Roomba by iRobot is a fine lineup of cleaning robots; however, given that they’re the first few generations of cleaning bots available, they’re prone to bugs and issues.
One such often reported issue is Roomba charging error 5, which indicates a failure in the charging system of the device. Some of the common reasons why you’re seeing Roomba charging error 5 are:
- The battery and charging contacts are dirty and can’t maintain contact for charging efficiently.
- Your cleaning bot doesn’t have an authentic iRobot battery.
- A temporary software bug.
Roomba charging error 5 is displayed differently in 900, 800, 700, 600 and 500 series devices, as discussed below.
- Some models display ERR5.
- Roomba 900 series: Charging error five (5). Please open the iRobot app for help.
- Roomba 500, 600, 700 and 800: Charging error five (5).
- Roomba (WiFi) 600 and 800: Charging error five (5). Please open the iRobot Home app for help.
- The battery indicator blinks while charging.
- Troubleshoot or Clean indicator blinks while charging.
Here we’ve discussed four quick ways to fix Roomba charging error 5.
Also read: Roomba error 15: 7 Fixes
Clean the battery and charging contacts
Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you clean the iRobot Roomba device and eliminate the charging error 5.
- Unscrew the bottom of the device to open the battery door. You’ll find two screws at the bottom of 900 and 800 series devices and four screws at the bottom of the 700, 600 and 500 series devices.
- Remove the device’s battery and gently wipe its contacts off any dust or debris.
- Similarly, check the contacts on the charging base for dust and debris and wipe them off gently.
- Reinstall the battery and screw on the back cover.
Try to charge the device and see if the Roomba charging error 5 persists. Follow the steps mentioned below if it does.
Restart your Roomba
Restarting a device to fix temporary errors is a standard solution for any electronic device. Here’s how.
For S and I series models
Hold the Clean button for around 20 seconds until the white LED ring around the bin’s lid starts spinning clockwise. Then, wait for the Roomba to turn on and see if the issue persists.
For the 700, 800 and 900 series
Hold down the Clean button until you hear a beep. Give the Roomba a couple of minutes to start and rerun the cleaning schedule. Error 5 shouldn’t be a problem now.
Also read: Roomba error 14: 7 Fixes
Reset the battery
In case a soft reset doesn’t work, try resetting the battery to see if that has any effect.
For 500 or 600 Series
Press the Clean button, then press and hold the Spot and Dock buttons for around 15 seconds until you hear a beep. After that, plug your Roomba in for charging until the Clean button turns green.
For 700 Series
Connect your Roomba to either the charging dock or use a cable and hold down the Clean button for at least 10 seconds. Let go of the button when “r5t” appears on the screen. Next, you’ll hear a beep indicating the battery has been reset. After this, leave the Roomba to charge for at least 15 hours before rerunning its cleaning schedule.
Perform a factory reset
You can also perform a factory reset on your Roomba to resolve firmware issues. Remember that you’ll need to have the robot paired with your phone and the iRobot app installed for this to work.
You have to head over to the in-app settings and select factory reset. After this, the robot will automatically reinstall its firmware, eliminating any firmware issues in the process.
Contact support
If nothing else works, your best option is to contact iRobot support and possibly send the robot in for repairs.
Also read: Roomba error 17: 6 Fixes
