US DJI ban is here – here's what users of DJI drones and cameras need to know

Don't worry, your existing drone isn't being grounded – at least not yet

23 Dec 2025, 10:45 · TechRadar

News By Sam Kieldsen published 23 December 2025

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DJI and other Chinese companies placed on FCC 'Covered List'
Existing products should remain usable
Full nature and severity of ban remains unclear

If you own a DJI drone, camera gimbal or other product in the US, you're probably feeling a little anxious right now – and understandably so. Today, December 23 2025, marks a critical deadline that's set to fundamentally affect your ability to buy new DJI products – but the situation is more nuanced than the alarming headlines might suggest.

Under the FY25 National Defense Authorization Act, Congress set December 23, 2025 as the deadline for a national security audit of DJI. That audit was not completed (and according to DJI, it never even started because no US agency was ever assigned to conduct it, despite the company all but begging for something to happen), and thus the company – along with all foreign drone companies – has now been added to the Federal Communications Commission's "Covered List." That's bureaucratic speak for a de facto ban on new DJI products entering the US market.

The good news for you as a US-based DJI user is that you'll still be able to use any drone or gimbal you already own. Your DJI Mic 2 won't suddenly stop recording, your DJI Mini 4K won't be grounded, and your DJI Osmo Mobile 6 won't become a paperweight. That's the most important thing to understand amid all the uncertainty.

What a ban would (and wouldn't) mean

Your DJI Mic 2 will continue to work, but you won't be able to buy a replacement. (Image credit: Future)

The practical implications depend on how the ban gets implemented, and that's where things get complicated. In the best-case scenario – if there's no retroactive enforcement – DJI wouldn't be able to launch new products because they require FCC certification. However, products that have already certified and are in the retail pipeline could still be sold. That means you'd have a window to snag that DJI product you've been eyeing, though inventory would at some point – and perhaps quickly – dry up.

The worst-case scenario would see a retroactive ban, where the FCC revokes existing product certifications. In that situation, DJI products would be pulled from store shelves immediately, and no new stock could be imported. Again, this wouldn't affect products you already own – just the ability to buy new ones.

Early news reports on the ban suggest we're in a 'best-case-scenario' situation, with products already on sale and those in use unaffected. In fact, it appears that DJI and other drone companies can continue to export previously approved models to the US for sale.

Servicing gets trickier under either scenario. DJI's Head of Global Policy, Adam Welsh, explained in a recent interview with Faruk at iPhonedo (you can watch it on YouTube) that while repairs using imported parts should still be possible, warranty replacements could become problematic if DJI can't bring new units into the country. That's something to consider if you're planning a major purchase, as is the fact that existing devices could be prevented from receiving software updates, or have restrictions placed on their connectivity.

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