Are you troubleshooting a frustrating issue on your Roomba and need to reboot it? We understand. Sometimes, there’s just no way around certain problems. The last resort is to perform a factory reset on a Roomba. But before you do a factory reset on your Roomba, it’s best to learn how to do it the right way. 

How to factory reset a Roomba: Open the iRobot Home App and ensure your mobile device is connected to the same Wi-Fi network as your Wi-Fi connected Roomba. Navigate to Settings and press Remove/Factory Reset. The Roomba will restart to finish the factory reset and all saved data will be removed.

In this article, we will show you how to reset a Roomba the right way. Because there are multiple Roomba models from iRobot, we will break down each specific step according to the Roomba model, including the “Soft Reset” and “Hard Reset” methods. So get your Roomba ready and let’s get started.

Why Factory Reset a Roomba?

A factory reset is a feature that sends a Roomba back to its original factory settings. Put simply, it’s as if the Roomba is wiped clean of its memory and is brand new. In most cases, this is done to resolve unexpected robot issues, trouble with Wi-Fi connections to your home network, or other unexplained errors.

But before you factory reset your Roomba, are you sure you need to do it in the first place? There’s no need to factory reset a Roomba if you’re just experiencing mild issues that can easily be fixed. Simple problems, like damaged batteries, can easily be replaced. A factory reset is typically recommended for:

1. Transfer From the Previous Owner

When anyone buys a secondhand Roomba, or receives a Roomba from a friend or relative, the first step is to factory reset it. Only then the new owner can restart the Roomba’s learning process.

According to the founders of techanoa.com, receiving a secondhand Roomba is one of the most common reasons why the new owner would want to reset their Roomba. This wipes the Roomba’s memory clean and disassociates the robot and any saved data from the previous iRobot account. 

2. Last Resort to Troubleshooting

Sometimes, there’s just no going around an issue but to factory reset the Roomba. The most common problem that happens to a Roomba is a charging problem. While there are simple ways to fix the Roomba’s charging problem, the last resort is to simply reset the Roomba and restore it back to its default settings.

What Happens to the Roomba After a Factory Reset?

So what happens to the Roomba after a factory reset? The action will remove the Roomba from the iRobot HOME app. Every cleaning preferences, language selections, and time-zones will return to their default state. Any saved data on the iRobot account will also be removed, including smart home connections. 

If the Roomba has mapping capabilities, every map created and stored will be removed. However, if the factory reset is performed from the robot itself, the cloud data, app data, and account associations will remain in-tact. You can restart the Roomba’s learning process after the factory reset is complete.

Important: Before performing a factory reset, you may want to troubleshoot your Roomba first. Chances are, the error you are experiencing can be fixed. You can read how to troubleshoot a Roomba error code here.

How to Reboot a Roomba

A reboot is different from a factory reset. For some issues, you only need to reboot your Roomba. It’s more like a "force close" on both the robot and the smartphone app. If you’re experiencing trouble, try rebooting your Roomba before doing a factory reset. Here is how to reboot a Roomba based on the series:

• Roomba 500 and 600 Series: Press and hold SPOT Clean and Dock for 10 seconds.
• Roomba 700, 800, and 900 Series: Press and hold the CLEAN button on your robot for 10 seconds. When the button is released, your Roomba will play the reboot tone.
• Roomba i Series: Press and hold the CLEAN button on your robot for 20 seconds. When the button is released, the light ring will swirl clockwise in white.
• Roomba s Series: Press and hold the CLEAN button on your robot for 20 seconds. When the button is released, the light ring around the bin lid will swirl clockwise in white.

How to Factory Reset a Roomba 

There are two types of factory reset on a Roomba: Soft Reset and Hard Reset. A soft reset is done by manually on the robot itself, without erasing the data from the app. On the other hand, a hard reset is done via the app and will restore the Roomba to its factory settings. All data on the app and cloud will be erased.

Final Words

And there you have it, the simple, yet complete, troubleshooting guide on how to reset a Roomba the right way. Remember, if any problem persists, your best course of action is to contact the official iRobot support team to help you diagnose your Roomba problem. Taking care of your Roomba will make it last a long time. 🙂

You may also want to read our comparison reviews:

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