Modern Xiaomi robot vacuum cleaners and their sub-brands (Roborock, Dreame, Viomi) have impressive functionality, but their maximum effectiveness is revealed only after the correct initial setup. Many users immediately after purchase start the device in automatic mode, allowing it to randomly roam around the apartment to build a primary map. However, without manual intervention and clear separation into cleaning zones, the robot can often become ineffective: the robot can get stuck in one room or ignore others.
A key step in using smart machines is to split the map into separate rooms, which allows you not only to set specific commands for each zone, but also to customize individual cleaning scenarios. For example, in the kitchen you need more intensive cleaning, and in the bedroom you need quiet mode. Understanding how a robot vacuum cleaner designates Xiaomi rooms turns a simple toy into a full-fledged assistant who knows the layout of your home better than you.
In this article, we will take a closer look at the Mi Home algorithm, look at the nuances of virtual walls and answer questions that often arise for owners of devices of different generations. You will learn to control the space to within a centimeter, creating the perfect conditions for your cleaning robot.
Preparation of the device and construction of the basic map
Before you start editing a map and separating rooms, you need to make sure that the robot has a clear and complete view of the space. Primary scanning is the foundation on which all the logic of navigation is built. If you've just unpacked the device, put it on a base in the center of the largest room or corridor, where you have the best access to all the rooms.
Run a full cleaning through the Mi Home or Xiaomi Home app, at which point the lidar (laser rangefinder) or visual navigation system will actively scan the surroundings, it is important that during this time no wires, socks or other small objects are lying on the floor that can distort the perception of space or cause a stuck robot to travel through the entire available area at least one full circle.
⚠️ Warning: Do not interrupt the first complete cleaning by force. If the robot stops in the middle of the process, the map may not be saved correctly, with tears or displaced walls, which in the future will make it impossible to accurately divide into rooms.
Once the cycle is complete, the map will be stored in the device's memory and displayed in the application, and at this point it looks like a single gray outline with no internal partitions. This is the monolithic image that we're going to work on. LDS-The scanning directly affects the accuracy of future zones, so make sure the laser sensor is dust-free.
If the robot missed an area during the scan (for example, went under the couch but could not leave due to low clearance), the map will be incomplete. In such cases, it is recommended to temporarily remove obstacles or use the Zone Cleanup mode manually to drive the device into the missed area before final saving of the map.
☑️ Readiness for map splitting
Instructions for dividing the map into rooms
The process of manually splitting a single map into separate rooms is standard procedure for most Xiaomi models. To start, open the Mi Home app, select your robot vacuum cleaner, and go to map view mode (usually a map image button or an "Edit Map" option).
The idea is to draw lines of tear where the doorways or arches are located. When you press the button, you'll need to draw a line through the doorway, connecting the two opposing walls of the corridor and the room, the line should be straight and clearly cross the passageway, and once confirmed, the system will divide the circuit into two independent segments.
Repeat this procedure for all rooms in the apartment. It is important to keep the separation lines neatly, without touching furniture that can be drawn on the map as gray spots. If the line is curved, it can be removed or corrected by going back a step, after all the rooms are separated, the system will prompt them to number.
Sequence of action:
1. Open Mi Home → Select a robot.
2. Click on the card icon or "Map Settings".
3. Select the "Split" tool).
4. draw a line through the doorway.
5. Press "Save" or "Ready."Once you've split up, you can rename each room, and the standard set includes Living Room, Bedroom, Kitchen, but you can also give your own names, and it's not just cosmetic editing, but it's these names that will be displayed in your cleaning history and voice reports if you use voice control through Alice or Siri.
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If the automatic separation fails, use the Merge function to return everything to its original state, and try to draw the separation lines at a different angle, strictly perpendicular to the walls.
Configuring virtual walls and forbidden areas
Beyond physical separation, virtual barriers are a critical tool. Unlike real magnetic tapes that had to be glued to the floor in older models, modern Xiaomi robots use software constraints. In the map editing menu, you will find the Virtual Wall and the Forbidden Zone tools.
A virtual wall is a line that a robot cannot cross, ideal for isolating entire rooms or blocking dangerous areas, such as access to a balcony or a staircase. A no-go zone (a square or rectangle) forbids the robot from entering the perimeter, but allows it to move around, which is convenient for enclosing animal water bowls or clusters of wires.
- 🚧 Linear wall: Blocks passage through the line, ideal for doorways without doors.
- 🔲 Square Zone: Prohibits entry into the area, the robot will be bend around this square.
- 🔄 Zone without cleaning: Special mode where the robot can pass the area, but do not turn on the motors and brushes.
