This Article Applies To

All Tapo Robot Vacuums

 

 

Description

 

Keyword: Fail to return charging dock; Docking failure

 

Tapo robot vacuum automatically returns to the charging dock after completing a cleaning task or when it needs to recharge. Users can also direct it to return to the dock using Tapo app or the home button on the device. However, there may be instances where the vacuum cannot return to the charging dock or fails to make a successful connection. If you encounter similar issues, please refer to the troubleshooting suggestions below.

 

 

Troubleshooting Suggestions

 

1. Ensure the Charging Dock is Positioned Correctly

• Place the charging dock on a flat, hard floor. The charging dock may sink if placed on a carpet, making it difficult for the robot vacuum to connect. 
• Do not position the charging dock facing direct sunlight.
• Avoid placing the charging dock next to objects that have reflective surfaces, such as mirrors or glass windows.
• Position the charging dock against a wall, ensuring there is sufficient space on both sides and in front. If your home is large, it is recommended to place the charging dock in a central and spacious location so the robot vacuum can quickly recharge from anywhere in the house.
  • On both sides: Allow a minimum space of 0.5 meters (1.6ft).
  • In front: Ensure at least 1.5 meters (4.9ft) of clearance.

 

 

 

2. Clean the Recharge Sensor

 

Robot vacuum uses its recharge sensor to detect the signal from the charging dock in the recharging process. Ensure both recharge sensors on the robot vacuum and the charging dock are unobstructed and clean.

 

• Remove the protective film on the surface if you haven't removed it. 
• Wipe the recharge sensor clean with a dry cloth to avoid dust. This is also part of regular maintenance to ensure proper operation.

 

Robot Vacuum

 

Charging Dock

 

 

 

3. Check If the Charging Dock is Powered On

 

• For a standard charging dock, its LED indicator always stays on when it is powered. 

 

• For an auto-empty charging dock, the LED indicator turns on when it is powered but will go into sleep mode (LED turns off) after 10 minutes. To check whether the charging dock is powered up, open the top cover to check whether the LED indicator lights up. 

 

4. Ensure each cleaning starts from the charging dock

 

Ensure that the vacuum cleaner starts each cleaning task from the charging dock. Avoid moving the vacuum manually, as this can prevent the device from accurately recording its route. This may lead to longer repositioning times when it returns to recharge.

 

And in some cases, the charging dock icon may disappear from the map. In such instances, the vacuum will need to navigate the entire home to locate the dock.

 

 

5. Check If the Map Matches the Actual Layout

 

Generally, when it's time to recharge, the robot vacuum will take the shortest path to the charging dock based on the map. However, if there are overlaps, rotations, or misalignments on the map that do not match the actual environment, the vacuum may get lost or take longer to find the dock. This issue often arises when the robot vacuum repeatedly moves up and down while cleaning carpets, fan bases, thresholds, etc., causing its wheels to slip and report extra movements. This results in a discrepancy between the distance traveled and the actual distance, leading to incorrect updates after cleaning. Additionally, moving the robot vacuum during cleaning can also contribute to this issue.

 

If such an issue occurs, you can use the Map Locked feature to avoid the inconsistency, this feature is supported on most Tapo robot vacuums. 

*Tapo App > go to Vacuum tab > click Smart Cleaning > click the floating Map icon > Map Management.

 

The RV30 and RV30C series, due to mechanical limitations, do not have this Map Lock feature, but you can use the Backup & Restore feature to resolve map inconsistency issues.

*Tapo App > go to Vacuum tab > click Smart Cleaning > click the floating Map icon > Map Management > Backup & Restore.

 

 

6. Ensure the Recharge Path is Clear of Obstacles

 

Make sure that chairs, boxes, and other items in the house are neatly arranged. And remove clothes, toys, plastic bags, wires, and other easily entangled obstacles.

 

 

 

 

Check this article if your robot vacuum cannot get charged when connected to the dock. What to do if Tapo robot vacuum unable to charge?

 

 

 

 

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