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Fixing navigation and mapping problems

Fix navigation and mapping issues with your robot.

Fixing navigation and mapping problems

If your robot drives in circles, skips rooms or doesn't create a map, there may be various causes.

Step 1: Clean the sensors

  • Wipe all cliff sensors (underside of the robot) with a soft, dry cloth.
  • Clean the camera or optical sensor (top) on models with visual navigation (i series, j series, s9, Combo, new 100/200/400/500/700 series).
  • Clean the bumper sensor (front) – press it in several times to make sure it isn't stuck.

Step 2: Check lighting conditions

  • Models with camera navigation (i series, j series, s9, new models) require sufficient light. Turn on the lights in the rooms to be cleaned.
  • Avoid direct sunlight on the robot, as glare can interfere with navigation.

Step 3: Adjust obstacles and environment

  • Remove loose cables, carpet fringes, socks and other small objects from the floor.
  • Make sure the robot has at least 1.5 metres of clear space in front of and beside the dock.
  • On dark floors: check whether the cliff sensors falsely detect the dark floor as a drop-off.

Step 4: Reset the map (Smart Map)

  • Applies to: Roomba i7, i8, s9, j series, Plus 405, Plus 406, Plus 505, Max 705.
  • If the map is faulty or rooms are incorrectly assigned, delete the map in the iRobot HOME app (Settings → Reset map).
  • Start a new mapping run (training run). The robot will drive through all rooms and create a new map.
  • Do not manually move the robot during mapping.

Step 5: Check Virtual Walls and keep-out zones

  • Check whether Virtual Wall barriers or keep-out zones defined in the app are blocking access to certain rooms.
  • Remove or adjust keep-out zones in the app if rooms are being skipped.

Step 6: Restart and software update

  • Perform a restart (press and hold the CLEAN button for 10 seconds).
  • Check the iRobot HOME app for available software updates and install them.

Note on navigation types

  • iAdapt 1.0 (random navigation): 600 series, e5, e6 – these models do not create maps and navigate randomly. Irregular patterns are normal.
  • iAdapt 2.0 / 3.0 / PrecisionVision (systematic navigation): i series, j series, s9, new models – these create maps and clean in orderly rows.

If nothing helps

Contact iRobotics customer service at service@irobotics.ch or via the iRobot HOME app.

Applicable models

Applies to: Roomba 600 series, 600 series WiFi, 680, 800 series, 800 series WiFi, 900 series, e5, e6, i1, i3, i5, i6, i7, i8, s9, j series, Combo, 105, 115, 205, Plus 405, Plus 406, Plus 505, 575, Max 705, Braava Jet m series.