How to Connect a Tello Drone to WiFi, Your Phone and a Controller
A Tello drone creates its own Wi-Fi network. Switch it on, wait for the blinking yellow light, then on your iPhone or Android phone go to Wi-Fi settings, join “TELLO-XXXXXX” and open the Tello app. It does not connect to your home internet in normal use; while your phone is on the Tello network, it has no internet over Wi-Fi. If it won’t connect, hold the power button for about 5 seconds to reset the Wi-Fi to factory settings. Here are the steps for each phone, router mode on Tello EDU, gamepads and fixes.
By Kyle HilsonUpdated: October 20264 min read
Connect Tello to iPhone or Android
- Charge the battery and insert it; press the power button once. The status light blinks yellow when the Wi-Fi is ready.
- iPhone: Settings → Wi-Fi → select “TELLO-XXXXXX”. Android (e.g. Samsung): pull down the quick settings, long-press Wi-Fi, select “TELLO-XXXXXX”.
- If Android warns “no internet”, choose to stay connected; otherwise it may switch back to mobile data.
- Open the Tello app and wait for the live video. You’re connected.
The connection range is short (roughly 100 m in open space at best, much less with interference), so stay close and fly in open areas.
How to reset the Tello Wi-Fi
If you set a Wi-Fi password and forgot it, or the network won’t appear:
- Switch the Tello on.
- Press and hold the power button for about 5 seconds until the light goes off.
- The Tello restarts, the light blinks yellow, and the Wi-Fi name and password return to factory settings (no password).
This follows Ryze’s Tello user manual.
Can Tello connect to my home Wi-Fi?
| Model | Router (station) mode | How |
|---|---|---|
| Tello (standard) | No | Always its own access point |
| Tello EDU | Yes, via SDK | Send “ap [ssid] [password]”; the drone then joins your router |
| RoboMaster TT | Yes | SDK command, plus STA switch on the extension module |
Router mode is used for programming and swarm flights (several drones on one network). See DJI’s SDK 3.0 guide. To return to normal mode, reset the Wi-Fi as above.
Can I use an external controller?
Yes. The Tello app supports Bluetooth gamepads that pair with your phone, such as the GameSir T1d that was sold for the Tello; some other MFi (iPhone) and Android gamepads work too. The phone still connects to the Tello by Wi-Fi; the gamepad talks to the phone. Physical sticks make flying noticeably more precise than the touch screen. Hobby RC transmitters cannot bind to a Tello directly.
Tello won’t connect: fixes
| Problem | Fix |
|---|---|
| Tello Wi-Fi doesn’t appear | Charge the battery; reset the Wi-Fi (5-second press) |
| Phone connects then drops | Turn off “switch to mobile data” / smart network switch |
| App says not connected | Close and reopen the app after joining the Tello network; check app permissions (local network on iPhone) |
| Video lags or freezes | Move away from other Wi-Fi networks; stay closer |
| Forgot Wi-Fi password | Reset the Wi-Fi to factory settings |
| Firmware update fails | Phone needs internet: download the update first, then connect to the Tello |
FAQ
Can I connect a Tello to a Samsung phone?
Yes. Join the “TELLO-XXXXXX” Wi-Fi in settings and keep the connection when Android warns there’s no internet, then open the Tello app.
Can the Tello connect to the internet?
No. It makes its own local Wi-Fi network. Only the EDU and RoboMaster TT can join a router, and they still don’t use the internet themselves.
Does Tello support Bluetooth?
Not for flying; the drone link is Wi-Fi. Bluetooth is only used between your phone and a gamepad.
Can I connect an external drone controller to a Tello?
A Bluetooth gamepad paired to your phone works with the Tello app. Hobby RC radios can’t bind to it.
More on this topic: the complete RC Drones guide covers the basics behind this article.
About 20 years in RC. Mostly boats in the NAVIGA Mini Eco Expert class, with many self-made parts; also a King Motor Baja 5B, a home-built electric plane, home-built nitro planes he has flown, and an RC helicopter. More about SwellRC
