the app says 'robot not connected to wifi' but it's sitting right next to the router, i've tried resetting a bunch.

Diagnosis

The "Robot Not Connected to Wi-Fi" error on the Shark AI RV2001 is rarely a result of signal strength, even when the unit is physically adjacent to the router. Instead, this is typically a "handshake" failure between the robot's internal Wi-Fi module and the router's DHCP server. This happens when the robot's network cache becomes corrupted or when the router is attempting to force the device onto a 5GHz band, which the RV2001 hardware cannot physically support. You can confirm this is a software/handshake issue if the robot's Wi-Fi light is blinking rapidly but the app fails to "find" the device during the pairing phase. If the light is completely off or solid red, the internal Wi-Fi card may have entered a locked state due to a power surge or a failed firmware update, requiring a hard hardware reset rather than a simple app-level reconnection.

How to Fix It

To resolve the connection failure, you must perform a clean "Cold Boot" of the network credentials and the app's device registry. Follow these steps exactly:

1. Open the SharkClean app on your smartphone and completely delete the RV2001 from your device list. Do not just log out; the device must be removed from the cloud account to clear the old MAC address assignment.
2. Power off the robot by toggling the power switch on the side of the unit. Wait 30 seconds to allow the capacitors to discharge.
3. Toggle the power switch back to ON.
4. Press and hold the Dock and Max buttons simultaneously for exactly 5 to 7 seconds. You will hear a distinct audible tone and the Wi-Fi light will begin to flash, indicating it is now in "Pairing Mode."
5. On your smartphone, go to Wi-Fi settings and ensure you are connected to a 2.4GHz network. If your router uses a single name for both 2.4GHz and 5GHz (Smart Connect), you must temporarily disable this in your router settings.
6. Return to the SharkClean app and select "Add Device." Follow the on-screen prompts, entering your Wi-Fi password carefully. Ensure the robot is placed on the self-empty base during this process to maintain a stable power draw.

If That Didn't Work

• Adjust Router Security Protocols: The RV2001 often struggles with WPA3 security. Log into your router's admin panel (usually 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1) and change the 2.4GHz security mode from "WPA2/WPA3 Mixed" to "WPA2-AES (CCMP)" only. This is the most stable protocol for the Shark Wi-Fi chip.
• Change the Wireless Channel: Auto-channel selection can cause interference. Manually set your 2.4GHz band to Channel 1, 6, or 11. These are the non-overlapping channels that provide the most stable connection for IoT devices.
• Disable "Smart Connect" or "Band Steering": Many modern routers merge 2.4GHz and 5GHz into one SSID. The Shark AI often tries to connect to the 5GHz signal and fails. Create a separate Guest Network specifically for the 2.4GHz band with a unique name (e.g., "SharkVacuum_2G") and connect the robot to that.
• Check Firewall and DNS: Ensure your router's firewall is not blocking ports 80 or 443 for new devices. If you use a custom DNS like Pi-hole or AdGuard, temporarily disable it, as it may block the Shark cloud servers from assigning an IP address to the vacuum.

Heads Up

• Avoid Special Characters: Ensure your Wi-Fi password does not contain complex symbols like emojis or non-standard characters; stick to alphanumeric characters to avoid parsing errors in the robot's firmware.
• Avoid "Captive Portals": This robot cannot connect to networks that require a web-browser login page (common in dorms, apartments, or hotels).
• Firmware Updates: Once reconnected, immediately check for a firmware update in the app. Many connection bugs were patched in later versions of the RV2001 software.
• Base Placement: Ensure the self-empty base is not placed directly against a wall or behind a metal cabinet, as this can create a "dead zone" for the robot's internal antenna during the initial handshake.