Every Roomba robot vacuum has a CLEAN button on the top. There is a light ring around this button. This light ring can have different colors: red, blue or white light. In this article I'll tell you everything about a Roomba with a white light. Because, why does a white light blink and what does this mean?
Why does my Roomba have a white light?
There can be several reasons why a Roomba has a white light. In any case, I have good news for you: with a white light, the Roomba indicates that it is working on something and that there are no problems.
What does it mean when a white light flashes or is spinning?
The light ring can emit a white light in different ways. The white light can:
- Blinking (flash)
- Spinning (rotate)
- Solid (Stays on)
With each effect, the Roomba indicates something different. Again: there is no problem with your robot vacuum cleaner. In the table below I have listed all possible white light effects.
| Light effect | Effect description | Cause |
|---|---|---|
 | White light rotates clockwise | Starting up or updating software |
 | White light stays on (solid) | Roomba is fully charged |
 | Lower half of light ring flashes | Roomba charged and parked at docking station |
 | White light spins around, stays on at quarter | Sufficiently charged (more than 15% battery) |
 | White light spins, stays on at a third | Battery 33% charged |
 | White light spins, stays on half way | Battery 50% charged |
 | White light spins, stays on at two-thirds | Battery 67% charged |
 | White light spins, stays on almost fully | Battery almost fully charged (over 85%) |
 | White light waves from top left to bottom right | Roomba is busy with cleaning |
My Roomba lights up a different color of light
I just mentioned that the light ring of a Roomba can also shine in a different color. So it can shine not only in white, but also in blue or red. As with a white light, a Roomba with a blue light is no problem. This often indicates that Roomba is doing something special, such as cleaning a specific area.
When there is a problem with the robot vacuum cleaner
Another story is a Roomba with a red light. A red light in many cases indicates that there is a problem. It could be a full dust container, an incorrectly connected part or a worn-out battery. In the worst case, a iRobot Roomba battery replacement is necessary.
Regardless of the color of the light, it is still important to properly maintain your Roomba. This includes regular cleaning and timely charging of the battery. This not only prevents problems, but you can even extend the Roomba battery life considerably.
Robbert Tigchelaar has made testing vacuum cleaners his life's work. He has dedicated himself to conducting fully independent and valuable tests of vacuum cleaners to provide consumers with honest advice. His expertise in vacuum cleaners has been highlighted in The Washington Post and the Daily Express.
My Roombas top white light keeps blinking and then going in circles. It will not do anything else. It will not reset. It will not clean. It will not connect. I don’t know what’s going on. It was doing weird cleaning motions are going in circles yesterday and now today is doing this.
That’s strange, Shanda! Could you try pressing the large CLEAN button? Your Roomba should display an error code if there’s an issue. I’ve compiled a complete list of all Roomba error codes, so you can check there to see what’s going on.