What do the lights on your robot vacuum dock mean? Complete guide to docking station LED indicators for Roomba, Roborock, Shark, Eufy, Ecovacs, and all major brands. Decode blinking patterns and colors.
Robot Vacuum Docking Station Lights Meaning - Universal Guide
Your robot vacuum's docking station is blinking a color you've never seen before. Is it charging? Is there an error? What does that pattern mean?
Docking station lights are your robot's way of communicating status without words. Every brand uses different colors and patterns, which gets confusing when you're trying to figure out if something's wrong.
This guide decodes dock indicator lights for all major brands - Roomba, Roborock, Shark, Eufy, Ecovacs, and more. Find your brand below and never wonder about those blinking lights again.
Quick Reference: Universal Light Meanings
Across most brands, these general patterns apply:
| Light Behavior | Typical Meaning |
|---|---|
| Solid green | Fully charged / Ready |
| Pulsing green/blue | Currently charging |
| Solid white | Power on / Standby |
| Blinking orange/amber | Low battery charging |
| Solid red | Error or problem |
| Blinking red | Critical error - needs attention |
| No light | Power off or sleep mode |
Important: Each brand has specific meanings. Check your brand section below for accurate interpretation.
Roomba (iRobot) Dock Lights
Models Covered: i3, i7, j7, s9, Clean Base auto-empty docks
Standard Charging Dock:
| Light | Meaning | Action Needed |
|---|---|---|
| Pulsing green | Charging | None - working normally |
| Solid green | Fully charged | Ready to clean |
| Pulsing amber | Low battery, charging | None - wait for charge |
| No light | Roomba docked, power save mode | Normal after full charge |
Clean Base (Auto-Empty Dock) Lights:
| Light | Meaning | Action Needed |
|---|---|---|
| Solid white | Base powered on | Normal |
| Pulsing white | Emptying in progress | Wait 30 seconds |
| Solid red | Bag full or clog | Replace bag, check for blockage |
| Blinking red | Vacuum path blocked | Check tube from robot to bag |
| No light | Power save mode | Press Clean on robot to wake |
Roomba-Specific Tip: Roomba docks go dark after charging completes to save power. This is normal - the robot is charged and ready.
Roomba Robot Indicator (while on dock):
The light ring around the Clean button shows status:
- Pulsing white: Charging
- Solid white: Fully charged
- Solid red: Error (check app for specific code)
- Spinning white: Updating firmware
Roborock Dock Lights
Models Covered: S7, S7 MaxV, S8, S8 Pro Ultra, Q5, Q7, Q7 Max, auto-empty and water docks
Standard Charging Dock:
| Light | Meaning | Action Needed |
|---|---|---|
| Solid blue | Powered on, ready | Normal |
| No light | Robot docked, standby | Normal power-save behavior |
| Blinking blue | Robot returning to dock | None - docking in progress |
Auto-Empty / Water Dock (S8 Pro Ultra, S7 MaxV Ultra):
| Light | Meaning | Action Needed |
|---|---|---|
| Solid white | Ready/standby | Normal |
| Pulsing white | Emptying dustbin | Wait for completion |
| Solid orange | Water tank low (clean or dirty) | Refill clean, empty dirty |
| Blinking orange | Water system error | Check tank connections |
| Solid red | Error requiring attention | Check app for details |
| Blinking red | Critical error (leak, blockage) | Immediate attention needed |
Roborock-Specific Tip: Most Roborock docks stay dark in standby to save power and reduce light pollution at night. Not a malfunction.
Roborock Robot Indicator:
The button light on the robot itself:
- Solid white: Fully charged, standby
- Pulsing orange: Charging
- Solid red: Error (check app)
- Blue pulsing: Wi-Fi setup mode
Shark IQ / AI / Matrix Dock Lights
Models Covered: Shark IQ, AI Ultra, Matrix, RV1001AE, AV2501AE
Standard Charging Dock:
| Light | Meaning | Action Needed |
|---|---|---|
| Solid blue | Robot docked and charged | Ready to clean |
| Pulsing blue | Charging | None - working normally |
| Solid green | Full charge complete | Ready |
| Blinking blue | Updating firmware | Don't remove from dock |
| No light | Dock unplugged or robot removed | Check power |
Self-Empty Base Lights:
| Light | Meaning | Action Needed |
|---|---|---|
| Solid blue | Ready | Normal |
| Pulsing blue | Emptying in progress | Wait ~30 seconds |
| Solid red | Dustbin full/Error | Empty or check for clog |
| Blinking red | Blockage detected | Check evacuation tube |
| Alternating blue/red | Communication error | Ensure robot is seated properly |
Shark-Specific Tip: Shark docks use blue as their primary "all is well" indicator. Red always means a problem needs attention.
Eufy RoboVac Dock Lights
Models Covered: 11S, 30C, G30, L60, X8, X10 series
Standard Charging Dock:
Eufy standard docks typically have no indicator lights - they're intentionally minimal.
How to Know It's Charging:
- Check the robot's light indicator (on top)
- Eufy app shows charging status
- Robot will beep once when properly docked
Eufy Robot Indicators (while on dock):
| Light | Meaning | Action Needed |
|---|---|---|
| Solid orange | Charging | None |
| Solid blue | Fully charged | Ready |
| Pulsing blue | Starting up | Wait |
| Solid red | Error | Check for stuck wheels or brushes |
| Blinking red | Low battery | Ensure proper dock contact |
X8/X10/L60 with Auto-Empty:
| Base Light | Meaning | Action Needed |
|---|---|---|
| Solid white | Ready | Normal |
| Pulsing white | Emptying | Wait |
| Blinking red | Bag full or clog | Replace bag, check path |
Eufy-Specific Tip: Many Eufy users think their dock is broken because there's no light. This is intentional design - check the robot itself for status.
