How to restart the robot vacuum cleaner Xiaomi Mi Robot: all the ways from soft restart to hard reset

Xiaomi Mi Robot vacuum cleaners (including Mi Robot Vacuum, Mi Robot Vacuum-Mop, Mi Robot Vacuum-Mop 2, and others) are reliable cleaning assistants, but even they sometimes require rebooting. Hanging up during cleaning, connecting to Mi Home, sensors malfunctioning, or endless charging can all indicate a need for a restart. Unlike smartphones, where rebooting is intuitive, vacuum cleaners rely on model, firmware version, and even the type of malfunction.

In this article, we will analyze all possible ways to reboot – from simply turning off the button to completely resetting the settings through the service menu. You will learn how to distinguish between a soft reboot (without data loss) and a hard reset (with a return to factory settings), and what to do if the robot does not respond to commands. LDS-sensor (laser scanner) and hybrid devices combining a vacuum cleaner and a mop.

Before you start, check that the problem may not be in the robot itself, but in the Mi Home app or router. For example, if the vacuum cleaner does not respond to commands from the phone, but physically turns on and drives, try rebooting the smartphone or reconnecting the device to Wi-Fi. If the robot is getting stuck in place with a constantly burning error indicator (red or orange), you can not do without rebooting.

1. Soft reboot: button-off

The safest and most recommended method is a software reboot via a physical button, which is suitable for most situations: hanging during cleaning, connecting errors to an application, or incorrect behavior (for example, a robot rides in circles), this method does not remove user settings, maps of the premises or cleaning history.

Instructions for all Xiaomi Mi Robot models (except for Mi Robot Vacuum-Mop 2 Pro, which has a separate reset button):

1. Find the power button – it is located on the top panel of the robot, usually marked with a symbol O/I (off).
2. Press the button for 3-5 seconds until you hear a beep (short beep) and see the indicator go out.
3. Wait 10-15 seconds and press the switch again, and the robot will make a long sound and start loading.

If the problem persists after the reboot, try repeating the procedure 2-3 times. Sometimes it helps to disconnect from the charging station before restarting - some Xiaomi models cache data about the last cleaning session, which can cause failures.

Make sure the robot is not in the charging station.

Check if the indicator is on (robot on)

Turn off the Mi Home app on your phone

Wait 1 minute after switching off before re-energizing-->

2. Hard reboot: reset via button retention

If a soft reboot doesn’t help, and the robot doesn’t respond to commands, hovers with a constantly burning error indicator, or produces paused audible signals (for example, three short beeps), a hard restart will be required, which forcefully resets the current session, but does not erase user data (maps, schedules).

For most Xiaomi Mi Robot models (including Mi Robot Vacuum) 1S, Mi Robot Vacuum-Mop P and others:

1. Make sure the robot is not on base – remove it from the charging station.
2. Press the power button at the same time (O/I) and the home button on 10–15 seconds.
3. Release the buttons when you hear a double beep (or see the indicator flashing).
4. Wait 1-2 minutes, the robot will automatically restart.

For models with touch buttons (e.g. Mi Robot Vacuum-Mop 2 Lite), the algorithm is different:

1. Press and hold the touch power button for 20 seconds.


2. After vibration and sound, release.




3. wait for a full reboot (the indicator will go out and light up again).

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If the robot is continuously squeaking after a hard reboot, it is a sign of a hardware malfunction (such as a jammed motor or collision sensor), in which case a diagnosis is required at the service center.

3. Factory reset: Full reset

Note: This method deletes all user data, including:

• 🗺️ Preserved maps of premises
• ⏰ Cleaning schedules
• 🔧 Individual settings (suction force, wet cleaning mode, etc.)
• 📱 Link to Mi Home account

Reset to factory settings is necessary in extreme cases:

• 🔄 The robot constantly produces errors that are not fixed by a soft reboot.
• 📱 Cannot connect to the Mi Home application (the device does not respond").
• 🔧 After updating the firmware, the robot is not working correctly.
• 🏠 You are transferring the vacuum cleaner to the new owner.

Instructions for most models:

1. Turn off the robot with a button. O/I.
2. Press the Home button and the power button for 10-15 seconds at the same time.
3. After the triple beep, release the buttons.
4. The robot will issue a voice message in Chinese (or English) – this is a confirmation of the reset.
5. Wait for the reboot (1-2 minutes). After switching on, set the vacuum cleaner as new.

For models with LDS-After reset, the sensor (laser) will require recalibration. Place the robot on a flat surface and wait until it completes the rotation (this can take up to 5 minutes).

4.Reboot via the Mi Home app

If the robot responds to commands from the application but is not running smoothly, it is possible to perform a software reboot without physical interaction, a method that is suitable for fixing connection errors or software failures.

Instructions:

1. Open the Mi Home app and select your robot vacuum cleaner.
2. Go to Settings. → General. → Reboot (or Settings) → General → Reboot in English version).
3. Confirm the action. The robot will beep and start rebooting.

In some versions of the app, the option may be called "Restart" or hidden under "Advanced." If there is no reboot button, upgrade Mi Home to the latest version.

After restarting through the application, the robot:

• 🔄 Save all settings and maps.
• 📱 Connect to Wi-Fi automatically (unless the network has changed).
• ⚡ Continue cleaning from the same place (if the task was active).

Once a month for prevention

Only when it fails.

Never rebooted.

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5.Reboot when updating the firmware

Firmware updates are a common cause of freezes, and if the robot is stuck in the update installation phase (the indicator flashes blue or white and progress does not move for more than 30 minutes), a forced reboot will be required, but it is important to act carefully to avoid damaging the system.

Steps for a safe restart:

1. If the robot is on the base, remove it from the charging station.
2. Press the power button for 20 seconds until the indicator goes out.
3. Wait 1 minute and turn the vacuum cleaner on again.
4. If after the reboot, the robot offers to update again, cancel the update in the Mi Home app and try again later.

If the robot fails to turn on after the reboot or if it gives a System Error error, it could mean that the firmware has been damaged.

• 🔌 Connect the vacuum cleaner to charging for 12 hours (even if the indicator does not burn).
• 📥 Try updating your firmware manually through Mi Home (Settings section) → Update of the PO).
• 🔧 If nothing helps, contact the service - you may need to flash through USB-OTG.

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Never turn off the Xiaomi robot vacuum cleaner while updating the firmware, disconnecting it from the outlet. This can lead to the device becoming “bricky” when it stops turning on altogether.

6. Post-reboot diagnostics

After any reboot, it is recommended to check the functionality of the robot.

If, after the reboot, the robot:

• 🔄 Do not save settings - perform reset to factory parameters (section 3).
• 📱 Not connected to the app – reinstall Mi Home or change your account region to “China” (for some models).
• 🔋 Fast discharge – perform 2-3 full charge/discharge cycles to calibrate the battery.

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After a hard reboot or reset, the robot can behave "unusually" in the first 1-2 cleanings. That's okay: it recalibrates the sensors and builds a map. Give it time to adapt.

7. Frequent errors and their solution

Some problems can be fixed without being completely reset, and here are the most common mistakes and ways to fix them:

If the robot produces a code error (e.g., Error 10 or Error 14), check the code for it in the official Xiaomi documentation.

• 🧹 Clogging of the dust collector (errors 1-5).
• 🔋 Battery problems (Errors 7–9).
• 📡 Sensor failures (Errors 10-15).

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Always try soft reboots and sensor cleansing before contacting the service center, and statistics show that 60% of the “breakdowns” of Xiaomi robot vacuum cleaners are eliminated by these actions.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions