Roomba Error Codes: What Each One Means and How to Fix It

Roomba error codes are reported as a spoken alert, a red light ring, or a numbered message in the iRobot Home app. The same number can mean different things on different Roombas: Error 15 is an internal error on a 900 or i series robot, and Error 5 is a single stuck wheel, not both. This guide follows iRobot's own error charts for each series — 500/600/700/800, 900, e, i, s, j and Combo, and the 2025 lineup (Roomba 100/1000, 200/2000, Plus 400–600 and Max 700/800) — and gives the fix for each code. Most errors are debris or a robot that is stuck, not broken hardware.

Which series is mine? The model number is on the sticker under the bin or on the underside of the robot. In the iRobot Home app the error also appears with a short description, which is the quickest way to confirm which meaning applies.

Understanding Roomba Light Patterns

Older Roombas (500, 600, 700 and 800 series) have no light ring. They report errors with beeps and a spoken message, and a blinking troubleshooting light while charging means a charging error.

Red Light on the Roomba Base or Clean Base

A red indicator on the dock is about the base, not the cleaning job. On a Clean Base, a solid red Dirt Disposal light means the bag needs replacing, and a flashing red light means the base detected a clog and is trying to clear it. On the Combo 10 Max AutoWash dock, solid red means the bag is full, missing or badly fitted, the dirty water tank is full or missing, or the clean water tank is empty or missing. Work through these in order:

1. Bag full or missing (Clean Base models): open the lid and check the bag. A full bag, a bag that is not clicked fully into its holder, or no bag at all will all stop evacuation.
2. Evacuation path blocked: look into the suction port in the base ramp and the matching port on the underside of the robot's bin. Socks, tissue and pet hair mats are the usual culprits.
3. Water tanks (AutoWash dock): empty the dirty water tank, fill the clean water tank, and press both back in until they seat.
4. Base has no clean power: plug the base directly into a wall outlet, not a power strip, extension lead or smart plug.
5. Still red: unplug the base for 30 seconds, plug it back in, then place the robot on it. If the light stays red with an empty, correctly seated bag, the base needs service — see robot vacuum not charging for the full dock diagnostic.

Roomba Error Codes at a Glance

Complete Error Code List

Error 1: Wheel Hanging Down / Uneven Ground

What Roomba says: "Move Roomba to a new location, then press CLEAN" (older models) or "Uneven ground. Place on a flat surface" (e, i, s and j series).

Cause: A drive wheel has dropped down — usually because the robot is beached on a threshold, rug edge or furniture base. On the 900 series it is either wheel; on the e, i, s and j series Error 1 is the left wheel.

Fix:

1. Lift the robot off whatever it is stuck on and put it on a flat, open floor, then press CLEAN
2. Press each wheel up into its housing and let go — it should spring back down smoothly
3. Cut away hair or carpet fibre wrapped around the wheel axles and clean out the wheel wells
4. If it happens in the same spot every run, block that spot with a Keep Out Zone in the app

Warranty Note: A wheel module that won't spring back or drags after cleaning is a wheel fault, typically covered within the 1-year warranty.

Error 2: Main Brushes / Extractors Can't Turn

What Roomba says: "Clear the brushes" (i, s and j series) or an alert about the main brushes or extractors.

Cause: The rubber extractors or bristle brush cannot rotate, almost always because of hair, string or debris at the brush ends. The 2025 models call this "Main Brush Stall".

Fix:

1. Open the brush guard using its release tab and lift out both brushes
2. Pull the end caps off and remove hair wrapped around the axles and caps
3. Wipe out the brush sockets inside the robot
4. Refit the caps firmly, reinstall the brushes in their matching sockets, and close the guard until it clicks

Error 3: Right Wheel Hanging Down (e, i, s, j Series)

What Roomba says: "Uneven ground. Place on a flat surface."

Cause: The right-side counterpart of Error 1: the right wheel has dropped down or the robot is stuck. Not used on the 600–900 series.

Fix: Same as Error 1 — move the robot to a flat floor, check the right wheel springs back freely, and clean the wheel well.

Error 5: Side Wheel Stuck

What Roomba says: "A side wheel is stuck" (600, 700 and 800 series).

