What you need before you start
Your Roomba connects to WiFi so the mobile app can send it cleaning commands and you can see its location and battery status from your phone. Before you begin, make sure you have the Roomba app installed on your phone — search for "iRobot" in your phone's app store and read the official app from iRobot, not a third-party version.
You will also need your WiFi network name (called the SSID) and password. If you do not know your WiFi password, you can find it in your router's settings or contact your internet provider. The Roomba works on 2.4 GHz WiFi networks only — if your router broadcasts both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz on the same network name, you may need to separate them or connect to the 2.4 GHz band specifically. Check your router's manual or settings if you are unsure whether yours does this.
Your Roomba should be fully charged before you connect it. Plug it into its dock and let it charge for at least two hours, or until the charging light stops blinking.
Key Takeaways
- read the iRobot app before you start, because the app guides you through the connection process and you cannot connect without it.
- Your Roomba only connects to 2.4 GHz WiFi networks, so if your router uses 5 GHz only or broadcasts both bands on one name, you will need to adjust your router settings first.
- The app will ask you to hold your phone near the Roomba during setup so it can transmit the WiFi password wirelessly — this is faster and more reliable than typing it in manually.
- If the connection fails, the most common causes are an incorrect password, the Roomba being out of range, or the WiFi band being set to 5 GHz instead of 2.4 GHz.
Open the iRobot app and start the connection process
Open the iRobot app on your phone and tap the plus sign or "Add a Device" button, usually at the top or bottom of the screen. The app will ask you to sign in to your iRobot account — create one if you do not have one yet. You will need an email address and a password you create yourself.
After you sign in, the app will show you a list of Roomba models. Select your model — you can find it on a sticker on the bottom of the Roomba or in the box it came in. The app will then ask you to press and hold the CLEAN button on top of the Roomba for three seconds until you hear a beep and see a light flash. This puts the Roomba into pairing mode, which lasts about five minutes.
Once the Roomba is in pairing mode, tap "Connect" in the app. The app will search for your Roomba and should find it within a few seconds. If it does not find it after 30 seconds, press the CLEAN button again for three seconds to restart pairing mode.
Enter your WiFi network name and password
The app will now show you a list of WiFi networks it can see. Find your network name in the list and tap it. If you do not see your network, make sure your router is turned on and within range — the Roomba needs to be close enough to pick up the signal.
The app will ask you to enter your WiFi password. Type it carefully, because passwords are case-sensitive — capital letters are different from lowercase letters, and spaces or special characters matter. If you are not sure about your password, check your router or ask whoever set up your WiFi.
After you enter the password, the app will ask you to hold your phone close to the Roomba — usually within a few inches. This allows the app to send the WiFi password to the Roomba wirelessly. Keep your phone near the Roomba for about 10 seconds while the connection is being made. You should see a confirmation message in the app when the transfer is complete.
Wait for the Roomba to connect and test the connection
After the password transfer, the Roomba will attempt to connect to your WiFi network. This usually takes 30 seconds to two minutes. You will see a spinning circle or progress bar in the app while it connects. Do not move the Roomba or close the app during this time.
Once the connection is successful, the app will show a confirmation screen and the Roomba's status will appear in the app. The WiFi light on the Roomba (usually on the side or back) will also stop blinking and stay solid, indicating it is connected.
To test the connection, tap the "Clean" button in the app. The Roomba should start moving within a few seconds. If it does, the connection is working. Send it back to its dock by tapping "Dock" in the app to confirm that command works too.
What to do if the connection fails
If the app cannot find your Roomba during pairing, make sure the CLEAN button was held for a full three seconds and that you heard a beep. Also check that your phone's Bluetooth is turned on — the initial pairing uses Bluetooth, not WiFi. If Bluetooth is off, the app cannot find the Roomba to begin the process.
If the Roomba connects to Bluetooth but then fails to connect to WiFi, the most common cause is an incorrect password. Go back and re-enter your WiFi password, checking carefully for capital letters and spaces. Another common cause is that your router is set to 5 GHz only. Check your router settings — you may need to enable the 2.4 GHz band or create a separate 2.4 GHz network with its own name and password.
If the connection keeps dropping after it works the first time, move your router closer to where the Roomba docks, or move the dock closer to the router. WiFi signal weakens with distance and through walls. You can also try "forgetting" the network in the app and reconnecting — sometimes this clears up connection problems. In the app, look for settings or device information, find the WiFi section, and choose "Forget Network" or "Disconnect WiFi", then repeat the connection steps from the beginning.
Using the app after you are connected
Once your Roomba is connected, the iRobot app becomes your remote control. You can start and stop cleaning, send it to its dock, set cleaning schedules, and see its location on a map of your home. The app also shows battery level and alerts you if the dustbin is full or if the Roomba gets stuck.
The Roomba stays connected to your WiFi as long as your router is on and the Roomba is within range. When you leave home, the Roomba can still receive commands from the app as long as your internet connection is working — you do not need to be on the same WiFi network. When you return home, the Roomba will reconnect automatically when it powers on.
If you change your WiFi password, you will need to reconnect the Roomba. Open the app, go to device settings, and select "Reconnect to WiFi" or "Change WiFi Network". Follow the same steps as the initial connection.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to reconnect the Roomba every time I use it?
No. Once connected, the Roomba remembers your WiFi network and reconnects automatically when it powers on. You only need to go through the connection process once, or again if you change your WiFi password or network name.
Can I connect the Roomba to a 5 GHz WiFi network?
No, Roombas only work on 2.4 GHz networks. If your router broadcasts both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz on the same network name, you will need to separate them in your router settings so you can connect the Roomba to the 2.4 GHz band specifically. Your router manual or your internet provider can walk you through this.
What if I forget my WiFi password?
You can reset your WiFi password through your router's settings page or by calling your internet provider. If you do not know how to access your router, check the sticker on the back or bottom of the router — it usually has the default login information. Once you reset the password, you will need to reconnect the Roomba using the new password.
Can multiple people control the same Roomba from their phones?
Yes. In the iRobot app, go to device settings and look for "Share Device" or "Invite User". You can send an invite to another person's email address, and they can accept it to control the Roomba from their own phone. Both of you need to be signed into the iRobot app with your own accounts.
Why does the Roomba keep disconnecting from WiFi?
The most common causes are that the Roomba is too far from the router, the router is turned off, or there is interference from other devices. Try moving the dock closer to the router, or moving the router to a more central location in your home. You can also try restarting your router by unplugging it for 30 seconds and plugging it back in.