Roborock S5 Troubleshooting

Roborock wanders aimlessly, seemingly unable to the find docking station.

The most common reason why your Roborock may be unable to find its dock is that something is blocking the communication signal between the dock and the vacuum. Try putting the dock in a different area where the vacuum has a better chance of receiving signal.

If the docking station or the front sensor of the Roborock are dirty, this can interfere with communication between the two. Wipe down both of these areas and reassess.

Roborock powers on, makes usual noises, and brushes function normally, but the robot can't seem to move around.

Given the nature of vacuum cleaners, it is not uncommon for lint, string, or other kinds of fibrous buildup to get jammed inside the wheels of the Roborock. To see if this is the case, power down your vacuum and turn it over to assess the two main wheels and single front wheel. If you see dirt jammed in any of the wheels, pull what of it you can out, and see if your Roborock can now move around freely.

An immobile Roborock may be suffering from a broken or busted wheel. To see if this is the case, power down your vacuum and turn it over to see if any of the three wheels are broken. They will either be visibly worn, or unable to spin freely due to some internal damage to the wheel. Either way, if you find a broken wheel, you will need to replace it with a new one. You can find a guide for replacing the front wheel here.

Roborock moves around like normal, but doesn't seem to be collecting anything from the floor.

The most common reason why your Roborock isn’t collecting dirt is because the main roller brush isn’t moving properly. Often, this is because it has become jammed with a large piece of debris, or tangled up by large amounts of lint, string, or hair. To check, power down your vacuum and flip it over so the main roller brush is visible. Pull off the panel covering the brush, and then lift it out. Clean any dirt and debris that could be obstructing it, and then put it back in.

Sometimes, large obstructions like socks or dryer sheets can make it past the main roller brush and become lodged inside the vacuum, blocking any further dirt from reaching the dustbin and impairing the suction abilities of the Roborock. Lift the top panel of the vacuum and remove the dust bin to check if there is anything inside blocking suction, and if there is, remove it.

The dust filter inside the dustbin could affect the Roborock’s suction power if left uncleaned for too long. Check your dust filter to make sure it isn’t too dirty or blocked to allow proper suction.

Roborock won't turn on and is entirely unresponsive.

If the charging dock is not plugged into an outlet, it will not be able to power your Roborock. Make sure it is plugged in, then reassess.

There is a good chance that an unresponsive Roborock is simply the result of a dead battery. This is often the result of dirty charging contacts. Take a look at the charging contacts on both the vacuum and its dock and clean them thoroughly before reattaching to see if the robot will now charge.

If the dock is plugged in, the charging connection are clean, and the Roborock still won’t turn or take a charge, this can be a sign of a defective or non-functional battery. If this is the case, you may need to replace the battery. You can find a battery replacement guide here.

Roborock runs into walls and seems generally unaware of the perimeter of the room.

If your Roborock frequently runs into walls, this can be a sign of one or more dirty proximity sensors. There are several sensors around the outside of the robot, all of which contribute to its ability to navigate properly. Check to make sure all the sensors are clean, wiping them down with a microfiber cloth if you find any to be excessively dirty.

The Laser Distance Sensor, or LDS, is the round, periscopic laser on the top of the Roborock that swivels around and allows the robot to map the room. If your Roborock is displaying Error 1, it means something is wrong with the LDS, which could be the reason your Roborock can’t tell where it is. Power down your Roborock and examine the laser, using something small like a toothpick or cotton swab to see if the laser is able to spin freely. You may find dirt or hair clogging the laser and impairing its movement. If this is the case, pull what of it you can out and reassess. If the laser is free of obstructions and spins freely when you move it, yet your device still displays Error 1, this may signal a deeper problem with the LDS motor, and you may need to replace it. You can find an LDS motor replacement guide here.