Robot Vacuum Ignoring No-Go Zones? Check Your Boundary

The sources describe several model-specific situations involving a crossed boundary: lost zones on the Roborock S7 or S5 Max, a Samsung Jet Bot or Jet Bot AI+ starting away from its Clean Station, ECOVACS boundary activation and return-to-dock behavior, and the mode selected on an iRobot Virtual Wall accessory. The sections below organize those situations by the robot or boundary tool covered.

Direct answer: which condition fits your robot

The Roborock S7 and S5 Max manuals link their app boundaries to Map Saving. Samsung describes boundary-crossing risks for Jet Bot and Jet Bot AI+ after a start away from the Clean Station or a station move. ECOVACS distinguishes activation at the next dock departure in the ECOVACS App from immediate activation in the ECOVACS Home App. iRobot’s Virtual Wall article describes its accessory’s switch settings. The comparison table links each entry to its source.

Boundary tools differ by brand

The iRobot ClearView LiDAR Maps guide describes Keep Out Zones drawn in the app for the Roomba families listed in the table. Its Virtual Wall article describes a separate accessory with a switch. Roborock’s S7, Q5+ and S5 Max manuals describe app boundaries. The ECOVACS FAQ discusses Virtual Boundaries in the ECOVACS App and ECOVACS Home App. Samsung’s Jet Bot page describes no-go zones in SmartThings for Jet Bot and Jet Bot AI+.

As a precaution, keep the saved zone visible in the app when you record the problem, and note whether it has disappeared, whether the robot crossed it during cleaning or on a return trip, and whether the boundary was an app setting or a separate accessory. For choosing zones that prevent repeated physical traps, see the robot vacuum keeps getting stuck guide.

Boundary loss on Roborock S7 and S5 Max

The Roborock S7 manual lists the prerequisite and the risk side by side. It says that “Map Saving mode must be switched on, and a full clean completed before this function can be used.” It also says that “Moving the robot by hand or making significant changes to the environment may cause the loss of No-Go Zones, No-Mop Zones, and Invisible Wall.”

The Roborock S5 Max manual requires Map Saving Mode to be turned on in the app for virtual no-go zones. Its boundary section also says: “Moving the robot manually or making significant changes to the home environment may cause the loss of Virtual No-Go Zones and Walls.”

As a precaution, check the saved map after moving a robot or changing its room layout, and confirm the zone is still there before assuming the boundary is active. For a missing or invalid layout, see the robot vacuum mapping problems guide.

Samsung Jet Bot and Jet Bot AI+: Clean Station conditions

Samsung’s Jet Bot page, which names the Jet Bot and Jet Bot AI+, says the Clean Station cannot be set as a no-go zone. It also says that if the Jet Bot starts somewhere other than the Clean Station, it may clean the zones you set. Changing the Clean Station’s installation place creates the same risk. The page says saved zones are kept for future sessions and can be created, deleted or adjusted in the SmartThings app.

As a precaution, record whether either event, a start away from the station or a moved station, happened before the crossing.

Timing of new ECOVACS boundaries

The ECOVACS FAQ applies its timing rules to all models within each named app. In the ECOVACS App, a new virtual boundary takes effect the next time the robot leaves the charging dock. In the ECOVACS Home App, the virtual wall goes into effect immediately. The same FAQ says the robot ignores the virtual wall in Return to the Charging Dock mode, and describes that behavior as normal.

As a precaution, check the app name, the time of the last dock departure, and whether the crossing happened on a return trip, since the FAQ’s timing rules turn on these points.

iRobot Virtual Wall and Halo mode ranges

The iRobot Virtual Wall article describes two modes selected by a switch. It says Virtual Wall mode can block openings up to 10 ft (3 m) wide, while Halo mode creates an avoidance zone extending about 24 in (60 cm) from the center of the device. It assigns Virtual Wall to the switch’s up position, Halo to the down position, and Off to the middle position.

The light ring pulses five times when the device is activated or a new mode is selected, and stays off until the two AA batteries need replacing. The article says the batteries last up to 12 months under normal use.

What changes by model

The table connects each boundary tool with the conditions described in its source. As a precaution, match both the robot family and the app or accessory to the relevant row before applying its guidance.

iRobot

The ClearView guide describes Keep Out Zones and No Mop Zones for the listed Roomba families, including the distinction between avoiding an area and allowing vacuuming while excluding mopping. It also recommends Keep Out Zones around reflective or glass surfaces. As a precaution, record the saved zone type when reporting a crossing on a covered combo robot.

Roborock

The S7 manual says that “By default, No-Mop Zones will activate when the VibraRise mop cloth mount is in place.” Its error list tells you to move the robot out of an area when it reports a no-go zone or Invisible Wall. The Q5+ and S5 Max manuals use the same error idea, with S5 Max labeling it Error 24. As a precaution, record that error message separately from an observed crossing into a saved zone.

ECOVACS

The FAQ’s delayed-activation rule covers a crossing before the robot’s next dock departure after a boundary is saved in the ECOVACS App. Its return-mode exception covers a crossing while the robot is heading back to the dock. Either case is a different check from a zone saved in the Home App.

Samsung Jet Bot

Samsung’s page names the Jet Bot and Jet Bot AI+ and covers saved restrictions in SmartThings. It describes possible crossings after a start away from the Clean Station or a change to the station’s location. As a precaution, include the run’s starting location and any station move in the details you save for support.

When the crossing continues

As a precaution, if crossings continue, save the model, app name, zone position, departure details, any recent robot or station move, and a short video for manufacturer support, and check the procedure for your model in the robot vacuum reset guide before choosing a reboot or factory reset. Related symptom guides cover broader troubleshooting, sensor errors, and spinning in circles.