How to Factory Reset Your iRobot Roomba

21-Apr-2024

If you’re someone who has a busy schedule or simply hates the chore of having to vacuum around the house, getting an autonomous vacuum cleaner like an iRobot Roomba is a great way to save time and take the effort out of keeping your home clean and tidy. If you do choose to pick up one of these nifty devices, however, there may come a time when you need to perform a factory reset on it.

Like all digital devices, Roombas can run into software-related performance problems and glitches from time and time. If this happens to yours, then a factory reset is the way to go, as it will revert your device’s software to its original factory condition, allowing you to troubleshoot, or better yet, resolve the issue. Likewise, if you’ve decided to upgrade your Roomba or opt for an alternative device, you’ll want to wipe saved data before passing it on to its next owner. In this case, a full factory is also the way to go.

If you haven’t done a factory reset on your Roomba before, then you’ve come to the right place, as we’ve prepared an easy-to-follow guide below to walk you through the process step by step.

Performing a Factory Reset Via the iRobot Home App

The recommended way to go about performing a factory reset on your iRobot Roomba is to do so via the iRobot Home App which is linked to the device. You can factory reset a Wi-Fi-enabled Roomba in this way by following these steps:

Open the iRobot Home App on your smartphone, ensuring that both your phone and your Roomba are connected to the same Wi-Fi network.
Go to “Product Settings”, then select “About (your Roomba’s name)”.
Select “Remove Device from Account”. You will be presented with an option to save your customized Smart Maps after the reset. If you intend to continue using the device, then enable this option, as it will save your Roomba from needing to remap your home.
Tap “Factory Reset (your Roomba’s name)”, then confirm the action to begin the reset. This process should take just a few seconds, and you will receive a notification on the app when it is complete.

Performing a Factory Reset Via the Roomba Itself by version

If your Roomba is experiencing connectivity problems or is not a Wi-Fi-enabled version, then you also have the option to perform a factory reset using the buttons on the vacuum cleaner itself. Depending on the exact version you own, the steps may vary to some degree, however.

To perform a factory reset in this way, follow these appropriate steps for your device below:

Factory reset Roomba s/i Series.

Press and hold the “Home”, “Spot Clean”, and “CLEAN” buttons together for several seconds, releasing when the white ring light on the device begins to swirl.

Factory reset Roomba e Series.

Press and hold the “Home”, “Spot Clean”, and “CLEAN” buttons together for 20 seconds, then release.

Factory reset Roomba j Series.

Remove the dust compartment of the device, then press the cleaning button and hold it for 7 seconds. Release when you hear the tone, then press the cleaning button again to confirm the action.

Factory reset Roomba 900 Series.

Press and hold the “Dock”, “Spot Clean”, and “CLEAN” buttons together, then release when all of the LEDs on the device light up.

Factory reset Roomba 600 and 800 Series.

Press and hold the “Dock”, “Spot Clean”, and “CLEAN” together until you hear the beep tone, then release.

Factory reset Roomba Roomba Combo

Open the device’s lid, then find the recessed “Reset” button next to the “Power On/Off” switch. Press and hold the button for 10 seconds.

Once the process is done, your Roomba will reboot itself, at which point it is ready to use once more.

So, that’s all you need to know to perform a full factory reset on your iRobot Roomba autonomous vacuum cleaner. Assuming you’ve followed the steps correctly, your device should now be reset to its original condition, hopefully resolving any issues you might have been experiencing. If you choose to save your customized Smart Maps, then your Roomba is ready to resume cleaning your home as before, but if not, it will require some time to learn the layout of your home again. Alternatively, if you’ve decided to pass the device on, it is now ready for you to do so.