How to set up a Xiaomi robot vacuum cleaner for cleaning on 2 floors: a complete guide with maps and automatic floor change

Cleaning a two-story house with a Xiaomi robot vacuum cleaner seems a daunting task only at first glance.In fact, modern models - from the budget Mi Robot Vacuum to the flagship Roborock S8 Pro Ultra — supports multi-floor maps, automatic level recognition and even switching settings when you move the device. The main thing is to properly configure the system once, and then the vacuum cleaner will navigate where it is.

In this article, we’ll look at all the ways a robot vacuum cleaner can adapt to a two-story home, from manual mapping to automatic flooring by gyroscope or Wi-Fi, and learn how to avoid common mistakes (such as mixing cards when carrying a vacuum cleaner manually), which models support multi-family mode out of the box, and how to get around the limitations of old firmware.

1.What Xiaomi models support 2 floors?

Not all Xiaomi robot vacuum cleaners can save multiple cards at once. Multi-Floor Mapping is relatively recent and depends on the model, firmware version and regional software.

• 🔹 Roborock S7/S8 Series - full support for several floors with automatic change of cards (starting with firmware) 3.5.8_002021 newer).
• 🔹 Mi Robot Vacuum-Mop 2 Pro and later – limited support (requires manual switching in the application).
• 🔹 Older models (until 2020, for example, Mi Robot Vacuum) 1S) — Do not support multiple card retention, but workarounds can be used (see Section 4).
• 🔹 Roborock Q Revo – Automatic pressure determination of floor (barometer) + Integration with Matter for a Smart Home.

To check for multicard support in your model:

1. Open the Mi Home or Roborock app.
2. Go to the vacuum cleaner settings (Device) → Settings → Maps).
3. If you have the option to Add a map or Control floors – the function is supported.

Important: In Chinese versions of firmware (for example, for the market) CN) Multicard function can be disabled artificially, in which case it will help to flash to the global or European version of the software (instruction in section 6).

2.Preparation for setup: what to do before creating maps

Before you start scanning floors, follow these steps – they will save hours on reworking maps:

Make sure the vacuum cleaner is 100-charged%|Clean lidars and sensors from dust|Remove old cards in the app (if any)|Disconnect other robot vacuum cleaners from the same Wi-Fi network|Check the stability of the Internet connection (2.4 GHz)-->

Cleaning sensors is critical. Dust on a lidar or gyroscope causes maps to shift (when the vacuum cleaner "lost" and draws floors on top of each other). Wipe the sensors with a dry microfiber wipe, avoiding alcohol-containing liquids. Pay special attention to:

• 📡 Lidaru (rotating module on top).
• 🔄 Gyroscope (inside the case, cleaned only by the service center).
• 📶 Wi-Fi antenna (can be hidden under the cover).

If you have other Xiaomi smart devices in your home (lamps, sensors, sockets), temporarily disconnect them from the network or put them in Do not interfere in the application mode. This will prevent conflicts when syncing cards.

⚠️ Note: If your home uses a mesh Wi-Fi system (such as Xiaomi Mi Mesh or TP-Link Deco), before setting up the maps, turn off the automatic switching between points.

3. Step-by-step instruction: creating maps for each floor

The process of creating maps varies depending on the model and firmware. Below is a universal algorithm that works for most devices. Xiaomi/Roborock:

Method 1: Automatic floor recognition (for new models)

Multi-Floor Mapping 2.0 models (e.g. Roborock) S8 Pro Ultra) determine the change of floor:

• 📉 Air pressure (barometer).
• 📶 Wi-Fi signal level (if the access points on the floors are different).
• 🧭 Gyroscope data (when manually transferred).

How to set up:

1. Move the vacuum cleaner to the ground floor and wait until it connects to Wi-Fi.
2. Run cleaning in Full Map mode (in the app select Settings) → Maps. → Create a new map).
3. After the scan is completed, name the map (for example, 1 floor).
4. Move the vacuum cleaner to the second floor, and the device should prompt you to create a new map automatically.

