A TOP drone manufacturer has warned that customers' expensive gadgets will be crippled if they don't register their details through its app.

DJI drones - which cost between £500 and £3,000 - won't be able to fly to their full potential or beam back footage if their owners don't sign up next week, the company warned.

2 The DJI Phantom Pro 4 costs around £1,500

Those who splashed out for the snazzy gadgets will find they are limited to a teensy 50m radius and it won't be flying higher than 30m if they don't play ball.

It's a painful blow considering the DJI Phantom 4 is supposed to travel over three miles under remote control.

Keen aerial photographers will also be unable to stream images or video to their phone.

2 DJI is the market leader when it comes to drones but there's pressure from the aviation industry that they enforce customers to use them safely Credit: Getty Images

It wrote on its website: "DJI will soon introduce a new application activation process for international customers.

"This new step, to take effect at the end of next week, ensures you will use the correct set of geospatial information and flight functions for your aircraft, as determined by your geographical location and user profile.

"All existing flight safety limitations, such as geofencing boundaries and altitude limits, remain the same.

"Even if you have registered when activating your aircraft upon purchase, you will have to log in once when you update the new version of DJI GO or GO 4 App."

But the draconian step is for a good cause.

By forcing people to register, DJI can alter the drone's settings dependant on where the customer lives.

That means it can make sure drones are flying by rules set by each nation.

In the UK, all drone operators must observe rules set by the Air Navigation Order 2016.

You can't fly them near a plane or over areas where the general public are milling about (like crowded city centres).

But there have been several terrifying drone near misses, with British pilots claiming to spot them soaring past the cockpit.

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