the clamp. Never mix propeller specifications. [1]
3. Step 3

   Power off

   Make sure the aircraft is off before replacing propellers. [1]
4. Step 4

   Fit

   Match the marks, press the propeller onto the mount and twist in the lock direction until it pops up and locks. Check it is secure. [1]
5. Step 5

   Blades

   Look for deformation, severe wear, notches, cracks or anything stuck to the surface. Clean with a dry soft cloth. Deformed, worn, notched or cracked: do not fly, replace. [5]
6. Step 6

   Blade clamps

   Clamp rivets secure and fastened, no deformation or breaks. Replace deformed clamps. [5]
7. Step 7

   Arms

   Unfold front arms first, then rear; fold rear arms first, then front. Unfolded arms must not rebound and should have strong pre-tightening force, with no obvious gap or cracks at the arm-to-body joint, and fold smoothly without jamming or noise. [1][5]
8. Step 8

   Motors

   With the prop off, check the rotor for foreign objects and clean carefully without scratching the coils. Turn it by hand: jamming, scratching or odd sounds mean do not fly. Shake the motor vertically to check for loose screws or an aging arm. [5]

EVO II Enterprise V3

1. Step 1

   Power off

   Press and hold the smart battery power button for 3 seconds. [3]
2. Step 2

   Remove

   Hold the motor under the prop so it cannot turn, press the center shaft down firmly and turn it in the unlock direction. [3]
3. Step 3

   Identify

   CCW props have a white circle at the center shaft and go on mounts with a white circle. CW props and mounts have no circle. Props cannot be fitted to the wrong mount. [3]
4. Step 4

   Fit

   Line the buckle at the prop center up with the slot on the mount, hold the motor, press down firmly and turn in the lock direction marked on the shaft. [3]
5. Step 5

   Before each flight

   All props in good condition and securely mounted; replace aged, damaged or deformed props. Use Autel props only and never mix models. Props spin up to 8000 RPM; gloves are recommended, and remove props before any ground test. [3]
6. Step 6

   Store

   Power off, then fold the rear arms first and the front arms second, and store the props in the rugged case. [3]

Gimbal, camera & payload

EVO Max 4T series: remove and fit the gimbal

1. Step 1

   Prepare

   Power off and remove the smart battery. Remove any payload on the top expansion port first. [1]
2. Step 2

   Remove

   Place the drone belly-up on a level surface. Loosen the two anti-drop screws on the gimbal port cover with a PH00 Phillips screwdriver. Gently lift the damping mount and slide the gimbal up and back. Grip the damping mount, never the gimbal body. [1]
3. Step 3

   Fit

   Align the cylindrical holes on the front of the damping mount with the two pins in the gimbal bay. Slide the gimbal down and forward until the port lines up with the slot, then press the port cover until it is flush. [1]
4. Step 4

   Secure

   Pre-tighten both anti-drop screws, confirm alignment, then fully tighten. [1]
5. Step 5

   Self-check

   Power on. A correctly installed gimbal rotates by itself for its self-check. [1]

EVO II Enterprise V3: remove and fit the gimbal

1. Step 1

   Prepare

   Power off and wait 15 seconds. Remove the PSDK module on the back of the aircraft first. [3]
2. Step 2

   Remove

   Belly-up on a level surface. Loosen the two anti-loosening screws on the connector protective cover and remove it. Unscrew the FPC connector screws (cross 2.0) and pull the ribbon out of the slot. Pinch the tail of the dampener and slide the gimbal straight back and up. [3]
3. Step 3

   Fit

   Align the cylindrical hole on the front of the gimbal with the two pins in the nose bay, slide forward until the connector cover meets the slot, and push it down until it is flush. [3]
4. Step 4

   Secure

   Partially tighten the two screws, confirm the connector is aligned, then fully tighten. [3]
5. Step 5

   Self-check

   Hold the battery button for 3 seconds to power on. A correctly connected gimbal rotates the camera for a self-test. [3]

Inspect and care

1. Step 1

   Gimbal check

   Before power-on: lenses not cracked, housing intact. After power-on the camera faces forward; move the airframe by hand to check stabilization, pitch up and down to check smooth motor movement, and check every camera feed on the controller. [1][6]
2. Step 2

   Lock check (EVO Max)

   Tilt the gimbal up to 90° and check the camera locks normally. [5]
3. Step 3

   Dampers

   Look for cracked, dislodged, aged, softened or stretched damping balls, and loose screws at the gimbal mount or connecting plate. [1][6]
4. Step 4

   Gimbal cover

   Fit the cover for transport and storage; always remove it before powering on, or the gimbal motors can be damaged. [1]
5. Step 5

   Lenses

   Clean with professional lens-cleaning tools or a soft cloth. Never point the IR camera at the sun, lasers or molten metal. [1][5]
6. Step 6

   Limit swaps

   Do not remove and refit the gimbal often: the connector is a precision part and wear causes poor contact. [1][3]