Method 2: Manual card switching (for older models)

If there is no automatic recognition, the maps will have to be created and switched manually:

1. On the first floor, start the scan (Settings) → Maps. → Add a map).
2. After saving the card, transfer the vacuum cleaner to the second floor turned off (hold the power button for 5 seconds).
3. Turn on the vacuum cleaner, wait for the Wi-Fi connection and start a new scan.
4. In the app, switch cards manually before each cleaning (Select a card) → 1 floor/2 floor).

💡

If the vacuum cleaner confuses floors with automatic recognition, try renaming the Wi-Fi networks on each floor (e.g., the Wi-Fi network on the floor, Xiaomi_1floor and Xiaomi_2floor). This will help the device to navigate faster.

4. bypasses for older models without multicard support

If your vacuum cleaner is unable to save multiple cards (e.g. Mi Robot Vacuum 1 or Roborock) S5), There are three working solutions:

Method 1: Using virtual walls

Create virtual walls on each map that will block the vacuum cleaner’s access to another floor:

1. In the app, open the first floor map.
2. Add a virtual wall (Edit) → Add wall) at the stairs or the entrance to the second floor.
3. Repeat for the second floor by blocking the descent.
4. Before cleaning manually transfer the vacuum cleaner to the desired floor and remove the wall temporarily.

Method 2: Two accounts in Mi Home

Make two accounts in Mi Home:

• 🔹 On the first, save the map of the 1st floor.
• 🔹 On the second floor is a map of the 2nd floor.
• 🔹 Before cleaning, log in to the right account and synchronize the vacuum cleaner.

Cons: you will have to log in every time, but the cards will not mix.

Method 3: Reset the card before cleaning

The most radical method:

1. Before cleaning on another floor, reset the current map (Settings) → Maps. → Delete the map).
2. Run a new scan.
3. After cleaning, keep the map under the floor name.

⚠️ Attention: With frequent card dumping, the vacuum cleaner may begin to "forget" optimal cleaning routes, which leads to chaotic movement and an increase in cleaning time by 30-50.

5. Set up zones and schedules for each floor

Once you create the maps, customize the individual cleaning areas and schedules for each floor, which will allow you to automate the process:

How to Create Cleaning Zones

1. Open the floor map in the app.
2. Select Add Zone and circle the desired area (e.g. Kitchen 1 floor).
3. Set up cleaning options for the zone: 🧹 Mode (vacuum cleaner) + mop or vacuum cleaner). 💧 Intensity (for carpets or hard floors). ⏱ Cleaning time (e.g. 2 aisles for kitchen).

Save the area and repeat for other rooms.

Scheduling

To start the vacuum cleaner on the right floor at the right time:

1. Go to the schedule. → Add a challenge.
2. Choose a floor map (1 floor or 2 floor).
3. Specify areas for cleaning (or select the entire map).
4. Set the time and days of the week (e.g., Pn, Sr, Pt at 10:00 for the 1st floor).
5. Activate the option Automatic card switching (if available in firmware).

Example of a schedule for a two-storey house:

Problems and Solutions: Why Does a Vacuum Cleaner Confuse Floors?

Even after the correct setup, the robot vacuum cleaner can make mistakes in determining the floor, and let's consider the typical causes and ways to eliminate them:

Problem 1: The vacuum cleaner doesn’t automatically switch the card

Reasons:

• 📶 Weak Wi-Fi signal or identical network names on floors.
• 📉 Faulty barometer (in models with pressure sensor).
• 🔄 Outdated firmware.

Decisions:

• 🔹 Rename the Wi-Fi network on each floor (e.g, Xiaomi_Floor1 and Xiaomi_Floor2).
• 🔹 Update the firmware through the app (Settings) → Update of the PO).
• 🔹 Reset the vacuum cleaner settings to the factory and set up the cards again.