Cause: One wheel cannot turn. On the 900 series it is either wheel; on the e, i, s and j series and the 2025 models it is the right wheel ("Right Wheel Jammed"). It is not a both-wheels error.

Fix:

1. Flip the robot over and spin the wheel by hand — feel for grinding or a hard stop
2. Cut away hair and fibres wound around the axle, and clear debris from the wheel well
3. Make sure the robot is not wedged under furniture or against a threshold
4. If the wheel spins freely but the error returns, the wheel module is failing (contact support)

Error 6: Cliff Sensors / Drop-Off Detected

What Roomba says: "Move Roomba to a new location" (older models) or "Drop off detected. Move to a new area" (i, s and j series).

Cause: The cliff sensors think the robot is over a drop. That is either real (the robot is hanging over a step), the sensors are dirty, or the robot is on a very dark rug or surface that reads as a drop.

Fix:

1. Move the robot away from stairs or ledges and press CLEAN
2. Flip it over and wipe each cliff sensor window with a clean, dry microfiber cloth (no liquids)
3. If it only happens on one dark rug, block that rug with a Keep Out Zone

Persistent Issue: If the error happens on every surface after cleaning, a cliff sensor is faulty.

Error 7: Side Wheel Stuck / Left Wheel Not Sensed

What Roomba says: "Spin Roomba's side wheels to clean" (600, 700 and 800 series).

Cause: On older models a side wheel is stuck. On the i series the left wheel is on the ground but the robot can't sense it; on the s series the left wheel encoder is not registering; on the j series the side wheels can't turn.

Fix:

1. Spin both wheels by hand and remove any hair or debris
2. Press each wheel up and let it drop to check the suspension moves freely
3. Restart on a flat floor; if Error 7 returns on a clean wheel, the wheel module or its sensor needs service

Error 8: Fan Stuck / Vacuum Problem

What Roomba says: an alert about the vacuum or fan; "Vacuum problem" on the i, s and j series.

Cause: The vacuum fan is stuck or the filter is clogged, so suction is too low.

Fix:

1. Remove and empty the bin, and check the air intake for large debris
2. Remove the filter and tap it clean against a bin (do not wash it unless it is a washable filter); replace it if it is old
3. Check the bin's air path and the opening in the robot for clogs
4. Refit the filter and bin and restart

If unfixable: A vacuum motor that still fails with a clean filter and bin needs repair. Check warranty status.

Error 9: Tap Bumper to Clean

What Roomba says: "Tap Roomba's bumper."

Cause: The front bumper is compressed or stuck, or its sensor is dirty, so the robot thinks it is constantly bumping into something ("Bumper Jammed" on the 2025 models).

Fix:

1. Tap the front bumper firmly several times all the way round to dislodge debris
2. Press it around its circumference — it should give slightly and spring back
3. Blow compressed air into the gap behind the bumper and remove anything wedged there

Error 10: Side Wheel Stuck / Right Wheel Not Sensed

Cause: On 600–800 series robots a side wheel is stuck, or the bumper is not registering obstacles. On the 900 series a wheel is not moving. On the i and j series the right wheel is on the ground but the robot can't sense it; on the s series the right wheel encoder is not registering.

Fix:

1. Clean both wheels as for Error 5
2. On 600–800 series robots, also tap the bumper to make sure it moves freely
3. If the wheel spins freely by hand but the error persists, the wheel motor, gearbox or encoder is failing (contact support)

Error 11: Vacuum Not Running / Internal Error

Cause: On the 800 series it is a vacuum error (check the AeroForce bin); on the i, s and j series the vacuum motor is not activating; on the 900 series it is an internal error.

Fix: Remove and re-seat the bin, clean the filter, and restart. On a 900 series robot, reboot it. If it keeps returning with a clean bin, contact iRobot support.

Error 14: Bin Not Detected

What Roomba says: "Re-install the bin."

Cause: The bin is missing or not seated, or (on the i, s and j series) the filter is not installed or the bin-detect switch is dirty. The 2025 models call this "Bin Missing".

Fix:

1. Remove the bin completely and empty it
2. Check the filter is installed and fully seated — a missing filter triggers this error
3. Wipe the bin's contacts and the bin cavity
4. Push the bin back in firmly until it clicks

Error 15: Internal Error

What Roomba says: "Press CLEAN to restart" (900 series).

Cause: An internal error — an internal board error on the i and j series, an internal navigation error on the s series. It is not a charging error. On j series robots iRobot notes it is expected right after the battery has been taken out and put back.

Fix:

1. Reboot the robot (see steps for all errors)
2. If it returns, take the battery out, refit it, and reboot again
3. On mapping models, if it still returns, delete and rebuild the map

If the robot won't charge, that is a separate charging error.

Error 16: Bumped or Tilted at Start

Cause: On the 900, i, s and j series the robot was moved, tilted or bumped as it started — or the bumper is dislodged. On the 2025 models Error 16 is a "Navigation Error".

Fix:

1. Place the robot on a flat floor, press CLEAN and leave it alone while it starts
2. Tap the bumper all round to make sure it is seated and moves freely
3. On 2025 models, clean the LiDAR window and sensors, and make sure the robot starts from its dock

Error 17: Lost / Cleaning Job Incomplete

Cause: On the i and j series the robot got lost in an area it doesn't recognise and couldn't get back to the dock. On the s series it ended away from the Home Base or its start point; on the 900 series the cleaning job was incomplete.

Fix:

1. Start jobs from the dock rather than from wherever the robot was left
2. Open doors and remove new obstacles that changed the room layout since the map was made
3. Make sure rooms are lit (camera-navigation models need light) and wipe the camera window on top (j series)
4. If it keeps happening, delete the map and let the robot re-learn it over a few runs — see robot vacuum lost its map

Error 18: Can't Return to the Home Base

Cause: The robot finished but could not get back onto its Home Base or to its start point ("Docking problem" on the i and j series).

Fix:

1. Give the dock clear space: iRobot recommends about 1.5 ft (0.5 m) either side and 4 ft (1.2 m) in front, with no stairs nearby
2. Put the dock on a hard, level floor against a wall, and keep cables tucked away
3. Wipe the charging contacts and the robot's sensors
4. Make sure the dock has power and wasn't moved after the map was made

Errors 21, 25, 31, 38 and 39: Internal Errors

Cause: Internal board and communication faults on the i, s and j series: 21 lost communication with the mobility board; 25 internal board error (i, j) or internal communication error (s); 31 internal board error ("Press CLEAN to restart", s series only); 38 and 39 power communication issue.

Fix: Reboot the robot. If the same code returns after a reboot and a battery re-seat, contact iRobot support — these are electronics faults rather than anything you can clean.

Error 26: Vacuum Stall, Possible Filter Clog

Cause: The vacuum stalled, usually because the filter is clogged ("Vacuum Motor Stalled, insufficient airflow" on the 2025 models).

Fix:

1. Empty the bin and remove the filter
2. Tap the filter clean or replace it if it is clogged or more than about 2 months old
3. Check the bin's air path for socks, tissue or hair mats
4. Refit and restart

Error 27: Vacuum Motor Overheated

Cause: The vacuum motor overheated, from a clogged filter or a jammed impeller (i, s and j series).

Fix:

1. Let the robot cool down
2. Clean or replace the filter and empty the bin
3. Look into the bin cavity and remove any debris blocking the impeller; do not force it
4. If the error returns with a clean filter, contact support

Error 29: Software Update Error

Cause: A software update failed ("Error while upgrading software" on the i, s and j series). On the 2025 models it means a job was started while an update was still running.

Fix:

1. Put the robot on its dock and make sure it is connected to Wi-Fi
2. Let the update finish without starting a job
3. If it fails again, reboot the robot and retry from the iRobot Home app

Error 43: Started Too Close to the Home Base

Cause: The robot was started off the dock but inside the dock's signal zone (i and s series) or inside the dock's Keep Out Zone (j series).

Fix: Either start it while it is on the dock, or move it well away from the dock and press CLEAN.

Error 44: Pump Issue

Cause: On j series Combo robots, the Combo 10 Max and the 2025 models, the mop pump didn't activate when a vacuum-and-mop job started.

Fix: Fill the water tank and make sure it is seated, then restart. If the tank is full and the error returns, contact support.

