What to check, in order
- Check the plug
Make sure it's secure in both the Home Base (or Clean Base) and the wall socket.
- Clean the robot's contacts
Unplug the dock and wait 60 seconds. Turn Roomba over and clean its charging contacts with lightly dampened melamine foam, such as a Magic Eraser, or a lightly dampened cloth, until they shine. Nothing abrasive.
- Clean the dock's contacts
Wipe them with a clean, dry cloth.
- Look for damage
Contacts that are green or copper coloured, or stuck, are damaged. The robot or the base would then need replacing.
- Reseat the battery
Take the battery out and put it back to reboot the robot. Use only an authentic iRobot lithium-ion battery: third-party batteries can cause charging errors.
When to call an engineer
If the error persists, contact iRobot Customer Care.
Good to know
- Charging Error 104 means no current is reaching the robot and 105 a low current. iRobot's fix for both is to clean the charging contacts.
Checked against
- iRobot: Charging Error 4 and 5, all Roomba and Braava models
- iRobot: how to clean the charging contacts, all models
- iRobot: charging error chart, all Roomba and Braava models
Last reviewed September 2026. Manufacturers update their pages, and your manual is the final word.