Why is Roomba Not Connecting To Wi-Fi? How to Fix!

Robotic vacuum cleaners like irobot Roomba now feature intelligent features, such as wireless capability, and can do more than just vacuum and clean. So, it might be a little annoying while operating your Roomba vacuum to see the message “not connecting to Wi-Fi.” Are you experiencing the same issue?

A stable WiFi connection allows you to use your Roomba to schedule and remotely control the Roomba unit duties through voice commands using Alexa or Google Home.

Therefore, having Roomba robot vacuums without an internet connection would be extremely disadvantageous. 

In this article, I will guide you on how to fix ‘Roomba not connecting to WiFi’ issue and its reasons.

Why is My Roomba not Connecting to Wi-Fi?

There might be several causes for the problem, and you must take the necessary actions to solve this problem if you can accurately pinpoint its root cause. 

So, we will dwell on those first:

Ensure Your Wi-Fi Network is Operating Correctly

Even though your Wi-Fi is operational, it might not be performing optimally, and since Roomba requires at least a minimum upload speed of 3 Mbps, it is a little challenging for your Roomba to connect to the network.

You should check your Wi-Fi network and see how it connects to various smart devices before assuming your Roomba is having problems. 

If other devices can connect to the internet, the robot vacuum is the cause of the issue. However, your Wi-Fi network is to blame if you cannot connect to the internet on any device.

Make Sure that Your Roomba is Connected to the Correct Wireless Network Band (GHz)

The 2.4 GHz and 5.0 GHz are the frequencies frequently used by routers for communication between smart devices. Devices operating at a greater distance from the wireless router require a frequency of 2.4 GHz. 

When it comes to equipment that operates near the wifi router, the 5.0GHz wifi frequency is important.

However, not all Roombas are 5.0 GHz compatible. Please verify that you are connecting the Roomba to the appropriate frequency based on the Roomba model you have; otherwise, it will have trouble connecting to Wi-Fi. 

Roomba Models	2.4GHz Band	5.0GHz Band
Roomba Series 600, 800, 900, i1, i2, i3, i4, i5	Yes	No
Roomba Series 6, i7, i8, j7, s9, m6	Yes	Yes

Roomba Is Too Far From Wi-Fi

The location of Roomba from its home base and the distance between the Roomba may also be the issue. Getting your home base close to your Wi-Fi router is another option to fix the Wi-Fi problem. 

Move the Roomba docking station closer to the Wi-Fi router to solve this problem and see if the connection improves.

The Wi-Fi connection strength will increase, and your Roomba will operate more efficiently and quickly if the range that the WiFi signals need to travel between devices is reduced. 

Additionally, you may position the router in the middle of the room so that the wifi signal can reach all Wi-Fi connected devices.

That was about improving the wifi connection between one room to more, but what if your home has many stories? 

I recommend placing the home base 2 feet away from your router on the top floor of the house since Wi-Fi signals move better from high to low ground.

Too Much Wi-Fi Signal Interference

Bandwidth is an important factor that influences the strength and speed of the internet connection at your house. It is affected by too much interference. 

For instance, bandwidth challenges will arise if you use many Wi-Fi-connected devices simultaneously.

My own experience indicates that it is unquestionably true, especially if many of your devices are concurrently using data-intensive applications like playing online games or streaming video.

The steps to solve this problem are to 

• Open the router settings on the laptop. 
• Next, check out the list of all the devices currently logged into the WiFi network. 
• Turn off any gadgets you are not currently using to save bandwidth.

Software Glitch

Ensure you have the most recent software updates for Roomba and the router downloaded and installed. Roomba being robotic equipment, is susceptible to having flaws or malfunctions. 

When a software error occurs, your Roomba won’t function properly or perform as intended.

You can find Regular Software updates for products like your Wi-Fi router and irobot Roomba vacuum cleaners. You don’t have to ignore the updates and duly update your devices whenever you receive such an update. 

These updates upgrade your device and repair any bugs, hiccups, or other software issues that may be present. Resetting the device is another method to fix a software malfunction. 

