How to properly reboot the robot vacuum cleaner Xiaomi Roborock: from soft restart to complete reset

Xiaomi Roborock’s robot vacuum cleaners are some of the most technologically advanced cleaning devices, but even they sometimes fail: Hanging while running, connecting to the Mi Home app, incorrect navigation, or refusing to respond to commands altogether are all problems often solved by a simple reboot. However, not all users know that there are several types of restarts, each of which applies in different situations.

In this article, we will discuss soft reboot (analogue of a smartphone restart), hard reset (forced shutdown), and also return to factory settings - when the device requires complete "flashing". S7, S8 Pro Ultra, Q7 Max+ and budgetary options like E4. If your vacuum cleaner is glitching, do not rush to carry it to the service - in 80% of cases, the correct reboot helps.

When you need to restart: signs of failure

Not all strange behavior requires a restart, for example, if Roborock doesn't return to base because of an obstacle, it's not a system error, it's a navigation feature, and these symptoms point to the need to restart.

• 🔄 Hanging in place – the vacuum cleaner does not respond to buttons, does not move, but the indicators are on.
• 📱 Loss of communication with the application – Mi Home displays the status of “Offline”, although the robot is enabled.
• 🔋 Cyclical charging – the device is constantly returned to the dock even if the battery is charged.
• 🗺️ Incorrect map – the robot “lost” in a familiar room or builds chaotic routes.
• 🚨 Code Errors – messages like Error 10, Error 18 appear on the screen or in the application.

Especially often, failures occur after a firmware update or prolonged downtime without recharging. S7 It can forget a stored map of a room if it's not been used for more than a month, and in these cases, a soft reset helps 90% of the time.

⚠️ Warning: If the vacuum cleaner makes uncharacteristic sounds (screaming, knocking) or smells of a burn, do not try to reload it - it may be a mechanical failure.

Method 1: Soft reboot (restart via buttons)

This is the safest method, similar to restarting a smartphone, suitable for eliminating non-critical failures: interface hangs, Wi-Fi connection errors or incorrect status display in the application, all settings and maps of the premises will be saved.

Instructions for most models (S5 Max, S6, S7, Q5):

1. Press and hold the power button (usually marked with an icon) ⏻) 3-5 seconds until you hear a beep.
2. Release the button and the robot will start the shutdown process (the indicators will go out).
3. Wait 10-15 seconds, then press the power button again to turn on.

For models with touch buttons (S8 Pro Ultra, Q7 Max+):

• Touch and hold the touch button Home (house) for 5-7 seconds.
• Wait for the sound signal and the indicator flash.
• After turning off, turn on the robot with a short press.

Make sure the robot is not on charge (unplug from the docking station)

Check that there are no obstacles nearby (may interfere with buttons)

Wait 10 seconds after switching off before switching on

Do not press other buttons during the process-->

If the problem persists after the restart (for example, the robot is still not connected to Wi-Fi), try resetting the network settings through the Mi Home app:

1. Open the app. → Choose your robot.
2. Go to Settings. → Wi-Fi settings → Reset the network settings.
3. Reconnect as you did at the first setup.

Method 2: Hard reset (forced shutdown)

This is a technique that is used when the robot is not fully responsive to the buttons or is getting stuck during the cleaning process. Unlike a soft reboot, there is an emergency power outage, which can lead to the loss of unsaved data (for example, an unfinished map of the room), Use it only if the first method did not work.

Step-by-step:

1. Disconnect the robot from the docking station (if it is on it).
2. Turn the device upside down (carefully so as not to damage the brushes).
3. On the back, find the reset button (usually a small circular button with the inscription). RESET pinhole).
4. Press and hold it for 10-15 seconds until the indicator is completely turned off.
5. Wait 1 minute, then turn on the vacuum cleaner with the power button.

For models without a physical button RESET (Like Roborock. E4):

• Remove the vacuum cleaner from the dock.
• Hold the power button for 20 seconds until all the indicators go out.
• Disconnect the battery (if possible) for 30 seconds to completely shut down.

⚠️ Warning: After a hard reset of Roborock S7/S8 You can recalibrate the sensors, put it on a flat surface and wait until the process is complete (the robot will emit a long beep).

