Safety warning signs
Swelling, heat, smoke, a burning smell or liquid damage. Stop using the device and unplug the dock.
Troubleshooting
Robot Vacuum Troubleshooting
Organized by symptom: likely causes, safe checks you can do yourself, and when it’s time to contact the manufacturer.
Safety first. Turn the robot off before handling brushes or wheels. Do not open the battery compartment, take apart the dock or power adapter, or attempt electrical repairs. If you notice heat, swelling, smoke or a burning smell, stop using the device, unplug the dock and contact the manufacturer.
Robot Vacuum Not Starting
No response to buttons or the app
Possible causes
- Battery fully depleted
- Robot switched off or in a transport/sleep mode
- Dock not powered
- Robot not seated on the charging contacts
Safe checks to try
- Place the robot on the dock and confirm the dock’s power light is on
- Gently reposition it so the contacts line up; listen for a charging tone or look for a light
- Leave it to charge for a while before trying again
- Check the manual for how to power on or wake your model
If it never shows any sign of charging or power, contact the manufacturer — this can indicate a battery or hardware fault.
Charging Issues
Robot sits on the dock but doesn’t charge
Possible causes
- Dust or residue on the charging contacts
- Dock moved, tilted or on thick carpet
- Loose power cable at the dock or outlet
- Ageing battery holding less charge
Safe checks to try
- Turn things off, then wipe the contacts on the robot and dock with a clean, dry cloth
- Place the dock on a hard, level floor against a wall
- Check both ends of the power cable and try a different outlet
- Compare runtime with what you saw when it was new
A noticeably shorter runtime over time is normal battery ageing. Replacements should come from the manufacturer or an authorized source.
More detail on contact care is in our article on common charging problems.
Navigation Problems
Getting stuck, lost or missing areas
Possible causes
- Cords, socks or rug fringe in the path
- Furniture just low enough to wedge under
- Dirty cliff, wall or camera sensors
- Very dark rugs read as a drop by some cliff sensors
- Furniture rearranged since the map was made
Safe checks to try
- Clear cords and small items; tuck rug fringe under
- Raise furniture slightly or block the gap using the app’s no-go zones
- Wipe sensors with a clean, dry microfiber cloth
- Use virtual boundaries to manage problem rugs
- Let the robot re-map, or edit the map in the app
Unexpected Stopping
Stops mid-clean or ends the run early
Possible causes
- Low battery — it may be returning to recharge
- Bin full or not seated
- Something wrapped around a brush or wheel
- Robot lifted, tilted or wheels dropped (wheel-drop detection)
- Lost Wi-Fi during an app-started run
Safe checks to try
- Check whether it went back to the dock; many robots resume after recharging
- Empty and reseat the bin until it clicks
- Turn it off and remove hair or string from brushes and wheels
- Move it to a flat, open area and start again
- Note any light pattern or app message
Weak Suction
Picking up less than it used to
Possible causes
- Bin full or near the fill line
- Filter clogged with fine dust
- Main roller wrapped with hair
- Debris blocking the intake opening
- A low-power mode selected in the app
Safe checks to try
- Empty the bin
- Tap the filter over a trash can; replace if it’s worn or as the manual recommends
- Remove and clear the roller
- Check the intake area for lodged debris
- Review suction settings in the app
Do not wash a filter with water unless your manual explicitly says it is washable, and let any washable part dry completely.
Brush and Wheel Problems
Brushes not spinning or wheels grinding
Possible causes
- Hair or thread tangled at brush ends
- Side brush bent or loose
- Debris in wheel wells
- Worn parts after long use
Safe checks to try
- Turn off the robot and remove the roller; clear the end caps where hair hides
- Reattach or replace the side brush per the manual
- Spin each wheel by hand; remove visible debris
- Replace worn brushes with official parts
See the brush cleaning steps for a full routine.
App Connection Issues
App shows offline or commands fail
Possible causes
- Weak Wi-Fi where the robot works or docks
- Router restarted or settings changed
- Outdated app or phone OS
- Signed in to the wrong account
Safe checks to try
- Check signal strength at the dock
- Restart the router, then the robot
- Update the app from your official app store
- Confirm you’re using the account that owns the robot
For pairing problems see the Wi-Fi troubleshooting section.
Error Indicators
Robots report problems with light patterns, tones, spoken prompts or app notifications. The meaning of a specific code or pattern is model-specific, so the reliable approach is:
Record it exactly
Write down the code, light color and pattern, or the exact wording of the message.
Check your app first
Most apps describe the error in plain language and often link to a fix.
Look it up in your manual
The manual’s troubleshooting table lists codes for your model.
Match it to a category
Most errors map to one of the sections above: brush, wheel, bin, sensor, charging or connection.
Our article on understanding error messages explains the categories in more depth.
When Professional Service May Be Needed
Contact the manufacturer or an authorized service provider if you notice:
Battery won’t hold a charge
Especially if a full charge now lasts only a few minutes.
Repeating errors after basic checks
The same code returns after cleaning, restarting and checking parts.
Anything under warranty
Opening the device yourself may affect your warranty coverage.
Tried everything here?
A restart may help, and in some cases a reset. Learn the difference before choosing.