Editing the map of the robot vacuum cleaner Xiaomi: a complete guide with step-by-step instructions

Xiaomi’s robot vacuum cleaners (including the Roborock, Mi Robot and Dreame models) have long since ceased to be simple cleaning devices, becoming smart assistants with detailed route management. One of the key features that sets them apart from competitors is the ability to edit a room map, which not only optimizes the cleaning process, but also avoids areas where you do not want to go (for example, children’s play mats or places with wires).

But many users have difficulty first interacting with a map in the Mi Home or Roborock app: how to divide rooms, why the robot doesn't save changes, or how to remove "dead zones" that interfere with full cleaning. In this article, we'll take a look at all the nuances, from basic settings to hidden features that the manufacturer doesn't always advertise. And if you have a model with a LiDAR scanner (for example, Roborock S7 or DreameBot Z10 Pro), you'll learn how to make the most of its features.

Preparation: What to do before editing the map

Before you start changing the map, make sure your Xiaomi robot vacuum cleaner is ready for it.In many cases, problems with saving the changes or "resetting" the card arise from not following simple but important conditions.

First, check the firmware version of the device. Outdated versions often don't support new editing features. Update the firmware through the Mi Home app (Device Settings → Firmware Update). For Roborock models, current firmware usually comes out every 1-2 months, so keep an eye out for updates.

Second, make sure that the robot maps the entire room, and if the map is not fully built (e.g., rooms or corridors are missing), it will be impossible to edit it.

• 🔄 Run a full cleaning in Mapping mode (if any) or just let the robot go around the room without interruption.
• 📱 Wait until the full map with designated rooms appears in the app (usually this takes a lot of time). 1-2 cleaning-cycle).
• 🔌 Make sure the robot is connected to Wi-Fi and synced to the application. If the signal is weak, the card may not be saved.

⚠️ Attention: If you have moved the robot vacuum cleaner to a new room, the old card should be removed, otherwise the device may try to navigate by irrelevant data, which will lead to chaotic cleaning).

Also, it is worth considering that some models (for example, Xiaomi Mi Robot Vacuum-Mop 2 Lite) have a simplified mapping system and do not support room division, in which case only the addition of forbidden zones and virtual walls is available.

How to open and save a map in the Mi Home app

The main tool for working with the map is the official Mi Home app (or Roborock, if you have the same model), the interface is similar, but there are nuances.

1. Open the app and select your robot vacuum cleaner from the list of devices.
2. On the main screen, tap the Map icon (usually located in the lower menu).
3. If the map is not displayed, click Update (round arrow) or wait for the robot to complete the current cleaning.
4. To edit, click on the Pencil icon (or Edit in newer versions of the app).

In editing mode, the following tools will be available to you (their set depends on the model):

• 📏 Rooms separation – draw a line along the boundary of the room to divide the space.
• 🚫 No-go zones – mark areas where the robot cannot enter (for example, near a bowl of pet food).
• 🧹 Cleaning areas – identify areas that need to be cleaned more often or separately from others.
• 🔄 Combining rooms – if a robot divides one room into several, they can be combined.

After making changes, be sure to click Save (check or floppy in the upper right corner). If you don't, all edits will reset after rebooting the robot or updating the map. Some models (for example, the Roborock S7 MaxV) allow you to save up to 5 options for maps - this is convenient if you have several floors or change the layout often.

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If the robot ignores the restricted areas after saving the card, try resetting it (hold the power button for 5 seconds), which sometimes helps synchronize the data.

Separation and unification of rooms: step-by-step instructions

One of the most popular features is room separation, which allows you to set different cleaning settings for each room (for example, increase the suction power in the hallway or turn off the wet cleaning in the bedroom).

1. Open the map in edit mode (as described above).

2. Find the option to divide rooms on the toolbar (usually indicated by an icon with two rectangles).

3. Swipe your finger along the line where the boundary between the rooms should be. The app automatically offers options for separation - choose the most accurate one.

4. Once separated, give each room a name (e.g., "Kitchen", "Living Room") to help you navigate your schedule.

If the robot has not divided the room in the right way (for example, it has combined the corridor and the bathroom), fix this:

• 🔍 Increase the scale of the map to draw the line more accurately.
• 📌 Use the option to combine rooms if you need to remove unnecessary boundaries.
• 🔄 If the boundary is curved, click Cancel and try again.

