iRobot changed the smart home industry with the Roomba vacuuming robot. They continue to lead the industry, and have added on other types of robots as well, such as the Braava mopping robot. One of the things that has changed since Roomba was first released is the use of voice assistants. Have iRobot’s newer Roomba models adapted to those changes?
Does Roomba work with the Google home assistant? Wi-Fi connected Roomba robots can be connected to and linked with Google Assistant. Once linked, voice commands can be used to control the Roomba, including starting, stopping, pausing, and finding the vacuum.
It is possible to control your Wi-Fi-connected Roomba from your phone using the iRobot app, or you can use your Google Nest devices (or your phone) running Google Assistant, to control the vacuum with just your voice. Here’s everything you need to know to get your Roomba connected to Google Assistant and how to control the vacuum once it is connected.
Related Content: Does Roomba Work with Amazon Alexa?
Which Roomba Models Work with Google Home Assistant?
The iRobot Roomba vacuum is great because it takes care of your cleaning tasks automatically, allowing you more free time at home. Time away from chores means more free time to do the things you want to do.
To make things even easier, you can connect your Roomba to Google Assistant and use voice commands to control the vacuuming. However, not all models are compatible.
iRobot Roomba vacuums that have a Wi-Fi connection can be linked to Google Assistant. Wi-Fi connected models are; Roomba 67x, Roomba 69x, Roomba 89x, Roomba 96x, Roomba 98x, and all Roomba models that start with a letter; e-series, i-series, and s-series.
Note: “x” represents any digit. For example, Roomba 98x includes models 980, 985, etc.
So, Does Roomba 675 work with Google home? The Roomba 675 will work with Google Assistant because it does have Wi-Fi connectivity.
Here is a table to help see the differences between the Wi-Fi connected models.
| Model Series Number | Roomba®e5, e6, 89x, 69x, 67x | Roomba®96x, 98x | Roomba® i3, i6 | Roomba® i7, i8, s9 |
| Smart Home Integration | ||||
| Google Assistant voice commands | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Advanced Connected Features | ||||
| Clean Maps | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Imprint Smart Maps | ✔ | |||
| Directed Room Cleaning | ✔ | |||
| Schedule clean by room | ✔ | |||
| Imprint Link Technology | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Optional Clean Base™ dock | ✔ | ✔ |
Linking Roomba to Google Assistant
Google Home speakers, now replaced by Google Nest speakers, are devices that run Google assistant and will respond to voice commands. Smart Home devices, such as the iRobot Roomba, can be connected to your Google Assistant account and controlled using these voice commands.
Here are links to the apps you will need.
Android Devices:
Google Home: Click Here
iRobot Home: Click Here
Apple Devices:
Google Home: Click Here
iRobot Home: Click Here
The following steps assume that you have already created an iRobot account and setup your Roomba in the iRobot app. They also assume you have created and set up a Google account and Google Assistant.
How to Connect Roomba To Google Home Assistant Using The iRobot App
- From the iRobot app, open the Main Menu
This can be done by selecting the three bars in the top left corner of the screen. - Select “Smart Home”
- Select “Connected Accounts & Devices”
- Select “Google Assistant”
For me, this was the first option on the list, but if you don’t see it you may need to tap “More options”. - Select “Get Started”
Before selecting “Get Started”, take a few minutes to read over this page. It will start to familiarize you with the voice commands and what all can be done. There are a couple links also if you need help with setup, or want to see a list of Google voice commands (which I also list later in this article).
After selecting “Get Started”, the iRobot will tell the Google Home app to open and you will complete the final step in Google Home. - Select “Agree & Link”
You can also link your Roomba to Google directly from the Google Home app. The result is the same, but here are the steps if you prefer to do it that way.
How to Connect Roomba To Google Home Assistant Using the Google Home App
- From the Google Home app home screen, tap “+” to open the menu
- Select “Set up device”
- Select “Works with Google”
- Scroll to “iRobot Smart Home” or use the search function to search for iRobot
- If needed, sign into your iRobot account.