Battery & charging

EVO Max 4T series

1. Step 1

   Install

   Power the battery off. Make sure the battery, compartment and contacts are clean, then insert it until both buckles click. [1]
2. Step 2

   Remove

   Power off: LED1 and LED4 blink five times. Wait until all LEDs are off, then press both buckles and pull the battery out. Do not press the buckles with excessive force. [1]
3. Step 3

   Damaged buckle

   Never fly with a damaged battery buckle; replace the battery. [1]
4. Step 4

   Temperature

   No take-off below −10 °C or above +70 °C battery temperature; best is +15 to +35 °C. Charge at +5 to +45 °C (ideal +22 to +28 °C); charging stops at +45 °C and resumes at +40 °C. Let it cool after flight. [1]
5. Step 5

   Charge level

   Do not take off below 50%. A full charge takes about 90 minutes. [1]
6. Step 6

   Self-heating

   Starts automatically in the drone below +15 °C. Out of the drone: short press 1 s plus long press 3 s; it holds +15 to +20 °C for 10 minutes. Needs at least 10% charge. [1]
7. Step 7

   Hot swap

   If Hot Swap Battery is enabled, finish the swap within 8 seconds. It may fail below −10 °C. [1]
8. Step 8

   Store

   About 60% charge, +22 to +28 °C, 65 ±20% RH. Recharge at least every 3 months; batteries not charged or discharged within 3 months are not covered under warranty. [1]
9. Step 9

   Maintenance cycle

   After 50 cycles, 3 months idle, or an app prompt: do a standard charge-discharge, then check that the cell voltage difference is under 0.1 V, the battery firmware is current, and the pack and port show no swelling, leakage, dirt or corrosion. [1][5]
10. Step 10

    Standard charge-discharge

    Charge to 100% with the included charger and rest 1 hour. Fly until below 20%, land and remove the battery. Rest 8 hours. [1]
11. Step 11

    Replace

    Swollen, leaking or damaged; contacts damaged or corroded beyond cleaning; more than 200 discharges; or still abnormal after two standard charge-discharge cycles in a row. [1]

EVO II Enterprise V3

1. Step 1

   Know your pack

   Only the heated battery self-heats; the standard battery does not. The heated battery needs aircraft firmware V1.2.7 or later. Hot swap is not supported. [3]
2. Step 2

   Power

   Battery off before installing; hold the power button 3 seconds to turn on or off. [13]
3. Step 3

   Charge

   Cool to room temperature first. Charging only runs at +5 to +45 °C and takes up to 90 minutes. [3][13]
4. Step 4

   Self-heating (heated pack)

   In the aircraft: starts below 15 °C with more than 25% charge. Out of the aircraft: short press 1 s plus long press 3 s holds 15 to 20 °C for 10 minutes; needs at least 25%. [3]
5. Step 5

   Store

   About 60% charge, 22 to 28 °C, 65 ±20% RH. Charge every 3 months if idle. A pack idle 6 days below 11.6 V enters ultra-low power mode and must be woken on the charger. [3][6]
6. Step 6

   Maintenance cycle

   Every 50 cycles, after 3 months idle, or on an app prompt: standard charge-discharge (charge to 100% and rest 1 h, fly to below 20%, rest 8 h), then check cell difference under 0.1 V, firmware, swelling, leaks and connector condition. [3]
7. Step 7

   Replace

   After 200 cycles or more than 2 years from the manufacture date, at visible damage, or if two standard cycles in a row do not fix an abnormal pack. [6][3]

Minor dings, scratches and slight wear at the connector are normal and safe to use. A stiff eject button on a new aircraft is also normal. [16]

Calibration

1. Step 1

   When to calibrate

   Compass and IMU are factory-calibrated and usually do not need user calibration. Calibrate when the app asks, when flight direction does not match stick input, or when you fly far from where you last calibrated. [1][3]
2. Step 2

   Prepare

   Link the controller to the aircraft and remove any payload or accessory from the body. [1]
3. Step 3

   Compass rules

   Wide open outdoor area, away from magnetic ore, parking lots, rebar and power lines. Carry no phones or watches. Keep the aircraft at least 1.5 m above the ground. Do not power off or start the motors during calibration. [1][3]
4. Step 4

   IMU rules

   Do not move, power off or restart during calibration, and do not knock the visual sensing lenses. The gimbal stays inactive. [1][3]
5. Step 5

   Gimbal level

   If the camera is still pitched or tilted, use Gimbal Adjustment (roll, yaw and pitch buttons) on the EVO Max, or Gimbal Fine Adjustment on the EVO II V3. [1][3]
6. Step 6

   If it fails

   The rear arm lights turn solid red and the app shows a failure. Repeat; if the compass keeps failing, move to a different location. [1][3]
7. Step 7

   Satellite check

   Before take-off in open sky, more than 28 satellites is the recommended range. [5][1]

Firmware & linking

EVO Max: online update (Autel Enterprise App)

1. Step 1

   Prepare

   Power on the controller and aircraft in Single Link mode, both at least 25%, controller online. [1]
2. Step 2

