Roomba Won’t Connect to WiFi Cloud (Answer)

For those who dislike vacuuming, a Roomba is a useful piece of technology to have around the house. Introduced in 2002, they have continuously improved and can now connect to the internet for expanded functionality; however, this internet functionality may not always work as intended, and you may experience difficulties connecting the device to Wi-Fi. So, how do you solve this problem?

If your Roomba is unable to connect to Wi-Fi/Cloud, it is possible that the Wi-Fi signal is not reaching it. Older and less expensive routers may not be able to send a signal far enough to cover the entire house. If your Wi-Fi is strong, you can try rebooting the Roomba and the router.

Many factors can come into play when a Roomba, or any device, fails to connect to Wi-Fi. We will help you troubleshoot this problem further down, so please continue reading!

Troubleshooting: Issues on Roomba Won’t Connect to WiFi

Issue	Solution
Wrong WiFi network	Make sure that you are connecting your Roomba to the correct WiFi network. You can check the WiFi network name and password on your Roomba’s documentation or on the iRobot website.
Weak WiFi signal	Make sure that your Roomba is close to your WiFi router. If your Roomba is still not connecting to WiFi, you can try moving your router closer to your Roomba.
WiFi password incorrect	Make sure that you are entering the WiFi password correctly. You can check the WiFi password on your router or on your computer.
Roomba firmware outdated	Make sure that your Roomba firmware is up to date. You can check for updates by going to the iRobot website and entering your Roomba’s serial number.
Technical difficulties	If you have tried all of the above solutions and your Roomba is still not connecting to WiFi, you may need to contact iRobot customer service for help.

Video: iRobot WiFi connection problems: FIXED

ROOMBA WON’T CONNECT TO WI-FI: WHAT CAUSES IT AND HOW TO FIX IT

There are numerous benefits to connecting your Roomba to the internet, including the ability to set a cleaning schedule with your phone, activate the robots when you are outside the house or in another room, and receive push notifications about your Robot’s activity.

You pay more for the Wi-Fi-enabled Roombas, so you should use it naturally. Unfortunately, things do not always go as planned, and you may encounter difficulties connecting your Roomba to the internet.

If this occurs, there is no need to panic because problems like these can almost always be resolved, especially if you know other devices in your home are connected to the same Wi-Fi network to which you are attempting to connect your Roomba. Most of the time, the solution is straightforward.

Your Wi-Fi may not cover your entire house.

Your router may not be emitting a signal that covers your entire household, depending on the size of your home. This is especially true if you are using an older router or one that was never designed to cover a large area, to begin with ( such as a mesh router).

In this case, you’ll need to buy a router with a long-range, or, if you have a mesh router, buy more units to ensure complete coverage.

Furthermore, you could be attempting to connect to a 5ghz network, which has less range than 2.4ghz.

Place the home base in an area where the Wi-Fi signal is strong for the best results. You may have issues if the Roomba starts going into rooms with a weak signal, but as long as the Roomba is set to only clean parts of your home with good Wi-Fi, you should be fine.

Check that the Wi-Fi Setup Instructions are followed exactly.

Roombas’ internet setup is simple, but it must be completed exactly as instructed within the app. When going through the setup process, the Wi-Fi indicator on the device should be blinking green:

1. Turn on Bluetooth on the Robot.
2. Within the app, connect to the Robot.
3. Give Your Robot a Name.
4. Enter the Wi-Fi password to which your phone is currently connected.
5. While the Roomba is on its base, press the “HOME” and “SPOT clean” buttons for 2-5 seconds, or until a tone is heard.
6. You have successfully activated the Robot if you see either a flashing green Wi-Fi icon or a flashing blue light ring. Check the “I pressed the buttons” box within the app from here.

Please keep this in mind if you want to connect your Roomba to a different network. During the setup process on Android, you can select “Change Wi-Fi Network.” On iOS, choose the network you want within the app, then change it in iOS’s settings.

If you’d like to see a video demonstration of how to properly set up your Roomba from start to finish, click here. We’ve included a video below to assist you:

Your Wi-Fi may require a reset.

Many Wi-Fi issues can be resolved by rebooting the wifi router. When routers are used for an extended period of time, they can become buggy. In addition, if you want to be thorough, you can reset your model.

It’s also possible that your wifi router is configured to secure only the features that your Roomba supports. For example, if your router is set to WPA3, try setting it to WPA2. However, be aware that this will make your network less secure.

CAUSES AND SOLUTIONS FOR ROOMBA NOT CONNECTING TO THE CLOUD

If your Roomba is unable to connect to the cloud, Check to see if any other devices can connect to your Wi-Fi network. If this is the case, check to see if any network settings, such as the password or other security settings, have been altered.

Next, make sure your Wi-Fi is accessible throughout your home. If a Roomba leaves the Wi-Fi range, you will see a message stating that the Roomba is unable to communicate with the cloud. Consider getting a mesh Wi-Fi router network, such as a Google assistant Wi-Fi Mesh Wi-Fi System, in this case. You can also set a limit for how far your Roomba can travel, but it will not complete its task.

CAUSES/HOW TO FIX ROOMBA SAYS NOT CONNECTED, TRY AGAIN LATER

If your Roomba indicates that it is not connected and that you should try again later. The Robot is currently awaiting a software update. Allow the Roomba to sit in its dock for 24 hours to receive this update. This is an annoying feature, but the idea is that you don’t have to do the updates yourself.

If this does not resolve your problem, iRomba recommends that you contact them. It could indicate a faulty unit.

CAUSES/HOW TO FIX ROOMBA WI-FI INDICATOR NOT BLINKING

If your Roomba’s Wi-Fi indicator is not blinking while on its home base, press the “CLEAN” button to wake the Robot. Next, while turning on the Wi-Fi, hold down the “Dock” and “SPOT Clean” buttons.

ROOMBA WON’T STAY CONNECTED TO WI-FI: WHAT CAUSES IT AND HOW TO FIX IT

If your Roomba isn’t staying connected to Wi-Fi, it may have wandered past the maximum range of signal that your router can emit.

In this case, you can either limit the Roomba’s range so that it stays within the range, upgrade to a more powerful router, or, if you have a mesh router, purchase an additional unit to ensure that your entire home is covered.

CAUSES/HOW TO FIX ROOMBA WON’T CONNECT TO 5GHZ WI-FI

Roombas currently does not support 5GHz networks. This is most likely intentional, as Roombas do not require the speed benefits of 5GHz Wi-Fi. Rather, they have enough Wi-Fi coverage to keep you connected throughout your home.

5ghz is ideal for high-speed tasks like streaming video and cloud gaming, but its range isn’t as good as 2.4ghz and it has a harder time passing through walls. In terms of internet requirements, it would not be ideal for a more “simple” device.

Final Thoughts

A Roomba may fail to connect to Wi-Fi for a variety of reasons, including the Robot moving out of Wi-Fi range or the router needing to be reset. It’s best to have a Wi-Fi system that covers your entire home, whether that means purchasing a more powerful router or incorporating a mesh Wi-Fi system.

If your Roomba isn’t connecting to your Wi-Fi in the first place, make sure you’re following the setup procedure correctly from the start. If all else fails, try changing the security settings on your Wi-Fi, though this isn’t ideal.

FAQs

Why isn’t my Roomba communicating with my phone?

Please restart your computer. Make sure you’re close to your robot and router, and that you’re using the most recent version of the iRobot home app. You can confirm this by visiting the app store/Play Store and checking for updates.

How can I tell if my WiFi is 2.4 or 5 GHz?

Press and hold the WiFi icon in the Notification Panel until you reach the WiFi settings screen. Choose the network properties (tap the gear icon or menu icon). Check the following, depending on the Android version: Read the “Frequency” setting, which indicates 2.4 or 5GHz.

Why can’t the cloud communicate with my Roomba?

If your Roomba i7 is unable to communicate with the cloud, try disconnecting some of your smart home devices. If this isn’t possible, consider increasing your internet’s bandwidth or purchasing a Wi-Fi repeater, which can boost the strength of your router.

How do I reset my Roomba manually?

Hold down the Home, Spot Clean, and Clean buttons at the same time. Then, watch as the light ring around the Clean button begins to swirl. Let go of the three buttons once the light ring appears. The Roomba will now restart, signaling the completion of the factory reset process.

References:

https://www.digitaltrends.com/home/roomba-not-connecting-to-wifi/

https://thedroidguy.com/how-to-fix-roomba-not-connecting-to-wifi-1160373