Owners of Xiaomi smart appliances periodically face situations when the device starts to work incorrectly, loses communication with the server or requires a complete reconfiguration after changing the router. Resetting the Xiaomi robot vacuum cleaner to factory settings is a radical, but often the only sure way to return the gadget to work.
Depending on your janitor’s model, whether it’s the Mi Robot Vacuum-Mop P, Xiaomi Vacuum Mop 2 or earlier versions of the S50 series, the process may be slightly different. Performance errors can cause the device to go to AP-point mode or lock the Wi-Fi module. In this article, we will discuss in detail all ways to return to the original state.
Before any manipulations, make sure that the battery is at least 20% charged. A sudden power outage at the time of writing system files can lead to a "bricking" of the controller. Also prepare a smartphone with the Mi Home or Xiaomi Home app installed, as after the procedure you will need to re-tether.
When you need a complete reset of settings
Users often confuse a simple restart of the device with a full return to factory parameters. Hard Reset is necessary in cases where software errors are system-specific, for example, if the robot vacuum cleaner has stopped responding to commands from the application, but still continues to perform local tasks on the buttons on the body.
Another common reason is a change in Internet equipment, where if you change your ISP, router, or simply change your Wi-Fi password, the old connection profile in the robot's memory may conflict with the new security settings, and in such cases, the Wi-Fi module requires you to clear the connection cache.
⚠️ Warning: Before reset, be sure to remove the device from the Mi Home app. If you do not, after the recovery procedure, a junk profile with erroneous data may remain in the cloud.
A full reset is also required when selling the device or transferring it to another user, ensuring that the new owner gets a clean device without being tied to your Xiaomi ID account. Ignoring this step can result in the new user being unable to add a robot to their home.
Preparation for the discharge procedure
The success of the operation depends not only on the correct pressing of the buttons, but also on the preliminary preparation. First of all, you need to ensure a stable power supply. Put the robot vacuum cleaner on the charging station and make sure that the indicators signal the charging process.
The second important step is to check the physical state of the control buttons: On touch-controlled models (such as the Xiaomi Vacuum Mop 2 Pro+), the reaction can be instantaneous, whereas on mechanical buttons of older models (the Roborock S50 series) longer and stronger pressing is required. Dust and pile, caught under the buttons, can prevent the contacts from closing.
☑️ Checklist of preparations
It is not superfluous to check the firmware version before reset. Sometimes the problem is solved by simply updating the software through the Settings menu → Device → Update. If the update is impossible due to loss of communication, then the reset procedure becomes mandatory.
Method 1: Reset via Reset button on the body
Most Xiaomi and Roborock robotic vacuum cleaners have a hidden or explicit reset button. On classic models such as the Mi Robot Vacuum 1S or S5 Max, this button is often located on the top panel, next to the power button or under the protective cover.
To perform the discharge, the following actions must be performed:
- 🔘 Find a small hole with a Reset sign or arrow icon.
- 📎 Use a paper clip or a special needle (comes with a kit) to press the button inside the hole.
- ⏱ Hold the button for a while. 5-10 seconds before the voice message appears.
- 🔊 Wait for the phrase "Resetting Wi-Fi" or "Resetting Wi-Fi settings" in the interface language.
Once the robot has said the affirmative phrase, release the button, the Wi-Fi indicator should start flashing orange, which signals the transition to pairing mode, and the device is now ready for a new setup through the application.
What to do if the Reset button doesn’t work?
Method 2: Combination of buttons on different models
Not all models have a separate reset button. Xiaomi Vacuum Mop Essential or 1C series devices use a combination of buttons. Usually this is the simultaneous pressing of the on and back buttons to the base (home).
Algorithm for models without the Reset button:
- 🏠 Make sure the robot is in the charging station.
- 👆 Press and hold the Power and Home buttons at the same time.
- ⏳ Keep the buttons clamped near 10-15 seconds.
- 👁 Watch for indicators: they should go out and light up again, or change the color of the glow.
On some modifications, such as the Roborock E4 or S4, it may be necessary to open the top cover to access the reset button, which is hidden under the plastic casing of the dust collector.Be careful when opening the lid so as not to damage the container filling sensors.
| Model robot. | Resetting method | Indication of success |
|---|---|---|
| Mi Robot Vacuum S50/S55 | Reset button (clip) | Orange flashing Wi-Fi |
| Xiaomi Vacuum Mop 2 | Reset button (long press) | Voice confirmation |
| Xiaomi 1C / Essential | Power + Home (10 seconds) | Sound signal |
| Roborock S6/S7 | Reset button under the cover | Blinking of the network indicator |
If you don't work the first time, try to increase the interval to 20 seconds, the main thing is not to release the buttons until the state of the indicators changes.
Restore connection after reset
After a successful reset, the robot vacuum cleaner enters a standby mode, at which point the Wi-Fi module creates its own network or becomes visible for scanning. Open the Mi Home app and click Add Device.
The app will automatically find a new device. If that doesn't happen, select the model from the list manually. During the setup process, you will be asked to select a Wi-Fi network. Note: most Xiaomi robots only work in the 2.4 GHz band. If your router broadcasts 2.4 and 5 GHz networks under the same name, it can be difficult.
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If the robot doesn’t see the 2.4GHz network, temporarily disable the 5GHz network in the router settings or create a guest network with only 2.4GHz protocol for initial setup.
Enter your wireless password. It can take up to 2-3 minutes to transmit data, while the robot will make sounds and change the status of the indicators, do not interrupt the process and hold the smartphone next to the device.
⚠️ Warning: Make sure that the Wi-Fi password does not contain Cyrillic characters or special characters that may be misinterpreted by the robot firmware.
Common mistakes and ways to solve them
Even with the exact instructions, it can be difficult. One of the most common problems is the "Device failed" error, which is often due to the phone using mobile Internet (4G/5G) instead of Wi-Fi during setup.
Another common situation is that the robot is reset but not paired, which may indicate that the device's flash memory is full of error logs, and cyclic reset helps: turn the robot off, turn it on, reset, turn it off again and turn it on.
If the robot continues to make network errors after the reset, even though the password is entered correctly, check the router's settings. MAC-filtering SSID You can also try to change the region in the Mi Home app (for example, from Russia to China or Europe) if the device is imported.
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90% of connection problems after reset are solved by switching the phone to the 2.4 GHz network and disconnecting the mobile Internet on the smartphone.
Prevention and care of software
To avoid the need for frequent resets, it is recommended to update the device’s firmware regularly. Manufacturers release patches that fix connection bugs. You can check for updates in the Settings → About Device menu.
It's also worth periodically clearing the robot's memory of maps if you change the layout of your apartment frequently. The accumulation of old maps can slow down the navigation algorithm. Do this through the Maps menu in the app, removing unused stored floors.
Timely cleaning of sensors and wheels also affects the stability of the software. If the sensors are contaminated, the robot can go into an endless cycle of errors, which the user mistakenly takes for a software glitch that requires resetting.