This is a maintenance release, building on the 4.5 foundation. Think of it as a polish and refinement update, squashing bugs and improving overall stability rather than introducing major new features. If you’re already on 4.5, this is a recommended upgrade. If you’re on an older version, it’s definitely time to consider updating, but read the “Important Considerations” below!
Key Focus: Bug Fixes and Stability
Version 4.5.2 is all about making things work better. The development team has been hard at work addressing user-reported issues. Here’s a breakdown of the most significant improvements:
- Telemetry Fixes: Problems with Spektrum/SRXL and Jeti telemetry have been resolved. SmartAudio on certain STM32F4 and Holybro AT32F4 boards is also fixed. Jeti telemetry is now the default.
- OSD Improvements: The OSD rendering has been optimized, and several bugs related to element display and CLI buffer overflows have been fixed. Background rendering has been implemented.
- Hardware Compatibility: Support for the W25N02K 2Gbit/256Mbyte FLASH memory chip has been added. Improvements have been made for SD cards on AT32 and AT32F435 flight controllers. Several clock speed and SPI bus issues on STM32G4 have been corrected. Missing ACCGYRO custom alignment definitions have been added.
- Motor Control: A bug that could cause motors to spin during a flight controller reset has been fixed, and a fix for timer-based bidirectional DSHOT commands has also been included, as well as a fix for KISS passthrough.
- GPS Rescue Enhancements: The UBLOX_MODEL_AIRBORNE_1G setting is now the default, optimizing for airborne use.
- Angle Mode: A fix has been implemented for an issue causing angle mode rate changes.
- System: Fixes to I2C, Flash memory writing, and the SITL build. sbufReadData bug is squashed.
Important Considerations Before Updating (Don’t Skip This!) - Mandatory Full Chip Erase: You must perform a full chip erase when flashing 4.5.2. This is non-negotiable.
- Reconfigure From Scratch: Seriously, don’t import old CLI dumps or presets, especially if you use GPS Rescue, Angle, or Horizon modes. Start fresh with the 4.5.2 defaults. 4.4 save files might be ok for some parameters, but starting from scratch for the core flight modes is strongly recommended.
- HD VTX Users (Walksnail): You might see font issues with your OSD. As a temporary fix, use the CLI command set displayport_msp_fonts = 0,0,0,0 and then save.
- GPS modules: Betaflight 4.5 has stricter requirements. It is recommended to utilize newer M10 GPS modules. Users of older models may need to reset them to default configurations.
- 4k PID Loop If you use GPS Rescue, it’s recommended to use a 4k PID loop.
- Previous Issues: Some boards such as Kakute F7, Mateksys, and SpeedyBee F7 v3 reported issues of motors not spinning in the initial 4.5 release. Proceed with extra caution if you own one of these boards.
Installation in a Nutshell
- Backup: Back up your current configuration (Presets tab or diff all / dump in CLI).
- Download: Get the latest Betaflight Configurator (10.10 or later).
- Drivers: Make sure your USB drivers are installed (ImpulseRC Driver Fixer can help).
- DFU Mode: Put your flight controller into DFU mode (usually by shorting boot pads or holding a boot button).
- Flash: In the Configurator’s “Firmware Flasher” tab:
- Enable “Show Release Candidates”.
- Select “Release and Release Candidates” in the Release dropdown.
- Select your flight controller target.
- Choose firmware version 4.5.2.
- Enable “Full Chip Erase”.
- Click “Flash Firmware”.
- Reconfigure: Set up your flight controller from scratch. Calibrate the accelerometer, configure your receiver, motors, modes, OSD, etc.
Hardware Recommendations - ESCs: Use DShot. For 32-bit ESCs, AM32 or BLHeli_32 (avoid versions after 32.7) are recommended. For 8-bit ESCs, BlueJay is the best choice.
- GPS: Use newer M10 GPS modules with a backup battery for best performance.
Should You Upgrade?
Yes, especially if you’re already on 4.5.x. The bug fixes and stability improvements make it a worthwhile update. If you are experiencing any of the mentioned bugs, you should definitely update. If you’re on an older version (4.4 or earlier), the jump to 4.5 (and now 4.5.2) is significant, bringing many improvements, but be prepared to spend some time reconfiguring.
Find Out More:
For the most up-to-date information on any newly discovered issues or ongoing discussions related to Betaflight 4.5.2, users are encouraged to refer to the official GitHub issues page.