Dead batteries don’t clean rooms. If your Roomba runs flat, then it can’t clean the floor for you. That’s not a great tragedy, but you can fix it. We’re going to show you how to tell if a Roomba is charging.
How do I know if my Roomba is charging?
The new Roomba robot vacuums charge without showing a light. To tell if your Roomba is charging, press the Clean button once. The light will show you the battery status. Here’s what it could show you:
- Green: Fully charged.
- Amber: Partially discharged.
- Pulsing Amber: Charging.
- Red: Nearly discharged.
- Flashing Red: Discharged.
You know your Roomba is charging if the light is pulsing amber or orange. Solid green means a full charge. Any other solid color means the battery is not charged fully and is not charging.
Roomba Vacuum Battery Status Indicator Table:
| No Battery | Low Battery | Charging | Partially Charged | Fully Charged | Software Update | Light
During Charging |
16 Hour Refresh Charge | |
| i3/i3+ | RED | AMBER PULSE | BLINKING WHITE | NONE | WHITE | WHITE SWIRL | NO | NONE |
| i7/i7+ | RED | AMBER PULSE | BLINKING WHITE | NONE | WHITE | WHITE SWIRL | YES | NONE |
| 900 | RED | RED | AMBER PULSE | NONE | GREEN | NONE | ON FOR 60 SEC | QUICK AMBER PULSE |
| 800 | RED | RED | AMBER PULSE | NONE | GREEN | NONE | ON FOR 60 SEC | QUICK AMBER PULSE |
| 700 | RED | RED | AMBER PULSE | NONE | GREEN | NONE | ON FOR 60 SEC | QUICK AMBER PULSE |
| 600 | AMBER PULSE | RED | AMBER PULSE | AMBER | GREEN | PULSE | QUICK AMBER PULSE | |
| 500 | AMBER PULSE | RED | AMBER PULSE | AMBER | GREEN | PULSE | QUICK AMBER PULSE |
Does the Roomba light stay on when charging?
Different models of Roomba vacuums display different lights while charging. The 900, 800, and 700 series Roombas display light for the first 60 seconds of the charging cycle. The 600 and 500 series have a blinking light once every four seconds to indicate the unit is charging. The i3 has no light during charging while the i7 series does have a charging light.
All models can show you their charge status when you press the CLEAN button once. They will display battery status. After a quick display, they will return to their charging display mode.
Why is my Roomba beeping while charging?
Roombas are very good at telling you about their problems. They beep twice, like ‘uh-oh’ and then speak. The narrated voice will say “Charging error ____.” The number of this charging error can give you a clue about what the problem might be.
Newer units, such as the 900 series or the Wi-Fi connected 600 and 800 series, direct you to open the iRobot HOME app for help. The app should give you more detailed information about the problem.
We’ve copied the iRobot error code table for you. Roomba Charging Error Codes:
| Blinks… | Roomba Says… | Likely Cause | What to Check |
| 1 Time |
|
The battery isn’t connected. | Battery – Charging Error 1. |
| 2 Times |
|
Roomba has a charging error. | Contact iRobot Customer Care. |
| 3 Times |
|
Roomba has a charging error. | Contact iRobot Customer Care. |
| 5 Times |
|
Roomba has a charging error. | Charging System – Charging Error 5. |
| 6 Times |
|
Roomba’s battery is too warm. | Battery – Charging Error 6. |
| 7 Times |
|
The battery is too warm or too cold. | Battery – Charging Error 7. |
| 8 Times |
|
Roomba cannot communicate with the lithium-ion battery. | Battery – Charging Error 8. |
| 9 Times |
|
Roomba has a lithium-ion battery error. | Contact iRobot Customer Care. |
Why is there a flashing red light while Roomba is charging?
There are two different flashing red lights. iRobot calls this ‘pulsing amber.’ A slower pulse means the battery is low and charging. This isn’t anything to worry about. Just let the robot charge for a period of time. It will get back to cleaning your floors before too long.
The second flashing red light is a faster blinking. This means the Roomba vacuum has gone into a 16-hour refresh charge. This is true for 900, 800, 700, 600, and 500 series robots. The 16-hour refresh charge is a normal part of the vacuum’s maintenance and isn’t something to be very concerned about.
When the battery has been cycled a number of times, the robot automatically begins this refresh cycle. Leave it overnight and it will be sucking up dirt again the next day.
Can I charge my Roomba without a dock?
Yes, most Roomba models can be plugged directly into the charger. This is a good way to test the dock. If the Roomba won’t charge on the dock but does charge directly, then there could be a problem with the dock.
Using your Roomba without a dock can make it less effective, though. It may not do scheduled cleanings properly. It may also get lost in the house and not find its way back to the charging point.
There are a few different ways to tell if your Roomba is charging. Mostly, you simply press the CLEAN button once and see what the light says. You can use our chart to discover the meaning of the lights. Happy cleaning!