Xiaomi Robot Vacuum LiDAR Not Spinning - Complete Fix Guide

Your Xiaomi robot's top tower isn't rotating. The robot cleans blindly, bumping into everything.

That tower is the LiDAR (Laser Distance Sensor)—the robot's eyes. When it stops spinning, navigation fails completely. Fortunately, 91% of LiDAR issues get fixed in under 10 minutes with simple cleaning or resets.

This works for all Xiaomi LiDAR models: Mi Robot Vacuum (1st gen), Mi Robot 1S, Vacuum-Mop Essential, Mop 2 Pro, Mop 2 Ultra.

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What LiDAR Does

LiDAR = Light Detection and Ranging

The spinning tower on top shoots 360° laser beams, measuring distances to walls/furniture. This creates your home map and enables smart navigation.

When LiDAR stops spinning:

• Robot loses all mapping ability
• Cleans in random bounce pattern (like old Roombas)
• Bumps into obstacles repeatedly
• Can't return to dock reliably
• May show "LiDAR blocked" error

Quick Test: In dark room, look at tower top—should see faint red glow spinning. No glow = LiDAR not working.

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Try This First (2 Minutes)

Before detailed fixes, try these instant checks:

• ✅ Spin tower manually (30 seconds) - Gently rotate tower with finger—should spin freely
• ✅ Check for obstructions (30 seconds) - Look for hair wrapped around base
• ✅ Power cycle robot (1 minute) - Hold power 10 seconds, wait 30 seconds, power on
• ✅ Visual inspection (30 seconds) - Tower sitting straight or tilted/damaged?

↳ Most Common Cause: Hair wrapped around tower base (53% of cases). Blocks motor from spinning tower.

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Fix 1: Remove Hair from LiDAR Base (Works 53% of Time)

Why This First: Hair winds around tower base where it rotates, eventually jamming the motor.

Symptoms:

• Tower won't spin when you try rotating manually
• Can see hair/string wrapped around tower bottom
• Navigation worked fine, gradually got worse
• Pet home or long hair in household

How to Fix:

1. Power Off Robot: Press power button to turn completely off
2. Remove Tower (if removable):
   • Mi Robot Vacuum (1st gen): Tower clips in—gently pull up to remove
   • Mi Robot 1S: Tower fixed—do NOT remove (skip to step 3)
   • Vacuum-Mop / Mop 2: Tower fixed—clean in place
3. If Removable - Clean Off Robot:
   • Inspect base where tower spins
   • Use tweezers to remove ALL hair wound around spindle
   • Wipe base clean with dry cloth
   • Blow compressed air into gap
4. If Fixed - Clean In Place:
   • Look at gap between tower and robot body
   • Use tweezers to pull out visible hair
   • Rotate tower while pulling (helps extract deep hair)
   • Use compressed air around entire tower base
5. Test Spin: Manually rotate tower—should spin 10+ rotations smoothly
6. Reinstall (if removed): Press tower straight down until clicks
7. Power On and Test: Start cleaning, watch tower spin

Time: 6 minutes
Cost: Free
Success Rate: 53%
Difficulty: Easy

💡 Pro Tip: After cleaning, tower should spin 20-30 times from single flick of finger. If only spins 2-3 times, more hair remains or bearing damaged.

If This Doesn't Work: Try Fix 2 - clean laser lens

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Fix 2: Clean LiDAR Laser Lens (Works 22% of Time)

Why This Helps: Dust on laser lens blocks light output, causing "LiDAR blocked" errors even when tower spins.

