While the DJI Fly app was not being updated in the Google Play Store there was some hope this was just an oversight or a delay in approving the updated. I went looking today and it's completely gone now. Other official DJI apps are still there. This doesn't inspire confidence in the transparency of DJI and their app distribution process. While Google is no angel when it comes to privacy and security, they do impose rules on apps and they do basic scanning for privacy and security violating libraries and so on. With the rumoured update to the Play Store to offer mandatory privacy statements like Apple are now doing for all new updated apps has DJI perhaps got scared or what anything like this would expose to their customers?


I understand there are cultural differences around trust and faith in suppliers, but the old adage 'trust but verify' does apply here.


So, DJI, can we please have DJI Fly back in the Play Store to offer us the assurance and some level of independent verification of your software on our trsuted devices *or* do we have to dedicate a seperate device to flying to protect our own privacy and core mobile assets?

That probably won't happen. DJI is blacklisted by the USA government and that's probably the main reason they opted to do manual updates within the app whilst breaking additional Google rules.

Tuxtard Posted at 3-23 01:28
That probably won't happen. DJI is blacklisted by the USA government and that's probably the main reason they opted to do manual updates within the app whilst breaking additional Google rules.

They aren't in Canada and the DJI FLY App is always no longer available in Canada.

Mhinc Posted at 3-23 02:36
They aren't in Canada and the DJI FLY App is always no longer available in Canada.

Google is US based company and apps residing on their servers must comply to US export rules. That's why I think that it doesn't matter where you are located as a user.

If you have ANY trust in Google, you are seriously misguided.

Unfortunately, many of us saw this coming back in December.  I doubt a Mod will respond to this but good luck anyway.

Tuxtard Posted at 3-23 01:28
That probably won't happen. DJI is blacklisted by the USA government and that's probably the main reason they opted to do manual updates within the app whilst breaking additional Google rules.

Except that is not actual the whole truth. There are restirctions on what US companies are allowed to sell to a number of Chinese companies, but unlike Huwaei there is no 'ban' on working with them. Various references out there, but here are some:

https://www.engadget.com/dji-ent ... ment-171243815.html

https://www.theverge.com/2020/12 ... transaction-blocked

etc.

There is no 'ban' on Google, Apple and so on from publishing their software in any way.

Hello and good day Peter Galbavy. I am sorry for the trouble this has caused and thank you for reaching out. You can try to download the said application using the following links https://www.dji.com/downloads?site=brandsite&from=footer and https://www.dji.com/downloads/djiapp/dji-fly or from our official website link at https://www.dji.com/dji-fly. Again I am sorry for this trouble and thank you for understanding.

DJI Stephen Posted at 3-23 19:31
Hello and good day Peter Galbavy. I am sorry for the trouble this has caused and thank you for reaching out. You can try to download the said application using the following links https://www.dji.com/downloads?site=brandsite&from=footer and https://www.dji.com/downloads/djiapp/dji-fly or from our official website link at https://www.dji.com/dji-fly. Again I am sorry for this trouble and thank you for understanding.

Ha ha ha way to not come close to addressing the actual comment there Stephen.  Maybe you missed the last paragraph of what Peter stated:

"So, DJI, can we please have DJI Fly back in the Play Store to offer us the assurance and some level of independent verification of your software on our trsuted devices *or* do we have to dedicate a seperate device to flying to protect our own privacy and core mobile assets?"

DJI Stephen Posted at 3-23 19:31
Hello and good day Peter Galbavy. I am sorry for the trouble this has caused and thank you for reaching out. You can try to download the said application using the following links https://www.dji.com/downloads?site=brandsite&from=footer and https://www.dji.com/downloads/djiapp/dji-fly or from our official website link at https://www.dji.com/dji-fly. Again I am sorry for this trouble and thank you for understanding.

All of  these links are broken and unavailable.  Any real links for those of us trying to get off of DJI Fly App 1.2.1 for Mini 2?  

djiuser_VZ4nlZcfIFCY Posted at 3-23 19:57
All of  these links are broken and unavailable.  Any real links for those of us trying to get off of DJI Fly App 1.2.1 for Mini 2?

Older versions at apk mirror https://www.apkmirror.com/apk/dji-technology-co-ltd/dji-fly/

I mean.  My no name Smart plugs from China have a valid app on the play store.  You'd think a Multi Billion dollar Tech Company would be able to keep their app present on the Play Store.

DJI Stephen Posted at 3-23 19:31
Hello and good day Peter Galbavy. I am sorry for the trouble this has caused and thank you for reaching out. You can try to download the said application using the following links https://www.dji.com/downloads?site=brandsite&from=footer and https://www.dji.com/downloads/djiapp/dji-fly or from our official website link at https://www.dji.com/dji-fly. Again I am sorry for this trouble and thank you for understanding.