When setting the constraints, it's important to consider the positioning error of the robot, which can be several centimeters, so always leave a small margin when drawing virtual walls. If you draw a wall close to the chair leg, the robot can periodically "push" into an invisible barrier and consider this as an obstacle, changing the route.
⚠️ Warning: Virtual walls and zones only work in Auto mode or in room cleaning. In Point Cleaning mode or when manually sent through a joystick, the robot can ignore some software constraints, moving where you direct it.
Virtual walls and zones are usually limited in software (e.g., up to 10 pieces per map), so use them rationally. For complex layouts, it is better to combine methods: divide rooms with the "Separate" tool, and use forbidden areas for specific objects inside rooms.
Saving and managing multiple cards
Owners of two-story houses or apartments with complex layouts will appreciate the multi-level mapping function. Xiaomi robots are able to memorize up to 4-5 different maps (depending on the model and firmware), which means that you can move the base to the second floor, run the scan, and the robot will create a new map without erasing the previous one.
To activate this mode, select the Save Map or Multi-storey Map option in the map settings. Once you have completed the new floor scan, the system will ask if you want to keep the current map as a new one or replace the existing one. It is important to give the maps clear names, such as "1 floor" and "2 floor", so as not to get confused in the future.
When switching between floors, the robot must be physically on the floor you want to use, or you must manually select the desired map in the application before launching. Some models can automatically recognize a floor by changing the terrain or Wi-Fi network, but you should not rely on this - it is better to switch the map manually through Settings → Map Management.
| Parameter | Single card | Multi-storey map |
|---|---|---|
| Number of floors | 1 | Up to 5 levels |
| Conservation of zones | Automatically. | Requires manual preservation |
| Virtual walls | Common to all | Unique for each floor |
| Removal discharge | Preserving history |
If you plan to move the robot frequently (e.g. to a cottage or another house), the card saving feature will allow you to avoid reconfiguring the zones each time. Simply select the saved "Dacha" card in the application, and the robot will immediately start working on the route known to it, using previously established prohibitions.
What should I do if the card is dropped?
Finely customized cleaning modes for each room
Once the rooms are marked, you can fine-tune the robot's behavior, so you can set different suction parameters and water levels for each room, and this is especially true for combined devices (vacuum cleaner + wash), where the kitchen needs maximum power and the bedroom needs minimal noise.
In the map editing menu or in the scripting settings, select a specific room. There are options for changing the suction force (Quiet, Standard, Turbo, Max) and the humidification intensity (Low, Medium, High). For example, for a living room with a carpet, you can set "Turbo" and for a corridor with tiles, "Standard" with a high water supply.
There's also a Cleanup Sequence feature available, so you can (drag) the rooms in the list so that the robot cleans them in the order you want, and it makes sense to start in the back rooms and finish the hallway so that when you get back to base, the robot doesn't stain the rooms that have been cleaned with wheels.
- 🌪️ Suction force: Regulates motor power, affecting noise and carpet cleaning quality.
- 💧 Water supply: Controls the rate of fluid supply to the cloth, important for different types of coatings.
- 🔁 Number of passages: Double cleaning can be installed for heavily polluted rooms.
Remember, the increase in power and the number of passes directly affects battery life. If you set Max and Double Pass modes for all rooms, the robot may not be able to clean in one cycle and recharge later, in which case it is better to use scenarios for partial cleaning.
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Customization of each room allows you to save battery life and extend the life of the filter, using maximum power only where it is really needed.
Solving typical navigation and map problems
Even after careful adjustment, there can be situations where the robot is acting strangely: it can't see a room, gets stuck in a flat place or ignores virtual walls. Often the problem lies in the contamination of the sensors. The bottom sensors, the side bumper sensors and, most importantly, the lidar window must be perfectly clean. Rub them with dry soft cloth before each cleaning.
Another common problem is the map's drift, and over time, the map can shift relative to the real situation. If you notice that the virtual wall is in the middle of the room, try rebooting the robot (turn it off and on) and starting the map building again, removing the old one beforehand, and in some cases, resetting to factory settings helps by simultaneously clamping the buttons on the case.
The problems can be related to lighting. Visual navigation robots (the camera on top) don't work well in total darkness, although most Xiaomi models use lidar, which doesn't need light. However, shiny surfaces, black carpets and mirrors can confuse any distance sensor. The black floors can be perceived as a cliff (ladder) and refuse to enter them.
⚠️ Warning: If the robot is constantly losing the map or can't find the base, check if you've moved the base to a new location. 0.5-1 yards 1.5 Moving the base requires reconfiguring the map or correcting it in the application.
In difficult cases, when software methods don't work, you can use physical limiters, and although magnetic tapes are rare, you can temporarily use high thresholds or special barriers that the robot can't physically overcome until you've figured out how to set up the software.