Roborock not charging
DIRECT ANSWER
What each observation tells you
| What you see | What it shows | Next safe check | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| S5 standard dock light off with the robot seated | Normal while charging; not a power fault | Lift the robot off and the light should come on. If it stays off, check both plug ends | Roborock S5 user manual |
| Qrevo Series dock light off or dim with the robot away | Could be a supply problem, or Do Not Disturb | Check the Do Not Disturb schedule in the App, then both plug ends | Roborock Qrevo Series user manual |
| S7 seated, no charging voice prompt | Doesn't prove dirty contacts; Do Not Disturb mutes prompts | Look for the breathing power light and check the App, then wipe contacts with a dry soft cloth | Roborock S7 user manual |
| Charging shown, percentage not rising | The robot found the dock; output, temperature, contacts and battery are still open | Clean contacts, keep the robot in a normal indoor room and recheck later; contact support if unchanged | Roborock S7 user manual |
| S8 Pro Ultra dock light steady red | A dock error, not necessarily a battery or charging fault | Read the App message; check dust bag or bin, water tank and filter installation | Roborock S8 Pro Ultra user manual |
| Charges when placed by hand, never docks alone | Points to docking or positioning; battery health still unconfirmed | Check dock placement, obstacles and the robot's sensors, then follow the return-to-dock guide | Roborock S7 user manual |
COMMON CAUSES · RANKED
Dirty contacts or poor seating
Dirt on the robot's or the dock's contacts, or a robot sitting slightly off the dock, can stop charging from starting.
Loose power cord
The cord can work loose at the wall outlet or at the dock. Check both ends, not just the one you can see.
Docking or positioning problem
The robot charges when you place it by hand but can't reach the dock by itself. That points to dock placement, obstacles or the robot's sensors.
Temperature or poor contact slowing charge UNCOMMON
The S7 manual lists both as causes of slow charging, which can look like a percentage that barely moves.
Battery or dock fault UNCOMMON
Possible once the outside checks are done. Only Roborock support can confirm which part has failed and which replacement matches your model.
HOW TO FIX IT
Wipe charging contacts with a dry soft cloth only. Newer Roborock manuals rule out wet cloths and liquids on them. Don't open the robot or dock, bend contacts or measure internal circuits. Stop using the robot and dock if you see overheating, odor, swelling, leaking, scorch marks or a damaged cable.
Check power at both ends
Push the cord fully into the wall outlet and into the dock. Then read the dock light against your model's manual, since docks differ.
Wipe both sets of contacts
Wipe the contacts under the robot and on the dock with a dry soft cloth. Don't use liquids or a damp cloth.
Seat the robot by hand
Set the robot squarely on the dock. When it's placed correctly it reports that it is charging. If you hear nothing, check the App status and the power light, because Do Not Disturb can mute the prompt.
Check that the percentage rises
A charging indication means the robot has detected the dock. Leave it seated and check the battery percentage in the App later. A flat reading still leaves temperature, contact, dock supply and battery as possible causes.
Separate docking from charging
If hand placement charges and the percentage climbs, but the robot never docks on its own, look at dock placement, obstacles and the robot's sensors. See <a href="/roborock/wont-return-to-dock/">Roborock won't return to dock</a>.
IF IT STILL FAILS
WHEN TO STOP
Stop and contact Roborock support if the battery or dock smells, swells, leaks, gets unusually hot or shows scorch marks, or if the cable is damaged. Do the same if the robot still shows no charging status on its matching dock after the outside checks. Have the exact model name ready.
MODELS AFFECTED
| Model | Status | Firmware | Parts | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roborock S5 The S5 standard charging dock light is on while the robot is away and goes off while it charges. A dark dock with the robot seated is normal. · Source | limited | s5 | Parts → | 2026-07-05 · Source |
| Roborock S5 Max | limited | s5 | Parts → | 2026-07-05 · Source |
| Roborock S6 | limited | s6 | Parts → | 2026-07-05 · Source |
| Roborock S6 MaxV | limited | s6 | Parts → | 2026-07-05 · Source |
| Roborock S7 On the S7, the power indicator breathes while the robot charges. Do Not Disturb mutes voice prompts, so a silent robot on the dock may still be charging. · Source | active | s7 | Parts → | 2026-07-05 · Source |
| Roborock S7 MaxV | active | s7 | Parts → | 2026-07-05 · Source |
| Roborock S8 | active | s8 | Parts → | 2026-07-05 · Source |
| Roborock S8 Pro Ultra The dock light is on when powered, off while the robot charges and red on an error. The robot's power light pulses during charging. Do Not Disturb dims the light and lowers voice volume. The manual's red-light causes include voltage, the dust bag or bin, and water tank or filter installation. · Source | active | s8 | Parts → | 2026-07-05 · Source |
| Roborock Q5 / Q7 | active | q | Parts → | 2026-07-05 · Source |
Models resolved from the series chips above. Support status comes from our EOL library; rows link to the matching parts and firmware pages.
FIELD NOTES
Roborock dock lights don't follow one rule. The S5 standard dock is lit while the robot is away and dark while it charges. The S8 Pro Ultra dock follows the same on and off pattern, turns red for errors and dims in Do Not Disturb. The Qrevo Series manual describes a light that is on in standby and off during charging, breathes while emptying dust or washing mops, and may be off or dim in Do Not Disturb. A dark Qrevo Series dock is therefore not proof of lost power.
Voice prompts, lights and the App's charging status tell you the robot has detected the dock. None of them measures charging output or battery health. Short runtime makes battery wear more likely, but it doesn't confirm it. Light behavior for the base S8, S6, S6 MaxV, S7 MaxV and individual Q-series models was not checked for this page. For those robots, use their own manuals, and don't assume the S5 or S8 Pro Ultra patterns carry over.
FAQ · REAL QUESTIONS
Does a dark dock light mean the dock has no power?
Not by itself. On docks covered by the Qrevo Series manual, the light goes off while the robot charges and may be off or dim in Do Not Disturb. Check the plug, the robot's status and the App first.
The robot didn't say it was charging. Are the contacts dirty?
Maybe, but check something else first. On the S7, Do Not Disturb mutes voice prompts and the power indicator breathes while charging. Look at that light and the App. Clean the contacts if neither shows charging.
It shows charging but the percentage won't rise. Is the battery bad?
Possibly, but this symptom doesn't settle it. The charging status only shows the robot found the dock. The S7 manual names temperature and dirty contacts as causes of slow charging. If the number stays flat after those checks, ask support to diagnose it.
What does a red light on the S8 Pro Ultra dock mean?
The dock has an error, and it may have nothing to do with the battery. The manual lists causes such as supply voltage, the dust bag or bin, and water tank or filter installation. The Roborock App names the specific item.
Can I clean the contacts with alcohol or a wet cloth?
Go by your model's manual. The S8 Pro Ultra manual specifies a dry soft cloth, and newer Roborock manuals rule out wet cloths and liquids on the contacts. Older alcohol advice doesn't apply to every model.
Sources
Corrections
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