How to set up a cleaning map for Xiaomi robot vacuum cleaner: from scanning to zoning

Xiaomi’s laser navigation (LDS) or visual positioning (VSLAM) robot vacuum cleaners are capable of creating accurate maps of rooms, making cleaning more efficient. However, many users face problems: the device does not save a map, does not recognize rooms correctly or ignores forbidden areas. In this article, we will discuss how to configure a cleaning map for Mi Robot Vacuum-Mop 2 Pro, S7, X10+ models and others to make the robot work as accurately as possible.

The process of map customization involves several steps: initial scanning, editing room boundaries, creating virtual walls and cleaning areas, and optimizing routes. We will look at each step in detail, including hidden settings in the Mi Home app that the manufacturer does not advertise. If your vacuum cleaner does not save the card after turning off, this is not a bug, but a feature of the firmware, and we will tell you how to get around it.

1.Preparing robot vacuum cleaner for first scan

Before you start mapping, make sure the robot is ready to go, and errors at this point will lead to inaccurate scans or crashes.

• 🔋 The battery level is not less 50% (optimally 80-100%). At low charge, the robot can interrupt the scan.
• 📶 Stable Wi-Fi connection: If the signal is weak, use a repeater or move the router closer.
• 🧹 Clean sensors: wipe the laser sensor (in models with LDS) or camera VSLAM-models) with a soft napkin.
• 🚪 Close the doors to the next room if you don't want the robot to go in, which will make it easier to scan the first one.

Also remove small objects (wires, toys, fringed mats) that may interfere with movement from the floor. If there are mirrors or glass surfaces in the room, cover them with cloth - they knock down the laser sensors.

⚠️ Warning: Do not run the scan in a dark room. VSLAM (For example, Mi Robot Vacuum-Mop 2 Lite are guided by visual tags, and in the dark the map will be distorted.

2. Starting the first scan of the premises

Now let's move on to mapping.

1. Open the Mi Home app (or Xiaomi Home for new models).
2. Select your robot vacuum cleaner from the list of devices.
3. Click the Map (or Map in English version).
4. Slip the Scan button (or Start Mapping).

The robot will start moving around the perimeter of the room, gradually filling the map. Don't interrupt the process, even if it takes 15-20 minutes. The slower the vacuum is moving, the more accurate the result will be. If the robot is stuck, help it manually, but don't move it far from the current position, it will knock the coordinates.

Once the scan is complete, the map will automatically be saved. Some firmware requires confirmation, press Save Map. If there is no button, check for app updates.

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If the robot missed part of the room, run the scan again, and you can move it to the unscanned area manually to speed up the scan, but don't turn off the vacuum cleaner.

3. Map Editing: Division into Rooms and Zones

The maps that you create are rarely perfect, and often the rooms merge into the same space, or the boundaries don't go where they should.

1. In the app, go to the Map section.
2. Click Edit (pencil icon).
3. Choose to divide rooms and draw lines along the boundaries of the premises.
4. Name each room (e.g., “Living Room”, “Kitchen”) for convenience.

For models with multi-card save support (such as Xiaomi X10+), you can create separate maps for each floor.

Settings → Map → Add a new floor

If your robot does not support multi-carding, you will have to manually transfer it between floors and rescan.

Make sure the robot is connected to Wi-Fi

Check the battery charge (>50%)

Close the doors to unscanned rooms

Remove small objects from the floor-->

4. Creation of virtual walls and no-go zones

To prevent the robot from going into certain places (for example, to pet bowls or to a carpet with a high pile), set up virtual walls and forbidden areas:

1. In the Map section, click Add (+ icon).
2. Choose: 🚫 No-go zone: The robot will not enter this area. 🧱 Virtual Wall – The robot will not cross the line.

Draw a zone or wall on the map, stretching your fingers.

Save the changes.

For models with LDS (Laser scanners: Virtual walls work more accurately than for VSLAM-If the robot ignores the forbidden zones, try it:

• 🔄 Reboot the robot (hold the power button for 5 seconds).
• 📲 Update the firmware through Settings → Update of the PO.
• 🗺️ Rescan the map again.

⚠️ Note: Virtual walls in Mi Home may be reset after app updates. Check their presence on the map regularly.

5. Set up cleaning areas and schedules

If you do not need to clean the whole room, you can specify the cleaning areas:

1. In the Map section, click Add → Cleaning area.
2. Circle the area on the map.
3. Select cleaning mode: 🧹 Dry cleaning is just a vacuum cleaner. 💧 Wet cleaning - with wiping (for models with a mop). 🔄 Dry + wet-combination.

Save and start.

For automatic cleaning on schedule:

Settings → Schedule → Add a task

Specify days, times, and zones, for example, you can set up daily kitchen cleaning at 8:00 and bedrooms every other day at 10:00.

6. Map optimization: error correction and update

Over time, the map may move off because of furniture rearrangements or sensor failures, to update it:

• 🔄 Start the Re-Scanning in the Map section.
• 🗑️ If the map is badly distorted, delete it (Delete the map) and recreate it.
• 📱 Update the firmware of the robot – in new versions often improve scanning algorithms.

For models with LDS (such as Mi Robot Vacuum-Mop 2 Pro), you can manually calibrate the sensors.

Settings → Additional → Calibration of sensors → Follow the instructions on the screen

If the robot is constantly lost on the map, check:

• 🔦 Clean laser sensor (wipe with a dry wipe).
• 📡 Wi-Fi signal – with a weak connection, the robot may not have time to synchronize data.
• 🔋 Battery charge – at a level below 20%, the scanning accuracy drops.

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Regularly update the map after rearrangement of furniture or repair. The robot navigates by static objects (walls, large furniture), and their displacement confuses navigation.

7.Card problems and their solutions

Even after you set it up properly, you can have failures, and let's look at the typical problems and how to fix them:

If the card is completely off and re-scanning doesn’t help, reset the settings:

Settings → General → Resetting settings → Reset the card

You will then have to recreate the map. To avoid data loss, export backups of the card regularly (if the function is supported by your model).

Frequently asked questions