Betaflight Configuration

Betaflight is the most popular open-source flight controller firmware for FPV drones. It runs on STM32-based flight controllers and provides everything from basic stabilization to advanced features like GPS rescue, OSD, and LED control. This guide covers the essential setup steps to get your quad flying.

What is Betaflight?

Betaflight started as a fork of Cleanflight in 2015 and has since become the de facto standard for FPV freestyle and racing. It's maintained by a large community of developers and supports a wide range of flight controllers.

Key Features

High-performance PID loop (up to 8kHz)
Built-in OSD (On-Screen Display) for compatible FCs
GPS Rescue mode for failsafe recovery
Advanced filtering for smooth flight performance
Support for DSHOT, bidirectional DSHOT motor protocols
Integrated Blackbox flight recorder
Wireless configuration via Bluetooth/Wi-Fi

Step 1: Flash the Firmware

Always start by flashing the latest stable Betaflight firmware. This ensures you have the newest features and bug fixes.

Using Betaflight Configurator

Download Betaflight Configurator from the GitHub releases page or use the Chrome Web App version
Connect your FC via USB — hold the BOOT button if it's a new board
Open Betaflight Configurator and select the correct COM port
Go to the Firmware Flasher tab
Select your target (usually auto-detected from the board name)
Choose the latest stable release (or release candidate for testing)
Click Load Firmware [Online] then Flash Firmware

⚠️ Important

Always verify your FC target before flashing! Using the wrong target can brick your board. Check the target name printed on your FC or in the documentation. When in doubt, use diff all in CLI to save your current configuration first.

Step 2: Ports Configuration

The Ports tab configures which peripherals connect to your FC's UART ports. Getting this right is critical for everything to communicate.

Peripheral	Typical UART	Port Settings
Receiver (Serial)	UART1 or UART2	Serial RX ✓
DJI O3/O4 VTX	UART3 or UART4	VTX (MSP) + Displayport for OSD
GPS Module	UART3 or UART4	GPS (Baud: 57600)
SmartAudio (Analog)	Any free UART	Peripherals → TBS SmartAudio
ESC Telemetry	Any free UART	ESC Sensor ✓ (Baud: 115200)
Bluetooth	Any free UART	Bluetooth (Baud: 19200)

Port Assignment Tips

Each UART has a TX and RX pad. For serial receivers, connect the receiver's TX to the FC's RX pad (and vice versa). Only enable one feature per UART. If using DJI, the MSP + Displayport settings go on the same UART.

Step 3: Receiver Setup

Configure your radio link in the Receiver tab. This is where your transmitter communicates with the quad.

Protocol Selection

Protocol	Serial Provider	Notes
ExpressLRS (CRSF)	CRSF	Most popular, low latency
TBS Crossfire	CRSF	Long range, reliable
FrSky (SBUS)	SBUS	Budget friendly
Spektrum (SRXL2)	SRXL2	Spektrum radios
Ghost (GHST)	GHST	ImmersionRC, low latency

Go to Receiver tab → set Serial Receiver Provider to match your radio system
Map your channel order (AETR is standard for most radios)
Verify stick movements match the on-screen visualization
Set channel ranges: 1000–2000, with center at 1500
Enable RSSI channel if your receiver supports it
Configure failsafe in the Failsafe tab (set to Drop or GPS Rescue)

Step 4: Modes & Switches

Assign switches on your transmitter to Betaflight flight modes.

Mode	Recommended Switch	Purpose
ARM	SC (2-pos)	Arms/disarms the motors
ANGLE	SA (3-pos)	Self-leveling mode for beginners
BEEPER	SD (2-pos)	Locate your quad by sound
PREARM	—	Safety: prevents accidental arming
FLIP OVER AFTER CRASH	SB (3-pos)	Turtle mode to flip the quad
GPS RESCUE	SA (3-pos mid)	Emergency return-to-home

Step 5: Motor Test

⚠️ Remove Props First!

ALWAYS remove propellers before testing motors. This prevents injury and damage. Make sure the LiPo is connected and motors spin freely.

Go to the Motors tab
Enable the motor test safety checkbox
Slowly raise each motor slider one at a time
Verify each motor spins in the correct direction (check the motor diagram)
Motor 1 = Front Right (CW), Motor 2 = Rear Right (CCW), Motor 3 = Rear Left (CW), Motor 4 = Front Left (CCW)
If a motor spins the wrong way, swap any two of its three wires, or use BLHeli Configurator to reverse it

Step 6: Configuration Tab Settings

Essential settings in the Configuration tab for a proper setup.

Setting	Recommended Value	Notes
Gyro Update Frequency	8kHz	Match to your FC's capability
PID Loop Frequency	8kHz	Usually same as gyro
Motor Protocol	DSHOT600	Or DSHOT300 for older ESCs
Board Alignment	0, 0, 0	Adjust if FC is mounted sideways
Arming Angle	180°	Allow arm at any angle
GPS Provider	NMEA / UBLOX	If using GPS module
VBAT / Current Meter	Enabled	For battery monitoring
OSD	Enabled	If your FC has OSD chip

Useful CLI Commands

Betaflight's Command Line Interface allows direct configuration. Access it via the CLI tab in Configurator.

Command	Description
`status`	Show board status, firmware version, CPU load
`diff all`	Show all changed settings from defaults (BACKUP!)
`dump`	Show complete configuration
`resource`	Show pin assignments
`resource list`	Show all available resources
`get <name>`	Get value of a specific setting
`set <name>=<value>`	Set a configuration value
`save`	Save configuration and reboot
`defaults`	Reset all settings to defaults
`motor`	Test motors (motor 1 1200)
`profile`	Switch PID profile (0-2)
`rateprofile`	Switch rate profile (0-2)

Backup Strategy

Always run diff all in CLI and save the output to a text file before flashing new firmware or making major changes. You can paste this output back into CLI to restore your settings. Store backups in a cloud folder for safety.

Essential Tools

Tool	Purpose	Link
Betaflight Configurator	Main configuration app	GitHub
BLHeli Configurator	ESC firmware configuration	GitHub
Betaflight Blackbox Explorer	Analyze flight recordings	GitHub
ExpressLRS Configurator	ELRS firmware flashing	GitHub
TBS Agent Lite	Crossfire configuration	TBS

Next: PID Tuning & Filters →