How to properly reboot the robot vacuum cleaner Xiaomi: from soft restart to complete reset

Xiaomi’s robot vacuum cleaners are some of the most popular smart home devices, but even they sometimes require a reboot. Hanging up during cleaning, connecting errors to the Mi Home app, crashes after a firmware update or sensors malfunction are all often solved by a simple restart. However, not all users know that Xiaomi’s robot vacuum cleaners have several types of reboots, and improperly performing the procedure can make things worse.

In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to reboot for Mi Robot Vacuum, Mi Robot Vacuum-Mop, Mi Robot Vacuum-Mop 2 and others, including soft restart (without losing settings), hard reset (with a return to factory settings) and emergency reboot when the device is completely locked.

1.When do you need to reboot Xiaomi's robot vacuum cleaner?

Not all "glutty" behavior requires an immediate reboot, for example, if the Xiaomi vacuum cleaner does not return to base, first check whether a foreign object is blocking the path or whether the battery has run out.

• 🔄 The vacuum cleaner is stuck in one place and does not respond to commands from the Mi Home app or voice assistant.
• 📱 The mobile app displays a "Device offline" error, although the indicator on the vacuum cleaner case is on fire.
• 🔋 After updating the firmware, the device behaves unstable: it stops arbitrarily, does not recognize the cleaning zone.
• 🗺️ The map of the premises in the application is not updated or shows non-existent obstacles.
• 🔊 The vacuum cleaner emits repeated audible error signals (for example, three short squeaks in a row).

If at least one of these symptoms is present regularly, a reboot can return the device to working condition, but it is important to understand that frequent failures (for example, once a week) often indicate more serious problems, from battery damage to a motherboard malfunction, in which cases a restart will only help temporarily.

2. Soft reboot (restart without resetting settings)

This is the safest way to do this, and it doesn't affect your saved settings, your room maps, or your account data, and it's recommended that you try a soft restart first, because it solves up to 70 percent of software failures, and it's done in two ways:

Method 1: Through a button on the body

Most Xiaomi models (such as the Mi Robot Vacuum-Mop 2 Pro or Mi Robot Vacuum-Mop 2 Lite) have a physical power button.

1. Find the power/home button (usually round, with a house icon).
2. Hold it for 10-15 seconds until the vacuum cleaner emits an audible signal.
3. Release the button and wait 1-2 minutes for the device to restart.

After restarting, the vacuum cleaner will automatically connect to Wi-Fi and sync the data with the Mi Home app. If this does not happen, check the network connection or restart the router.

Method 2: Through the Mi Home app

If the vacuum cleaner responds to commands from the application, but works unstable, you can restart it programmatically:

1. Open Mi Home and select your vacuum cleaner.
2. Go to Settings. → About the device → Reboot.
3. Confirm the action and wait for the process to be completed (about 30-60 seconds).

Make sure the vacuum cleaner is at least 20% charged

Check the stability of the Internet connection

Close the Mi Home app and open it again

Remove the vacuum cleaner from the list of Bluetooth devices (if you have previously connected)

-->

If you have problems after a soft reboot, move to a hard reset, but remember, this method removes all user settings, including stored room maps.

3. Hard reset (return to factory settings)

Hard reset is an extreme measure that is used if a soft reboot does not help or the device is completely locked (for example, does not respond to buttons and does not connect to the application), this method will return the vacuum cleaner to the “out of the box” state, so use it only when necessary.

Step-by-step instructions for all Xiaomi models

The reset algorithm is the same for most Xiaomi robot vacuum cleaners, but may be slightly different for older models (for example, Mi Robot Vacuum 1). For modern devices (Mi Robot Vacuum-Mop 2 Ultra, Mi Robot Vacuum-Mop P, etc.), act as follows:

1. Turn off the vacuum cleaner by holding the power button for 5 seconds (until the audible shutdown signal).
2. Press and hold two buttons at the same time: Power/Home (round button) Spot Cleaning (circle icon button, if any)

For models without a Spot Cleaning button (such as Mi Robot Vacuum-Mop Essential), hold the power button only.

10-15 seconds

2-3 minutes

orange

If the vacuum cleaner does not turn on or flashes red after reset, this may indicate a hardware malfunction (for example, battery discharge below critical level), in which case, connect it to the charging base for 30 to 60 minutes and try again.

What happens after a hard reset?

It's going back to factory settings.

• 🔄 Reconnect the vacuum cleaner to Wi-Fi.
• 🗺️ Re-create a room map (previous saves will be removed).
• ⚙️ Set up a cleaning schedule, no-go zones and other parameters.
• 🔒 Re-attach the device to your Mi Home account.

💡

Before a hard reset, take a picture of your current settings in the Mi Home app (timetable, cleaning areas, suction power) and save time when you reset.