Thank you for taking th time to reply. I understand from your words that you may not be able to communicate all the details - also working in Customer Service but in a more vertical field I also cannot always be direct about my employers policies.

Please keep on the case for "us" internally.

jonny007 Posted at 3-23 23:49
Older versions at apk mirror https://www.apkmirror.com/apk/dji-technology-co-ltd/dji-fly/

Outstanding my friend. thanks !!!

Mhinc Posted at 3-23 19:49
Ha ha ha way to not come close to addressing the actual comment there Stephen.  Maybe you missed the last paragraph of what Peter stated:

"So, DJI, can we please have DJI Fly back in the Play Store to offer us the assurance and some level of independent verification of your software on our trsuted devices *or* do we have to dedicate a seperate device to flying to protect our own privacy and core mobile assets?"

You really think Google is going to protect your privacy? LMAO!

If you're that worried about what DJI is trying to do, why not buy a drone from a Canadian manufacturer. Oh, wait.....

delf67 Posted at 3-24 15:14
You really think Google is going to protect your privacy? LMAO!

If you're that worried about what DJI is trying to do, why not buy a drone from a Canadian manufacturer. Oh, wait.....

Ha ha you make a good point.  Touché!

Dear DJI support, when will you put the Fly app on the Play Store?
I bought my drone today and I cannot use it. I should demand my money back. I will definitely share my horrible experience with anyone I can.

Putting the app on the DJI website is not a solution because I cannot be sure what's in it. No one has reviewed it except DJI. It most likely contains Chinese spyware.

Providing excuses like US sanctions is clearly a stupid explanation, since there are many other DJI apps on the Play Store.

I demand a swift answer from DJI and a reinstatement of the app in the Store.

I should not be expected to sideload .apk files from suspicious sources circumventing the normal installation process.
Otherwise I'll ask you to wire me my money back.
(I doubt the store that sold me the drone will accept a return since technically the drone itself is not broken.)

I have been downloading directly from DJI for over a year now for all 4 drones. It works perfectly fine for me. I seriously doubt that Google can detect any hidden spyware in such an app. Why not get it from the original creator? That seems to be the safest anyway.

GaryDoug Posted at 3-26 13:36
I have been downloading directly from DJI for over a year now for all 4 drones. It works perfectly fine for me. I seriously doubt that Google can detect any hidden spyware in such an app. Why not get it from the original creator? That seems to be the safest anyway.

No Chinese company is immune from the influence of the Chinese security services.

And large companies (like DJI, Lenovo, Huawei) are most certainly used by Chinese intelligence for their purposes as a matter of course.

Maybe you are confused because you didin't experience any visible malware. That's very naive.

Wait till the situation between China and US gets hotter and you might find yourself part of a botnet DDoS'ing western targets or having any inconvenient messages or photos on your phone being used to turn you into a compliant drone (pun intended) for the Chinese intelligence.

Paranoia is not your friend. Perhaps you would be better off reading a book.

JollyLuv Posted at 3-26 14:07
No Chinese company is immune from the influence of the Chinese security services.

And large companies (like DJI, Lenovo, Huawei) are most certainly used by Chinese intelligence for their purposes as a matter of course.

So only US get to spy on people? I believe in healthy balance

I also need the DJI fly app in the Play Store. My phone's security settings will not allow apps to be loaded from anywhere else.

Famous Posted at 3-27 12:55
I also need the DJI fly app in the Play Store. My phone's security settings will not allow apps to be loaded from anywhere else.

You can change those settings. I did,

Example of why allowing unauthorised apps on your phone is a bad thing:

https://gizmodo.com/dangerous-an ... pdate-to-1846574044

Google may not have the best reputation, but their Play Store release process does protect against a large number of risks. Not all, but more than zero.

Peter Galbavy Posted at 3-31 06:08
Example of why allowing unauthorised apps on your phone is a bad thing:

https://gizmodo.com/dangerous-android-app-pretends-to-be-a-system-update-to-1846574044

Yeah, but we don't have a choice. I think that future drones will be released with some kind of cheaper smart controller because I believe that DJI apps will be removed from Apple App Store too.

Tuxtard Posted at 3-31 07:23
Yeah, but we don't have a choice. I think that future drones will be released with some kind of cheaper smart controller because I believe that DJI apps will be removed from Apple App Store too.

We do, just not after sales - it's a bit of a "bait and switch" in US terms. We do however have a choice over who we next buy drones from. I will certainly be using this to influence my next purchasing decisions.