Ecovacs Deebot Dock Lights
Models Covered: X1, X2 Omni, T20 Omni, N8+, N10, T10/T20 with various station types
Standard Charging Dock:
| Light | Meaning | Action Needed |
|---|---|---|
| Solid white | Powered, standby | Normal |
| Pulsing white | Robot charging | None |
| No light | Sleep mode | Normal after timeout |
OMNI Station (Self-Empty + Mop Wash):
| Light | Meaning | Action Needed |
|---|---|---|
| Solid white | Ready | Normal |
| Pulsing white | Active (cleaning mop, emptying, refilling) | Wait |
| Solid amber | Clean water low | Refill clean water tank |
| Blinking amber | Dirty water tank full | Empty dirty water tank |
| Solid red | Error detected | Check app for specific error |
| Blinking red | Critical error | Immediate attention (water leak, blockage) |
| Rainbow/Multicolor | Party mode or update complete | Normal (can disable in app) |
Ecovacs-Specific Tip: The OMNI stations can show "ambient lighting" effects that aren't errors. Check the Ecovacs app to distinguish between status lights and decorative lighting modes.
Dreame Dock Lights
Models Covered: L10s Ultra, L20 Ultra, D10 Plus, W10, Z10 Pro
Standard/Auto-Empty Dock:
| Light | Meaning | Action Needed |
|---|---|---|
| Solid blue | Ready | Normal |
| Breathing blue | Charging | None |
| Solid white | Full charge | Ready to clean |
| Pulsing white | Processing (emptying, mop wash) | Wait |
| Amber | Water tank needs attention | Fill clean or empty dirty |
| Red | Error | Check Dreamehome app |
| No light | Sleep mode | Normal power save |
Xiaomi Mi Robot Dock Lights
Models Covered: Mi Robot Vacuum, 1C, 1S, G1, Vacuum-Mop series
Standard Charging Dock:
Xiaomi docks typically have minimal or no indicator lights.
Robot Status Lights (while docked):
| Light | Meaning | Action Needed |
|---|---|---|
| Solid white | Standby/Charged | Ready |
| Pulsing orange | Charging | None |
| Solid orange | Charging (low battery) | None |
| Blinking red | Error | Check Mi Home app |
| Solid red | Critical error or stuck | Investigate immediately |
Common Dock Light Problems and Fixes
Dock Has No Lights at All
Check:
- Is the dock plugged in? (obvious but common)
- Is the power outlet working? (test with phone charger)
- Is the cord fully inserted into both dock and wall?
- Has the dock's fuse blown? (rare, but possible)
Fix: If power is confirmed good but no lights, the dock's internal power supply may have failed. Contact manufacturer support.
Dock Light is Stuck on Red
Common Causes:
- Auto-empty bag full (replace bag)
- Blockage in evacuation tube (check for clogs)
- Water tank issue (empty dirty, fill clean)
- Robot not seated properly (lift and replace)
Quick Test: Remove robot from dock for 30 seconds, then replace. If red persists, check app for specific error code.
Dock Light is Blinking but Robot Won't Charge
Check:
- Charging contacts on robot (clean with dry cloth)
- Charging plates on dock (clean with alcohol)
- Robot is fully seated (no gap between robot and dock)
- No debris blocking contact points
Fix: 90% of the time, dirty charging contacts cause this. Clean both robot and dock contacts with a dry microfiber cloth or cotton swab with isopropyl alcohol.
Lights Work but Robot Shows "Cannot Charge"
The dock is powered but communication or connection is failing:
- Check alignment - Robot may be slightly off-center
- Remove protective film - New docks sometimes have film on charging plates
- Test different outlet - Power fluctuations can cause issues
- Factory reset dock - Some docks have reset buttons (check manual)
Understanding Auto-Empty Base Patterns
Auto-empty docks have additional indicators:
| Pattern | Universal Meaning |
|---|---|
| Pulsing during return | Preparing to empty |
| Steady during dock | Actively vacuuming dustbin |
| 30-60 second cycle | Normal empty time |
| Extended pulsing (2+ min) | Possible clog |
| Immediate error after dock | Bag full or path blocked |
When Bag is Full: Most auto-empty bases use solid or blinking red to indicate the bag needs replacement. Don't ignore this - overfull bags can damage the suction motor.
Common Questions
Why does my dock have no lights but the robot charges fine?
Some brands (Eufy, Xiaomi, basic Roborock models) intentionally design docks without indicator lights to minimize light pollution in your home. The dock is working - check the robot's indicator light instead to confirm charging status.
My dock light is a color not listed here - what does it mean?
Check your specific model's manual or app. Some brands use custom colors for specific features (Ecovacs has rainbow modes, some docks have customizable LED colors). If the color isn't in your manual and the robot isn't working, contact support.
Should dock lights stay on 24/7?
Most modern docks enter sleep mode to save power, turning off lights after charging completes. This is normal and extends dock lifespan. Constantly illuminated docks often indicate older models or "always-on" settings that can be changed in the app.
Can I turn off dock lights if they're too bright?
Many brands allow this in their apps. Look for settings like "Night mode," "LED brightness," or "Indicator lights." Roborock, Ecovacs, and Dreame all offer light customization. Budget brands like Eufy already minimize lights by default.
Dock light flashes during cleaning but robot isn't home - why?
The dock is signaling to help the robot find its way home (IR beacon). This is normal during cleaning cycles and will stop once the robot returns or you manually dock it. Some docks also flash when the robot requests an empty or encounters an error.
Written by the RoboFixHub Technical Team
We specialize in robot vacuum troubleshooting, maintenance, and repair - helping users solve problems with fast, reliable DIY fixes across all major brands.