   Start

   Accept the pop-up, or go to Menu > Settings > More > About > Firmware Update. The app updates the drone, controller, smart battery, gimbal and itself. [1]
3. Step 3

   Wait

   About 15 minutes. Do not power off, disconnect or move the sticks, and keep enough storage free. Restart both when prompted. [1]
4. Step 4

   Error 10022

   If an OTA update shows error 10022 "Update Failed", tap "Update Other Devices" to continue. Solid green rear arm lights mean the aircraft has finished, even if the app still says "Updating". [7]

EVO Max: offline update (Autel Assistant)

1. Step 1

   Connect

   Install Autel Assistant on Windows. Power on the drone or controller, wait about 15 seconds, then connect its USB-C port to a USB-A port on the PC. [1]
2. Step 2

   Card

   Insert a microSD card with at least 4 GB free in a card reader on the PC. [1]
3. Step 3

   Download

   Select the device type; the app detects the firmware version. Save the package to the root of the microSD card and follow the on-screen steps. Battery above 50%. Restart when done. [1]
4. Step 4

   Accessories

   After moving to V1.9, also update the Loudspeaker and Spotlight Combo. [7]

EVO II Enterprise V3

1. Step 1

   Prepare

   Motors stopped, aircraft and controller at least 25%, SD card with room for the files. [3]
2. Step 2

   Method 1: SD card

   Download the package from Autel, extract it to the root of the SD card, power on both, insert the card in the aircraft; the update starts by itself. Restart both after. [3]
3. Step 3

   Method 2: app

   Accept the Autel Explorer App prompt and follow it. [3]
4. Step 4

   During the update

   About 15 minutes. Do not power off, start motors or remove the SD card. Use only Autel firmware; third-party packages may pose security risks. [3]

Linking and resets

1. Step 1

   EVO Max Single Link

   Kits are pre-linked. Otherwise power on the drone, wait for self-check, double-press its power button (arm lights blink green). Then hold the controller power and Takeoff/RTH buttons, or tap Menu > Single Link in the app. Keep them within 1 m and turn off nearby Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. [1]
2. Step 2

   EVO Max A-Mesh

   Up to two drones and two controllers. If Single Link works but A-Mesh fails, update the battery firmware to V0.4.33.1 or later. [1]
3. Step 3

   EVO II V3 pairing

   App: Settings > Remote Control > Remote Control Matching, then hold the aircraft pair button 3 s and tap Start Pairing. From firmware V1.1.78 you can double-click the battery button instead. Keep within 50 cm. Forced pairing with the controller off: hold its power and take-off/RTH buttons, then the aircraft pair button for 3 s. [3][8]
4. Step 4

   After updates

   An EVO II V3 controller may unpair after an update; pair again. [3]
5. Step 5

   Controller reset

   EVO Max: Settings > System > Reset options. EVO II V3: MaxTools app > Factory Reset. Back up first. An unresponsive EVO Max controller can be forced off by holding power for over 6 seconds; in flight that triggers the signal-loss strategy. [1][3]

Crash triage

1. Step 1

   Record

   Photograph the aircraft and surroundings right away and note its condition before and during the incident. [5][1]
2. Step 2

   Isolate the battery

   Confirm the aircraft is off, remove the battery and store it in an isolation or fireproof container. [5][1]
3. Step 3

   Do not power on

   After a serious incident do not turn the aircraft on again; it can damage internal parts further. [5][1]
4. Step 4

   Logs

   Export or upload the flight logs from the controller and send them to Autel support or an authorized dealer for analysis. [5][1]
5. Step 5

   Battery

   Don't reuse a battery that was dropped or hit hard. [1]
6. Step 6

   Flyaway

   Contact Autel support, check the flight log for the last recorded location, search there, and upload the log. [1][5]
7. Step 7

   Send it in

   Autel's crash procedure ends with sending the aircraft back for repair. Do not fly a crashed aircraft until authorized support has serviced it. [5][1]

Water & weather exposure

1. Step 1

   Know the limits

   Both user manuals say not to fly in rain, snow or fog. See the protection ratings in At a glance. [1][3][4]
2. Step 2

   Seal the ports

   Before every flight close the microSD slot, USB-C and payload-port rubber covers; open covers can let water in. [5][1][3]
3. Step 3

   Wet aircraft

   If the aircraft gets wet, do not power it on right away; that can cause permanent damage. [1]
4. Step 4

   Wet battery

   Remove it immediately, leave it to dry completely in a ventilated area away from flammables, keep a safe distance, then stop using it and contact Autel for a replacement. [1][14][13]
5. Step 5

   Clean

   Wipe the body with a clean soft cloth; wipe dirt, water stains or corrosion out of the battery interface. Do not clean batteries with alcohol or other flammable agents. [5][1]

Scheduled maintenance

Test-flight & QC checklist

These items follow Autel's pre-flight and post-flight checks. Fly under your agency's SOP, within visual line of sight. [17]