Importantly, some models (such as the Xiaomi Mi Robot Vacuum 1S) do not support automatic room separation, in which case you can manually create virtual walls that will perform the same function.

Precision of room boundaries|Correct room names|No restrictions on prohibited areas|Synchronize with the cloud (the cloud icon should be green)-->

Adding no-go zones and virtual walls

No-go zones are areas that the robot will bypass, which are convenient for protecting long-pile carpets, animal feed, or fragile objects, and virtual walls serve the same function, but are straight lines that the robot does not cross (useful for doorways or stairs).

To add a no-go zone:

1. In the map editing mode, select the Forbidden Zone tool (icon with a crossed circle).
2. Click on the map in the place where you want to create the zone, and stretch it to the desired size.
3. Set up the parameters: 📏 Size – Minimum size of the zone is usually 0.5×0.5. ⏰ Time of action – you can only make the zone permanent or active during certain hours (for example, when no one is home).

Save the changes.

For virtual walls:

1. Select the Virtual Wall tool (Icon with vertical line).
2. Draw a line on the map, limiting the robot’s access to a specific area.
3. The wall should not be more than 10 meters long (otherwise, the robot can ignore it).

Note that if the no-go zone or wall is too close to the robot base (less than 1.5 m), it may prevent it from returning to charge, in which case the device will give an error.

⚠️ Attention: On models with 3D-cameras (e.g. Roborock) S7 MaxV Ultra: No-go zones can be created not only on a map, but also in real time by voice or gestures, but they only work during the current cleaning and are not saved on the map.

Cleaning Optimization: Areas, Schedules and Priorities

Editing a map opens up the possibility of flexible cleaning customization, such as asking a robot to clean only certain rooms on a schedule or increasing suction power in areas with high pollution.

To set up zone cleaning:

1. In the map editing mode, select the Cleanup Zone tool.
2. Circle the desired area (for example, near the front door or kitchen table).
3. Specify cleaning parameters: 🧹 Mode – dry, wet or combined cleaning. 🔋 Suction power – choose Turbo for highly contaminated areas. 🔄 Number of passes - increase to 2-3 better result.

Planner

To set up priority rooms (clean up first here, then in the rest):

1. Open the map and select the room you want to prioritize.
2. Click on its name and select Set Priority.
3. In the schedule, indicate that cleaning should begin from this room.

If the card is not saved anyway, try the following steps:

1. Delete the current card in the robot settings (Reset the card).
2. Start a new cleaning to build a map from scratch.
3. Make changes and save them without leaving the application until the robot returns to base.
4. Reboot the robot (hold the power button for 10 seconds) and check if the edits are still in place.

On Roborock models with firmware older than 2023, a factory reset (in Settings → Additional → Reset) can help. Once reset, the robot will lose all stored maps and schedules — they will have to be reconfigured.

Hidden features: what Xiaomi robots can do, but not everyone knows

Besides the basic map editing capabilities, Xiaomi’s robot vacuum cleaners have a number of hidden features that can significantly improve the experience.

• 🎯 Voice-cleaning – If the robot is integrated with Alice or Google Assistant, you can say, “Start cleaning the kitchen,” and it will go there, ignoring other rooms.
• 📊 Cleaning statistics – detailed reports on covered area, cleaning time and even the amount of dust collected are available in the Roborock app (on models with dust collection filling sensors).
• 🔄 Automatic Power Upgrade on Carpets – Turn on this option in the settings and the robot will automatically increase suction when detecting carpeting.
• 🚪 Open door recognition – on models with LiDAR (e.g. Roborock) S7) You can set up an alert if the robot detects an open door (useful for security).

Another useful thing is to create invisible walls for time constraints, so if you temporarily rearrange furniture, you can quickly add a virtual wall without editing the main map.

1. During cleaning, open the application and press pause.
2. Select Add a Time Zone.
3. Draw a wall or area that will only last until the end of the current cleaning.

On DreameBot models (e.g. DreameBot) L10 Ultra function available 3D-Mapping, which allows the robot to remember not only the layout, but also the location of the furniture in three-dimensional space, helps avoid collisions and optimize the route.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions