Betaflight CLI Defined: Every part You Have to Know As Newbie

The Betaflight CLI (Command Line Interface) is a robust device that offers FPV drone builders direct entry to all flight controller settings. Whereas most pilots depend on the graphical interface, the CLI gives deeper management, sooner workflows, and entry to all superior settings. On this information, you’ll study what the CLI is, why it issues, the important instructions each pilot ought to know, and easy methods to configure and troubleshoot utilizing the CLI.

A few of the hyperlinks on this web page are affiliate hyperlinks. I obtain a fee (at no further price to you) should you make a purchase order after clicking on certainly one of these affiliate hyperlinks. This helps help the free content material for the neighborhood on this web site. Please learn our Affiliate Hyperlink Coverage for extra data.

What’s Betaflight CLI?

Betaflight CLI is a text-based interface the place customers can ship instructions and configure settings on the flight controller.

Why use the CLI when you have already got a graphical person interface (GUI)? Whereas most settings are accessible by the GUI, some superior choices are solely out there through the command line. These settings are usually not wanted by most pilots, so they’re saved out of the GUI to cut back litter.

Moreover, the CLI is an environment friendly method for superior customers to test, copy, and restore settings.

Why Use Betaflight CLI?

1. Entry to Superior Settings: CLI gives entry to all settings, together with these not out there within the GUI.
2. Simple Backup and Restore: It can save you and restore configurations by copying and pasting instructions.
3. Environment friendly Troubleshooting: Shortly determine and modify parameters that could be inflicting points along with your drone.

Tips on how to Entry CLI?

1. Join your flight controller to your laptop through USB
2. Open Betaflight Configurator and click on Join
3. Go to the CLI tab on the left-hand panel

You’ll see a command immediate the place you can begin typing instructions.

In case you’re new to Betaflight Configurator, take a look at this tutorial: https://oscarliang.com/betaflight-firmware-setup/

Tips on how to Use Betaflight CLI

You may sort instructions within the textual content enter area on the backside of the display screen and press Enter to execute them.

Usually, a command follows this construction:

[command] [setting] = [value]

For instance, to disable RC smoothing:

set rc_smoothing = OFF

save

After altering a setting, you could sort save to use it. The flight controller will reboot instantly after saving.

In case you exit the CLI with out saving, your modifications can be misplaced.

To exit the CLI with out saving settings, you’ll be able to

• Enter the command exit
• Or, click on on one other tab
• Or, click on the top-right “disconnect” button
• Or, unplug USB cable
• Or, simply shut the configurator

CLI Syntax Fundamentals

The syntax in Betaflight CLI is straightforward and beginner-friendly.

Not Case Delicate

Instructions are case insensitive in CLI, you’ll be able to sort instructions in any case you need, massive letters, small letters, don’t matter, the entire following work the identical:

set serialrx_inverted = on
SET SERIALRX_INVERTED = ON
seT serialRX_inverTED = oN

Areas Don’t Matter

Further areas across the equal signal (=) don’t matter. The CLI will nonetheless interpret the command appropriately, all these command work the identical:

set serialrx_inverted = on
set serialrx_inverted=on
set serialrx_inverted =on
set serialrx_inverted =         on

Primary CLI Instructions You Should Know

assist – Record All Instructions

assist

This reveals each out there CLI command.

Use this when:

• You don’t know what instructions exist
• You’re exploring new options

standing – Examine FC System Information

standing

This is likely one of the most essential instructions.

It reveals:

• CPU sort (F4, F7, H7, and so forth.) and clock pace
• Out there sensors (gyroscope, accelerometer, barometer, magnetometer, GPS, and so forth.)
• Flash reminiscence
• Firmware construct key (helpful for checking construct choices)
• System information akin to CPU load, voltage, gyro price, and so forth.

Use this for fast diagnostics, particularly if one thing isn’t working (e.g., gyro lacking).

get – View Settings

get

You should utilize this to seek for particular settings, which is very helpful should you don’t have them memorized:

get gps

As an example, this returns all settings that start with “gps” (mainly all GPS-related settings), you’ll be able to then decide the settings you need, and test its present worth.

And if I wish to test Turtle mode associated settings (Flip Over After Crash), I sort

get crashflip

set – Change Settings

set yaw_expo = 0

This modifies a parameter.

save – Apply Adjustments

save

Adjustments are NOT saved till you run the save command. This can reboot the flight controller.

exit – Go away With out Saving

exit

Use this should you don’t wish to save modifications.

Tip: You can even unplug the FC to discard unsaved modifications.

Saving and Copying Configurations

To output your total configuration, use:

dump

This prints all Betaflight settings.

This can be utilized for backing up your drone configuration, or for sharing with different pilots when troubleshooting an issue. You run this command, and duplicate the output to a textual content file. While you wish to restore Betaflight settings (or copy the very same settings to a different drone), you merely copy these traces, paste them within the CLI, and enter save.

One drawback with dump is the large output – usually over 1000 traces. That’s why the diff command could be most popular.

diff

In contrast to dump, this solely reveals settings that differ from defaults, making it a lot shorter and simpler to work with.

Tip: For backup and restore, there’s no want to make use of CLI these days, the method is now simplified by utilizing the Preset tab as defined right here: https://oscarliang.com/backup-restore-betaflight-config/

Ideas and Methods

Press TAB to Auto-Full

Begin typing a command and press TAB to auto-complete or see solutions.

Begin typing a command and press TAB to auto full. If there are a number of choices, the CLI will recommend all potentialities. That is handy, particularly for lengthy instructions.

Don’t Overlook to SAVE!

At all times sort save earlier than exiting CLI if you wish to preserve the modifications.

Bootloader Mode (DFU)

As a substitute of urgent the boot button on the FC, you’ll be able to put the FC into bootloader mode (DFU mode) by coming into this command:

bl

To exit DFU mode, unplug (energy off FC) and reconnect the USB cable.

System Monitoring

The process command reveals the CPU load of all processes working on the flight controller. That is nice for troubleshooting in case your FC is experiencing CPU load points.

Instructions Would possibly Have Modified – Get Assist!

Some command title would possibly change from model to model. When doubtful, you’ll be able to at all times test the out there instructions utilizing assist.

Different Helpful Betaflight CLI Instructions

Listed here are some steadily used instructions it’s best to learn about:

Full CLI command checklist: https://www.betaflight.com/docs/wiki/guides/present/Betaflight-2025.12-CLI-commands

Conclusion

The Betaflight CLI might look intimidating at first, however when you study a number of key instructions, it turns into an extremely highly effective however easy to make use of device. Betaflight CLI is important for any FPV drone pilot seeking to dive deeper into their setup, discover superior options, troubleshoot points, and backup and restore configurations simply. Completely satisfied flying!

Edit Historical past

• Might 2018 – Information created
• Feb 2019 – Up to date, added “Syntax”
• Might 2021 – Added “Ideas and Methods”
• Aug 2024 – Up to date
• Mar 2026 – Up to date