Xiaomi’s robot vacuum cleaners have long since ceased to be simple house assistants, becoming smart assistants able to clean selective areas of an apartment on a schedule or by voice command. But many owners still do not use one of the most useful functions – cleaning individual areas. This option allows, for example, to clean only the space under the dining table after breakfast or walk on the carpet in the hallway without affecting the rest of the room.
In this article, we will discuss how zone cleaning works on Xiaomi Mi Robot Vacuum-Mop 2 Pro, Xiaomi DreameBot D10 Plus and other current devices from 2023-2026. You will learn what pitfalls can occur when setting up, how to save zones in the Mi Home app, and what to do if the robot ignores your commands.
What Xiaomi models support zone cleaning
Not all Xiaomi robot vacuum cleaners are able to clean individual areas, and this feature is only available on laser navigation (LDS) or visual positioning (VSLAM) devices that build a map of the room.
- 🔹 Xiaomi Mi Robot Vacuum-Mop 2 Pro (2022–2026)
- 🔹 Xiaomi DreameBot D10 Plus / D9 / L10 Pro
- 🔹 Xiaomi Mi Robot Vacuum-Mop P (with firmware 3.5.8 and higher)
- 🔹 Xiaomi Mi Robot Vacuum-Mop 2 Lite (limited support)
- 🔹 Xiaomi S10 / S10+ (function 3D-mapping)
If your model is not included in this list, check its characteristics on the official website or in the Mi Home application.
- Open the app and select your robot.
- Go to Settings → About the device → Firmware version.
- Compare the version with the minimum zone cleaning requirements (usually 3.3.0 and above).
⚠️ Note: Robots with gyroscopic navigation (e.g. Xiaomi Mi Robot Vacuum) 1S) They don't support zone cleaning because they don't have accurate mapping, they can only clean by timer or manually.
Preparation for setting up: what to do before creating zones
Before you start marking zones, make sure your robot is ready for precise operation.
- The robot must at least once completely pass through the apartment in cleaning mode (at least 70% of the coverage), the map is saved automatically.
- Updated Software. In Mi Home, check for firmware updates (Settings → Software Update).
- Stable Wi-Fi connection. Zones are saved in the Xiaomi cloud, so without the Internet, setting up is impossible.
- Clean sensors: Wipe the lenses of the laser scanner (in models with LDS) or the camera (in models with VSLAM) with a microfiber napkin.
If the map of the room is built incorrectly (for example, rooms merge into one or there are no walls), follow the following steps:
☑️ Correction of card errors
⚠️ Warning: If you have mirrors or glass partitions in your apartment, seal them with paper while you build the map. Laser rays bounce off these surfaces, causing the route to be distorted.
Step-by-step: how to create a cleaning area in Mi Home
Now, the main thing is to set up zone cleaning, and it's suitable for all supported models, but the interface may vary slightly depending on the version of the application.
Step 1. Open the room map
Start the Mi Home app, select your robot vacuum cleaner, and go to the Map tab, and if the map doesn't show up, you haven't built it yet, start cleaning it up completely.
Step 2. Select the markup tool
In the lower right corner of the map screen, click on the Zone icon (usually a plus square inside). In some versions of the app, this item may be called the Preserve Zone or Selective Cleanup.
Step 3. Draw a cleaning area
With your finger, circle the area you want to remove on the map, the minimum size of the zone is 1 × 1 meter. After marking, a menu with settings will appear:
- 📍 Name of the area (for example, "Kitchen", "Carpet by the sofa»).
- 🧹 Cleaning mode: only vacuum cleaner, only mop, or both.
- 🔄 Number of passes (from 1 to 3).
- 💧 Intensity of wet cleaning (for models with a mop).
Step 4: Save and start cleaning
Press Save, then select Remove Zone. The robot will start moving to the specified area. Arrival time depends on distance and obstacles (on average 1-3 minutes).
💡 Useful tip: If the robot doesn't respond to the command, check if it's on the base. D10 Plus) require that the vacuum cleaner be outside the docking station to start the area cleaning.
How to delete or edit the area?
Common mistakes and their solution
Even if you set it up properly, it can act unexpectedly, and here are the typical problems and ways to fix them:
| Problem. | Possible cause | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| Robot doesn't start cleaning up zone | Low battery charge (<30%) | Put the robot on charge or reduce the size of the zone |
| Cleaning the wrong area | Shifting the card after rearranging the furniture | Reconfigure the map (remove the old one in Settings → Map) |
| Ignoring part of the zone | Obstacles (wires, toys) or weak Wi-Fi signal | Remove interference or restart the router |
| The error was “failed to save the zone” | Xiaomi cloud problems or outdated firmware | Update the robot’s app and firmware |
⚠️ Warning: If after updating the firmware, the robot stopped seeing the saved zones, reset the map settings (Settings) → Map. → Reset the card. This will remove all the zones, but restore the functionality.
Comparison of Zone Cleaning with Other Regimes
Area cleaning isn't the only way to operate a robot, but let's compare it to other popular modes to see when to use it:
- 🏠 Complete cleaning: Robot goes through all rooms. Suitable for general cleaning, but spends a lot of time and charge.
- 🚪 Room cleaning: You can choose specific rooms (if they are divided on the map), more convenient than zone cleaning for large spaces.
- 🎯 Area cleaning: Spot cleaning of small areas, ideal for local contamination (e.g. after meals or repairs).
- ⏱️ Scheduled cleaning: Automatic start at a given time, you can combine with zones (e.g., clean the kitchen every day at 20:00).
Area cleaning consumes the battery faster than full, due to frequent turns and maneuvers in a small space. For example, the Xiaomi Mi Robot Vacuum-Mop 2 Pro charge drops by 15-20% in 10 minutes when cleaning the area, while full cleaning drops by 10-12% over the same period.
💡 Tip: To save battery, use zone cleaning only when necessary, and to regularly maintain cleanliness, set up cleaning rooms with less intensity.
Additional chips: voice control and automation
Area cleaning can be run not only through the app, but also by voice (if the robot is connected to Alice, Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa).
- In Mi Home, connect the robot to your voice assistant (Settings → Voice Assistant).
- Say, "Alice, start cleaning the kitchen area on a robot vacuum cleaner."
You can also configure automation through scripts in Mi Home, such as:
- 🔄 After leaving home: Robot cleans area at front door.
- 🍽️ Afternoon: Cleaning under the table starts.
- 🐕 After walking with the dog: Cleaning the mat in the hallway.
⚠️ Warning: Voice commands only work for areas with simple names (e.g., "Kitchen", "Corridor"). Complex names like "The Area Under the Window Couch" may not be recognized.
💡
Voice zone cleaning requires pre-setting in Mi Home and a stable internet connection. Without a Xiaomi cloud connection, teams will not work.