Is your Roomba’s map outdated or inaccurate? Whether you’ve rearranged furniture, moved to a new home, or your Roomba has simply made a mistake, knowing how to change and manage your Roomba’s map is essential for efficient cleaning. This guide will walk you through the process of updating, editing, and creating new maps for your iRobot Roomba, ensuring it cleans your home exactly how you want it to.
Why Change Your Roomba Map?
Roomba’s smart mapping technology learns and adapts to your home’s layout. However, several situations might require you to change or update the map:
- Furniture rearrangement: Moving furniture can confuse your Roomba, leading to inaccurate cleaning paths.
- New spaces: If you add a new room or area to your home, you’ll want your Roomba to include it in its cleaning route.
- Inaccurate mapping: Sometimes, Roombas make mistakes, creating phantom rooms or missing areas.
- Moving to a new home: A new home requires a completely new map for efficient cleaning.
- Software glitches: Software bugs can corrupt the map, necessitating a reset or update.
Creating a New Roomba Map
The best way to change your Roomba map is often to create a new one. Here’s how:
- Prepare the Area: Before starting a mapping run, prepare your home by:
- Removing obstacles like loose cables, clothes, and small objects.
- Opening all doors to rooms you want the Roomba to map.
- Ensuring sufficient lighting, as most Roombas can’t navigate in the dark.
- Start a Mapping Run:
- In the iRobot Home app, select the Map icon on the home screen.
- Choose “+ Create a new Smart Map” or a similar option.
- Start the mapping run. The Roomba will explore your home without vacuuming to conserve battery.
- Let the Roomba Explore: Allow the Roomba to complete the mapping run without interruption. It needs to start and end on its base for the map to save correctly.
- Customize the Map: Once the mapping run is complete, the app will prompt you to customize the map. This includes:
- Naming the floor plan.
- Setting the map viewing orientation.
- Adjusting room dividers.
- Labeling rooms.
- Adding cleaning zones or keep-out zones.
Editing an Existing Roomba Map
If your map only needs minor adjustments, you can edit it within the iRobot Home app:
- Access the Map:
- Press the Imprint™ Smart Maps icon on the Home screen.
- Select the map you want to edit.
- Use Editing Tools:
- Room Dividers: Add, move, or delete room dividers to accurately define room boundaries.
- Room Labels: Change or add labels to identify each room.
- Zones: Create cleaning zones for specific areas or keep-out zones to prevent the Roomba from entering certain areas.
- Save Changes: Once you’ve made the necessary edits, save the map.
Adding a New Space to an Existing Map
Even after customizing your map, you can add new rooms or areas:
- Ensure Accessibility: Make sure the Roomba can physically access the new space.
- Start a Mapping Run: Send the Roomba on a mapping run that includes the new area. Don’t place the Roomba directly in the new space; let it navigate there on its own.
- Automatic Update: After the mapping run, the Roomba should automatically update the smart map with the new space. The Clean Map will highlight “New Space Found”.
Reverting to a Previous Map Version
If your Roomba makes a mistake and incorrectly updates the map, you can revert to a previous version:
- Access Cleaning History: Go to your History in the iRobot Home app.
- Select a Clean Map Report: Choose a Clean Map report from a previous cleaning job that you want to restore.
- Update Smart Map: Select the three dots in the top right corner and choose “Update Smart Map” to revert to that version.
Troubleshooting Roomba Mapping Issues
If you encounter problems while creating or editing your Roomba map, here are some troubleshooting tips:
- Roomba Won’t Create a New Map:
- Old Map Still Active: Ensure the Roomba isn’t relying on an existing map.
- Software Glitches: Update the Roomba and the app to the latest versions.
- Insufficient Cleaning Cycles: Allow the Roomba to complete full cleaning cycles without interruption.
- Low Battery: Ensure the Roomba is fully charged before starting a mapping run.
- Obstacles: Remove obstacles and avoid moving furniture during the mapping process.
- Roomba Map Not Available:
- Wi-Fi Connectivity: Ensure a stable Wi-Fi connection.
- Software Updates: Check for software updates for the Roomba.
- Restart Roomba: Restart the Roomba by turning it off and on again.
- Clean Sensors: Clean the Roomba’s sensors and camera.
- Reposition Home Base: Place the home base in a central location with good visibility.
- Roomba Not Saving Keep-Out Zones:
- Wi-Fi Connection: Ensure the Roomba has a stable Wi-Fi connection.
- Software Issues: Update the Roomba and app software.
- Mapping Errors: Recreate the map if it’s incomplete or corrupted.
- App Permissions: Check that the app has the necessary permissions (storage, location).
Tips, Warnings, and Best Practices
- Multiple Floors: Most Roomba models only support one smart map. If you want to map a different floor, you’ll need to delete the existing map and create a new one. Some newer models allow saving and retrieving maps between floors.
- Lighting: Ensure adequate lighting during mapping runs.
- Mapping Runs vs. Cleaning Runs: Use mapping runs to create maps quickly and efficiently. If your home is dirty, do a cleaning run first, followed by mapping runs.
- Obstacles: Remove as many obstacles as possible before a mapping run.
- Three Runs: iRobot recommends three full mapping or cleaning runs before customizing the map, but you can override this.
- Clean the Rollers: Dirty rollers can impact the accuracy of carpet detection.
- Stable Environment: Stabilize the Roomba’s environment during mapping. Avoid moving furniture or adding new obstacles during the mapping process.
FAQ
How do I rename a room on my Roomba map?
To rename a room, access the map in the iRobot Home app, select “Room Labels,” and choose a new name for the room. You can also create custom labels if the existing options don’t fit.
Can I have multiple maps for different floors in my house?
Most Roomba models only support one smart map at a time. However, some newer models allow you to save and retrieve maps for different floors. Check your Roomba’s specifications to see if this feature is supported.
What do I do if my Roomba gets stuck during a mapping run?
If your Roomba gets stuck, free it and try to remove the hazard that caused it to get stuck. If the issue persists, use a Keep Out Zone to prevent the robot from entering this new space.
How do I delete a Roomba map?
To delete a map, go to the map settings in the iRobot Home app and select the “Delete Map” option.
Why is my Roomba creating phantom rooms?
Phantom rooms can appear if the Roomba gets confused or stuck. Try deleting the map and creating a new one. Ensure the Roomba has a clear path and remove any obstacles.
Can I manually move my Roomba during a mapping run?
It’s best to avoid moving the Roomba during a mapping run, as this can disrupt the mapping process. If you must move it, return it to its original location as soon as possible.
Conclusion
Changing your Roomba map is crucial for maintaining efficient and effective cleaning. Whether you need to create a new map, edit an existing one, or troubleshoot mapping issues, this guide provides the steps and tips you need. By following these instructions, you can ensure your Roomba accurately navigates and cleans your home. Take action today to update your Roomba’s map and enjoy a cleaner, smarter home!