Contrary to popular belief, a blinking orange or a flashing red light on a Roomba is not always a bad thing. It is, however, a signal that the Roomba is trying to tell you something.

So, what does a blinking orange light or a flashing red light mean for a Roomba?

A slow flashing orange light means that the Roomba is charging normally. A quick flashing orange light means that the Roomba has entered the 16-hour refresh charge because the battery is significantly discharged. A flashing red light means the battery charge is too low to start cleaning.

In this post, we break down what it means when a Roomba is blinking orange or flashing red. By the end of this post, you should be able to understand what these signals mean and how to best deal with them.

1. Why is my Roomba blinking orange?

There are 2 types of flashing orange light on a Roomba. The first type is a slow flashing orange light while the second type is the quick flashing orange light. Both types of flashing light will happen on the CLEAN button.

So, what does a flashing orange light on a Roomba mean?

• A slow pulsing orange light on the CLEAN button means that the Roomba is charging normally.
• A quick pulsing orange light on the CLEAN button means that the Roomba has entered the 16-hour refresh charge. This happens because the battery has been significantly discharged.

What is the 16-hour refresh charge?

If a Roomba has been left off the power supply or Home Base for an extended period, or the Roomba senses that its battery has been significantly discharged, it will initiate a special 16-hour charge cycle. This extensive charge refreshes Roomba’s battery and extends the battery life.

When the 16-hour refresh charge is initiated, the CLEAN light will quickly pulse orange/amber. 

Do not interrupt the cycle once it has begun. The quick orange blinking light will cease and turn green, and the Roomba should operate normally once the charging cycle is complete.

The 16-hour refresh charge cycle is initiated by the robot and cannot be started manually.

2. Why is my Roomba flashing red?

Not all Roombas are the same. Newer Roomba models have a ring light to display indicators and signals. On the other hand, older Roomba models have a light around its CLEAN button.

Below, we break down what a flashing red light means for a Roomba.

Newer Roomba models

Newer Roomba models use their red light ring, in combination with sounds and app notifications, to communicate different statuses. Below you will find three types of red light rings and their explanation.

1. Solid red - When the red light ring around the CLEAN button is solid, Roomba will tell you something is wrong with a narrated voice message. Refer to the Roomba error messages chart to troubleshoot the issue and find a solution.
2. Pulsing red - If the red light ring around the CLEAN button is pulsing, the Roomba battery charge is too low to start cleaning. Make sure that the robot is docked to the Home Base or the Clean Base™ (for i7+ models) to start charging the battery. When the battery has reached a full charge the light ring will change to white.
3. Red sweep towards the rear - When the red light ring around the CLEAN button is sweeping toward the rear, it is about time to empty the bin. Find out more about cleaning Roomba bin and filter here.

You can also press CLEAN on the robot to repeat any error message that may have occurred. For additional questions on the light ring, you can learn more on iRobot’s website.

Older Roomba models

On older Roomba versions, like the 500, 600, 700, 800, and 900 Series, a flashing red light on a Roomba means that the robot is experiencing a charging error.

If this is the case, you need to troubleshoot the charging error. Thankfully, we have a comprehensive guide on how to troubleshoot a Roomba charging error right here. You should be able to find the solution.

Tips to extend Roomba’s battery life

Do these things to extend Roomba’s battery life and keep Roomba cleaning at peak performance:

• Always keep Roomba plugged in when not in use.
• Recharge Roomba as soon as possible. Waiting several days to recharge the Roomba can damage the battery.
• For long-term storage, always remove the battery from the Roomba and store in a cool, dry place.
• Blue or black batteries should be stored after Roomba has been used.
• Yellow batteries should be stored after being fully charged.

Battery capacity reduces overtime and usually the battery will need to be replaced each year. If your Roomba’s battery is no longer working as long as it should, you should buy an authentic replacement battery from the official iRobot store on Amazon.

Bottom Line

Now you know why a Roomba is blinking orange or flashing red.

Both are indicators that your beloved Roomba needs your care and attention. Remember to keep your Roomba charged at all times while keeping its battery in tip top shape.