How to Switch Rates During Flight Using a Switch (Betaflight Tutorial)

Switching rates anytime using a switch on your radio can be useful for testing new rates, adapting to different flying styles, and gradually progressing as a pilot. Instead of landing, plugging into Betaflight, and reconfiguring rates, you can assign multiple rate profiles to a single switch and change them instantly while flying — or before takeoff.

This tutorial walks through the full process: setting up rate profiles, assigning them to a switch, and displaying the active profile in the OSD.

New to Betaflight? Learn the basics here: https://oscarliang.com/betaflight-firmware-setup/

What Are Rate Profiles?

Rate profiles in Betaflight are like separate pages where rate values can be saved independently. A rate profile stores everything you see on the Rate Profile Settings screen, including throttle limit, expo, and rate values. There are 4 profile slots available.

Not sure what rates are? Check out this guide: https://oscarliang.com/rates/

You can also customize the name of each rate profile and display the name of the active profile in the OSD, so you always know which rates you’re using.

Step 0: Backup Settings

Before making any changes, make sure to backup Betaflight first!

This can be easily done by going to:

• Presets tab
• Save backup
• Select a location to save the file

This way, if you mess up the configuration of the flight controller while following this guide, it will be easy to restore back by simply clicking Load Backup and selecting the .txt file.

Step 1: Create Multiple Rate Profiles

Open the Rate Profile Tab

1. Connect your quad to Betaflight.
2. Go to PID Tuning → Rate Profile
3. Confirm Rate Profile 1 is selected.

Setup Different Rateprofiles

All examples below use Actual Rates (the default rate type in Betaflight).

Rateprofile1: Cinematic

• Center Sensitivity: 70
• Max Rate: 670
• Expo: 0.7

Name it Cinema (names are limited to 8 characters), then click Save.

Rateprofile2: Freestyle

• Center Sensitivity: 180
• Max Rate: 1000
• Expo: 0.7

Name it Freestyl, click “Save”.

Rateprofile3: Racing

• Center Sensitivity: 200
• Max Rate: 750
• Expo: 0.5

Name it Racing, click “Save”.

Step 2: Choose a Switch

Decide which switch on your radio you want to use. If you already have a switch set up, you can skip this step.

Beginner guide to setting up switches in EdgeTX: https://oscarliang.com/setup-switch-mixes/

I will describe the process briefly:

1. In your radio, go to the “MIXES” page (press MDL button once, then PAGE button a few times).
2. CH1 to CH4 are reserved for your sticks, you can’t use these channels. CH5 to CH16 can be used for your switches, so choose a free channel between these and assign it to the switch you want to use.
3. For instance, I want to use the SC switch on the TX15.
4. You can see in the MIXES page in my radio, SC switch is assigned to CH8.

Confirm if that switch is working by:

• go to the receiver tab in Betaflight Configurator
• with the quad’s receiver and your radio both powered on
• flip that switch, and see if one of the channel is responding

CH5 and onwards are called Auxilary channels:

• CH5 = AUX1
• CH6 = AUX2
• CH7 = AUX3
• CH8 = AUX4

Step 3: Assign Rate Profiles to a Switch

Open the Adjustments Tab

Go to the Adjustments tab in Betaflight. If it’s missing, enable Expert Mode.

Configure Rate Profile Selection

In the Adjustments tab, enable the first available slot:

• Set “when channel” to the switch for switching rateprofiles (AUX 4 in this example).
• Extend “is in range” to the whole range.
• Set “then apply” to “Rate Profile Selection”.
• Set “via channel” to “AUX 4” again.

If you use a 3-position switch, it will allow switching among Rate Profile 1, 2, and 3.

• Switch position 1 → Rate Profile 1
• Switch position 2 → Rate Profile 2
• Switch position 3 → Rate Profile 3

Save once complete.

Note: If you are using a 2-position switch, it will skip Profile 2.

Step 4: Show Rateprofile Names in the OSD

This is optional, but you can display the name of the rates you are using in the OSD.

To do so

1. go to the OSD tab
2. find rate profile name and enable it
3. place it wherever you want on the OSD
4. Click Save

Now check in your goggles OSD to confirm the rate profile name is displayed, and that it updates when you flip the switch.

Conclusion

Being able to switch rates instantly lets you change flight style and precision anytime. It’s especially useful for testing new rates and finding what works best without repeatedly plugging into Betaflight configurator. Try different styles on the same pack. If something feels wrong, just flip the switch and return to your comfort rates instantly.