If you fly a DJI drone, here’s the answer you actually came for: yes, your drone can still receive firmware updates in the US. And yes, that was very much in doubt until now.
After weeks of confusion following the sweeping foreign drone crackdown by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the agency has officially confirmed that existing drones from DJI, Autel, and other foreign manufacturers will continue receiving software and firmware updates, including critical security patches, through at least January 1, 2027.
That decision quietly fixes a regulatory oversight that could have frozen millions of drones in place — not because of hacking risks, but because of how FCC equipment authorization rules are written.
How we almost lost DJI firmware updates
On December 22, 2025, the FCC added all foreign-produced uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) and UAS critical components to its Covered List. The move was widely interpreted as another escalation in the US government’s long-running effort to limit Chinese-made drones, particularly those from DJI.
But buried beneath the politics was a technical problem.
Just weeks earlier, the FCC had updated its equipment authorization rules under 47 CFR §§ 2.932(b) and 2.1043(b). Those changes blocked devices on the Covered List from using the FCC’s normal “permissive change” process — the mechanism that allows manufacturers to push software and firmware updates without seeking new certification.
That includes Class I permissive changes, the lowest-risk category, which typically covers:
- Firmware updates
- Security vulnerability patches
- Operating system compatibility fixes
Once foreign-made drones landed on the Covered List, even drones that had already been approved, sold, and legally flown in the US suddenly became “covered equipment.”
In other words: under a strict reading of the rules, DJI could have been barred from updating the firmware on drones already sitting in American backpacks, police departments, and public safety fleets.
And that was a serious problem. Firmware updates aren’t cosmetic for drones; they’re fundamental. They keep flight controllers stable, patch security gaps, ensure batteries behave correctly, and allow drones to work with newer versions of iOS and Android. Blocking those updates wouldn’t just inconvenience users; it could actively increase safety and cybersecurity risks, including for public safety agencies that rely on drones daily.
The FCC acknowledged this reality in its legal analysis, noting that drones have “particular safety and security features regarding continued operation” that make them different from other covered electronics.
That distinction ultimately drove the fix.
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The FCC’s course correction
In a newly issued decision, the FCC’s Office of Engineering and Technology (OET) granted a limited waiver that temporarily suspends the ban on Class I permissive changes for drones and drone components authorized before December 22, 2025. The waiver allows:
- Firmware updates
- Software updates
- Security patches
- Updates required for continued functionality
The FCC explicitly states that these updates are permitted when they mitigate harm to US consumers, including protecting against vulnerabilities and ensuring compatibility with different operating systems.
The waiver runs until January 1, 2027, giving the Commission time to reassess how its revised rules should apply to drones without causing unintended public-interest harm.
That date is not random — it aligns with a separate Department of War determination that temporarily removed certain categories of drones and components from the Covered List on national security grounds.
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That said, it’s worth reiterating that this is not a rollback of the foreign drone crackdown. The waiver does not:
- Allow new foreign-made drones to receive FCC authorization
- Permit new hardware changes that require certification
- Reopen the US market to newly approved DJI models
Instead, it draws a clear line between future policy decisions and existing devices already in circulation.
If you already own a DJI drone — whether it’s a consumer model like the new Mini 5 Pro or an enterprise platform like the Mavic 3 Enterprise — it will not be stranded by regulation, at least for now.
So, here’s the straightforward takeaway:
- Your DJI drone will continue getting firmware updates
- Security patches are allowed
- Functionality and OS compatibility updates are allowed
- This protection lasts through January 1, 2027
The FCC has also made clear that it will revisit the issue before that deadline, leaving open the possibility of an extension or a more permanent regulatory framework. For now, remember that your DJI drone isn’t frozen. The updates are still coming.
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