DJI Avata 2 Follow Me Mode: Does It Work? (2026 Guide)

I get this question all the time. You see an incredible video of someone mountain biking while a drone chases them perfectly through the trees. It looks cinematic and effortless. You just bought the DJI Avata 2, and now you want to know which button makes it do that.

This drone is incredible—it's genuinely one of my favorites to fly. But it's built for a completely different purpose than the standard camera drones you might be used to.

Let's break down exactly why the DJI Avata 2 doesn't have a true follow mode, what features people confuse it with, and how you can still capture those cinematic chase shots.

Does the DJI Avata 2 Have ActiveTrack?

No. The DJI Avata 2 does not have ActiveTrack or any autonomous subject-tracking capability.

ActiveTrack is DJI's proprietary technology that allows a drone to lock onto a person, vehicle, or object and follow them automatically. You'll find this feature on the Mini 4 Pro, the Air 3, and the Mavic 3 series.

On those drones, you simply draw a box around yourself on the screen, tap "Go," and the drone handles the rest. It flies itself while keeping you centered in the frame.

Why Doesn't the Avata 2 Have Follow Mode?

You might be wondering why DJI left this feature out. It seems like a no-brainer, right? The drone has an excellent camera and a powerful processor capable of subject recognition.

The answer comes down to safety and design philosophy.

Limited Obstacle Sensors

Drones that follow you need to perceive the world in nearly 360 degrees. When the drone flies sideways or backward to keep you in the frame, it must detect obstacles in its flight path.

The Avata 2 only has downward-facing sensors for positioning and landing. It's effectively blind on the sides, front, and top. If it attempted to follow you through a park, it would likely drift into a tree branch or obstacle and crash almost immediately.

FPV Design Philosophy

The Avata 2 is an FPV (First Person View) drone. The entire point of FPV flying is that you are the pilot. The thrill comes from manually controlling every movement. It's designed to go precisely where you tell it—not to think for itself.

If you're looking for a drone that handles the flying autonomously, check out our comparison of the DJI Mavic 4 vs Air 3S. Those drones are far better suited for autonomous tracking scenarios.

Head Tracking vs. ActiveTrack: Understanding the Difference

Many beginners get confused because they see a feature called "Head Tracking" in the Avata 2 settings. They assume this means the DJI Avata 2 has subject tracking capabilities.

Here's the critical difference:

• ActiveTrack (Not on Avata 2): The drone physically moves its body through space to follow a subject.
• Head Tracking (Available on Avata 2): The drone hovers in place or continues its flight path while only the camera gimbal tilts and rotates based on your head movements.

When you wear the Goggles 3 and turn your head to the left, the camera looks left. It creates an incredibly immersive experience—almost like you're sitting inside the drone looking around.

However, the drone itself doesn't change its flight path based on your head movement. If you're flying toward a wall and look left, the camera will pan left, but the drone will still collide with that wall.

How to Film Yourself with the Avata 2: Practical Workarounds

So you have the drone and still want that cinematic shot of yourself riding your bike. Is it impossible? Not exactly, but it requires some creative problem-solving.

Method 1: The Buddy System

This is the only reliable way to capture cinematic action shots with an FPV drone. You need a second person to pilot.

You ride the bike while your friend flies the drone. The good news is that the Avata 2 is significantly easier to fly than traditional FPV quads. If your friend uses the Motion Controller (the joystick-style controller), they can learn to follow you at a safe distance within a few practice sessions.

Start in an open field with no obstacles. Don't attempt your first chase shots in a dense forest.

Method 2: The Stationary Pass

If you're flying solo, set the drone to hover in a fixed position. Choose a spot with an interesting background, frame the shot, and press record.

Then run, ride, or drive past the stationary camera. It's not a true "follow" shot, but it creates compelling action footage. Edit several of these clips together for an effective montage. For more creative techniques on simulating complex shots, check out our guide on mimicking FPV dives with 360 cameras.

Method 3: Easy Acro for Creative Shots

The Avata 2 includes "Easy Acro" mode, which lets you execute flips and drifts with simplified controls. While this won't help with tracking, it adds cinematic flair to your manual flying. I mention it because people sometimes assume "smart features" means tracking features—in this case, it means accessible aerobatic maneuvers.

Can You Hack ActiveTrack onto the Avata 2?

In the drone community, firmware hacking to unlock hidden features is common. You might encounter YouTube videos claiming to enable "Follow Me" on the Avata 2.

For a comprehensive comparison of how the Avata 2 stacks up against purpose-built rigs for action sports, read our Avata 2 vs. Custom 5" chase cam audit.

Avata 2 vs. Drones with Follow Mode: Which Should You Buy?

If you're realizing the Avata 2 might not be the right tool for your needs, that's valuable knowledge. Better to understand this now than after a frustrating crash.

If You Want To...	Best Drone Choice	Has Follow Mode?
Experience immersive FPV flight	DJI Avata 2	No
Film yourself biking or running	DJI Air 3 or Mini 4 Pro	Yes (Excellent)
Manually chase fast subjects	DJI Avata 2	No (Requires pilot)
Capture travel photos and video	DJI Mini 4 Pro	Yes

Final Verdict: Is the Avata 2 Worth Buying?

Absolutely yes—for the right person.

I genuinely love my Avata 2. It's fun, remarkably durable, and captures footage that looks completely different from anything a standard camera drone can produce. The banking turns, the speed, and the immersive goggles experience are exhilarating.

However, if you're buying it solely to film yourself without a dedicated camera operator, it's the wrong choice. The Avata 2 requires an engaged pilot. It demands your full attention every second it's in the air.

If you want easy, automated videos of your family vacation or morning trail runs, save some money and get a Mini 4 Pro. If you want to experience the pure joy of flight and develop a rewarding new skill, keep the Avata 2. Just don't expect it to follow you like a loyal companion—that's simply not what it was built to do.