Roomba Not Charging: 9 Ways To Fix It In 30 Seconds (2023)

Do you not see the indicator light of your Roomba on?

Or does it light but when you’ve tried to clean, the device doesn’t move?

Well, high chances are your Roomba is not charging properly.

This can happen many times with any robot vacuum.

But there’s plenty of easy fixes you can perform to solve its issues.

Read on to learn:

How to reset a Roomba battery.
What each color on the indicator light indicates.
9 easy and fast ways to fix Roomba not charging.
What to use when cleaning Roomba contact points.
How to reboot and factory reset Roomba based on its series.
And much much more…

Why is my Roomba not charging?

Roomba won’t charge if its contact points are dusty or not touching; caused by too much accumulated dirt, dust, or gunk on its charging points and caster wheel. It can also be from a faulty power outlet, improperly placed battery, or system bugs. In some cases, it can be due to a temperature error.

Roomba not charging – 9 ways to fix it instantly

#1: Clean charging contact points

Contact points are small metal strips found on your unit. Two are located at the bottom of your Roomba and another two at the base of its docking station.

These metal strips are responsible for charging and connecting your Roomba to its Home Base.

Basically, power charges flow through it.

So, when there’s dirt, dust, or gunk accumulated on it, electricity won’t flow.

That said, cleaning both the contact points on your Roomba and its Home Base will allow your unit to charge properly.

To clean, you just have to wipe off any dirt stuck on it.

Here are what you can use:

Microfiber cloth.
Soft, dry cloth with rubbing alcohol.
Damp melamine foam or Magic Eraser.

These materials will help wipe off sticky gunk that may be impossible to remove with only using water. Plus, this won’t cause damage to the contact points.

Watch this video to learn how to properly clean charging contacts:

Warning: Make sure to unplug the Home Base before cleaning its contact points. This will prevent you from getting electric shocks while cleaning.

Using any of these materials, gently wipe the charging points both on your Roomba and its Home Base. Allow it to dry for a few seconds before recharging your unit back on.

The contact points in your Roomba unit are constantly exposed to dirt and dust. So, make sure to clean it once in a while to prevent such issues from happening constantly.

You may also wonder: How often do you need to empty your Roomba?

#2: Clean the caster wheel

The caster wheel is the small non-powered wheel at the front of the unit.

Its purpose is to keep the Roomba rightly elevated. And to give the unit enough space underneath to brush off dirt and dust.

Since it’s located at the front, the caster wheel collects debris every time your Roomba is cleaning.

Once it piles up, the wheel gets pushed further off its housing, causing it to elevate higher.

“Okay, but does it really matter?”

Yes, it matters.

If the caster wheel has been pushed upward, the contact points of the Roomba won’t reach the contact points of the Home Base. And so, the unit won’t be able to charge itself.

To fix, you just have to remove the debris stuck on the caster wheel.

Here’s how you can clean it:

Pull the wheel firmly to remove it from its case.
Remove the debris stuck on the wheel. Wipe it using a clean, damp cloth, if needed.
Reinstall the wheel back to its case. You should hear a “click” sound once it’s correctly placed.

Tip: Spin the wheel by hand. If it barely moves, then there’s still some debris left on it. Make sure to remove every dust stuck on it.

Reading recommendation: 5 Reasons Why Your Roomba Keeps Going In Circles + 5 Fixes

#3: Replug the unit in a different outlet

In some cases, your Roomba won’t charge if it’s plugged into a faulty power outlet.

“How would I know if the power outlet is faulty?”

If you have an outlet tester, then go ahead and test your outlet to see if it has power.

If not, then simply try to plug your Roomba Home Base to a different outlet. The indicator light of the Home Base should light on if the outlet is working.

“I’ve tested the outlet, and it has power. Why is my Roomba still not charging?”

It’s probably because that specific power outlet is not supplying enough power to the unit. Maybe there are some wiring issues on it.

Either move your unit to a different power outlet or fix its electrical issue.

Note: You can move the Home Base to a different location without a problem as long as you let your Roomba unit finish its cleaning cycle first. In case you’ve relocated the Home Base while Roomba is cleaning, it will have a rough time docking.

#4: Remove the battery pull tab

Have you just bought your Roomba unit recently?

Then, you might have forgotten to remove the yellow pull tab on its battery.

Most brand-new electronics have yellow pull tabs on their battery. Manufacturers put it to prevent the electronics from turning itself on, especially during its shipping.

This tab blocks off the battery contact points.

So, if you haven’t removed it yet… Then, your unit will obviously not charge.

If it’s your first Roomba unit, here’s how to remove the pull tab:

Flip the Roomba unit upside down.
Look for the yellow pull tab hanging.
Then completely pull it off.

Once removed, your unit should have no problem charging.

#5: Reposition the battery

“I’ve removed the pull tab already. But my brand new Roomba still doesn’t work!”

