When a Roomba won’t charge, the cause is usually one of four things: no power at the dock, dirty charging contacts, a battery that is not seated or authentic, or a battery that has failed. The steps below follow iRobot’s own support articles and are ordered from the cheapest check to the most expensive. Before you start, make sure what you are seeing is a real fault. A slow or quick pulsing amber light on an older Roomba is normal charging, and a 16-hour refresh charge is normal too. Our Roomba charging lights guide explains each light.
Step 1: Check the dock and charger have power
- Plug the Home Base or charger into a different outlet if you can.
- On the 500 and 600 series, the charger’s power indicator is solid green when it is plugged into an outlet. The Home Base indicator blinks about once every 4 seconds, and on some models turns off after 4 seconds, which is normal.
- If the dock shows no sign of power in a working outlet, check the power cord for damage. If it still has no power, contact iRobot Customer Care.
Step 2: Clean the charging contacts
Dirt on the contacts of the robot or the dock is a common reason charging stops, and iRobot’s own fixes for several charging errors are to clean the contacts. Wipe both sets with a lightly dampened melamine foam sponge (a “Magic Eraser”), let them dry, then set the robot on the dock again.
Step 3: Check the battery
- If the robot is new, remove the battery pull tab before the first charge, then charge it overnight. iRobot says normal charging takes at least 2 hours.
- Remove the battery and reinstall it. This is iRobot’s fix for “Charging Error 1” (battery not detected) and is also the first step for errors 8, 9, 19 and 20.
- Use an authentic iRobot battery. iRobot warns that aftermarket batteries can cause unexplained charging errors and can void the warranty.
- For lithium-ion models, iRobot says to place the robot on the Home Base to wake it, then use it right away.
Step 4: Listen for a “Charging Error”
If the ring turns red and the robot says “Charging Error” and a number, use this table from iRobot’s charging error chart.
| Error | Meaning | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Battery not detected | Remove and reinstall the battery |
| 2 | Over-current charge fault | Use an authentic iRobot lithium-ion battery and check for liquid damage |
| 3 | Charging system fault | Try charging again and check for liquid damage |
| 4 and 5 | Low current from dock or robot | Clean the charging contacts |
| 6 / 7 | Battery too hot / too cold | Let the robot reach room temperature, then try again |
| 8 | Can’t communicate with the battery | Confirm authentic battery, remove and reinstall it |
| 9 | Battery failure | The battery may need replacing |
| 19 | Charging timed out | Remove and reinstall the battery, clean the contacts |
| 20 | Battery fault or not ready to charge | Remove the battery for 15 minutes, reinstall, replace if it persists |
| 21 | Docked but couldn’t charge | Clean the charging contacts |
Step 5: Reboot the robot
iRobot says a reboot is safe and does not delete maps, schedules or preferences. On models without Wi-Fi it resets the clock but keeps the schedule. Take the robot off the dock first. A white light and a tone or voice prompt confirm the reboot, and the robot can take up to 90 seconds to restart.
| Model | How to reboot |
|---|---|
| Non-Wi-Fi Roomba 500, 600, 700 and e Series | Hold HOME and SPOT together for about 10 seconds |
| Wi-Fi Roomba 800 and 900 Series | Hold CLEAN for 10 seconds |
| Roomba i Series and s Series | Hold CLEAN for 20 seconds |
| Roomba j Series and Combo 10 Max | Hold CLEAN for 9 seconds |
| Roomba Essential | Hold HOME and SPOT for about 12 seconds |
On a Roomba 600 series, check the underside for a green dot. If there is one, iRobot says to remove the battery, leave it out for 30 seconds and reinstall it. If there is none, use the HOME and SPOT method. For the full list and the app method, see our Roomba reboot guide.
Step 6: Decide whether the battery is finished
If the robot still won’t charge after cleaning the contacts, reinstalling the battery and rebooting, the battery is the likely cause, especially with errors 9, 11 or 20 that persist. Read how long a Roomba battery lasts and how to replace it. If the dock itself won’t power on, or the robot is under warranty, contact iRobot Customer Care with the robot charged, its serial number and proof of purchase.
FAQ
Why does my Roomba say it is charging but never gets full?
A worn battery cannot hold a full charge. Clean the contacts and reboot first, and replace the battery if the problem continues.
Is a flashing amber light a charging problem?
Not on a 500 or 600 series. Pulsing amber is normal charging, and a quicker pulse is the 16-hour refresh charge. Leave it alone.
How long should a Roomba charge?
iRobot says normal charging takes at least 2 hours. A refresh charge on supported models takes about 16 hours.
Sources
- iRobot support, Roomba 500 and 600 series battery and charging
- iRobot support, Charging error chart
- iRobot support, Charging Error 1
- iRobot support, Rebooting your Roomba
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tried new battery and iRobot will not run. charging station output is 2.84vdc.
