Roomba Red Light: meaning and solution

Consumer robot manufacturer iRobot has equipped its Roomba robot vacuum cleaners with a striking light ring on top of the robot vacuum cleaner. Smart, because that way you can immediately see that something is wrong with the vacuum cleaner. The robot vacuum cleaner often switches itself off automatically to prevent damage.

The light ring can shine in different colors. A Roomba with a red light is a common situation. With a red light, the robot vacuum cleaner indicates that there is a problem.

Why is my Roomba's light ring glowing red?

Let's start with the question of why the light ring glows red. Before I can answer this question, it is good to know that the light can light up in different ways. For example, the Roomba light ring can blink (flashing red light) or it can stay lit (solid red light).

The Roomba light ring can blink (flashing red light) or can stay lit (solid red light).

The Roomba light ring can blink (flashing red light) or can stay lit (solid red light)….

Light effect	Effect description	Cause
	Red light stays on (solid)	A problem. Click at the CLEAN button for the error code.
	Red light flashes	Battery too low to start
	Red light rotates clockwise	Low battery level (below 15%)
	Red light waves down	Dust container is full

Let's quickly see what we can do to fix the problem behind red light.

Roomba red light stays on (solid)

It is very important to press the CLEAN button on a Roomba with a red light that stays on as you will also hear an error code. This error code can help you identify the problem. I have made a complete list of all Roomba error codes.

The problem in many cases has to do with poor maintenance of the robot vacuum cleaner. Regular cleaning of the robot vacuum is necessary. This often goes further than just emptying the dust container. I've written a complete guide to cleaning a Roomba here.

Roomba red light blinks or spins

When the Roomba's light ring flashes red, the battery level is too low. It is important to charge the iRobot Roomba right away. It is in any case advisable to charge the Roomba after every cleaning: this even has a positive effect on the Roomba battery life.

Even when a Roomba's red light is spinning, there is a problem with the battery level. A light ring spinning clockwise means the battery level is below 15%.

The Roomba does not charge or has a low battery level more and more often? Then check whether the contact points of the robot vacuum cleaner and of the charging station are clean enough.

Red light ring waves down

Finally, the red light ring can also wave downwards. In that case, the dust container is too full. Empty the dust container immediately and also check whether the filter at the dust container is still clean.

Tip: check ‘Robot Health' via the iRobot app

What many do not know is that the iRobot app indicates when specific parts need maintenance. You will also find a button with ‘Robot Health' under information about your robot vacuum cleaner. This indicates exactly how many hours the efficient filter and brushes will last and when they need to be replaced. By keeping a close eye on this, you can prevent a red light in the future and significantly extend the life of the robot vacuum cleaner.

Robbert Tigchelaar

Robbert Tigchelaar is the founder of Vacuumtester.com and is a true vacuum cleaner guru. With more than 10 years of experience in the world of electronic devices, he knows better than anyone what is important in a vacuum cleaner. When a new vacuum cleaner appears, he is eager to test it extensively.