This prompt will only display If you are not signed into your iRobot account in the iRobot app. - Select “Agree & Link”
Here is a video of what the setup process should look like.
Once linking your Roomba to your Google Assistant is complete, you are ready to get started controlling your robot using voice commands.
Roomba Google Home commands
Now that your Roomba is all setup and ready to go, you probably want to know what voice commands you can use. Here they are. For the most current list of commands, you can check the iRobot page here, which is where I obtained this list from.
If you have more than one Roomba vacuum in your house, you will have to specify the name of the vacuum. These commands are intended for when there is only one Roomba.
Note: Commands marked with an * are only available on i7, s9, and m6 Series robots.
| Action | Example |
| Start Vacuuming | Hey Google, start vacuuming. Hey Google, tell (robot name) to vacuum. |
| Pause Vacuuming | Hey Google, pause vacuuming. |
| Resume Vacuuming | Hey Google, resume vacuuming. Hey Google, tell Roomba® to resume vacuuming, Hey Google, unpause the vacuum. |
| Stop Vacuuming | Hey Google, stop vacuuming. Hey Google, tell Roomba® to stop vacuuming. Hey Google, stop the vacuum. |
| Return to the Home Base® | Hey Google, tell (robot name) to go home. Hey Google, dock (robot name). |
| Roomba® Status | Hey Google, is the vacuum charging? Hey Google, is the vacuum docked? |
| Locate Roomba® | Hey Google, where is my vacuum? Hey Google, where is (robot name)? |
| Stop Locate Roomba® | Hey Google, I found my vacuum. Hey Google, I found (robot name). |
| Clean by Favorite * | Hey Google, start vacuuming the (favorite name) |
| Clean By Room * | Hey Google, start vacuuming the (room name). Hey Google, tell (robot name) to start vacuuming the (room name). |
| Clean by Zone * | Hey Google, start vacuuming the (zone name). Hey Google, tell (robot name) to start vacuuming the (zone name). |
| Clean By Object * | Hey Google, start mopping the (object name). Hey Google, start mopping under the (object name). Hey Google, start mopping around the (object name). |
I have found one downside of using Google Home over Amazon Alexa in that Alexa actually has more voice commands available for Roomba than Google does. Alexa has voice commands that will allow you to modify the schedule. For a list of Alexa voice commands, check out the iRobot page here.
What to Do When Roomba Is Not Working with Google Home
Here are a few troubleshooting steps you can try if your Roomba is not playing well with Google Assistant.
First, check that everything is connected to Wi-Fi. The Google Home app will let you know if your Google Assistant devices are connected. To check Roomba, open the iRobot app. Give it a few seconds to connect to your Roomba. It will display a status of “Connecting” During this time period. Once connected, it will display the battery level of your Roomba and say “Ready to vacuum”.
If your Roomba is not connecting to Wi-Fi, check out the iRobot support page, located here, for help getting it connected.
Opening the iRobot app serves a two-fold purpose, because you also need to be logged into your iRobot account. If you found that you were not logged in, try your Google voice command again after you are logged into your iRobot account.
The last thing to check is that your iRobot app and the firmware running on the Roomba are all up-to-date.
In Summary
iRobot Roomba is a great addition for any smart home. From small to large, there is a Roomba that will work for you, although they don’t have one that can climb stairs yet.
Related Content: Best Smart Home Starter Kits
Now, instead of pushing a button, or having to open an app, you can completely control your Roomba by using voice commands. The process is easy to setup and should take only a few minutes of your time.
Roomba voice commands make it exceedingly easy to start and stop the vacuum. On top of that, you can also avoid looking everywhere around the house for your Roomba if it gets stuck by simply asking Google to locate your Roomba. I have one trouble spot in my house where Roomba likes to get stuck under the counter.