How to Export CLI Dump
Learn how to export CLI configuration files from your flight controller for analysis
Why Export CLI Dump?
CLI Dump is a complete snapshot of your flight controller configuration. It contains all settings including PID values, filter configurations, rates, motor mapping, and more. Having a CLI dump allows you to:
- Backup your configuration before making changes
- Quickly restore settings if something goes wrong
- Share your configuration with others or get help from the community
- Let AI analyze your settings and suggest improvements
This tutorial will show you how to export a CLI dump in just a few minutes.
Preparation
Required Software
Download and install Betaflight Configurator (official configuration tool)
Visit betaflight.com to download the latest version
Connection Requirements
- Prepare a USB data cable (Micro-USB or USB-C)
- Ensure proper USB drivers are installed
- Flight controller can be powered via USB or battery
What is a CLI Dump?
CLI Dump is a complete configuration export from your flight controller, including all settings, PID values, filter configurations, and more. This file can be used for backing up your configuration or having AI analyze your settings.
Connect Flight Controller to Betaflight Configurator
Connect your flight controller to your computer using a USB cable, open Betaflight Configurator and click the Connect button.
Navigate to CLI Tab
In Betaflight Configurator, click on the CLI tab in the left menu.
Execute dump Command
Type the following command in the CLI command line and press Enter:
dumpWait for the command to complete, which usually takes a few seconds.
Save Output to File
Save the CLI output to a text file:
- Select all CLI output (Ctrl+A or Cmd+A)
- Copy the content (Ctrl+C or Cmd+C)
- Paste into a text editor and save as .txt file
Tip: Use a meaningful filename like JHEF745V2_20260113.txt including the flight controller model and date.
Best Practices
Regular Configuration Backups
- Backup frequency: Export CLI dump after every important settings change
- Naming convention: Use date and version numbers like "config_v2.3_20260113.txt"
- Storage location: Save to cloud storage or multiple locations to avoid data loss
Document Configuration Changes
- Change notes: Add comments at the beginning of file explaining what was changed and why
- Version comparison: Keep multiple configuration versions for easy comparison and rollback
- Test records: Record flight performance for each configuration version for optimization
Sharing Configurations
- Community exchange: Share configurations with FPV community to get advice from other pilots
- Privacy protection: Check for sensitive information (like GPS coordinates) before sharing
- Format cleanup: Use text editor to organize format for better readability
Next Steps
After successfully exporting CLI dump, you can:
Use with Blackbox Logs
Upload CLI dump together with Blackbox logs to FPVTune for more accurate analysis
Start Analysis →Compare Different Configurations
Use text comparison tools (like WinMerge) to compare differences between configuration versions
Recommended Tools →Restore Configuration
If tuning goes wrong, use backed up CLI dump to quickly restore to previous state
View Restore Tutorial →FAQ
CLI command not responding?
First ensure flight controller is properly connected to computer with good USB cable contact. If still not responding, try: 1) Disconnect and reconnect flight controller; 2) Restart Betaflight Configurator; 3) Change USB port or cable; 4) Check if drivers are correctly installed.
Incomplete dump output?
The dump command takes a few seconds to fully execute, please wait patiently until command prompt appears again. If output is interrupted, it may be unstable USB connection, try using better quality cable. Ensure not to operate flight controller or move USB cable during command execution.
Can I save directly in CLI?
Betaflight Configurator 10.8.0 and above supports "Save to File" button that can directly save CLI output as text file without manual copy-paste. If your version is older, recommend upgrading to latest version for better experience.
How to restore CLI dump configuration?
Restoring configuration is simple: 1) Connect flight controller and go to CLI tab; 2) Open saved CLI dump file; 3) Copy all content (skip comment lines); 4) Paste into CLI command line; 5) Type "save" to save settings. Note: Recommend backing up current configuration before restoring.
What information does CLI dump contain?
CLI dump contains complete flight controller configuration including: PID parameters, filter settings, rate curves, motor mapping, receiver configuration, OSD settings, mode switches, etc. Basically all parameters that can be set in Betaflight Configurator are exported.
Are dumps from different firmware versions compatible?
Different Betaflight versions may have parameter changes, directly restoring old version dumps may cause some settings to be invalid or incorrect. Recommend reconfiguring after firmware upgrade, or use diff command to export only settings different from defaults for better compatibility.