Hi Jim,
Please visit the iRobot Store – Parts and Accessories or use an authorized retailer to order a part. If you believe you’re in warranty, please contact iRobot Customer Care.
If the Home Base light turns on but the robot is still not charging, check if there has been any buildup of debris or dirt on the charging contacts of the Home Base® and the robot. If found, use lightly dampened melamine foam such as a Magic Eraser to remove any debris from the charging contacts.
Please remove the robot from the Home Base. Flip the robot over and remove the caster wheel. Ensure there is no built up debris in the caster wheel as this can cause the robot to not reach the charging contacts to charge. If debris found please perform caster wheel maintenance
Place Roomba® on the Home Base®, and charge Roomba® for at least a ½ hour.
Sincere!
My rumba was working great! I cleaned to yesterday and now it won’t charge. The charging contacts are clean. I took out the little where and cleaned to too. Any suggestions?
Hi Becky,
When your Roomba won’t charge, there are two common situations – making sure either the Home Base has power or no dust on the charging contacts. Sometimes using the wrong kind of battery as well as having issues with the power source can also make your robot not turn on or charge.
If no debris or dirt built up inside, consider removing Roomba from the Home Base. Next, flip it over and disconnect it with the caster wheel. Give the caster wheel a check to make sure there is no built up debris because the robot is unable to reach the charging contacts with too much dirt inside. Do the maintenance once debris found!
If the problem keeps occurring, try rebooting the robot.
Sincere
Rumba lol 😆
what is the charging voltage at the charger?
On my 500 series, as printed on the charger power supply, the output voltage is 22.5 volts DC. at 1.25 Amps. The battery rated output is 14.4 volts.
This information was very helpful, thank you for posting.
Roomba went through poop. Took apart and cleaned. After putting back together, Roomba will not charge. Once in the base, green light appears for a few seconds before going out
Did you ever figure this out? I’m dealing with exact situation!
I’m having the same issue. Any luck?
Hi Linda,
The contact points on the Roomba may be dirty. Roomba’s charging contacts are under the front bumper of the robot. This means that they are in front of the brushes, and see a lot of debris. They can easily get dirty and increase the resistance in the charging circuit.
If after cleaning the contacts, the Roomba will still not charge correctly, you may need to replace the battery or get a new charging dock.
Same!! Did you ever find out
Having issues with my 690. I’ve changed the battery and replaced the home charging station and the Roomba won’t hold a charge longer than 5 seconds. I’ve also cleaned all the contacts
When I plug in the cord on my Roomba and try to charge the light on the charger is solid red but the red turns off in a second. Thanks
When my I-9 with the self-cleaning base wouldn’t charge it turned out that the power plug – the end that goes into the base (not the wall) was loose.
Erica, you brilliant thing. Yup, cleaned ,wiggled, pushed buttons in multiple combinations……none of that works if the plug is loose. Thanks for getting me to the right place!
I just finished a chat with CSR Celesha at Roomba. After answering a few questions, and sending a photo, she diagnosed the charging problem we were having. She has arranged to have a replacement battery shipped out.
Thanks, Celesha!!
Ed
Hi Jim, I have a roomba i7+ with charging base. I replaced the battery with a new roomba battery. I do regular maintenance and probably more because we have a dog with lots of pet hair. My roomba battery contacts seem to get dirty which makes it unable to charge. I will plan to use it and will be unable to due to this problem. I end up removing the battery and cleaning a lot lately. Any recommendations?
Sorry I wrote that to Jim but actually see that the expert is actually another name.
Hi Michelle,
The contact points on the Roomba may be dirty. Roomba’s charging contacts are under the front bumper of the robot. This means that they are in front of the brushes, and see a lot of debris. They can easily get dirty and increase the resistance in the charging circuit.
If after cleaning the contacts, the Roomba will still not charge correctly, you may need to replace the battery or get a new charging dock.
Thanks
For the 650 irobot.
The output tension is 4,8 V at the internal terminal (terminal that charges the battery), is it correct?
Where do I get the technical manual?
I think that this tension is not enough to charge the battery…
Hi,
You can check here for the Roomba 600 series manual.
Thanks
My Roomba has charging error 3, which apparently means it needs resetting by simply turning on and then pressing the two side buttons for 10 seconds. However there is not enough charge to turn it on??? How do I reset it please???
Hi Jenny,
Charging error 3 means the charging system on the robot isn’t working properly and your robot may need to be replaced . Please contact iRobot Customer Care for assistance.
Sincere
Thank you!!! I had to reset and it finally did something! Now ill wait 12 hours and see what happens!