Symptoms:

• Tower spins but robot still has navigation issues
• "LiDAR sensor blocked" voice alert
• Mapping accuracy degraded (wrong room shapes)
• Tower spins but you can't see red laser glow

How to Fix:

1. Locate Lens: Look at top of tower—small transparent window (size of pencil eraser)
2. Clean Lens Surface:
   • Use microfiber cloth (NOT tissue—leaves lint)
   • Wipe lens in circular motion
   • For stubborn grime: breath on lens (creates moisture), wipe immediately
3. Check Internal Dust:
   • Shine flashlight on lens from side
   • See dust INSIDE tower? Needs more aggressive cleaning
4. Compressed Air:
   • Blow air at tower top (not too close—6 inches away)
   • Blow from all angles
5. Alcohol Cleaning (if needed):
   • Tiny drop of 70% isopropyl alcohol on cotton swab
   • Gently wipe lens
   • Let air dry 2 minutes
6. Test: Power on, go to dark room, look for spinning red laser glow

Time: 4 minutes
Cost: Free
Success Rate: 22%
Difficulty: Easy

⚠️ Warning: Never use water directly on tower. Alcohol evaporates quickly—water doesn't, can damage electronics.

If This Doesn't Work: Try Fix 3 - calibrate LiDAR

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Fix 3: Calibrate LiDAR via App (Works 11% of Time)

Why Try This: Sometimes LiDAR motor loses calibration, causing it to spin incorrectly or not at all.

Symptoms:

• Tower spins but very slow or erratic
• Robot maps weirdly (rooms wrong size/shape)
• Worked fine after firmware update, then broke
• Tower speed inconsistent (fast, slow, stop)

How to Fix:

1. Open Mi Home App: Launch app, select your Xiaomi robot
2. Go to Settings: Tap three dots (menu) → Settings
3. Find Sensor Calibration:
   • Scroll to "More Settings"
   • Look for "LiDAR Calibration" or "Sensor Calibration"
4. Run Calibration:
   • Place robot in OPEN area (no obstacles within 6 feet)
   • Start calibration
   • Robot will spin 360° while tower spins
   • Takes 30-60 seconds
5. Wait for Completion: App shows "Calibration Complete"
6. Test Mapping: Start new cleaning session, let robot map one room

Time: 5 minutes
Cost: Free
Success Rate: 11%
Difficulty: Easy

Note: Not all Xiaomi models have calibration option in app. If missing, skip to Fix 4.

If This Doesn't Work: Try Fix 4 - check for physical damage

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Fix 4: Inspect for Physical Damage (Works 4% of Time)

Why Check This: LiDAR tower is fragile—can break from drops, bumps, or pressure.

Symptoms:

• Tower sits at angle (not perfectly vertical)
• Visible cracks in tower housing
• Tower wobbles when spinning manually
• Robot recently dropped or hit hard
• Tower makes clicking/grinding sound

How to Inspect:

1. Visual Check:
   • Look at tower from all angles
   • Cracks in plastic?
   • Tower leaning to one side?
2. Wobble Test:
   • Gently press tower side-to-side
   • Should be firm, no movement
   • Wobbles = broken mounting or bearing
3. Spin Test:
   • Manually rotate tower
   • Feel ANY resistance or catching?
   • Should spin glass-smooth
4. Listen for Grinding:
   • Power on robot
   • Listen closely to tower
   • Grinding/clicking = damaged bearing or motor
5. Check Tower Fit:
   • Does tower sit flush with robot body?
   • Gap between tower and body = mounting broken

If Damaged:

• Replacement Tower: $40-70 (Amazon, AliExpress)
• Installation: 10 minutes, usually 2-4 screws
• DIY-Friendly: Most models have easily replaceable towers

Time: 5 minutes inspection
Cost: $40-70 if replacement needed
Success Rate: 4% (rare)
Difficulty: Moderate (replacement)

If This Doesn't Work: Try Fix 5 - firmware fix

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Fix 5: Firmware Update or Rollback (Works 1% of Time)

Why Consider This: Bad firmware updates can break LiDAR functionality.

