Owners of Xiaomi’s smart appliances and the Mijia ecosystem often face situations where the device stops responding correctly to commands or loses communication with the router. Resetting is a universal method of solving most software failures that can occur during operation. If your robot vacuum cleaner stopped cleaning on a schedule or is displayed as “offline” in the application, the procedure of rebooting or a full Hard Reset can bring it back to life in minutes.
There are two main types of reset: soft reset, which just turns off and turns on the device, and hard reset, which returns the gadget to factory settings. It is important to understand the difference between the two, since completely deleting data will require re-associating the device to the Mi Home account and setting up the Wi-Fi again. In this article, we will detail the algorithms for different generations of robots, from classic models to the latest versions with laser navigation.
Before you start taking any drastic measures, make sure that the problem is software, not a mechanical blockage or a dead battery. However, if you have already tried brush cleaning and contact checks, restoring factory condition is a logical step. Below are detailed instructions to help you restore the device to work without going to a service center.
Differences between Soft Reset and Hard Reset
Understanding the difference between the two is critical to keeping your data safe and configuring your device properly. Soft Reset is the equivalent of rebooting your computer or smartphone: the device shuts down and re-engineered, clearing RAM and completing the hanging processes, all of your room maps, cleaning schedules and cleaning history are saved.
Unlike a soft reboot, Hard Reset (or Factory Reset) completely erases user data, and after this procedure, the robot forgets your Wi-Fi password, your Mi Account binding, and your built-up apartment maps, which must be done when you sell the device, transfer it to another user, or when critical system errors are not eliminated by a normal reboot.
- 🔄 Soft Reset: Quickly restart the system without losing data.
- 🗑️ Hard Reset: Completely remove all settings and return to the original state.
- 📡 Wi-Fi reset: A separate feature that resets only network settings but saves the card.
⚠️ Warning: Performing a full reset will remove saved maps of the premises. If you have a complex layout, it is recommended to take a screenshot of the map in the application before reset or be ready to re-build it.
In most cases, when the robot is just "glued" or does not see the network, it is enough to reset the network settings without resorting to a complete deletion of data. LDS-In the case of navigation, where the process of mapping can take considerable time, always start with less radical measures, moving to a complete reset only when necessary.
Preparation for the resetting procedure
Before you start manipulating the buttons on the case, you need to perform a number of preparatory steps, which will ensure the safety of the device and prevent possible errors in the process. First of all, make sure that the battery is charged at least 20-30%. If the battery sits down at the time of the firmware reset, this can damage the system files.
Also worth checking is the condition of the main nodes: the dust container, side brush and main roller. Sometimes the error, which the user perceives as a system failure, is caused by banal contamination of the sensors. Wipe the charging contact areas with dry cloth, as oxidation or dust can interfere with normal operation.
☑️ Checklist before reset
An important step is to check the version of the Mi Home or Xiaomi Home app. An outdated version of the software on your smartphone may not properly display the status of the device after a reset. Update the app via the App Store or Google Play to ensure compatibility with the recovery procedure.
💡
Before you completely reset, take a photo of the serial number at the bottom of the device. Once you delete the data from the application, it will be more difficult to find this information, and it may be necessary to re-assign it.
Instructions: Reset Wi-Fi settings (Soft Reset Network)
The most common problem users face is losing communication with the router, which is that the robot can burn with an orange indicator or constantly try to reconnect. To solve this problem, you don't need to delete the device completely from your account, you just reset the network settings, a process often called "pair reset."
To perform this operation on most models (for example, Xiaomi Vacuum Mop 2, Roborock S5 Max) you need to simultaneously press two buttons on the top panel: the on/off button and the return button to the base (house). Hold them for 3-5 seconds until you hear a voice message "Reset Wi-Fi" or "Wi-Fi reset", or until the indicator flashes orange.
After successful discharge:
- 📶 Robot will create its own Wi-Fi hotspot.
- 📱 In the Mi Home app, the device can be displayed as “inactive".
- 🔌 The procedure for adding the device must be re-conducted.
