What to do if my Tapo Robot Vacuum cannot recharge?

The robot vacuum, as a capable household assistant, helps us automate and intelligently clean our homes, maintaining a clean environment. Generally, the robot vacuum will automatically recharge after completing its cleaning. If your robot vacuum is experiencing issues with recharging, please refer to the practical suggestions and troubleshooting guide provided in this article. We hope it will be helpful!

1. Ensure the Charging Dock is Positioned Correctly.

1) Place it on a flat, hard floor. If placed on a carpet, the charging dock may sink, and the robot vacuum may be difficult to recharge.

2) Do not place it in direct sunlight.

3) Avoid placing it near glossy surfaces like glass or mirrors.

4) Position it against a wall, ensuring enough space in front and on the sides. For Tapo Robot Vacuum, the minimum distance is 1.5m in front and 0.5m on the sides, as shown below. 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.

2. Ensure the Recharge Sensor is Clean.

The robot vacuum uses the recharge sensor (the black part on the front) to detect signals emitted by the charging dock to locate it and recharge, so ensure that both the main unit and the charging dock's recharge sensors are clean.

1) If there is a protective film on the surface, please remove it.

2) If there is dust on the surface, wipe it clean with a dry cloth. This is part of regular maintenance to ensure proper operation.

3. Check If the Charging Dock is Powered On.

If your charging dock is a base charging dock, the LED will stay lit when powered on. If the LED is not lit, it is not powered.

If your charging dock is an Auto-Empty dock, the LED will light up when powered but will go into sleep mode and turn off after 10 minutes. To check if it is powered, open the top cover to see if the LED lights up again.

4. Ensure Each Cleaning Starts from the Charging Dock.

When the robot vacuum starts cleaning from the charging dock, it records the dock's location and marks it on the map, making it easier to find the dock when recharging.

Note: If the map does not show the charging dock icon, it will move along the walls to search for it, which can be very time-consuming and inefficient.

5. Check If the Map Matches the Actual Situation.

Generally, the robot vacuum will recharge via the shortest path based on the position of the charging dock on the map. However, if the map overlaps, rotations, or misalignments that do not match the actual situation, it may get lost, and the charging dock may be unable to be found. This issue can occur if the robot vacuum repeatedly moves up and down while cleaning carpets, fan bases, thresholds, etc., which can cause the wheels to slip, leading to a discrepancy between the distance traveled and the actual distance, resulting in map errors. Additionally, moving the robot vacuum during cleaning may also cause this issue.

However, you need not worry too much, as most models of Tapo Robot Vacuum have the Map Lock feature to avoid inconsistencies. You just need to enable it in Tapo App > Map > Map Management > Lock, and this issue should not occur.

Note: For the RV30 and RV30C series, due to mechanical limitations, they do not have this Map Lock feature, but you can use the Backup & Restore feature (Tapo App > Map > Map Management > Backup & Restore) to resolve map inconsistency issues.

6. Ensure the Recharge Path is Clear of Obstacles.

As mentioned in step 5, after completing the cleaning, the robot vacuum will recharge via the shortest path. However, if there are obstacles blocking the way, it will not be able to recharge smoothly. Therefore, 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.