6 Reasons Why Roomba Won’t Turn ON – Let’s Fix It

Have you ever had a Roomba that will not turn ON? This can be really frustrating for the owners when it keeps happening. A lot of owners are thinking that there is a problem with the Roomba once it stops on its own. When you want to start your Roomba, you will see that the blinking light on it stops flashing and no sound could be heard.

The Roomba robot vacuum has a mind of its own. It will decide when it wants to go and where it wants to go to, but it can get stuck on things and there are times when it would not turn on, especially after updating its firmware. So what do you do? Simply follow the steps below and you’ll be good to go in less than 30 minutes!

If your Roomba seems to have a full battery but won’t power up, you should first check if the charging station is providing power. Another reason why a robot vacuum may not start is because of dirty charging contacts or loose cables. If it does charge, that means there’s a problem with the hardware. Software problems on the other hand are often seen in error messages.

It’s time to talk about the troubleshooting process for the Roomba. To get the full picture, read on.

Roomba Won’t Turn ON – Troubleshoot And Diagnosis

Roomba’s are robotic vacuum cleaners that are used to clean floors. Hence the name “Roomba”. It is equipped with a variety of sensors, allowing it to detect and avoid obstacles while cleaning so that it does not constantly bump into your furniture or blinds.

If your Roomba isn’t working, check the batteries, power cycle or reset the Roomba, clean dust out of the device, clean its electrical contacts, and replace the filter.

1. Check The Batteries

When your Roomba is not functioning correctly, you should check the LED indicators, ensure that they turn on when you press the clean button. While this signal can sometimes be faulty, if the light doesn’t appear, you should replace the battery with a new one and see if this fixes the problem.

When faced with the dreaded flashing red light error on their Roomba, many owners have tried resetting or cycling the unit in order to get it working again. Here’s how: first remove the batteries and wait 5-10 seconds, then replace them and charge the Roomba until both the power and dock lights turn green/white.

Now that your Roomba has a new battery, it is time to let the machine run for 72 hours straight. During that time, make sure that there are no interruptions. If the battery drains before then, charge it again for 24 more hours until the charging light goes off. After charging, let your machine run for another 24 hours — this will help to identify any inefficiencies or other issues with its battery life.

2. Incorrect Battery Position

When your Roomba starts to lose power, consider changing the batteries. However, if you are having trouble with this, you might need to move the batteries around a bit. New Roombas often experience issues when the battery shifts during transit — this can often be solved by moving the battery to where it belongs.

When a Roomba is not behaving, it’s tempting to think that the problem is hardware-based, or that it’s a symptom of a bigger issue. Instead, try resetting your device first. To do this with a Roomba, first remove the battery (this will shut everything down) and then press the clean button down for 5 to 15 seconds.

If your Roomba won’t be turning on, check that the batteries are inserted correctly. If you’re using second-party or compatible batteries, make sure that they’re installed properly. If there’s no improvement, you’ll need to purchase a new battery.

The first step that you should take when your Roomba has a battery issue is to check the indicator light on the home base. If it’s flickering, then your battery is bad. If it stays on for about four seconds and then moves away, then your battery is OK.

When the Roomba doesn’t charge, check to make sure the home charger is plugged securely into the outlet. If that still doesn’t work, try plugging the charger into another outlet, or relocate the charger to another room — maybe there was too much going on in one room, and that was causing a power surge. If this still fails, you may need to replace your charging mechanism.

If both of these are working, then unplug the robot vacuum from its charger and see if any dirt or debris is blocking the charging port. Gently remove the obstruction with a soft cloth and plug it in again.

To begin, remove the Roomba from the charging base and turn it back over. Look to see if there’s any debris in the caster wheel, and ensure that it is able to move without interference. Remove any dirt or debris if you find it.

Place the Roomba on its home base for at least an hour of charging.

3. Power Cycle your Roomba

So you’re going to power cycle your Roomba. Like any good computer, the Roomba can get a bit wonky sometimes. When it freezes or stops responding, make sure to turn it off before trying any other steps!

If you encounter malfunctions, try turning it off and on again. It’s the same method you would use to reboot a computer or any device that malfunctions. Wait for a few seconds, then turn the product back on.

To power cycle, the Roomba, unplug the robot and wait 10-20 seconds. Now plug it back in and see if it works. This is a simple fix that can resolve issues many Roomba owners are having.

4. Check Error Codes

The proper way to check if your Roomba is charging is with the LED lights on its back. If it stays still, it’s completely charged and ready to go. However, if you notice a blinking light, there might be an issue with the battery and you should contact customer service.

There are a variety of ways to diagnose Roomba problems. You should watch how frequently the light blinks and listen to the error code it beeps to know the specific problem it’s having. Your robot will blink erratically when it’s cleaning as well as when there is a problem. There are a total of eight error codes, but luckily the iRobot app provides solutions to those codes.

Error Code 1

Code 1 error happens when there is no communication between the Roomba and its base station. It may be due to the lack of a yellow cable connecting the Roomba and the base station, or the battery not being put incorrectly.