If the standard button combination doesn't work, try an alternative method through the app. Go to the device settings (three dots in the upper right corner), find "Device settings" and select "Unbind." This action will also reset network settings, but leave the device in your device list, requiring re-authorization.
⚠️ Warning: Make sure your smartphone is connected to a 2.4GHz Wi-Fi network. Xiaomi vacuum cleaners do not support 5GHz networks, and resetting won't help if the router only distributes a high-frequency signal.
Full reset to factory settings (Hard Reset)
If a soft reset didn’t work, or you’re planning to sell a device, you need to perform a full Hard Reset. The mechanics of this process may vary depending on the generation of the device. On older models (such as the Xiaomi Robot Vacuum), this often requires the simultaneous pressing of the Home and Power buttons for a longer time — about 10-15 seconds until confirmation is heard.
On more modern models with touch controls or single buttons, the algorithm may be different. Sometimes you need to open the lid and press the hidden Reset button next to the indicators. In rare cases, with deep system errors, it may be necessary to disassemble the case to access the board, but this is an extreme measure that should be resorted to only when you have experience.
The process of complete reset usually looks like this:
- Turn on the robot vacuum cleaner.
- Press and hold the reset buttons (the combination depends on the model).
- Wait for the voice confirmation "Reset successful" or the beep.
- The device will restart and go into the waiting mode of pairing.
What to do if the buttons do not respond?
Once you run Hard Reset, the device will be completely cleaned, and in the Mi Home app, it will be marked offline, and to continue working, you will have to remove it from the list of devices and add it again, as if you just bought it from the store, which ensures that all cached errors and configuration conflicts are deleted.
Specificity of reset for different models Xiaomi and Mijia
Xiaomi’s line of robot vacuum cleaners is extensive, and manufacturers often change the location of buttons and interface logic. Below is a table that will help you quickly find the right combination for your model.
| Model of the device | Button combination | Duration | Indication |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xiaomi Vacuum 1 / 1S | Home + Food | 3-5 seconds | Orange flashing |
| Roborock S5 / S6 | Home + Food | 3-5 seconds | Voice of "Reset Wi-Fi" |
| Mijia 1C / G1 | Two buttons at once. | 5 seconds | Sound signal |
| Xiaomi Vacuum Mop 2 | Home + Food | 3 seconds | Blinking of the indicator |
The Dreame series (often sold under the Xiaomi brand) can be used to hold a single control button for a long time, for example, the Dreame F9 or L10 Pro sometimes requires holding the on button for more than 10 seconds. Always pay attention to voice prompts, which are the most reliable indicator of the success of an operation.
If your model is not listed, follow the general rule: look for two buttons next to you or a small hole that says Reset. In the instructions in Russian, this procedure is often described in the "Troubleshooting" section under the heading "Reset system".
Solving problems after discharge
Once the reset procedure is completed, users may face new challenges, the most common being that the robot cannot see or connect to the Wi-Fi network. Make sure that the router's settings do not include filtering on the network. MAC-Once reset, the robot can request a connection permission that needs to be confirmed in the router's admin panel.
Another problem is the "Device is busy" error when you try to re-bind, which means that the Mi Cloud server has not yet updated the status of the device, in which case waiting for 10-15 minutes or completely restarting the router helps, and also try to switch the mobile Internet on your smartphone and back to Wi-Fi to update network routes.
- 📡 Error 10: The robot can't connect to the router (check the password).
- 🔗 Error 5: Connecting to the server (check the Internet).
- 📍 Map not built: Clean the laser rangefinder (LDS) dusty.
⚠️ Note: If after a complete reset and flashing, the robot continues to issue system errors, this may indicate a malfunction of the motherboard or Wi-Fi module.
Remember that after resetting the Wi-Fi router should work in compatibility mode. If you have a modern router with Smart Connect (combining 2.4 and 5 GHz into one network), try temporarily splitting networks or creating a guest network with only 2.4 GHz protocol for successful pairing.
💡
90% of connection problems after reset are solved by splitting the Wi-Fi router frequencies into 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz or turning off the Smart Connect function.