Keep-out controls help the Ecovacs Deebot Ozmo 950 avoid selected parts of a saved map. The useful choice is usually based on geometry: block an area when the hazard occupies a patch of floor, or use a line when the restriction follows a clear border.
[note] Map controls and labels can vary by app version. Area and line restrictions may appear under No-Go Zone, Virtual Boundary, Virtual Wall, or a similar map-editing control. Use the options available on your current saved map. [/note]Area or line?
[compare] No-Go Zone | Blocks a defined area on the map. It is useful for corners, clusters of objects, irregular hazards, and places that need extra clearance. Virtual Boundary | Creates a do-not-cross line. It is useful for doorways, hallway entrances, thresholds, and other straight borders. [/compare]A No-Go Zone is useful when the robot should stay away from an entire patch of floor rather than one exact edge. A Virtual Boundary is better when a single line can separate the permitted and restricted spaces.
[reference] Title: Spot Text: If the restriction is best described as a spot, patch, corner, or cluster, an area-style No-Go Zone is usually the clearer choice. Title: Border Text: If the restriction is best described as a border or doorway line, a Virtual Boundary is usually simpler. [/reference]Choose the simplest shape
Use an area-style No-Go Zone when
- You want to protect a cluster such as bowls, a mat, a feeder, and nearby items.
- An object needs a buffer rather than a restriction matching its exact footprint.
- The hazard forms an irregular patch, strip, or corner instead of a straight edge.
- Several nearby snag points, such as chargers and cables, are easier to exclude together.
Use a Virtual Boundary when
- You want the robot to stop at one specific line.
- A doorway or hallway entrance provides a clear crossing point.
- The restricted space lies entirely beyond one straight edge.
Common home scenarios
[reference] Title: Pet bowls and feeding area Text: Use a No-Go Zone around the complete feeding area rather than only the bowls. Include a small margin around the mat so the robot has room to turn without nudging it. Title: Doorway or room entrance Text: Use a Virtual Boundary across the opening. If the robot approaches too far into the doorway while turning, move the line slightly toward the restricted side. Title: Rug tassels or delicate fringe Text: An area-style No-Go Zone is often more suitable because fringe may not follow a perfectly straight edge. Include enough space for the robot's turning path. Title: Cable corner Text: Use a No-Go Zone around the whole cable area because chargers, power strips, and loose cables can create several changing snag points. Tidying or enclosing cables may allow the zone to be reduced later. Title: Kids' toy area Text: For a location that changes frequently, combine sensible cleaning times with a temporary No-Go Zone around the most consistent clutter area, such as beneath a craft table. Title: Vacuuming near rugs during mopping Text: If your current app provides a dedicated no-mop restriction, use that for carpet protection. Otherwise, a practical approach is to vacuum the full area first, then attach the mop and use temporary keep-out areas around rugs for the mopping session. [/reference]Set restrictions on the map
Start with an existing usable map. If multiple floor maps are stored, make sure you are editing the floor where the restriction is needed.
[checklist] * The Ecovacs Deebot Ozmo 950 has a saved map * The correct floor map is selected * The target doorway, corner, rug, or hazard is visible in the map * The charging dock route will remain accessible [/checklist]Open the map controls
[step] 1. Open the ECOVACS HOME app 2. Select the Ecovacs Deebot Ozmo 950 3. Open the saved map showing the rooms 4. Open the available map-editing or map-management controls 5. Find the Virtual Boundary, Virtual Wall, No-Go Zone, or equivalent restriction control shown by your app version [/step]Place a line boundary
[step] 1. Select the line-style boundary control 2. Position the line across the doorway, corridor, or other border you want the robot to avoid crossing 3. Adjust the line so it spans the full opening 4. Save or apply the map change [/step] [tip] Avoid leaving a small gap at the edge of a doorway. A complete line across the intended opening gives the route planner a clearer restriction. [/tip]Place an area restriction
[step] 1. Select the area or rectangle-style restriction 2. Position it over the corner, rug edge, feeding area, cables, or other target 3. Resize it to include a practical safety margin 4. Save or apply the map change [/step]A larger zone is not always better. Cover the hazard and useful turning space without unnecessarily removing a large amount of cleanable floor.
Placement details
Allow for turning space
The robot does not move along a zero-width line. It needs room to approach, turn, and redirect near a restricted area.
- Give pet bowls and their mat more clearance than the exact object footprint.
- Near curtains, include the low-hanging hem and nearby turning space.
- Around fragile floor-level décor, use a small protective buffer rather than tracing only the object itself.
- For rug fringe, cover enough of the edge to keep the turning path away from loose tassels.
Match the room geometry
- Across a doorway, place a line so it fully covers the opening.
- For a narrow hallway, placing the boundary slightly inside the restricted side can provide extra clearance near the entrance.
- For an irregular corner, use an area rather than forcing several lines around the shape.
Keep the map reliable
Restrictions depend on the saved map. If room geometry on the map no longer matches the real space, review the map before relying on tightly placed boundaries.
Cleaning efficiency
Well-placed restrictions can make a cleaning route more practical by reducing avoidable encounters with cable nests, fragile areas, rug fringe, and other places where navigation may become more complicated.
- A Virtual Boundary is efficient when one line can exclude an entire room or region beyond it.
- A No-Go Zone is useful for local hazards that should remain inside the normal cleaning area.
- Too many small restricted areas can make the usable route more complicated.
- One suitable line is often cleaner than several small zones when everything beyond the line should be excluded.
- One correctly sized area is usually easier to manage than several tiny overlapping areas.
The goal is not to create as many restrictions as possible. Use boundaries only where they make the cleaning area safer or more predictable.
Basic boundary checks
[troubleshoot] Problem: The robot crosses the intended line or clips the edge of a restricted area Cause: The boundary may be positioned too tightly, may leave a small gap, or may not provide enough turning clearance Fix: Reposition the line or slightly enlarge the area, add a small buffer, and confirm the map change has been saved Problem: The robot avoids more floor than intended Cause: The area restriction may be larger than necessary Fix: Reduce the zone size, or use a line boundary when one straight border can exclude the same space with less lost cleaning area Problem: A saved restriction is no longer present Cause: The active map may have changed, been rebuilt, or been replaced after the robot lost its map position or after significant layout changes Fix: Confirm that the intended saved map is active and add the restriction again if the current map no longer contains it Problem: Restrictions behave differently on another floor Cause: Restrictions are associated with the map being edited and may not automatically apply to another stored floor Fix: Select each relevant floor map and place the required restrictions for that floor [/troubleshoot]Long-term setup
[checklist] * Tidy the worst cable areas where practical * Secure loose rug tassels or fringe * Move fragile floor-level décor away from the normal cleaning path where practical * Keep enough open space around the charging dock for approach and alignment * Make sure no boundary blocks the route back to the charging dock * Review the map after major furniture or room-layout changes * Recheck restrictions if the active map has been rebuilt or replaced [/checklist]Physical preparation and map restrictions work best together. Use boundaries as a final control layer rather than relying on them as the only protection for cables, loose textiles, or fragile objects.
[warning] Avoid placing a keep-out restriction where it blocks the Ecovacs Deebot Ozmo 950 from reaching its charging dock. [/warning]