A wifi failure can also cause unavailability of Roomba Map, go though our guide “Roomba Map Unavailable: 6 Easy Ways To Fix” to get a solution to this.

How do I connect My Roomba to Wi-Fi Again?

First, you must download and set up the iRobot home App on a mobile device. Android and iPhone users can download the App from Google Play Store or App Store respectively. 

Here are some simple instructions to reconnect your Roomba to Wi-Fi.

• Place your home base close to a power source. Verify that there are no obstructions near the home base and enough WiFi connectivity.
• On your smartphone, launch the iRobot App. If you don’t already have one, register a new account. The software will then instantly identify your home network.
• Press Continue after entering your Wi-Fi network’s password. Your Roomba will connect to your network immediately.
• You are now successfully connected to Wi-Fi. You may customize the settings, plan a cleaning session, or start cleaning using the App.

Summary – Roomba Not Connecting To WiFi

The crux of the story is to verify your home’s Wi-Fi and internet connection before passing judgment on the Roomba cleaner.

If you’ve tried every solution to fix a Roomba that won’t connect to Wi-Fi given in this article and your iRobot Roomba still doesn’t respond properly, get in touch with iRobot customer support right away to see if the machine is still covered under warranty.

They can issue you a new product or give you detailed instructions on how to fix the issue.

Frequently Asked Questions

What do you do when your Roomba says not connected?

When your Roomba says not connected to Wi-Fi, you need to perform a device restart. Also, ensure you have good Wi-Fi coverage close to your router and robot and that the iRobot home app runs on your device’s most recent version. You can verify this by checking if any updates are available in the App Store or Play Store for Roomba.

How do I reconnect my Roomba to the App?

Ensure Bluetooth is activated on your smartphone and linked to the same Wi-Fi network as Roomba. 
Dock the Roomba at the Home Base.

Open the Roomba App on your smartphone, and tap on your vacuum cleaner (the name you gave the Roomba).

Then proceed by typing in the proper Wi-Fi password and clicking continue. The iRobot Roomba should be able to connect to the Wi-Fi by now.

How do I know if my Roomba is connected to Wi-Fi?

To know that your Roomba is connected to Wi-Fi, you can take out your smartphone, navigate the iRobot Home App, and check the status there. The name of the Wi-Fi network that your Roomba is presently connected to will be shown in the iRobot HOME App.

How do I reset my Roomba Wi-Fi?

To reset your Roomba Wi-Fi, press and hold the Reset button on top of the robot for 10 seconds. After ten seconds, you should see a message that says “Wi-Fi reset” on the LCD home screen of your Roomba.

Once this happens, the Roomba will be disconnected from your home network so you can reconnect it to a new one.

Does Roomba work on 5GHz Wi-Fi?

Roomba models that have Wi-Fi connectivity support both 2.4 and 5 GHz frequency bands. However, it is important to note that 5GHz networks are not as reliable or fast as 2.4GHz networks when it comes to home automation devices like robotic vacuum cleaners.

Therefore, if you plan on using your Roomba with Wi-Fi, it is best to stick to a 2.4GHz network for reliable Roomba performance.

Can I connect my Roomba to multiple networks?

You can connect your Roomba to multiple Wi-Fi networks if you need the robot to clean in different locations.

To do this, simply press and hold the Roomba’s Reset button, select the Wi-Fi network you want to connect to, and then enter the network password. Your Roomba should now be connected and ready to clean in that new location.

It is important to note that if your robot will be connecting to multiple networks, it is best to keep each network’s name and password unique so the Roomba can easily determine which network to connect to.

How do I hard reset my Roomba?

To hard reset your Roomba, press and hold the Reset button on top of the robot for 20 seconds. The LCD screen will display a “Restore default settings” message when you let go of the button. Your Roomba will now be restored to its original factory settings and all Wi-Fi information will be erased from its memory. You can then reconnect your Roomba to a new Wi-Fi network and set it up as if it were brand new.

References

1. Setting up your Roomba, iRobot.co.uk