How-to
How to set up a Roomba and connect it to Wi-Fi, step by step
Put the dock near your router, turn on Bluetooth and location on your phone and connect the phone to the Wi-Fi network the robot should use. In the iRobot Home app choose "Add your product" and follow the steps. Many Roombas only handle 2.4 GHz.
What to prepare before you start
Remove the tape and packaging from the robot and the dock. Put the dock on a level, clear spot as close to the router as practical and plug it in. Put the robot on it. This follows iRobot’s setup help.
Install the iRobot Home app. On your phone turn on Bluetooth and location services with "Precise Location". Connect the phone to the network the robot should get, because during setup a Roomba always connects to the network your phone is using. Tablets are no longer supported for setup, and a foldable phone is often counted as a tablet.
Does your Roomba do 5 GHz or only 2.4 GHz?
This is the most common pitfall. According to iRobot’s table some models only handle 2.4 GHz. If your robot does not support 5 GHz, make sure your phone is on a 2.4 GHz network during setup.
| Model | 2.4 GHz | 5 GHz |
|---|---|---|
| Combo 10 Max, j7/j7+, j9/j9+, Combo j5, i6, i7, i8 and s9 | Yes | Yes |
| Essential, i1 to i5, Combo i5, Combo i8, Combo, 900, Wi-Fi connected 800, 670 and 690 | Yes | No |
| Models below the 670 (no Wi-Fi) | No | No |
A regular router often shows two names, such as "home_wifi" and "home_wifi_5G". Pick the one with "2G", "2GHz" or no extra label. If your robot only handles 2.4 GHz and your mesh system combines both bands under one name, turn 5 GHz off for now and back on after setup. iRobot does not support Wi-Fi with WPA3.
Connecting the Roomba to Wi-Fi in the app
Here is how it goes, according to iRobot:
- Open the iRobot Home app, tap the menu and choose "Add your product".
- If the app finds a product nearby, tap "Set Up". Otherwise choose vacuum, mop or combo and follow the on-screen checklist.
- Choose your Wi-Fi network and type the password yourself, without pasting. If the network has no password, tick that box. On newer models (see below) you do the next step first.
- Press the robot’s button when the app asks. The app shows which button it is. On newer models this makes the robot start a temporary network that your phone uses to find it. On older ones the app then searches for the robot. Stay on this screen until the connection finishes.
- Give the robot a name (the default is "Roomba") and tap "Continue".
- Wait a few minutes for the robot to be linked to your account. Reopen the app if needed.
The order differs by model. On the Combo 10 Max, the j Series, the i6 to i8 and the s9+ you press the button first and then enter the Wi-Fi details. On the 600 to 900, the e Series, the i1 to i5 and the Essential it is the other way round. The app guides you through it. The menus are named as iRobot names them, in English, and an app set to your language may name them differently.
A Roomba Mini, 100/1000, 200/2000, Plus 400/500 or Max 700 has its own setup help. The steps are alike: Bluetooth and location on, "add a New Product" and press the robot’s button when the app asks.
Choosing a different Wi-Fi network
After a new router or a move you do not have to set the robot up again. First connect your phone to the new network. Then in the app go to the CLEAN screen, open Settings and choose Wi-Fi Settings. Pick the network and type the password if the app asks. That is how iRobot explains it.
Does the app say "Roomba Cannot Connect Right Now"? Go to Product Settings, Wi-Fi Settings and choose "Reconnect or Change Product Wi-Fi".
If it does not work: what helps
- Check the band. A robot without 5 GHz does not find a 5 GHz network.
- Avoid special characters in the network name and password. Change them for a while if needed.
- Restart the robot: with it docked and charging, hold CLEAN for about 20 seconds until you hear a tune. Unplug the router for 10 seconds and wait 2 minutes after plugging it back in. Reinstall the app.
- Try another phone. Or connect to a hotspot from a second phone, or switch Wi-Fi off and use mobile data only.
- If the app says the robot is already registered (the codes C1CD or BRC1CD), it still belongs to another account. Choose "Change ownership" in the app and follow the steps, which include a factory reset. See how to reset a Roomba.
If a firewall blocks the robot, ask your provider or the router’s maker to open the ports in iRobot’s list. If nothing works, contact iRobot’s customer care.
Looking for a different robot?
Today 12 iRobot models are on sale, from $179, and the best-placed of them, the iRobot Roomba 105 Vac+, is number 129 of 141 in our ranking. The advisor finds the robot that suits your home in seven questions.
| Model | Station | Today's lowest price | Ranking |
|---|---|---|---|
| iRobot Roomba 105 Combo | charging dock only | $179 at iRobot (brand store) | not ranked |
| iRobot Roomba 105 Vac+ | self-emptying station | $279 at iRobot (brand store) | number 129 in our ranking |
| iRobot Roomba 105 Combo+ | self-emptying station | $299 at iRobot (brand store) | not ranked |
| iRobot Roomba Plus 415 Combo | all-in-one station | $499 at iRobot (brand store) | not ranked |
| iRobot Roomba Max 715 Vac+ | self-emptying station | $499 at iRobot (brand store) | not ranked |
| iRobot Roomba Plus 515 Combo | all-in-one station | $599 at iRobot (brand store) | not ranked |
| iRobot Roomba Plus 575 Combo | all-in-one station | $699 at iRobot (brand store) | not ranked |
| iRobot Roomba Plus 4020 Combo | all-in-one station | $749 at iRobot (brand store) | not ranked |
| iRobot Roomba Max 775 Combo | all-in-one station | $799 at iRobot (brand store) | not ranked |
| iRobot Roomba Plus 678 Combo | all-in-one station | $899 at iRobot (brand store) | not ranked |
| iRobot Roomba Plus 507 Combo | all-in-one station | $999 at iRobot (brand store) | not ranked |
| iRobot Roomba Max 875 Combo | all-in-one station | $1,199 at iRobot (brand store) | not ranked |
Frequently asked questions
Can a Roomba connect to 5 GHz Wi-Fi?
Only some. According to iRobot the Combo 10 Max, the j Series, the i6 to i8 and the s9 can, while the i1 to i5, the Essential, the Combo, the 670, the 690, the Wi-Fi connected 800 and the 900, among others, only handle 2.4 GHz.
How do I connect a Roomba to a new Wi-Fi network?
Connect your phone to the new network and in the iRobot Home app go to Settings and Wi-Fi Settings. Pick the network and type the password.
Why does my Roomba not stay connected?
Often the phone is on 5 GHz while the robot only handles 2.4 GHz, or there are special characters in the password. Also restart the robot and the router.
Can I use a Roomba without the app?
You set up the Wi-Fi through the app. What the robot’s own buttons still do without a connection depends on the model and is in iRobot’s manual.
Sources
- iRobot: Setting up your Wi-Fi Connected Robot with the iRobot HOME App
- iRobot: Setting up your Robot with the Roomba Home App, older series
- iRobot: How do I select a new or a different network for the iRobot HOME App?
The prices, the ranking and the counts on this page are today’s: from our own daily price check and our score from lab tests and owners’ ratings. Method →