“Offline” can mean the robot has no power, the app has lost its connection, initial Wi-Fi setup did not finish, or the robot has joined a network that is not available now. Check whether the robot responds to its own controls, whether it appears in the app, and whether this is first-time setup or a connection that used to work. Record the model, app, home router change, exact message, and any status light before changing settings.
If this is the first setup
Use the manufacturer’s setup flow for the exact model and app version. Check that the phone is on the home network named in the instructions, that the selected network and password are correct, and that the robot is close enough to the router for setup. Network-band requirements are model-specific. For example, TP-Link’s Tapo setup guidance requires a compatible 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi network for the listed robot families. Follow its phone and robot connection steps only for a supported Tapo model; another product may support different bands or setup methods.
Do not guess a router security or firewall setting from a generic forum post. If setup fails, note the step and error where it stopped. Your router’s guest network, band steering, renamed network, or changed password may matter, but the right remedy depends on the router and the robot’s supported configuration.
If a robot that used to work is offline
First check the simple state changes: confirm the robot has power, the home internet is working on another device, the robot is within the network’s coverage, and the saved Wi-Fi name or password has not changed. If the robot was moved, switched off, or its router was replaced, check the exact model’s reconnection instructions. A cloud or app outage can also look like a robot problem; compare the robot’s own lights and controls with the app state before making changes.
The iRobot Wi-Fi troubleshooting page covers its supported Roomba models; use it for a lost connection that previously worked, not as a universal router guide. Narwal’s Freo X Ultra help explains a different case: the robot may appear offline temporarily while it is cleaning away from the base and return to app control when base-to-robot communication resumes. The page gives no distance or timeout threshold, so do not treat a brief offline label as proof of a Wi-Fi failure. It also gives a base power-cycle sequence for that Freo X Ultra only; do not apply it to another model. If the robot still cleans from its onboard controls, the app state alone does not establish that the battery, motor, or Wi-Fi hardware has failed.
Avoid data loss from a premature reset
Do not factory-reset the robot, delete its home, or erase saved maps as a first connection check. Those actions can remove setup or map data and may not resolve an internet or router issue. Before a manufacturer-directed reset, record the current network, app account, saved maps, schedules, and device messages, then confirm what that exact reset erases.
Stop troubleshooting if the robot shows liquid damage, overheating, or another electrical concern. For a robot that will not power on at all, see no-power checks; for one that reaches its dock but does not charge, see charging and docking diagnosis.