I HAVE TWO NEW BATTERY’S AND NEITHER WILL CHARGE IN MY ROOMBA 500,,,YET THE OLD BATTERY WILL CHARGE IT JUST DONT HAVE THE CAPACITY IT USED TO. WITH NEW BATT THE CENTER LIGHT BLINKS RED AND THE ” ! ” TO THE LEFT BLINKS . I HAVE RESET IT BUT THAT DONT HELP!
ANY IDEAS?
JOHN
Hi,
If the battery refuses to hold a charge, you may be able to revive it after draining it completely. Remove the robot’s battery and set it aside for several minutes. Put the battery back in, then run the Roomba until the battery is completely discharged. Make sure the robot can’t return to its home base during this use. When the battery is completely dead, charge it for 72 hours. Completely discharge the battery again, and repeat the process. If your robot is running longer than it did before, repeat the drain-then-charge exercise to get even more life out of the Roomba’s battery. If this cycle doesn’t keep the unit running longer, it’s probably time for a new battery.
Thanks
My docking port flashes continuously and the clean light on the rumba is red, after the red light goes off , about 30 mins later I get ERROR 5. The Rumba works fine until it docks . Tried all the cleaning tips nothing works. It’s a 650
Hi Penelope,
If you see the dock light flashes, this means your Roomba’s power is getting low and needs to return to its charging station.
A flashing red light on the Roomba while charging indicates that the battery is too low for the vacuum to clean. It shouldn’t be a cause for much concern since it means all you need to do is give the Roomba time to charge.
On the other hand, a solid red light tells you the Roombas battery is already empty and that you need to charge it as soon as possible. The red light will typically come before the Roomba stops working if it was in the middle of a cleaning session.
Charging error five (5) means your robot’s charging system isn’t working correctly. Check that you are using an authentic iRobot battery. Charging errors can occur with counterfeit batteries.
Sincere
My Roomba will go to the home dock then the green light comes on. It will stay on for a minute then the green light goes off on the dock first causing all charging light to go off. Is j ok t the docking center with issues?
Hi Paula,
Pressing the Clean button a second time will cause it to undock and if the charge on the battery is very low it might not be able to dock again before the battery runs down. A full charge can take more than 45 minutes to complete.
Sincere
Yeah. Got it to reboot!!!!!! Thanks so much!
What I am looking for is the wiring diagram so I know how to hook it up my external charger to try and jump start the battery manually.
Please upgrade for more detailed technical information
My roomba 960 is dead and will not charge, Green light on docking station blinks when initially docked but NOTHING happens on the bot. I have cleaned everything and replaced the battery – no change. I have also tried resetting the battery multiple times without luck. This robot was working great then suddenly just died!
Any suggestions?
Andi
Hi Andi,
In my case, after 48 hours the battery finally ran out (no longer responded to Reset. I put back on base, and Clean & battery charge lights came on! After some charging time I had Alexa start it up and it successfully completed its cleaning run (including a mid-cleaning recharge.) So, no idea what the problem was, but letting the battery discharge completely seems to have revived it.
Sincere
I have cleaned the charging ports on both the unit and the charger. Tried resetting the battery. No lights come on for date, etc… any suggestions? I have cleaned as much debris all over the entire unit!
Hi Laura,
If Roomba still doesn’t charge after you clean it and reset the battery, then:
It is best to ensure our wiring and sockets are fine.
When you connect the Home Base to a socket, the power light should flash.
If you don’t see the light, the chances are that the GFCI outlet has tripped. Try connecting to a different power outlet and also ensure that you make tight connections while plugging in.
Clean the docking station
Sometimes the Roomba may not charge if it does not get a sufficient power supply.
One of the leading reasons is an accumulation of dirt on the charging contacts. It breaks off the connection between the ports and the outlet.
Hence, it is best to clean the docking station for debris periodically. It can offer a quick fix to your problem.
Reposition the battery
During shipping or other reasons, the battery can get displaced or loosened from its position.
Before we decide to change the battery or claim the warranty, ensure it is in the right place.
You can access the battery compartment by removing five screws on the back panel and reinstalling the battery in the right place tightly. Then, put the screws back right after and plug in the Roomba.
Sincere!
My iRobot 880 is not charging properly. It docks for about 30 min then would give ‘error message #5.’ While not fully charged, it’d run for about 20 min and then stop dead. I tried all the suggested fixes… cleaning the contacts, resetting the battery, replaced the battery, retried and retried and still no help. The docking station seems to light up normally. Have I missed any workable solution? Is my iRobot approaching end of life? I bought it from Best Buy in Oct, 2015 with a 4-year extended warranty which I never had to use.
Hi Kevin,
If your Roomba is not charging, clean the charging ports with a soft cloth and some rubbing alcohol to remove dust, hair, or gunk accumulation. You may also have to reinstall or replace your battery or charging dock or even reset the Roomba to factory settings.
Sincere