Smart home devices have taken the world by storm due to their convenience and ease of use. Among all these gadgets, robot vacuums have emerged as amazing helpers for household chores, automatically navigating spaces and vacuuming them.
What’s even more convenient is that you can now easily connect your smart vacuum to your iPhone to control it remotely, and it adds a lot of cool features to your smart home setup.
Doing so would not only allow seamless control but would also let you easily customize the vacuum, saving you time and additional effort. This article will explore the ways to connect your robot vacuum to your iPhone so you too like us can sit back and relax.
Compatibility Check with iPhone
Before you buy a robot vacuum, it is crucial to check if it is the brand you’re interested in, has an iOS app to connect with, and if your iPhone is compatible with the model you’re thinking of getting. If it does, go check the iPhone system requirements your model needs.
Some vacuum brands that are compatible with iPhones include Ecovacs, iRobot, Neato Robotics, Samsung, and SharkIQ. You can find a complete list of iPhone compatible Robot Vacuums here.
Once you have confirmed that the model is compatible with your iPhone, download its app from the App Store. Indeed, through this app, you will be able to:
- Remotely start or stop the cleaning process.
- Set and customize cleaning schedules for different days of the week.
- Receive notifications about the vacuum’s cleaning status and battery life.
- Access a map of your home to set no-go zones or direct the vacuum to specific areas.
- Use the robot vacuum’s built-in camera to monitor your home, providing an additional layer of security and peace of mind wit
Preparing Your iPhone
For most brands, the process is quite similar:
- Check system requirements to make sure your iPhone is compatible with the robot vacuum brand, and your specific robot vacuum model. This is crucial as some older models might have different requirements compared to the latest ones, whatever the brand.
- Connect your iPhone to a stable Wi-Fi network.
- Download the app on your device. Check the robot vacuum’s manual for information about the name of the app for your specific model.
- Create a new account or log in with existing credentials, if you already have an account.
- Update if the app needs to be updated to allow any bug fixes.
- Fully charge your robot vacuum so nothing hinders the setup procedure.
Connecting Your Robot Vacuum
After completing all the aforementioned steps, it’s time to connect your robot vacuum to the app. Keep in mind that various brands may have different procedures for connecting their robot vacuums, and these procedures might even vary among different models. To ensure you follow the correct steps, refer to the instruction manual specific to your model.
For the example, let’s use DEEBOT X2 OMNI from Ecovacs to explain how to connect a robot vacuum to your iPhone:
- First, download the app from the App Store, install it and register. Some models like DEEBOT X2 OMNI contain a QR Code on the top cover for your convenience.
- Place the robot vacuum near the station and allow access to the Bluetooth on your iPhone. In the meantime, turn on your robot vacuum and the Bluetooth hotspot to pair it to your smartphone.
- On the app homepage, click on add a robot and choose your robot vacuum to start the pairing process.
- Enter your home Wi-Fi password once the pairing is successful to follow the next steps to complete the connection and adjust some settings like naming your robot vacuum.
After completing this process, you can begin using your robot vacuum with your iPhone, map your rooms, and control it using voice commands.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Below are the solutions to some common issues you might face while or after connecting your robot vacuum to your iPhone.
Connection Timeout
If you’re experiencing a connection timeout issue with your smart vacuum, make sure your robot vacuum is connected to your phone via Wi-Fi. If you have enabled mobile data, switch it off. If it is connected through Wi-Fi, you should check the Wi-Fi signals where the vacuum is located to see if they are strong.
App Compatibility Problems
If you are facing app compatibility issues, the most common solution is visiting the App Store and checking if the app needs to be updated. Update it and try again. If you are still facing the same issue, you can try reinstalling the app, or factory resetting the vacuum by turning it on and then pressing the reset button on the device for 6 seconds.
Authentication Failures
Authentication failures usually arise as a result of an unstable Wi-Fi connection. Hence, you should first check your Wi-Fi connection. If the issue persists, you can reset the Wi-Fi credentials or reinstall the app. Sometimes, rebooting the vacuum by turning it off for a minute might also help.
Firmware or Software Updates Fail
If you are facing issues regarding firmware or software updates failing, place the robot vacuum in a location with strong Wi-Fi signals. Most of the time, update failure results from weak signals and unstable internet connection.
You can also press the start/pause button on the station to see if there’s an outcome. If not, this means that the upgrade will fail. To get this sorted, pair the robot and station again and try upgrading again later.
Device Not Detected
Again, one of the most common causes of device not connected errors is an unstable Wi-Fi connection. If that isn’t the issue, consider restarting the router or updating the app. If none of these work, you should check for interferences such as large metal objects near the Wi-Fi which may interfere with the signals.
Conclusion
Robot vacuums bring unmatched convenience to your life, helping you take a step closer to a smarter home. To make your life more convenient, you should connect it to an iPhone which would allow you to schedule cleaning from anywhere, notify you about the auto vacuum, and let you give commands.
This tech-forward solution allows you to move towards an efficient lifestyle, help you become more productive, and elevate your overall quality of life.
(Image source: Freepik)