4. Emergency reboot with full lockdown

If the Xiaomi robot vacuum cleaner is completely frozen — it doesn't respond to buttons, it doesn't make sounds, it doesn't flash indicators — it's going to require a forced power reset, a method that's risky because it can damage the device's file system, but sometimes it's the only one that's possible.

How to perform a forced reset?

Follow these steps:

1. Turn the vacuum cleaner off the charging base (if it is connected).
2. Turn the device over and find the battery compartment (usually it is closed with a lid with latches).
3. Unplug the battery for 10-15 seconds. To do this, unscrew the screws (if any) or snap the lid. Carefully unplug the battery connector (don't pull the wires!).

Connect the battery back and collect the body.

Put the vacuum cleaner on charging and turn it on with the power button.

⚠️ Warning: Disabling the battery will void the warranty if the device has not been disassembled before, and there is a risk of damaging plumes or contacts if handled carelessly.

After a forced discharge, the vacuum cleaner may behave unstable (for example, not saving settings or “forgetting” the map of the room), in which case, perform a hard reset (described in the previous section) to completely re-initiate the system.

5.Reboot after firmware update

Xiaomi robot vacuum cleaner firmware updates are usually automatic, but sometimes the process is interrupted and the device freezes during the installation phase.

• 📶 Unstable Internet connection.
• 🔋 Discharged battery (less than 30%).
• 🛠️ Conflict with the previous version of the software.

If the vacuum cleaner does not turn on after updating or gives an error, follow the following steps:

Step 1: Verification of Update Status

If the device is turned on but is not working correctly:

1. Open Mi Home → Settings of the device → About the device.
2. Check the current firmware version. If it's different from the last one available, try updating again.

Step 2: Forced restart after update failure

If the vacuum cleaner is “hang” during the installation phase (blinks white or blue, but does not complete the process):

1. Press the power button for 20 seconds (until completely switched off).
2. Connect the device to charge and wait until the indicator lights up green (charge). ≥50%).
3. Turn on the vacuum cleaner and wait for the automatic reboot (can take up to 5 minutes).

Step 3: Restore Firmware through Mi Home

If the update fails constantly, try to restore the firmware manually:

1. In the Mi Home app, go to Profile → Settings → Region and select China (Mainland China).
2. Return to the device and check for updates (sometimes global versions get firmware later).
3. If an update is available, install it and bring the region back.

⚠️ Note: If the vacuum cleaner has become worse after the update (for example, it is less orientated or discharges faster), check the reviews about the current version of the firmware on the forums (for example, 4pda.ru). Perhaps the update contains errors, and it is better to roll back to the previous version through the service center.

6. Frequent reboot errors and how to avoid them

Many users make mistakes that, instead of solving the problem, make it worse.

• ❌ Interrupting the resetting process: If you release the buttons ahead of time, the vacuum cleaner may "block" and require resetting.
• ❌ Use of a non-original charger: low-quality power supplies can cause power surges, which will cause a failure of the controller.
• ❌ Reset without charging. If the battery is less than 10%, the device may not turn on after restarting.
• ❌ Ignoring the sound, for example, three short squeaks often mean jamming the brushes, not software failure.

To avoid problems:

• ✅ Always check the battery before resetting (optimally — ≥50%).
• ✅ Use only the original Xiaomi charger.
• ✅ After a hard reset, do not interrupt the first charge (even if the indicator is green).
• ✅ If the vacuum cleaner makes non-standard sounds, first check the mechanical parts (brushes, wheels).

💡

Hard reset is not a panacea. If the vacuum cleaner is buggy after each reboot, the problem may be in the hardware (for example, a malfunction of the gyroscope or collision sensor).

7. Alternative ways to solve problems without rebooting

Not all failures require a restart. Sometimes simple steps are enough:

Problem: The vacuum cleaner is not returning to base

Possible solutions:

• 🔦 Check if the IR sensor is blocking a foreign object.
• 📏 Make sure the distance from the vacuum cleaner to the base is less than 5 meters (for models without LiDAR).
• 🔄 Reboot the base, disconnect it from the network for 30 seconds.

Problem: No room map is saved

What to do:

• 🗺️ Remove the current map in the Mi Home app and start a re-scan.
• 📵 Make sure there are no sources of interference nearby (microwaves, other robot vacuum cleaners).
• 🔋 Charge the vacuum cleaner to 100% – with a low charge, some models refuse to save cards.

Problem: The vacuum cleaner does not connect to Wi-Fi

Instructions:

1. Reboot the router.
2. In the Mi Home app, select Add Device → Robot vacuum cleaner → Your model and repeat the binding.
3. If dual-band Wi-Fi is used, connect the vacuum cleaner to a 2.4 GHz network (5 GHz not supported).

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions