If your Roomba won't return home, check that the dock has power and a clear approach. Clean the charging contacts, then try sending the robot home from nearby. If you picked it up during cleaning, it may have lost its position. A robot that reaches the dock but won't charge needs a charging check, not a new map.
Try these checks in order
- Reseat the dock's power cable. Check both ends. Some Home Base lights come on briefly, then go out normally, so an unlit dock isn't proof it has no power.
- Clear a path. Put the dock on a hard, level surface against a wall. Keep it away from stairs and follow your model's clearance instructions.
- Clean the contacts. Unplug the dock first. Use the cleaning method iRobot specifies for your model on both the dock and robot contacts, then let them dry.
- Test from nearby. Face the robot toward the dock from within about 6 ft and send it home. The button or app command depends on the model.
It docks nearby but gets lost during cleaning
Check for a closed door, a blocked passage, or a dock that moved since the last run. Start the next job from the dock and avoid carrying the robot partway through.
If your model has a saved map, check it before changing anything. Roomba models use different navigation systems, so instructions for one series may not fit another. You don't need to delete a map just to test power, contacts, or dock placement.
It reaches the dock but won't charge
Look for a charging confirmation on the robot or in its app. If it doesn't appear, recheck the cable and contacts. On a new robot, check for protective film over the signal windows.
Write down any charging error. Ask iRobot to check it before buying a battery or dock; the same symptom can have more than one cause.
When to contact iRobot
If it still fails the nearby docking test after those checks, send support the model, serial number, error message, and a short video. Mention whether the robot misses the dock, backs away from it, or stays on it without charging.