Problem 2: The floor maps overlap each other

This happens if:

• 🧭 The vacuum cleaner was transferred to the switched on (the gyroscope continued to work).
• 🗺 The old map was not removed before scanning the new floor.
• 🤖 Sensors are contaminated (lidar or gyroscope).

How to fix it:

1. Remove all maps in the app (Settings) → Maps. → Delete everything).
2. Move the vacuum cleaner to the floor off (hold the power button for 5 seconds).
3. Start a new scan for each floor individually.

Problem 3: The vacuum cleaner doesn't save the cards after the update

Sometimes, when you update the firmware, the cards are reset.

• 🔹 Before updating, back up the cards (in Roborock, you can do this through Settings). → Maps. → Exports).
• 🔹 Do not interrupt the upgrade process (the vacuum cleaner must remain on base).
• 🔹 If the cards are missing, try rolling back the firmware to the previous version (instruction below).

💡

If the vacuum cleaner starts to get worse after the update, check the firmware version. in some updates (for example, 4.6.0_00500 for Roborock S7) There were multiple card bugs. 4.5.8_00400 often solves the problem.

7. Additional chips: smart home and voice control

If your vacuum cleaner is integrated into the Xiaomi Smart Home ecosystem or supports Google Assistant/Alexa, You can automate cleaning even more:

Integration with a smart home

Example of automation for a two-storey house:

• 🔹 Trigger: The motion sensor on the 1st floor is triggered at 9:00.
• 🔹 Action: Vacuum cleaner begins cleaning area Kitchen 1 floor.
• 🔹 Condition: If a window is open on the 2nd floor (Aqara sensor), cleaning is cancelled.

How to set up:

1. Open the Mi Home app → Automation → Add.
2. Select a trigger (such as Time or Motion Sensor).
3. Add the action Start cleaning and specify the map / zone.
4. Save the script.

Voice control through Alice/Google/Alexa

Examples of voice commands:

• 🔹 Alice, start cleaning on the first floor.
• 🔹 Okay Google, the bedroom on the second floor was vacuumed.
• 🔹 Alexa, get the vacuum cleaner back to base.

To make it work:

1. Connect the vacuum cleaner to the appropriate voice assistant in its app.
2. Name maps and zones with clear words (e.g., Bedroom_2floor Zone_2).
3. In the assistant settings, check that the device appears in the list of managed.

💡

If the voice assistant doesn’t recognize the names of the zones, try renaming them in English (for example, the name of the zones is not recognized, Kitchen_Floor1 kitchen_1This increases the accuracy of recognition.

8. Update firmware to support multicard

If your vacuum cleaner model doesn’t support multiple cards out of the box, but is technically capable of doing so (e.g. Roborock). S5 Mi Robot Vacuum 1S), You can update the firmware manually. Attention: this is a risky operation that could lead to loss of warranty!

How to update the firmware through Mi Home

1. Open the Mi Home app and go to the vacuum cleaner settings.
2. Select Software Update.
3. If a new version is available, click Update and wait until it is completed (the vacuum cleaner must be on base!).

Handheld firmware via USB (for experienced users)

If automatic updates are not available:

1. Download firmware for your model from the official Roborock website or forum 4PDA (for example, rr_vacuum_s5_20230515.bin).
2. Put the file in the root USB-storage device (format) FAT32).
3. Insert the flash drive into the vacuum cleaner (the connector is usually hidden under the cover).
4. Press the Reset button for 5 seconds and the update will start.

⚠️ Attention: Not all firmware is compatible between regions! Installing Chinese firmware on a global model (and vice versa) can lead to loss of functionality (for example, disabling Russian or voice prompts.

After the update:

• 🔹 Reset the vacuum cleaner to factory settings (Settings) → Reset).
• 🔹 Re-create floor maps.
• 🔹 Check the multicard performance in Settings → Maps.

FAQ: Frequent questions about setting up 2 floor