Code 1 error can also happen as a result of the battery is incorrectly installed. To fix Code 1 error, simply remove and reinstall the Roomba’s battery.

Error Code 6 and 7

If the Roomba has trouble recharging or if it refuses to charge, it is probably because of the battery temperature. This issue can interfere with the charging process if the battery is too hot or too cold. To fix this issue, remove the Roomba from its base and wait for 20 to 30 minutes for it to return to room temperature. After 20 to 30 minutes, connect it back to the home charger and allow it to charge normally.

Error Code 2, 3, 5, 8, and 9

If a Roomba’s getting stuck and isn’t returning to its home base, you need to diagnose the problem. To do so, clean any debris away from the charging dock. The Roomba uses a sensor in the charging station to detect when it’s returned; if it doesn’t see the station, it thinks you’ve run out of power.

5. Do A Reset

Over the past several years, there have been some issues causing the Roomba to malfunction. Luckily, the errors are pretty easy to solve. All you need to do is perform a factory reset, which can be done through the Roomba’s control panel.

If you’ve run into issues with your Roomba, you can go through our troubleshooting steps, or use the Reset option to fix any technical difficulty. You’ll be back to cleaning up in no time!

Sometimes the Roomba error code will float, which is often due to the machine’s processor having corrupted memory. If you try rebooting the device, this bug can be fixed. Hold down the CLEAN button for 10-15 seconds until you see that the light indicators have floated. The device should then restart, but all saved schedules and other settings will not have saved. So you’ll have to set everything up from scratch.

Here’s how you reset your Roomba. First, make sure it’s switched on by checking that the indicators are lit up. Then hold Spot and Dock together for 10 seconds. When the lights turn off automatically, you’ll hear a beep and know the reset is complete.

To hard reset a Roomba, it needs to be on its charging base. First, place the robot on its home base or plug the charger into the robot and wait for the text ‘r 5Y’ to display. After that, release the Clean button and a beep will sound. The robot is now reset.

6. Clean Dust out of Roomba

The inevitable process of cleaning your equipment or tools should be done at regular intervals. While it is not a difficult job, it requires concentration and patience. In some instances, you can even call for the help of professionals. Do remember to keep an eye on your cleaning device too — if it is not cleaned for months together, chances are, its performance may start to wear down with time.

If you press the “clean” button on your Roomba when it’s full of dirt and dust, it will have trouble recognizing the button. A simple shake and tap can help resolve this issue. 

Fortunately, the dirt that interferes with their performance is easily removed by vacuuming and dusting.

You should vacuum and clean the Roomba every time after you have finished using it. First, empty the bin by pressing the button on top of it and taking it out. Next, wipe down the filter with a damp cloth before putting it back into place.

Unscrew the side sweeper and clean off the debris stuck on it. Unscrew the front wheel and remove the brushes from it, along with their bearings. Carefully detach the pieces of your Roomba, set them out for cleaning, and then rinse them with water. After a good scrub, blow them dry and reassemble your vacuum.

7. Clean The Electrical Contacts

Electrical contacts are the connection from your Roomba to your charger that allows it to charge.

When you’re cleaning, check the charging contacts on your Roomba. If they appear to be damp or rusted, use a pencil eraser to clean them off gently. You could also clean the metal contact surfaces with a small amount of rubbing alcohol.

Before handling the electrical contacts on your Roomba, make sure that you unplug it or turn off the switch.

Cleaning the contacts before charging is crucial to the success of the process — and to the life of your Roomba. The best way to get into the nooks and crannies of the small robotics vacuum’s top panel is to use a clean, dry toothbrush. Brush gently, in circular motions, until you’re confident all the debris has been removed.

8. Clean The Filter

You should always make sure the filters are clean before every cleaning cycle, even if you don’t use your Roomba that often because it could get clogged. This can result in the robot overheating — not to mention a less than stellar cleaning experience.

Open the compartment where the dustbin is attached. Detach it from the frame, and empty the contents. To remove the debris stuck inside, tap the filter on the trashcan to shake it loose. Alternatively, use a compressed air canister to remove any extra dirt or dust.

Roomba Won’t Start Cleaning

If the Clean button on your iRobot Roomba won’t turn on, there are a few things you can do to troubleshoot the issue. You should start by checking the charging stations or contacts on the charging station; sometimes dirt or debris can keep them from working properly, which will prevent the machine from charging.

A bad battery can cause your robot to be inoperable, sometimes at the worst time possible. As such, make sure that you are buying the right batteries for your robot.

It’s very important that you buy the Roomba’s original batteries and not knock-offs. When you buy knock-offs, there is a chance that they can leak or explode, which is bad for your robot vacuum and your home.

You can extend the life of your Roomba’s battery by waiting for it to charge for 16 hours before you use it again. Battery calibration ensures that your robot vacuum will perform at its optimum level, so there’s no harm in taking a few steps to ensure that you can get through the day with a full battery.

A clean vacuum is a healthy, happy vacuum — especially when dealing with a robot. Occasionally, you should check to make sure all dirt and debris have been removed, as well as keeping the filter clean and replacing broken parts. Just like your cat, a Roomba will need regular upkeep for optimal results.