Setup Betaflight Turtle Mode (Flip Over After Crash)

Are you uninterested in strolling over to choose 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 change, your quad can proper itself so you may 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 Be aware: “Turtle Mode” was renamed to Flip Over After Crash in Betaflight, however most pilots nonetheless use the outdated identify as a result of it’s merely higher.

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In Betaflight 2025.12, this function obtained main enhancements, together with higher habits as soon as the quad flips upright. Nevertheless, the brand new performance just isn’t enabled by default, so that you’ll must configure it manually. On this tutorial, I’ll stroll by 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 energetic, there’s a danger of damaging motors or ESCs because of excessive present draw.

Turtle Mode works by quickly 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, ensure that 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 accurately.

The improved Turtle Mode depends on the accelerometer to detect when the quad has flipped upright so the motors can mechanically cease.

verify:

1. Join your quad to Betaflight Configurator
2. Open the Setup tab
3. Transfer the quad in your hand and make sure the 3D mannequin strikes accurately

If the accelerometer just isn’t working:

• Guarantee Accelerometer is enabled within the Configuration tab
• Reflash Betaflight firmware
• Perhaps accelerometer is defective

With out a working accelerometer, the brand new Turtle Mode enhancements won’t perform 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 just isn’t accessible:

• Replace to a latest model of Betaflight
• Make sure that DShot was chosen because the motor protocol earlier than firmware flashing

Step 3: Assign Flip Over After Crash to a Change

Subsequent, assign a radio change for Turtle Mode.

Assign a Change in Your Radio

Select a change you need to use and map it to a free channel. In case you’re not sure how you can arrange switches, try this information: https://oscarliang.com/setup-switch-mixes/

Fundamental steps:

1. Open the Mannequin menu in your radio
2. Go to the Mixes web page
3. Choose an unused channel (e.g. CH6, CH7 or CH8)
4. Lengthy-press → Edit
5. Set Supply by flipping the change you need to use

Set It Up in Betaflight

1. Go to the Modes tab
2. Discover Flip Over After Crash, click on Add Vary
3. Assign it to a change of your alternative (e.g. AUX 4 = CH8)
4. Set the activation vary
5. 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 function that stops the drone from arming when it’s on an uneven floor. Nevertheless, Turtle Mode requires the quad to arm whereas the wrong way up, so you should disable this function. Be aware: be sure to perceive the dangers earlier than disabling any security function.

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 gives a directional arrow that exhibits which approach it’s best to transfer the follow flip the quad. That is particularly useful for newbies who aren’t positive which path to go.

This indicator solely seems when Turtle Mode is energetic.

allow it

1. Open the OSD tab
2. Discover Flip After Crash Arrow
3. Allow it
4. Place it anyplace in your OSD structure

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, you’ll want to allow it through the CLI.

1. Open the CLI tab
2. Enter:

set crashflip_rate = 15

save

The crash flip fee determines how a lot motor energy is utilized through 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 purpose is to make use of simply sufficient energy to flip over the quad easily.

I’ve discovered a worth round 15 works effectively for nearly all the pieces from tiny whoops to 5-inch quads, however it’s best to experiment to seek out the very best worth on your setup. Heavier/weaker quads might require barely larger values.

Adjusting Crash Flip Charge within the Subject

You can too change this worth from the OSD menu:

1. Open the OSD menu in your goggles (Throttle mid + yaw left + pitch up)
2. Navigate to MISC (Miscellaneous)
3. Discover Crash Flip Charge
4. Modify as wanted

Use Turtle Mode

When your drone is the wrong way up:

1. Disarm the quad
2. Activate the Turtle Mode change
3. Arm the quad
4. 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 mechanically cease.

Vital: Don’t slam the stick too shortly. Transfer it easily within the indicated path so the motors ramp up progressively.

Non-compulsory Characteristic: Auto Rearm

There may be one other CLI choice:

crashflip_auto_rearm

When enabled, the quad will mechanically re-arm after flipping upright.

This may be dangerous although.

In case you exit Turtle Mode whereas the arm change continues to be energetic, the quad might instantly throttle up and take off.

• Racers might desire this to cut 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 generally shake a quad unfastened from branches or obstacles. Nevertheless, if the props are tangled, don’t use it — you may 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 quickly revert to the outdated habits.

Merely set crashflip_rate to 0 (You are able to do this by the OSD menu).

This restores the legacy habits the place motor output instantly follows stick enter, which can assist shake the quad free.

Closing 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 mechanically cease the motors after the quad flips upright, lowering the possibility of over-spinning or harm.

In case you fly usually, Turtle Mode is completely price establishing.

Edit Historical past

• Nov 2018 – information created
• Jun 2020 – up to date directions
• Mar 2026 – up to date for Betaflight 2025.12