Wi-Fi Not Found / Cannot Connect
Ryze Tello Drone
Severity: ModerateWhat Does This Error Mean?
If you can't see the Tello's Wi-Fi network (TELLO-XXXXXX), the drone may not be powered on properly, or the Wi-Fi module has a glitch. A power cycle almost always fixes this.
Affected Models
- Ryze Tello
- Ryze Tello EDU
Common Causes
- Tello not fully powered on — LED should be yellow/flashing
- Wi-Fi module glitch after a firmware update
- Phone's Wi-Fi is off
- Tello battery too low to broadcast Wi-Fi
- Phone connected to 5GHz Wi-Fi only — Tello uses 2.4GHz
How to Fix It
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Check the Tello LED status.
After pressing the power button, the LED should blink yellow — this means it is broadcasting Wi-Fi and waiting for connection. If the LED is solid or off, the Tello has not booted correctly.
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Power cycle the Tello.
Hold the power button for 5 seconds to turn off, then press once to turn on. Wait 10 seconds for the Wi-Fi to broadcast.
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Enable Wi-Fi on your phone and scan for networks.
Open your phone's Wi-Fi settings and look for TELLO-XXXXXX (where XXXXXX is a unique ID). If it appears but won't connect, forget the network and reconnect.
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Ensure your phone is not in Aeroplane Mode.
Aeroplane Mode disables all wireless radios including Wi-Fi. Check the notification bar.
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Charge the Tello if the battery is very low.
A Tello with very low battery may boot but not broadcast Wi-Fi due to insufficient power. Charge for 15 minutes and try again.
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Reset the Tello's Wi-Fi to factory settings.
Hold the power button for about 5 seconds until the LED blinks rapidly. This resets the Wi-Fi settings but keeps firmware. The default password (if any) is printed on the Tello.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the default Wi-Fi password for the Ryze Tello?
The original Ryze Tello has no Wi-Fi password — the network is open. The Tello EDU and some later firmware versions added password support. If you set a password and forgot it, reset the Wi-Fi using the power button reset method above.