If you have a new Roomba® 105 or 205 and the robot is shutting down immediately after leaving the dock, the battery percentage isn't increasing, or the robot is unresponsive, please begin with the following procedure.
Click here to expand troubleshooting steps.
Take the robot off the charging dock.
Position the robot on a flat, level surface.
Press and hold the POWER button for at least 30 seconds.
Release the POWER button.
Tap the power button again to confirm that no lights come on. This will ensure that they successfully got it into ship mode.
Return the robot to the charging dock within 4 minutes.
The robot should now power on and operate as expected. Note that it may take upwards of 30 seconds for the robot to fully boot it. Once it does, it will announce that it’s charging.
If this doesn't resolve your charging issue, please continue through the additional steps below.
Please follow the steps below to bring power back to your Roomba® iRobot Vacuum. If your robot produces an error message when charging, consult the charging error messages chart.
Roomba lights up, but won't start - This is likely related to another error, such as the bin being full or the brushes getting stuck. Please see the app for errors, or contactiRobot Customer Care for assistance.
Yes:Click here to learn how to wake up your new robot or battery:
Replacement “service robots” do not include batteries, and the battery from the original robot needs to be swapped out. If you have recently purchased or have just received a replacement battery or robot, place Roomba with its new battery installed on the dock. A new iRobot® Lithium-Ion Battery must be woken up on the dock before its first use. Click here for instructions for installing a replacement battery.
Yes, there is a light on the dock: Continue to step 3. Note: Roomba® Essentials 1 does not have a light on the dock. Please still check that the cord is fully inserted on both sides.
No / Not sure: Click here and follow these steps to make sure the dock has power before moving to step 3.
Note: If you have an AutoEmpty™ dock, lift the lid to expose the evac bag. Pull up the bag tag to partially remove the bag. The light on the AutoEmpty™ dock should turn red if the base has power.
Note: The robot should also beep when correctly aligned with the contacts.
If you wrap the cord around the back of the AutoEmpty™ dock, ensure that you are not wrapping it too tightly, as this could pull the cord out of the connector on the back of the AutoEmpty™ dock.
Unplug the line cord from the outlet and AutoEmpty™ dock, and then plug it back in firmly to both the wall outlet and the dock.
Ensure the outlet has power by unplugging the AutoEmpty™ dock and plugging in a different electronic device (lamp) to the same outlet and verifying that the device works. If the outlet does not have power, try a different power outlet.
If the power outlet has power, but power is not being received by the AutoEmpty™ dock, examine the line cord. If the cord is damaged, it needs to be replaced. If the line cord is not damaged, then the AutoEmpty™ dock needs to be replaced, and you may keep your original line cord.
Dirt or built-up debris may be preventing your robot from charging. Please unplug the dock and grab a clean, lightly dampened melamine foam, such as a Magic Eraser, to clean the contacts on the robot and dock. Watch the following video outlining steps for cleaning the charging contacts. For more information, visit:
Note: If you do not have melamine foam, a lightly dampened cloth will do. These are the only two acceptable materials that should be used to clear the contacts.
Note: Damaged contacts could also prevent your robot from charging. If the contacts are green or copper colored, they are damaged and the robot or dock with the damaged contacts may need to be replaced. Please contactiRobot Customer Care.
Note: If you have an AutoFill or AutoWash dock, you will need to press a button on the dock where the wheels sit in order to expose the charging contacts.
Open the Cleaning Head Module door by pushing on the green tab on the right side of the multi-surface brushes.
Remove the brushes from the robot and ensure hair and debris are removed from the square and hex pegs of the multi-surface brushes.
Clear debris on and under the gray bearings.
Insert the bearings on the multi-surface brushes.
Ensure the vacuum path is clear.
Match the shape of the multi-surface brushes pegs with the shape of the Cleaning Head Module.
For optimal performance, inspect the multi-surface brushes and cleaning head module at least once a week, and twice if you own pets. Use the following procedure to regularly clean the multi-surface brushes.
Please lift your robot and place it back onto the dock to let it recharge. The light on the dock should turn on four (4) seconds when the robot is correctly aligned with the contacts. This may require some wiggling to get the alignment correct.
If the light on the dock does not turn on, then the dock does not recognize the robot and the dock needs to be replaced. Note: Roomba® Essentials 1 does not have a light on the dock. Please still check that the cord is fully inserted on both sides.
If the light on the dock does not turn on, first make sure you are docking the robot in the proper direction. Look at the metal contacts under the robot. They should align with the metal contacts on the dock.
Note: Robots can dock in different directions. For example, Roomba Combo®j9+ docks with its camera facing in towards the dock, while Roomba Combo® 10 Max always docks backwards.
Note:Roomba 205. When placing the robot onto the dock manually, be sure to leave a small gap (1cm to a 1/2 inch) in between the dock and bumper. If you push the robot too far into the dock, it will no longer from a proper connection with the charging contacts. Click here for a photo example.
The robot should also make a beep sound when it has been placed correctly on the dock correctly.
If the light on the dock still does not come on, then the dock does not recognize the robot and the dock would need to be replaced.
Yes, there are lights on the robot: Roomba is now receiving power!
If you still have questions, click here to learn more about how Roomba charges:
Take your robot off the dock and try putting the robot in ship mode / Sleep mode. Then reactivate the robot by placing it back on the dock.
Roomba ® 105, 205, 405, and 505 - If the robot is dying immediately off the dock, battery % is not increasing, and the robot is unresponsive, this may be a known bug.The following procedure will resolve the issue!Click here.
Take the robot off the charging dock.
Position the robot on a flat, level surface.
Press and hold the POWER button for at least 30 seconds.
Release the POWER button.
Tap the power button again to confirm that no lights come on. This will ensure that they successfully got it into ship mode.
Return the robot to the charging dock within 4 minutes.
The robot should now power on and operate as expected. Note that it may take upwards of 30 seconds for the robot to fully boot it. Once it does, it will announce that it’s charging.
If there are no lights on the robot, please remove the battery from the robot and reinstall it. (click here for help removing the battery) Removing and reinstalling the battery forces the robot to reboot and clear any existing errors. You do not have to wait to reinstall the battery after removing it. Simply take it out, put it back in, and try docking the robot again to see if it lights up.
If all the LED lights on your robot still appear off and your Roomba® Robot Vacuum is still not turning on, the robot may need to be repaired. Please contact iRobot Customer Care. For expedited service, please have the following ready:
