Roomba Error Numbers Grouped by What Is Actually Wrong: Wheels, Brushes, Suction, Docking and Battery

How a Roomba reports an error, and which chart applies

On the i Series, j Series and s Series, iRobot says the light ring turns solid red and a narrated voice message follows. You can hear it again by pressing the CLEAN button, or the bumper if the robot is on. The 600 series stops with a two-tone "uh-oh" sound followed by a spoken message, and iRobot's 900 series chart says the robot also blinks a troubleshooting indicator.

iRobot keeps a separate chart for each line: one for the i Series, one each for the j Series with Roomba Combo 10 Max and the s Series, one for the 600 series, one for the 900 series and a combined chart for the 100/1000 through Max 800 series with its own Regular Errors and Charging Errors tables. The i, j and s charts share one numbering, but a few numbers are worded differently: error 7 is described as the left wheel on the ground with the robot unable to sense it on the i Series, the side wheels being unable to turn on the j Series, and the left wheel encoder not registering on the s Series.

Wheels and cliff sensors: errors 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10, 12 and 13

Errors 1 and 3 mean the left or right wheel is hanging down or the robot is stuck, and iRobot's steps are to lift the robot, place it in the center of the room and restart. Errors 4 and 5 mean a wheel is jammed. For the wheel errors iRobot says to check the wheel for obstructions, push the wheels up and down several times, shake out loose debris from the wheel well and briskly turn both wheels by hand to make sure they turn freely with the same resistance.

Error 6 means the robot is stuck over an edge, on a threshold or on a dark surface. iRobot says to move it to a new location, use a Virtual Wall or Keep Out Zone on compatible robots to block off the problem area, and wipe the cliff sensors with a clean, dry microfiber or soft cotton cloth. Errors 12 and 13 are the same family: the cliff sensors, and both wheels on an uneven surface.

Brushes and suction: errors 2, 8, 11, 14, 26, 27 and 30

Error 2 means the multi-surface rubber brushes cannot spin. iRobot's test is to remove the brushes and run the robot without them: if the error clears, clean hair and debris off the brushes, especially under the end caps, and clean them at least once a week. iRobot also notes that thick or high-pile carpet can slow the brushes enough to cause error 2, so test on a hard floor.

Errors 8, 11, 26 and 30 are airflow: poor suction or insufficient airflow. For 8, iRobot says to clean the bin and filter (filters are not designed to be washed). For 11, 26 and 30, it says to clean or replace the bin filter and, if the error persists, to reboot the robot by holding CLEAN for about 20 seconds, and if it still persists after a new filter and a reboot, the cleaning head module is what needs replacing. Error 14 means the robot is not detecting the bin, so check that the filter and the bin are installed properly.

Docking and navigation: errors 17, 18, 19, 33 and 1010

Error 19 means the robot had trouble leaving its dock, and iRobot's steps are to clear obstacles around the dock, then reboot by removing the battery and move the dock to a different location if the message persists. Errors 17 and 33 mean the robot could not finish the job; iRobot lists changes to the environment such as a closed door, a threshold it cannot cross twice, a room that is too dark for the navigation camera and heavy clutter, and says to wipe the camera window with a microfiber or soft cotton cloth lightly dampened with water.

Error 1010 is the robot being unable to path back to the dock. iRobot's causes include a new obstacle, a door that closed during the mission, a moved or unplugged dock, a dock covered completely, or strong reflections that interfere with the docking sensors. iRobot says the error does not occur simply because a room is dark.

Battery and charging: error 23, error 46 and the charging errors

Error 23, and Charging Error 17, mean the battery may not be iRobot authentic, according to iRobot, which adds that this and other charging errors can occur with aftermarket batteries. Error 46 is the robot ending its mission with a low battery, not on the dock, so it simply needs charging.

The older 100 to Max 800 series list numbered charging errors from 101 to 121 in their own table, from a battery the robot cannot sense to a battery that is too hot or too cold to charge (106 and 107), to charging contacts that are not delivering current (104, 105, 119 and 121). Where iRobot's chart names the charging contacts, check the robot's and the dock's contacts as iRobot's charging article directs, and where it names the battery, use an authentic iRobot battery.

One caution about rebooting

Several iRobot articles say "reboot," and they do not agree on how. The error 15 article says to press and hold the button for 9 seconds, the error 16 article says to hold CLEAN for 10 seconds until all the indicators light, and the error 33 article says to hold CLEAN for 20 seconds. Use the reboot in the article for your exact error and line, and if a code persists after a reboot, iRobot's instruction is to contact customer care with the robot charged and its serial number ready.