Roomba Spinning in Circles or Cleaning the Same Area Repeatedly

Easy 15-30 minutes

If your Roomba is spinning in circles, repeatedly cleaning the same area, or getting stuck in one spot, this guide covers the most common causes and fixes from the community.

Clean the Bumper and Sensors

Dirty or stuck bumpers are one of the main reasons a Roomba keeps going in circles:

  • Dirt or debris can cause the bumper to jam or get stuck in a pressed position
  • The vacuum may struggle to navigate properly due to dirty bumper sensors

How to clean:

  1. Turn off and flip over your Roomba
  2. Firmly tap the bumper all around to dislodge any debris
  3. Use compressed air to blow out dust from the bumper sensors
  4. Wipe down the front bumper with a dry cloth

One user reported: "After using compressed air to clean a very dirty area, it cured her of spinning in circles."

Check the Wheels

Wheel issues are a common cause of spinning behavior:

Hair and debris:

"It's possible for one of the wheels to become caked in hair so that it won't turn at all, resulting in constant spinning."

  1. Remove both side wheels by pulling them straight out
  2. Clear any hair, string, or debris wrapped around the wheel axles
  3. Make sure the wheels spin freely before reinstalling

Wet or slippery wheels:

  • If you've cleaned the wheels, make sure they're completely dry before use
  • Wet or slick wheels can cause the Roomba to lose traction and spin

Cliff Sensors and Dark Floors

Dark flooring can confuse your Roomba's navigation:

"A surface that's nearly black can cause trouble with a Roomba's sensors: They may read the blackness as a cliff and try to back away from it, leading the Roomba in circles."

Solutions:

  • Clean the cliff sensors on the bottom of the Roomba with a dry cloth
  • If you have very dark rugs or floors, try covering the cliff sensors with white tape (this disables cliff detection, so only use if you have no stairs)
  • Some newer models have settings to reduce cliff sensor sensitivity

Mapping and Navigation Issues

For Roombas with mapping (i, j, and s series):

"Problems happen when the Roomba maps a temporary object in the room — like a toy box, TV tray, and so on. The Roomba will continue to see that object and move to avoid it even when it isn't there, making it look like the Roomba is going in circles."

To fix mapping issues:

  1. Open the iRobot Home app
  2. Go to your Roomba's settings
  3. Look for "Smart Maps" or "Clean Map"
  4. Delete the existing map and let the Roomba create a new one
  5. Or use "Train a New Map" to update the layout

Reboot the Roomba

A simple reboot can fix many navigation issues:

Soft reboot:

  1. Press and hold the CLEAN button for about 20 seconds
  2. Release when you hear a tone
  3. Also unplug and replug the charging base

Factory reset (last resort):

  1. Press and hold the CLEAN button for 10 seconds
  2. The Roomba will restart
  3. Note: This may delete saved maps and schedules

Check for Motor Issues

If one wheel motor is failing, the Roomba will pull to one side:

  • Listen for unusual sounds from either wheel
  • Watch if one wheel spins slower than the other
  • Test by manually spinning each wheel—they should move with similar resistance

If you suspect a motor issue and cleaning doesn't help, the Roomba may need service.

Clean the Brushes

While primarily affecting cleaning performance, heavily tangled brushes can affect navigation:

  1. Remove the main brushes (rubber extractors or bristle brushes)
  2. Remove all hair and debris
  3. Clean the brush compartment
  4. Reinstall the brushes, making sure they click into place

Software Updates

Make sure your Roomba has the latest software:

  1. Open the iRobot Home app
  2. Select your Roomba
  3. Go to Settings → About [Robot Name]
  4. Check for software updates
  5. Keep the Roomba on its charging base during updates

When to Contact Support

If none of these solutions work:

  • There may be a hardware issue with wheel motors or sensors
  • Contact iRobot support for warranty service
  • Provide the error code if one is displayed in the app

Community Discussions