Are you bored with strolling over to choose up your drone after each crash when it flips the other way up? You need to attempt Turtle Mode! With a flip of a change, your quad can proper itself so you possibly can take off once more with out retrieving it. Be aware: “Turtle Mode” was renamed to Flip Over After Crash in Betaflight, however most pilots nonetheless use the previous title as a result of it’s merely higher.
In Betaflight 2025.12, this characteristic acquired main enhancements, together with higher conduct as soon as the quad flips upright. Nevertheless, the brand new performance is just not enabled by default, so that you’ll have to configure it manually. On this tutorial, I’ll stroll by way of how you can arrange Turtle Mode correctly, together with the brand new crash-flip settings, OSD indicator, and how you can alter it within the subject if wanted.
See my different tutorials associated to Betaflight.
Limitations of Flip Over After Crash
Turtle Mode solely works if the props aren’t obstructed. It really works finest on flat surfaces and fewer reliably on grass, particularly when the props are tangled. If motors stall whereas Turtle Mode is lively, there’s a threat of damaging motors or ESCs resulting from excessive present draw.
Turtle Mode works by briefly reversing motor route, which requires the DShot ESC protocol. Analog protocols corresponding to PWM, Oneshot, and Multishot don’t help it. If you wish to use Turtle Mode, ensure DShot is chosen when flashing Betaflight (it’s chosen by default).
This additionally means quads with brushed motors don’t help Turtle Mode, as a result of brushed ESCs don’t use DShot.
Step 1: Make Certain Accelerometer Is Working
Earlier than configuring Turtle Mode, verify that the accelerometer is enabled and dealing appropriately.
The improved Turtle Mode depends on the accelerometer to detect when the quad has flipped upright so the motors can robotically cease.
The best way to verify:
- Join your quad to Betaflight Configurator
- Open the Setup tab
- Transfer the quad in your hand and ensure the 3D mannequin strikes appropriately
If the accelerometer is just not working:
- Guarantee Accelerometer is enabled within the Configuration tab
- Reflash Betaflight firmware
- Perhaps accelerometer is defective
And not using a working accelerometer, the brand new Turtle Mode enhancements is not going to operate correctly.
Step 2: Make Certain DShot Is Chosen
Go to the Motors tab in Betaflight Configurator and guarantee both DShot300 or DShot600 is chosen because the ESC protocol.
If DShot is just not out there:
- Replace to a latest model of Betaflight
- Be sure that DShot was chosen because the motor protocol earlier than firmware flashing
Step 3: Assign Flip Over After Crash to a Swap
Subsequent, assign a radio change for Turtle Mode.
Assign a Swap in Your Radio
Select a change you wish to use and map it to a free channel. In case you’re uncertain how you can arrange switches, try this information: https://oscarliang.com/setup-switch-mixes/
Primary steps:
- Open the Mannequin menu in your radio
- Go to the Mixes web page
- Choose an unused channel (e.g. CH6, CH7 or CH8)
- Lengthy-press → Edit
- Set Supply by flipping the change you wish to use
Set It Up in Betaflight
- Go to the Modes tab
- Discover Flip Over After Crash, click on Add Vary
- Assign it to a change of your selection (e.g. AUX 4 = CH8)
- Set the activation vary
- Flip the change, the yellow dot beneath the slider ought to go contained in the activation vary
In case you’re unfamiliar with the Modes tab, see this newbie information: https://oscarliang.com/betaflight-modes/
Step 4: Disable Most Arm Angle
Most Arm Angle is a security characteristic that forestalls the drone from arming when it’s on an uneven floor. Nevertheless, Turtle Mode requires the quad to arm whereas the other way up, so you will need to disable this characteristic. Be aware: be sure to perceive the dangers earlier than disabling any security characteristic.
To disable it:
- Go to the Configuration tab
- Set Most Arm Angle (Arming) to 180°
- Save settings
(See quantity 3 within the screenshot.)
Step 5: Add the Turtle Mode Arrow to the OSD
Betaflight supplies a directional arrow that reveals which approach it is best to transfer the stick with flip the quad. That is particularly useful for newcomers who aren’t certain which route to go.
This indicator solely seems when Turtle Mode is lively.
The best way to allow it
- Open the OSD tab
- Discover Flip After Crash Arrow
- Allow it
- Place it wherever in your OSD format
As soon as enabled, the arrow will seem each time turtle mode is activated.
Step 6: Set Crash Flip Charge
By default, the crashflip_rate worth is 0. To make use of the improved Turtle Mode conduct, it’s essential to allow it through the CLI.
- Open the CLI tab
- Enter:
set crashflip_rate = 15
save
The crash flip price determines how a lot motor energy is utilized in the course of the flip:
- Greater worth = extra energy
- Too excessive → quad might flip too quick and overshoot
- Too low → quad might not flip in any respect
The aim is to make use of simply sufficient energy to flip over the quad easily.
I’ve discovered a price round 15 works nicely for nearly every part from tiny whoops to 5-inch quads, however it is best to experiment to seek out the most effective worth in your setup. Heavier/weaker quads might require barely greater values.
Adjusting Crash Flip Charge within the Subject
You can even change this worth from the OSD menu:
- Open the OSD menu in your goggles (Throttle mid + yaw left + pitch up)
- Navigate to MISC (Miscellaneous)
- Discover Crash Flip Charge
- Regulate as wanted
The best way to Use Turtle Mode
When your drone is the other way up:
- Disarm the quad
- Activate the Turtle Mode change
- Arm the quad
- Step by step transfer the roll or pitch stick within the route proven by the OSD arrow
The motors will spin to flip the quad upright. As soon as upright, the motors will robotically cease.
Essential: Don’t slam the stick too rapidly. Transfer it easily within the indicated route so the motors ramp up progressively.
Optionally available Function: Auto Rearm
There’s one other CLI possibility:
crashflip_auto_rearm
When enabled, the quad will robotically re-arm after flipping upright.
This may be dangerous although.
In case you exit Turtle Mode whereas the arm change continues to be lively, the quad might instantly throttle up and take off.
- Racers might choose this to scale back downtime
- Informal pilots ought to preserve it disabled for security and re-arm manually
Different Makes use of of Turtle Mode
Turtle Mode can typically shake a quad free from branches or obstacles. Nevertheless, if the props are tangled, don’t use it — you could possibly injury motors or ESCs.
If the quad is caught in a tree, the brand new crash-flip conduct might cease the motors from working constantly. In that case, it’s possible you’ll attempt to briefly revert to the previous conduct.
Merely set crashflip_rate to 0 (You are able to do this by way of the OSD menu).
This restores the legacy conduct the place motor output immediately follows stick enter, which can assist shake the quad free.
Remaining Ideas
Turtle Mode can prevent numerous walks throughout the sector after crashes. It has existed in Betaflight for years, however the enhancements in new Betaflight updates make it safer and extra refined — though it requires a bit extra setup. As soon as configured correctly, the system can robotically cease the motors after the quad flips upright, decreasing the possibility of over-spinning or injury.
In case you fly repeatedly, Turtle Mode is totally value establishing.
Edit Historical past
- Nov 2018 – information created
- Jun 2020 – up to date directions
- Mar 2026 – up to date for Betaflight 2025.12
