Headless Mode Explained (Like You're 8!) – Fly Smarter with Picoq Labs Drones
How Headless Mode Works – Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners
One of the most useful features for first-time drone pilots is Headless Mode. It’s built into most beginner-friendly drones, including the Picoq Labs F198 and Picoq Labs A17 Aerial, and it’s designed to make flying easier and more intuitive — especially for users who aren’t yet comfortable with orientation-based control.
Here’s a breakdown of how Headless Mode works and how to use it correctly.
What is Headless Mode?
Normally, when you fly a drone, the controls are based on the drone’s orientation — its “head” determines what’s forward. If the drone turns to face you, the left/right and forward/backward controls feel reversed from your perspective.
Headless Mode removes that problem by locking in the drone's “North” during calibration. After that, no matter which way the drone turns, the control stick directions stay consistent from your point of view. Forward on the stick always means away from you, and backward always means toward you.
This is especially helpful for beginners and children who may struggle to adjust controls every time the drone rotates.
How to Use Headless Mode (Step-by-Step)
1. Calibrate the drone
Place the drone on flat ground with the front (or "head") facing away from you. This direction is saved as the reference "North" for Headless Mode.
2. Take off
Start the motors and lift the drone into the air. Let it hover briefly for stability.
3. Turn the drone (optional)
You can rotate the drone left or right before or after activating Headless Mode to see how orientation changes.
4. Activate Headless Mode
Press the Headless Mode (HM) button on your remote controller. On most drones, including the F198 and A17 Aerial, the drone’s lights will start blinking to indicate that Headless Mode is active.
5. Control the drone from your perspective
Now, pushing the joystick forward will move the drone away from you, and pulling back will bring it toward you — regardless of where the drone’s head is actually pointing.
When to Use Headless Mode
Headless Mode is best used in the following situations:
- You’re just starting out with drone flying
- You're flying in open areas and want to focus on direction without worrying about orientation
- You're using a camera drone and want smooth footage without needing to constantly adjust direction
- You’re flying with children or new users who prefer simpler controls
For the Picoq Labs A17 Aerial, which includes a camera, Headless Mode is also great for maintaining directional control while filming. The brushless motor drones like the F198 make it even easier by offering smoother and more responsive movement.
Headless Mode vs Normal Mode
| Feature | Headless Mode (On) | Normal Mode (Off) |
|---|---|---|
| Movement direction | Based on your point of view | Based on drone's head direction |
| Orientation required | No | Yes |
| Lights indication | Blinking | Steady |
| Best for | Beginners, casual flyers, camera drone use | Experienced pilots, FPV flying |
Built-in on Picoq Labs Drones
Both the Picoq Labs F198 and Picoq Labs A17 Aerial come with Headless Mode as a standard feature. These drones are designed for simplicity and control, especially for first-time users. Whether you're flying for fun, filming with a camera drone, or exploring outdoor areas, Headless Mode helps remove unnecessary complexity.
All our brushless motor drones include this mode to improve ease of use while offering smooth flight performance and better control response.
Final Thoughts
Headless Mode is not a gimmick — it’s a practical tool that makes drone flying easier, safer, and more enjoyable. It’s especially valuable when introducing kids or first-time users to drones like the F198 or A17 Aerial, and it's ideal for flying a camera drone with stable directional control.
If you’re just getting started with drones, or teaching someone else, Headless Mode is one of the best features to enable from day one.