Method 3: Resetting to factory settings

This is an extreme measure that deletes all data: saved cards, cleaning settings, schedules and binding to your Mi Home account.

• 🔄 Persistent errors (e.g., Error 12 – gyroscope problem).
• 📲 Selling or transferring a robot to another user.
• 🔧 After a failed firmware update.

Instructions for most models:

1. Turn off the robot (softly from Method 1).
2. Press the Power and Home buttons (or Spot Cleaning if there is no Home button).
3. Hold them for 10-15 seconds until you hear a voice message in Chinese or English ("Factory reset").
4. Release the buttons and the robot will start the reset process (the indicators will flash orange).
5. After restarting (1-2 minutes), reset the device via Mi Home.

For Roborock. S8 Pro Ultra and Q7 Max+ touch-buttoned:

1. Touch and hold the Home and Cleanup Zone at the same time.
2. Wait for vibration and sound signal.
3. Confirm the reset by touching the Home again (on some firmware).

💡

Before resetting to factory settings, take photos of the stored maps of the premises in the Mi Home app (Maps section), which will help you quickly restore the cleaning areas after setting up.

Method 4: Reboot with the Mi Home app

If the robot responds to commands from the application but is not operating in a stable way, it can restart remotely, a technique that is suitable for eliminating software glitches without physical access to the device.

How to reboot through Mi Home:

1. Open the app and select your Roborock.
2. Go to Settings. → General. → Reboot (or Restart in English version).
3. Confirm the action – the robot will turn off and turn on automatically.

If the Reboot option is not available:

• 📱 Update the Mi Home app to the latest version.
• 🔄 Reconnect the robot to Wi-Fi (sometimes the option appears after re-authorization).
• 🌐 Check the region in the Mi Home profile for some models (e.g, S7 China's functionality is limited.

After restarting through the application, it is recommended:

• 🔋 Check the charge level (if less than 20%, set it on charging).
• 🗺️ Run a test cleaning so that the robot updates the map.
• 📲 Update the firmware if a new version is available.

💡

Rebooting through the application is the most gentle method, since the firmware controls the process and minimizes the risk of data loss.

Method 5: Reboot after firmware update

Firmware updates for Roborock come out regularly - they fix bugs, add new features (for example, carpet recognition in the software). S8 Pro Ultra) and improve navigation. However, sometimes after the update, the robot starts to malfunction. In this case, a special reboot is required, which clears the cache and restarts the system.

How to restart after the update:

1. Wait for the update to finish (the indicator should be green instead of flashing).
2. Disconnect the robot from the docking station.
3. Hold the power button for 15 seconds until all the indicators go out.
4. Connect to charging and turn on the power button.
5. Wait for the full load (the robot will make a characteristic sound).

If the robot does not turn on after the update:

• 🔌 Check if the indicator is on at the docking station (if not, a problem with the food supply).
• 🔋 Remove the battery (if the model allows) for 1 minute, then insert back.
• 📡 Try resetting your Wi-Fi settings (hold power) + Home Home 10 seconds).

⚠️ Warning: If the robot gives an Error 24 error after the update (a problem with the laser rangefinder), do not try to reset the settings - this can aggravate the problem. Contact Xiaomi with error logs (they can be exported to Mi Home).

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

A wrong reboot can lead to new problems, and here are the typical user errors and how to prevent them:

• ❌ Interrupting the process - if you start resetting to factory settings, don't turn off the robot, even if it's thinking for a long time.
• ❌ Use of a non-original charger – cheap adapters can cause voltage surges, leading to controller failures.
• ❌ Reset without disconnecting from the docking station – this can damage charging contacts.
• ❌ Ignoring the sound signals -- the robot gives different signals for successful reboots and errors, like long sound, success, short repetitive squeaks, problem.

To minimize the risk of failure:

• 🔋 Regularly (every 2-3 months) perform a soft reboot to clean the cache.
• 📶 Do not update your firmware if the charge level is below 50%.
• 🏠 Periodically clean the sensors (especially lidar) of dust – this prevents navigation errors.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions