Roomba Not Charging: How to Fix Roomba Charging Errors


When your Roomba is not charging, it’s an inconvenience as well as an annoyance. You may be wondering how to fix Roomba charging errors, so you can get your robot vacuum back to work.

There are a few reasons your Roomba isn’t charging, and this article will help you diagnose and fix Roomba charging errors. In this guide, we’ll be focusing on: Roomba charging errors 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5. Let's get started!

How To Fix Roomba Charging Error 1

Roomba charging error one (1) means that the battery is not detected. When this happens, your Roomba either says "Charging error one (1). Open the iRobot App for help," or displays “ERR1”. In that situation, here is what you need to do:

  • First, make sure a battery is installed.
  • Also, ensure that you are using an authentic iRobot Lithium-Ion Battery. The use of counterfeit batteries can result in charging errors.  
  • You might also want to remove the battery and ensure that there is nothing obstructing the contact between the battery and the robot. If your Roomba is brand new, it is likely that you did not pull out the yellow plastic tabs blocking the batteries.
  • Try cleaning the charging contacts of your Roomba and then place it back on the Home Base (charging dock). It has worked for many and hopefully will work for you too.
  • If you have tried everything and the error message persists, then contact iRobot Customer Care. You may need to replace the battery or get a new charging dock.

How To Fix Roomba Charging Error 2

Roomba charging error 2 means the Roomba battery is not charging. This can happen due to various reasons, some of which are: a dead or counterfeit battery and a loose or broken connection. Here is how to fix Roomba charging error 2:

  • First off, ensure that you are using an authentic iRobot Lithium-Ion Battery. The use of counterfeit batteries can result in charging error 2.
  • Also, make sure that there is nothing obstructing the contact between the battery and the robot. If your Roomba is brand new, it is likely that you did not pull out the yellow plastic tabs blocking the batteries.
  • Try cleaning the charging contacts of your Roomba and then place it back on the Home Base (charging dock).
  • If you have tried everything and the error message persists, then contact iRobot Customer Care. You may need to replace the battery or get a new charging dock.

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How To Fix Roomba Charging Error 3

According to the Roomba service website, charging error 3 means the Roomba charging system on the robot isn't working properly and your robot may need to be replaced. It appears to be a hardware failure and there isn't much that you can do to fix it.

However, there are a few things you can try to see if that will work. Here is what you need to do:

  • Reboot your Roomba. To do that, press and hold the CLEAN button for 20 seconds. Then try charging your Roomba again.
  • If the problem persists, then contact iRobot Customer Care.
Roomba Not Charging: How to Fix Roomba Charging Errors
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How To Fix Roomba Charging Error 4

Roomba charging error 4 means the electrical current is not reaching the robot. If your Roomba says "Charging error one (1)" or displays "ERR1," here is what you need to do:

  • Reboot your Roomba. To do that, press and hold the CLEAN button for 20 seconds. It typically takes up to a minute-and-a-half for the robot to turn back on.
  • If your Roomba is still having difficulty charging, use a lightly dampened melamine foam such as a magic eraser to clean the charging contacts to help ensure better contact between the Roomba and the charging dock.
  • Also, make sure the plug is secure into both the base and power outlet. Push in on both ends of the cord to ensure a secure connection.
  • If the error persists, please contact iRobot Customer Care.

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How To Fix Roomba Charging Error 5

Roomba charging error 5 means your robot's charging system isn't working correctly. As noted in the previous sections, this could be a number of different things, from a loose cable to a defective charging system. You can fix the charging error 5 by:

  • The first step is to make sure that there is nothing obstructing the contact between the battery and the robot. If your Roomba is brand new, pull out the yellow plastic tabs blocking the batteries.
  • Try cleaning the charging contacts of your Roomba and then place it back on the Home Base (charging dock). Use a lightly dampened melamine foam such as a magic eraser to clean the charging contacts to help ensure better contact between the Roomba and the charging dock.
  • Reset your Roomba by pressing and holding the CLEAN button for 30 seconds. It typically takes up to a minute-and-a-half for the robot to turn back on.
  • If the error persists, please contact iRobot Customer Care.

As you can see, we have listed all the potential fixes for the Roomba not charging issue. So, if you’ve done everything we mentioned above and nothing is working, it's better to call iRobot Customer Care and get it checked. But in most cases, one of our fixes will do the trick. And your Roomba will be back in business in no time. Hope this helps you!

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