Keeping your Roborock's firmware up to date is the easiest way to fix bugs, improve navigation, and unlock new features — and it takes less than 10 minutes. This guide covers how to check your current version, run a manual update, enable or disable automatic updates, and fix every common failure scenario.
Most Roborock owners never touch firmware settings because the app handles it silently. But when an update stalls at 25%, the robot starts acting strange after an update, or you want to hold off on a version you've heard causes issues — that's when you need this guide.
Quick Answer
- How to update: Roborock app → your device → Settings → Robot Settings → Firmware Update → tap "Update Now"
- Requirements: battery above 20%, robot on dock, stable Wi-Fi
- Time: 5-10 minutes (download + install + reboot)
- If it fails: move closer to router, power cycle everything, clear app cache — details below
How to Check Your Current Firmware Version
Open the Roborock app, tap your device on the home screen, then navigate to Settings → Robot Settings → Firmware Update. Your current version number is displayed at the top — it looks something like 02.17.98 or 01.13.28. If a newer version is available, you'll see an "Update Now" button below it.
Write down your current version before updating. If something goes wrong after the update, knowing the old version helps Roborock support diagnose the issue faster.
How to Update Roborock Firmware (Step by Step)
Before you start, make sure these three conditions are met:
- Battery above 20% — the robot should be on its dock and charging. An update that dies mid-install due to low battery can brick the firmware temporarily.
- Stable Wi-Fi — both your phone and the robot need to be on the same network with a strong signal. If your dock is in a garage or basement with weak signal, move the dock closer to the router for the update.
- Roborock app is current — an outdated app sometimes can't see new firmware. Update the app from the App Store or Google Play first.
Steps:
- Open the Roborock app and tap your device.
- Go to Settings → Robot Settings → Firmware Update.
- If an update is available, read the changelog — Roborock lists what changed (bug fixes, navigation improvements, new features).
- Tap "Update Now."
- The app downloads the firmware to the robot over Wi-Fi, then the robot installs it locally. This takes 5-10 minutes total.
- Do not close the app, switch Wi-Fi networks, or move the robot during this process.
- When done, the robot reboots automatically. You may hear a voice prompt confirming the new version.
- Go back to Settings → Firmware Update to verify the version number changed.
That's it. Your maps, schedules, No-Go Zones and room names are preserved through firmware updates — you don't need to remap.
How to Enable or Disable Automatic Updates
By default, Roborock robots automatically download and install firmware updates when connected to Wi-Fi and docked. Most owners should leave this on — you get bug fixes and improvements without thinking about it.
But there are reasons to turn it off:
- You've read about a specific firmware version causing issues (navigation regressions, mapping problems, new bugs)
- You're running a stable version and don't want to risk changes
- You want to review changelogs before installing
To toggle auto-updates: Roborock app → your device → Settings → Robot Settings → Firmware Update. Look for an "Auto Update" or "Automatic Update" toggle. Not all models show this option — older S-series and E-series models may update automatically without a toggle.
What Firmware Updates Actually Change
Roborock doesn't always publish detailed changelogs, but based on release notes and community reports, updates typically include:
| Update type | What it does | How often |
|---|---|---|
| Navigation improvements | Better pathfinding, fewer stuck events, improved room recognition | Every 2-3 months |
| Cleaning algorithm tweaks | Adjusted suction patterns, carpet detection sensitivity | Quarterly |
| New features | New cleaning modes, app integrations, smart home compatibility | 2-3 times per year |
| Bug fixes | Fixes for going in circles, sensor errors, connectivity drops | As needed |
| Security patches | Wi-Fi and cloud security updates | Rare but critical |
Should you always update immediately? Generally yes — but if your robot is working perfectly and you see forum reports of issues with a new version, there's no harm in waiting a week to see if others report problems. Roborock can't force-downgrade you, but they do release hotfix versions quickly when a bad update goes out.
Fixing a Failed or Stuck Firmware Update
If the update stalls at a percentage, fails with an error, or the robot seems frozen — don't panic. This is almost always a network issue, not a hardware problem.
Level 1: Basic Fixes (Try These First)
- Wait at least 10 minutes. Some updates stall at 25% or 50% for several minutes, then suddenly jump to completion. The progress bar isn't always accurate.
- Check your Wi-Fi signal at the dock location. If it's weak, temporarily move the dock closer to the router.
- Close and reopen the Roborock app. Sometimes the app loses sync with the robot even though the update is progressing fine in the background.
