Are you uninterested in strolling over to select up your drone after each crash when it flips the wrong way up? It’s a must to strive Turtle Mode! With a flip of a swap, your quad can proper itself so you’ll be able to 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 Be aware: “Turtle Mode” was renamed to Flip Over After Crash in Betaflight, however most pilots nonetheless use the outdated identify as a result of it’s merely higher.
In Betaflight 2025.12, this characteristic obtained main enhancements, together with higher habits as soon as the quad flips upright. Nonetheless, 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 methods to arrange Turtle Mode correctly, together with the brand new crash-flip settings, OSD indicator, and methods to 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 greatest 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 danger of damaging motors or ESCs as a result of excessive present draw.
Turtle Mode works by briefly reversing motor path, which requires the DShot ESC protocol. Analog protocols comparable to PWM, Oneshot, and Multishot don’t help it. If you wish to use Turtle Mode, be certain 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, test 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 test:
- 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 won’t 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 current model of Betaflight
- Ensure 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 swap for Turtle Mode.
Assign a Swap in Your Radio
Select a swap you wish to use and map it to a free channel. For those who’re not sure methods to arrange switches, take a look at this information: https://oscarliang.com/setup-switch-mixes/
Fundamental 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 swap 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 swap of your selection (e.g. AUX 4 = CH8)
- Set the activation vary
- Flip the swap, the yellow dot under the slider ought to go contained in the activation vary
For those who’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 stops the drone from arming when it’s on an uneven floor. Nonetheless, Turtle Mode requires the quad to arm whereas the wrong way up, so it’s essential 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 offers a directional arrow that reveals which means it is best to transfer the keep on with flip the quad. That is particularly useful for freshmen who aren’t positive which path 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 at any time when 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 habits, 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 throughout the flip:
- Larger 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 worth round 15 works nicely for nearly every thing from tiny whoops to 5-inch quads, however it is best to experiment to seek out the most effective worth on your setup. Heavier/weaker quads might require barely increased values.
Adjusting Crash Flip Charge within the Area
You too can 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
- Modify as wanted
The best way to Use Turtle Mode
When your drone is the wrong way up:
- Disarm the quad
- Activate the Turtle Mode swap
- Arm the quad
- Steadily transfer the roll or pitch stick within the path proven by the OSD arrow
The motors will spin to flip the quad upright. As soon as upright, the motors will robotically cease.
Necessary: Don’t slam the stick too shortly. Transfer it easily within the indicated path so the motors ramp up regularly.
Non-compulsory Characteristic: Auto Rearm
There may be one other CLI possibility:
crashflip_auto_rearm
When enabled, the quad will robotically re-arm after flipping upright.
This may be dangerous although.
For those who exit Turtle Mode whereas the arm swap remains to be lively, the quad might instantly throttle up and take off.
- Racers might choose this to scale back downtime
- Informal pilots ought to maintain 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. Nonetheless, if the props are tangled, don’t use it — you would harm motors or ESCs.
If the quad is caught in a tree, the brand new crash-flip habits might cease the motors from operating repeatedly. In that case, chances are you’ll attempt to briefly revert to the outdated habits.
Merely set crashflip_rate to 0 (You are able to do this by way of the OSD menu).
This restores the legacy habits the place motor output instantly follows stick enter, which can assist shake the quad free.
Last 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, lowering the prospect of over-spinning or harm.
For those who fly repeatedly, Turtle Mode is completely price organising.
Edit Historical past
- Nov 2018 – information created
- Jun 2020 – up to date directions
- Mar 2026 – up to date for Betaflight 2025.12