How to save a cleaning card in a robot vacuum cleaner Xiaomi: all the ways and nuances

Xiaomi’s robot vacuum cleaners are not just automatic cleaning devices, but real smart assistants that can remember the layout of your home. However, many users face the problem: when you turn off or reset the settings, the robot loses the saved map, and you have to retrain its routes. In this article, we will discuss how to save the map in Xiaomi Vacuum Mop models (including Mi Robot Vacuum-Mop 2/Pro/SE, Dreame D9, Viomi V3 and others), what settings affect the safety of data, and what to do if the map is still reset.

It’s important to understand that the process of saving a card depends on the firmware of the robot, the version of the application (Mi Home or Xiaomi Home), and even the region of your account. We will look at all the current ways – from standard features to workarounds for older models, and you will learn how to avoid the typical errors that can “fly” after updating or rebooting the device.

Why Xiaomi robot does not save the map: the main reasons

Before we get to the instructions, we'll see why the cleaning card might not be saved, and most of the time, it's because of one of the following reasons:

• 🔋 No constant power: Xiaomi robots save the card to non-volatile memory only when connected to the base.If you remove the robot from the dock before the preservation is completed, the data can be lost.
• 📱 Older versions of software (especially until 2021) had a precarious auto-save function, such as Mi Robot Vacuum-Mop. 1T The card was reset after each update.
• 🌍 Regional restrictions: In some regions (for example, for Mi Home servers in Russia or India), the cloud card saving feature is disabled by default.
• 🔄 Resetting: When returning to factory settings (via Settings) → Reset in annex) card is deleted without possibility of recovery.

Another nuance: models with LiDAR scanners (such as the Xiaomi Mi Robot Vacuum-Mop 2 Pro) keep the map more reliable than budget versions with gyroscopes. If your robot is one of the latter, be prepared for the fact that the card can “fly” more often.

Method 1: Save the card through the Mi Home/Xiaomi Home app

The most reliable method is to use the official application. The instructions are relevant for Mi Home 6.0+ and Xiaomi Home 5.5+ versions (update the application via Google Play or App Store!).

1. Connect the robot to the base and wait for the cleaning to be completed (or run it manually through Cleanup → Start).
2. Open the app, select your robot and go to the Map section (home icon in the bottom menu).
3. Wait until the map is fully loaded (the layout with furniture and zones will appear on the screen).
4. Press three points (⋮) in the upper right corner and select Save Map (or Save Map in English version).
5. Confirm action. The map will be saved to the Xiaomi cloud (if the function is enabled) and to the robot’s local memory.

If there is no Save Card item, it means:

• 🔌 Robot not connected to base (check power docking station).
• 📵 No Internet (cloud storage requires Wi-Fi connection).
• 🔄 You have an outdated firmware (update it through Settings). → Update of the PO).

Important: In some regions (e.g. Mi Home servers in Singapore or Russia), cloud-based card storage is disabled, in which case the card is stored only in the robot's memory and can be reset when:

• Remove the battery.
• Update of the firmware "over the air" (OTA).
• Reset settings through Settings → Reset to factory.

Method 2: Manually save the map through a screenshot (bypass)

If your robot does not support saving the map to the cloud (for example, the old Mi Robot Vacuum 1S or Viomi V1), you can use the following trick:

1. Start cleaning and wait until the robot scans the room completely.
2. Open the map in the Mi Home app and take a screenshot of the screen (on Android: Power + Volume Down, on iOS: Side Button + Volume Up).
3. Save the screenshot to the cloud (Google Photos, iCloud or Yandex.Disk) or send it to your own mail.
4. When you next reset the card, use the screenshot as a manual zoning template (in Mi Home, click Add Zone and navigate by the saved image).

This is not perfect, but it can help you get the layout back up faster, and the downside is you have to manually draw cleaning areas and forbidden areas.

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If you have a LiDAR robot (like the Xiaomi Mi Robot Vacuum-Mop 2 Pro), you can use a screenshot of the map to calibrate the new scan. Just combine the corners of the room in the screenshot and the new map, and the robot will remember the layout faster.

Method 3: Use of third-party applications (for advanced users)

For models that do not support saving the map in the official application, you can use alternative programs.

• 🤖 Valetudo is an open source software for robot vacuum cleaners that allows you to control your device without the Xiaomi cloud.
• 📱 DreameHome (for Dreame robots) – sometimes offers enhanced features over Mi Home.
• 🌐 Home Assistant is a smart home system that can integrate with Xiaomi robots and save maps through plugins.

Installation of Valetudo will require:

1. Get root access to the robot (instructions are available on GitHub).
2. Install firmware via SSH or Telnet.
3. Configure saving cards in.svg or.png format.

⚠️ Warning: Installing third-party software can take away your warranty and cause the robot to run in an unstable manner.

Table: Compatibility of Xiaomi models with card saving

If your model is not in the table, check the firmware version in Settings → About Device. Use the official Mi Home app or website to update.

What to do if the card is still reset?

If you have completed all the steps, but the robot continues to “forget” the map, try the following solutions:

• 🔄 Update the firmware: Go to Settings → Update the software and install the latest version. For example, in Mi Robot Vacuum-Mop 2 The card saving bug was fixed in the firmware 3.5.8_002136.
• 📵 Change server region: In Mi Home, go to Profile → Region and select China or Europe (in some regions, cloud storage is more stable).
• 🔋 Check the docking station: If the base is not supplying enough voltage (for example, due to a damaged cable), the robot may not have time to save the map. Try another outlet.
• 🔄 Reset network settings: In the app, remove the robot from the list of devices (Settings) → Remove the device, then add it again.

⚠️ Note: If you use a robot with gyroscopic navigation (without LiDAR), the map may be reset more often due to the specifics of the algorithm:

1. Always start cleaning from the same point (for example, from the docking station).
2. Do not move the robot manually during the scan.
3. Use Cleanup Zones instead of a full map (set up in Map → Add Zone).

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If the robot after updating the firmware "forgot" the card, do not panic: start cleaning in the mapping mode (if any), and it will restore the layout in 1-2 passes.

How to recover the card after resetting?

If the card is reset, you can restore it in two ways:

1. Automatic Recovery: Put the robot in the dock. Clean it up in Full Cleaning mode. The robot will start scanning the room again, but if the layout hasn't changed, it can "remember" the old map in 1-2 cycles.
2. Manual recovery (if you have a screenshot): Open the saved screenshot of the map on your phone. In the Mi Home app, click Map → Edit → Add Zone. In the screenshot, draw cleaning areas and forbidden areas.

To speed up the process, you can use the mapping mode (if supported by your model).

1. In the app, select Clean → Cartography (or Mapping).
2. The robot will drive around the perimeter of the room, not cleaning, but only scanning.
3. After completion, the card will be saved automatically (if the function is enabled).

FAQ: Frequent questions about saving cards in Xiaomi Vacuum Mop