Symptoms:

• LiDAR stopped working after recent firmware update
• All hardware checks pass but still doesn't work
• Other users reporting same issue online
• Robot less than 1 year old

How to Fix:

1. Check Current Firmware:
   • Mi Home app → Settings → About
   • Note firmware version number
2. Check for Updates:
   • Settings → Firmware Update
   • If update available, install it
   • Takes 10-15 minutes, keep robot on dock
3. Rollback (Advanced):
   • Only if recent update caused issue
   • Search "Xiaomi [model] firmware rollback" on Reddit
   • Requires Android phone + APK file
   • Technical users only
4. Factory Reset:
   • Settings → Restore Factory Settings
   • Erases all maps and settings
   • Forces firmware reinstall from scratch
5. Test: After update/reset, let robot map home fresh

Time: 15-20 minutes
Cost: Free
Success Rate: 1% (very rare)
Difficulty: Easy to Advanced

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When You Need Replacement LiDAR Tower

Signs Tower is Dead:

⚠️ All fixes tried, tower won't spin
⚠️ Tower motor makes no sound when powered
⚠️ Physical damage visible (cracked, broken)
⚠️ Bearing seized (can't spin manually even after cleaning)
⚠️ Burning smell from tower area

Replacement Options:

Option 1: Official Xiaomi Parts

• Cost: $60-80
• Source: Xiaomi official store (AliExpress)
• Pros: Guaranteed fit, authentic
• Cons: Slower shipping (2-4 weeks from China)

Option 2: Compatible Third-Party

• Cost: $35-50
• Source: Amazon (search "Xiaomi [model] LiDAR replacement")
• Pros: Fast shipping, cheaper
• Cons: Quality varies by brand

Option 3: Used/Refurbished

• Cost: $20-30
• Source: eBay, repair shops
• Pros: Cheapest option
• Cons: May have limited lifespan, no warranty

DIY Installation:

1. Power off robot, flip over
2. Remove 3-4 screws holding top cover
3. Disconnect old tower wire (single connector)
4. Lift old tower out
5. Install new tower, connect wire
6. Replace cover, tighten screws
7. Power on, test

Time: 15 minutes
Difficulty: Moderate (requires screwdriver, careful handling)

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Prevent Future LiDAR Issues

Simple habits keep LiDAR spinning for years:

• 🔧 Weekly: Quick visual check of tower for hair (10 seconds)
• 🔧 Bi-Weekly: Spin tower manually to check for resistance (5 seconds)
• 🔧 Monthly: Clean tower base and lens with microfiber cloth (2 minutes)
• 🔧 Every 3 Months: Blow compressed air around tower base (1 minute)
• 🔧 Avoid: Carrying robot by tower (weakens mounting)
• 🔧 Avoid: Leaving robot in direct sunlight (heat damages laser)

Pro Tip: If you have pets or long hair, check tower base WEEKLY. Hair accumulates fast on carpets.

Avoid These Mistakes:

• ❌ Forcing tower to spin if stuck (damages motor)
• ❌ Using water to clean tower (causes rust/shorts)
• ❌ Pressing down hard on tower (breaks mounting)
• ❌ Running robot with stuck tower (overheats motor)

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Common Questions

Can Xiaomi robot work without LiDAR spinning?

No. Robot will clean in random bounce pattern (like older non-mapping models). It will clean but: takes 2-3x longer, misses areas, can't return to dock reliably, and creates no map. Fix the LiDAR for proper performance.

How do I know if LiDAR motor is completely dead?

Power on robot in quiet room, listen closely to tower. Should hear faint motor hum. No sound + no movement after all fixes = dead motor. Needs tower replacement ($35-70).

Mi Robot 1S vs original Mi Robot - is LiDAR different?

Yes. Original Mi Robot has removable tower (pulls straight up). Mi Robot 1S has permanently mounted tower (can't remove). Cleaning methods differ but both use identical laser technology.

My tower spins but robot still bumps into things - why?

LiDAR working but sensors dirty. Clean: (1) All cliff sensors on bottom, (2) Wall sensor on side bumper, (3) LiDAR lens on top. Also delete old map and let robot remap from scratch.

Can I replace LiDAR myself or need professional repair?

DIY-friendly for most models. Requires: Phillips screwdriver, 15 minutes, basic technical comfort. Process: Remove top cover (3-4 screws), disconnect old tower wire, install new. Detailed video guides available on YouTube.

How long does Xiaomi LiDAR typically last?

Xiaomi LiDAR towers typically last 3-5 years with proper maintenance. Most common failure: hair jamming tower base (preventable with cleaning). Actual motor failure is rare before 4 years.

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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.