Then, its battery might have been displaced from its original position during shipping.

As you may know, batteries should have complete contact on contact points for it to work.

So, make sure to check the battery position of your Roomba.

To check and reposition Roomba battery:

Flip the Roomba unit upside down.
Unscrew the screws on its base.
Remove the base cover.
Check if the battery is properly positioned.
Place back the cover.
And put the screws back in.

Note: If you’re using a Roomba 700 series or up, you just have to unscrew the battery compartment.

#6: Reboot Roomba unit

If the contact points and power source are not the issues, then it might be the unit itself.

Your Roomba unit can run into some software bugs. These are computer errors that cause incorrect results to systems.

In simple terms, software bugs cause your Roomba to malfunction or crash.

So, if you notice its indicator light on but the unit itself is not charging, it might be because of a software bug.

“What do I do? Should I call for a replacement?”

No, not yet.

Sure, software bugs can be a nuisance. But it can easily be fixed through hard resetting or rebooting.

Rebooting a Roomba unit is easy. However, it would depend on what series you’re using.

Here’s how to reboot Roomba based on its series:

For s and i Series: Press and hold the “Clean” button for 20 seconds. Release and wait for the light ring to shut off. This will take about 1.5 minutes to complete.
For 700, 800, and Series: Press and hold the “Clean” button for 10 seconds. Release and wait until you hear a reboot tone.

Note: Rebooting will reset Roomba’s software and delete temporary data. But it will not delete your scheduling data and smart mapping.

#7: Reset Roomba battery

Sometimes, it’s not your Roomba software that needs resetting. But your Roomba battery.

Similar to software, resetting the battery refreshes its system. Allowing it to improve its performance and function better.

If you’re noticing your Roomba battery is easily draining, you might want to try to reset it as well.

You can buy a replacement if you want. But resetting its battery will save you costs. Not to mention that it also keeps its battery life longer.

“How do I reset my Roomba battery?”

Battery resetting is also known as deep charging or 16-hour resetting. As you’d need to keep your unit at rest for 16-hours.

To reset Roomba 600 series battery:

Remove the battery from its case.
Press and hold the “Clean” button for 5-15 seconds.
Put the battery back in.
And charge it for 16 hours straight and until the green indicator light turns on.

To reset Roomba 700 series battery:

Pug in the Roomba unit.
Press and hold the “Clean” button and until the blue text “r 5 t” is displayed.
Let the unit turn itself off, and wait for the reset tone.
And charge it for 16 hours straight.

Tip: Charge your Roomba unit directly to the power source for better results. You can use the same cord that comes with the Home Base.

#8: Factory reset the unit

If rebooting either its unit software or battery doesn’t work, then it’s time to factory reset it.

Unlike rebooting, factory resetting deletes all your data and customized settings.

This includes your home mapping and cleaning schedule.

Meaning, it returns your unit to its default settings.

Tip: If you’re sure about factory resetting your device, make sure to back up your data first.

There are two ways you can factory reset your Roomba unit. Either through the iRobot Home app or through the unit itself.

To factory reset Roomba through the iRobot Home App:

Go to iRobot Home App.
Proceed to “Settings.”
Select “Remove/Factory Reset.”
And then click on the robot name of your unit.

To factory reset through the Roomba unit itself, the series of your unit should be considered.

Here’s how to factory reset Roomba based on its series:

For a and i series

Press the “Home,” “Spot Clean,” and “Clean” buttons all at once. Hold it until you see the white color appear in the light ring.

For j series

First, remove the dustbin from the unit. Then, press and hold the “Clean” button for 7 seconds. Release, once you hear the reset tone. After that, click the “Clean” button once again to confirm the action.

For e series

Press the “Home,” “Spot Clean,” and “Clean” buttons all at once. Hold it for about 20 seconds. Then, release.

For 900 series

Press the “Dock,” “Spot Clean,” and “Clean” buttons all at once. Hold it until all the button indicator lights turn on.

For Wi-Fi enabled 600 & 800 series

Press the “Dock,” “Spot Clean,” and “Clean” buttons all at once. Hold it until you hear a beep tone.

For Roomba combo

Open the unit lid and locate the “Reset” button. Press and hold the reset button for 10 seconds.

#9: Move the unit to another room

It’s very unlikely to happen, but your Roomba unit won’t charge if the room is too hot or cold.

Like any electronics, your Roomba unit and its Home Base should be kept in a room-temperature area of your home.

If it’s exposed to an excessively high or low temperature, its motor might not be able to operate properly.

When this happens, your Roomba unit will send a display error code until the issue is resolved.

The only solution is to move your unit in a room with a modest temperature.

Note: Make sure to let it sit for at least an hour before charging it back on its Home Base.

Roomba Not Charging: 9 Ways To Fix It In 30 Seconds (2023)

Why is my Roomba not charging?