Dock Errors 515, 517, 668 and 756

• Error 515: basin gate failure (Combo 10 Max AutoWash dock). Despite what many forums say, this is not "no mop attached". Unplug the dock and plug it back in to reboot it; if it persists, contact support.
• Error 517: basin overflow (AutoWash dock, Plus 400/500 Combo, Max 700; also shown as 672 on some models). Water can't drain from the wash basin because of a clog. Wipe out the pad wash and overflow basin with a dry cloth, lift out the basin filter by its tab and clean it, and clear the drain port. On a Max 700 also clean the dirty water bin and its rubber stopper.
• Errors 668 and 756: no mop pad attached (2025 models; 756 on the Max 700 Combo). Attach the pad and restart.

Error 1025: LiDAR Laser Sensor Abnormality

Cause: On the 2025 Roomba lineup (100/1000, 200/2000, Plus 400–600, Max 700/800), the LiDAR sensor isn't working and the robot could not navigate. iRobot lists the cause as environmental and gives no specific steps.

What to try: wipe the LiDAR window and cover with a dry cloth, make sure nothing is pressing on or blocking the LiDAR turret, start from the dock in a lit room, and reboot. If the error persists, contact iRobot support.

Roomba Charging Errors

Charging errors are a separate list ("Charging error 1", "Charging error 5" and so on). On older Roombas the troubleshooting light blinks while charging. The 2025 models use 101–121 for the same faults (for example 101 battery not detected, 104/105 no or low current, 106/107 too hot or cold, 117 battery not genuine).

Green or copper-coloured corrosion on the contacts, or contacts that stay pushed down, mean the part is damaged and needs replacing. For dock-side problems see robot vacuum not charging.

Troubleshooting Steps for All Errors

• 1. Reboot Hold the CLEAN button until the lights go out and the robot restarts (around 10–20 seconds depending on model). This clears most internal errors and does not erase maps.
• 2. Re-seat the Battery Remove the battery, wait a minute, refit it, then reboot. Expect a one-off Error 15 on j series robots afterwards.
• 3. Update Software Keep the robot on its dock and connected to Wi-Fi so updates install; check the iRobot Home app for update status.
• 4. Factory Reset (Last Resort) Done from the iRobot Home app settings. It erases maps, schedules and Wi-Fi settings.

When to Contact iRobot Support

Preventing Future Errors

• After every few runs: Empty the bin and check the filter
• Weekly: Wipe the cliff sensors and charging contacts
• Monthly deep clean: Remove and clean the brushes and end caps, clean all wheels
• Clear floors before cleaning: Remove cables, small objects, and pet waste
• Keep software updated: Leave the robot on its dock on Wi-Fi
• Replace consumables on schedule: Filters every 2 months, brushes every 6–12 months

FAQ

• Why does my Roomba have a red ring but no error code? Press CLEAN to hear the error repeated, or open the iRobot Home app. A pulsing red ring is not an error: the battery is too low to start.
• Why does the same error number mean different things online? iRobot reuses numbers across series. Error 5 is a stuck wheel on a 600 but a jammed right wheel on an i series; Error 16 is a bumped start on a j series but a navigation error on 2025 models. Check your model number.
• What does Roomba error 15 mean? An internal error, not a charging problem. Reboot the robot; if it returns, re-seat the battery and reboot again.
• What does Roomba error 1025 mean? On the 2025 Roomba lineup it is a LiDAR laser sensor abnormality. Clean the LiDAR window, check nothing is blocking the turret, and reboot.
• Can I use third-party parts? Third-party brushes and filters are available, but non-genuine batteries trigger charging errors 2, 8 and 17. iRobot recommends genuine parts.
• How long do Roomba batteries last? Typically 2–3 years with normal use. Battery life degrades over time; replacements are available from iRobot.

Code meanings checked against iRobot's official error charts for the 600, 800, 900, i, s and j series, the 2025 lineup and charging errors, October 2026.

Related Guides

• Robot Vacuum Not Charging: Complete Troubleshooting Guide
• Why Does My Robot Vacuum Keep Getting Stuck?
• Robot Navigation & Mapping Problems
• Robot Vacuum Maintenance 101
• Robot Vacuum Lost Its Map: How to Restore It
• All iRobot Roomba Models & Specs

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