You can use a robot vacuum without Wi-Fi, but it's dumber.

Yes, but it’s basically just a dumb vacuum now. If you never connect it to Wi-Fi (or your router dies), the robot will still bump around and clean on its basic cycle. That’s it.

What you lose: scheduling, room mapping, no-go zones, app control, voice commands (“Hey Google, clean the kitchen”), smart home integrations, and any firmware updates. Basically all the features that make a robot vacuum more convenient than a regular vacuum cleaner.

The physical power button and any on-board buttons still work. Most models will still dock and recharge automatically. But you’re stuck with whatever default behavior it shipped with — usually a chaotic bounce-around pattern that misses spots.

I wouldn’t buy one with no intention of using Wi-Fi. You’re paying for features you’ll ignore. But if you already have one and the Wi-Fi drops? It’ll still work, just not well.