Level 2: Network Fixes
- Switch your phone to cellular data, then back to Wi-Fi. This forces the app to reconnect.
- Reboot your router. Power it off for 30 seconds, power back on, wait for it to fully reconnect, then retry the update.
- Change your router's DNS to 8.8.8.8 (Google DNS). Multiple forum users confirmed this fixed persistent update failures — the issue was their ISP's DNS couldn't resolve Roborock's update server.
Level 3: Full Reset (If Nothing Else Works)
- Power cycle the robot: hold the power button for 5 seconds until it shuts off. Unplug the dock. Wait 30 seconds. Plug the dock back in, turn the robot on, re-dock it.
- Clear the Roborock app cache (Android: Settings → Apps → Roborock → Clear Cache. iOS: delete and reinstall the app).
- Factory reset as a last resort: if the update is truly stuck and the robot won't respond, do a factory reset (hold the Home + Power buttons for 3-5 seconds until you hear a reset confirmation). You'll need to re-add the robot in the app and remap — but the firmware will download fresh.
One S6 owner described their update getting stuck at 25% every time for weeks. The fix was changing DNS to 8.8.8.8 on the router — the update completed in under 5 minutes after that.
What to Do If Your Robot Acts Strange After an Update
Firmware regressions happen. If your Roborock starts getting stuck, losing its map, missing rooms, or making unusual noises after an update, here's what to do:
- Reboot the robot (power off, wait 10 seconds, power on). Sometimes the new firmware needs a clean restart to initialize properly.
- Run one full clean cycle without intervention. The robot may need to recalibrate its sensors and navigation after the update.
- Check the Roborock forum for your specific firmware version — if others are reporting the same issue, Roborock usually pushes a hotfix within 1-2 weeks.
- Contact Roborock support if the problem persists. Provide your model number and both the old and new firmware version numbers — this is why we recommended writing down the old version.
You cannot downgrade firmware through the app. Roborock does not offer official rollback. If a bad update is causing serious problems, your only options are waiting for a hotfix or contacting support for manual assistance.
Firmware Update FAQ for Every Roborock Model
The update process is the same across models, but here are the model-specific notes:
| Series | App path | Auto-update | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saros series (10, 10R, 20) | Settings → Firmware Update | Yes, with toggle | Newest series, gets updates most frequently |
| S8 series (S8, S8 Pro Ultra, S8 MaxV Ultra) | Settings → Robot Settings → Firmware Update | Yes, with toggle | Mature firmware, fewer updates now |
| Q series (Q Revo, Q5 Pro, Q7 Max+) | Settings → Robot Settings → Firmware Update | Yes, with toggle | Same update path as S-series |
| Qrevo series (Curv, CurvX, Edge) | Settings → Firmware Update | Yes, with toggle | Gets the same firmware channel as Saros |
| Older S/E series (S5, S6, E4) | Settings → Robot Settings → Firmware Update | Auto only (no toggle) | May stop receiving updates — last versions are final |
Frequently Asked Questions
Will a firmware update delete my maps and schedules?
No. Maps, room names, No-Go Zones, cleaning schedules, and all app settings are preserved through firmware updates. The only thing that wipes your map is a factory reset. If your map disappears after an update, it's a bug — reboot the robot and check if the map reappears. If not, contact Roborock support.
How often does Roborock release firmware updates?
It varies by model. Newer models (Saros, Qrevo Curv) get updates every 4-8 weeks during their first year. Older models (S5, S6) may go months or even years without updates — once a model reaches end-of-life firmware support, the last version is final.
Can I downgrade to an older firmware version?
Not through the app. Roborock does not officially support firmware rollback. If a new version causes problems, your options are to wait for a hotfix (usually 1-2 weeks) or contact support. Some third-party tools like Valetudo allow custom firmware on older models, but this voids your warranty and is not recommended for most users.
Is it safe to update firmware over a mobile hotspot?
It works but isn't recommended. Firmware files are typically 50-100 MB and the download needs to be uninterrupted. A mobile hotspot can be unstable in elevators, moving cars, or areas with weak cell signal. If you must use a hotspot, stay in one place with strong signal until the update completes.
My Roborock says "firmware is up to date" but I know a newer version exists — why?
Roborock rolls out firmware updates in waves, not all at once. Your region or specific device batch may receive the update days or weeks after others. There's no way to force an early download — just check back in a few days. Also make sure your Roborock app itself is updated to the latest version, as older app versions sometimes can't see new firmware.