If the current drones like Mini2 or Air2 do not get CE certification for the EU as soon as possible, this will influence the purchase decision more than an APP that can only be downloaded from the manufacturer's website as an APK ...

ozoffi Posted at 4-1 03:26
If the current drones like Mini2 or Air2 do not get CE certification for the EU as soon as possible, this will influence the purchase decision more than an APP that can only be downloaded from the manufacturer's website as an APK ...

Until the EU sort themselves out there will be no certification for DJI or any other drone makers for that matter.

Hello from Austria, i recently bought the mini 2 and was really annoyed when I recognized that the fly app is not available from the play store. This is just ridicules for such a large company like DJI.

Sideloading apks is an additional security risk - period.

One could expect cheaper drones to not have apps in the native app stores but not in the price range where the DJI products are placed.
Security is only one aspect but also the user experience is far away from good. It took me several attempts to side load the app - not because I did not know how to do it - it simply not worked!

Theres only one option - put it back in the store!

Rasetech Posted at 4-28 23:57
Hello from Austria, i recently bought the mini 2 and was really annoyed when I recognized that the fly app is not available from the play store. This is just ridicules for such a large company like DJI.

Sideloading apks is an additional security risk - period.

As I already wrote, DJI is banned by the US government. Google is US company and Google Play Store has to comply with US export rules. I don't know how is it still available on iOS App Store though.

DJI Stephen Posted at 3-23 19:31
Hello and good day Peter Galbavy. I am sorry for the trouble this has caused and thank you for reaching out. You can try to download the said application using the following links https://www.dji.com/downloads?site=brandsite&from=footer and https://www.dji.com/downloads/djiapp/dji-fly or from our official website link at https://www.dji.com/dji-fly. Again I am sorry for this trouble and thank you for understanding.

Wow, so from now on I have side load Go Fly app on my Android tablet? That's how things are now?

Side loading is not an option at all.
Safety first!
I've ended up to using a dedicated device just for the drone. The only alternative would be for me to return the product.
In my opinion it has to be mentioned in the product description. People have to be aware before ordering the product. Doing not so is either careless to there customers or they want to profit from selling the smart controller.
Either way it's a business decision I don't want to deal with again in the future.

JollyLuv Posted at 3-26 14:07
No Chinese company is immune from the influence of the Chinese security services.

And large companies (like DJI, Lenovo, Huawei) are most certainly used by Chinese intelligence for their purposes as a matter of course.

Sorry but Lenovo is basically a US company now. It's no longer China based.

Tuxtard Posted at 3-23 02:54
Google is US based company and apps residing on their servers must comply to US export rules. That's why I think that it doesn't matter where you are located as a user.

Then why is DJI Go 4 still present on the Play Store?

What's interesting is that nobody from DJI has explained the reason why it's no longer available in the Play Store.
"Why is said app no long available in said Play Store"?

MBSL500 Posted at 7-21 07:03
What's interesting is that nobody from DJI has explained the reason why it's no longer available in the Play Store.
"Why is said app no long available in said Play Store"?

Dji Fly is heavily encrypted, one of the worst (or best).
Even google struggles with decompiling it, so there you have it.
Google can't scan it -> not allowed in play store.

Why DJI put so much work into encrypt the app, I don't know.
Maybe Stephen can answer that? Please not a copy&paste from your standard answer lines this time :-)

Most other chinese apps that are allowed in playstore are not encrypted. Just try a random apk and have a look with jadx.

Mhinc Posted at 3-23 19:49
Ha ha ha way to not come close to addressing the actual comment there Stephen.  Maybe you missed the last paragraph of what Peter stated:

"So, DJI, can we please have DJI Fly back in the Play Store to offer us the assurance and some level of independent verification of your software on our trsuted devices *or* do we have to dedicate a seperate device to flying to protect our own privacy and core mobile assets?"

burner phones, always!

MBSL500 Posted at 7-21 07:03
What's interesting is that nobody from DJI has explained the reason why it's no longer available in the Play Store.
"Why is said app no long available in said Play Store"?

Of course they haven't, because there is a security reason for it which is why Google won't allow it on the Play Store.  Those that have said it's because Google must comply with US Export laws is wrong, if that were the case, then NO DJI Apps would be on the Play store, ie. DJI GO 4.
There has to be a security issue according to Google, and that's why DJI has not commented.

I recently bought the DJI Mini 2 and I have not used it as of yet... It is very frustrating that DJI is not offering the app in the Google Play Store! My phone is secured and I cannot install third party apps. Will they ever fix this situation? Or should I just give up on this drone and return it? Truthfully, I have never come across this from a big company like this... Frustrating!

AFAIK, situation will not change in the near future.