Don't leave the brush height on auto if your carpet is very different.

Yes, but only if your vacuum has a manual adjustment — many modern ones auto-adjust and handle both fine.

For low-pile (think office carpet or tight loop), set the brush lower so the bristles actually reach the fibers to agitate dirt. A brush that rides too high just glides over the surface and misses stuff.

For high-pile (shag, plush, thick wool carpets), raise the brush higher. Too low and the vacuum will struggle — brushes get tangled, suction drops, and the robot might just stop on a thick patch. Some models even throw an error or sound like it’s dying.

If your robot has no manual adjustment, check the manual. Some have a small switch or screw underneath. Others are fully automatic — and those are usually fine unless your carpet is extreme. If it’s auto and still gets stuck on your shag, your robot might just not be right for that carpet.

In short: read the manual, test on each carpet type, and adjust until it moves smoothly without sounding like a lawnmower hitting rocks.