Skip to Content

Dyson Cordless Vacuum Turning On/Off Problems

It’s time to start cleaning again so you reach for your Dyson cordless vacuum. The vacuum turns on. The vacuum turns on. By itself. Why is the vacuum doing this?

Generally speaking, Dyson cordless vacuums turning on/off problems is the result of a clogged filter, the battery overheating or not charging, the motor overheating, something obstructing the on/off switch, or a blown fuse.

Cordless vacuum on the floor

When you are ready to clean, you don’t want to lose that momentum. If your Dyson cordless vacuum is not working, here are some suggestions to troubleshoot the issue and get you back to cleaning.

Dyson Cordless Vacuum Won’t Turn On

Cleaning the floor using vacuum

When you reach for your Dyson vacuum, you expect it to have a full charge and be ready to go. What does it mean when the vacuum won’t turn on?

If your Dyson cordless vacuum won’t turn on, make sure the handle is not in the upright, locked position. Make sure the filter is completely dry and is replaced correctly. Inspect the hose, wand, brush, and dust bin for any blockages.

Dyson vacuums are designed to be easy to use. This is also true when it comes to troubleshooting any issues. Here are some other reasons why the vacuum won’t turn on.

Charging Cable

Ideally, the charging stating is mounted to a wall. This allows the vacuum to hang effortlessly while charging. The cord is ideally running down the wall, out of harm’s way.

If your charging station is not mounted, inspect the charging cable for any signs of damage. If the cord gets stepped on or even stretched, this will damage the cord.

Signs of damage include tearing of the protective cover and burn marks at the plug end. If you see any of these signs, immediately unplug the cord and replace it. Continuing to use the vacuum is a serious electrical hazard and could cause electrocution or a fire.

Outlet

If the outlet the Dyson is plugged into is not receiving sufficient power, the battery will not charge. Plug something else into the outlet you have the Dyson connected to see if the outlet is receiving power.

If the power has recently gone out and the outlet is a GFCI, the outlet may have tripped and simply needs to be reset.

Make sure the power cord fits snuggly inside the outlet. If the cord is loose, the vacuum will not charge.

Fuse

A safety feature within all Dyson vacuums is a fuse that will sacrifice itself to shut off power when there is a high amount of electricity detected in the vacuum. When the electrical surge is detected, the fuse will blow, shutting the vacuum off.

The fuse has a one-time use. Once it is blown, it needs to be replaced. The vacuum will not power on until the fuse has been replaced.

Motor

Another safety feature of the Dyson vacuum is that it will turn off if the motor overheats. The motor shuts off to protect itself. Allow the vacuum to cool down completely before trying to use it again.

Do not use the MAX mode setting on a regular basis. While it is tempting to use the MAX setting often, this setting is meant for quick, emergency purposes only, not everyday daily cleaning.

Battery

The battery for a Dyson cordless vacuum is located under the handle. The handle and battery get a lot of abuse from hanging on the charging station to getting dropped when we’re vacuuming.

Inspect the plastic battery casing for signs of cracking or other damage, If the housing is damaged, the battery is most likely damaged as well.

A damaged battery is also a serious safety hazard. Dyson batteries are made of lithium-ion. Lithium can very easily spark and explode. A damaged battery is not something to take seriously. If possible, remove the battery from the vacuum and discard it.

Dyson Cordless Vacuum Won’t Turn Off

Cleaning the floor using vacuum

We might secretly hope the vacuum won’t work when it’s time to clean but we feel good when the job is done. But now the vacuum won’t turn off.

If your Dyson cordless vacuum won’t turn off, inspect the handle for loose screws. The battery and handle are connected together. If the handle is loose, the battery will have loose connections, one result is the battery stays on.

When you clean the vacuum, inspect the battery compartment for signs of corrosion that could interfere with the connection.

Charging Station

If the charging station is mounted on the wall, hanging the vacuum to charge puts pressure on the battery and handle. This tension can cause the battery to be pulled from the unit.

Placing something between the wand and the battery will help to remove some of the stress being placed on the battery.

Dyson Cordless Vacuum Keeps Turning On

Cleaning the floor using vacuum

Is your Dyson vacuum turning on all by itself? While this would be terrifying to experience, especially at night, the solution is not so scary.

If your Dyson cordless vacuum keeps turning on, make sure the on/off switch is not stuck. If the vacuum is not placed correctly on the charging station, the on/off switch will be engaged and the vacuum will turn on.

The trigger button is connected inside the handle by two connections. If these connections become loose, the trigger will stay in the on position.

A loose connection can happen from hanging the vacuum on the charging station. A lot of tension is placed on the handle and the trigger connections can become loose. Depending on the model of Dyson you have, the connections are easy to access and tighten.

Sometimes the trigger can become stuck and the vacuum needs to be reset. Resetting the vacuum will resolve the issue. Slide your thumb off the switch as fast as you can, making a popping sound, much like when using a lighter. Do this 10 times to reset the switch.

Dyson Cordless Vacuum Keeps Turning Off

Cleaning the floor using vacuum

If your Dyson is turning off by itself, the first place to troubleshoot the issue is by cleaning the vacuum. A blockage of any kind will cause the vacuum to turn off.

Dust Bin

When emptying out the dust bin, first remove all the debris you can by hand. Then, gently remove the canister and clean it.

Clean the vent screen, the connection points, even the tab itself. It doesn’t take much for debris to get under the canister tab and cause problems.

Copyright protected content owner: ReadyToDIY.com and was initially posted on March 9, 2022.

Inspect the inlet opening for any debris as well. You should be able to see straight through to the inside of the canister.

Filter

Depending on your model of Dyson cordless vacuum, you may have more than one filter. The filters need to be removed and then taken apart to clean. A clean filter is essential to prolong the life of your Dyson vacuum.

If your model of Dyson vacuum has a cone-shaped filter, there is a plastic insert inside the filter that also needs to be cleaned. The two parts must be separated in order to thoroughly clean them.

Use a small pick tool to gently release the filter from the insert. Remove any debris that has collected inside the insert.

When you wash the filter itself, be sure the clean the inside of the filter. Simply running water through the filter will not clean it. If debris is not removed from inside the filter, the debris will harden over time and cause the vacuum to overheat.

Copyright article owner is ReadyToDiy.com for this article. This post was first published on March 9, 2022.

Clean the filter with warm, soapy water. Continue cleaning the filter until the water runs clear. Allow the filter to dry for 24 hours before returning it to the canister.

Check the filter chamber to ensure there is nothing blocking the filter opening. When returning the plastic insert to the filter, make sure you hear a clicking sound to ensure the filter is securely attached to the chamber. Return the filter to the vacuum.

Battery

We don’t often think of the battery when we are cleaning our Dyson but inspecting the battery should be a regular habit. Without a good battery, the vacuum will not work.

Inspect the battery casing for any signs of damage, such as cracks or dents. If you see signs of damage, this means the battery is also damaged. Do not continue to use the vacuum. Contact a Dyson seller for a replacement battery right away.

You can use a Philips-head screwdriver to remove the battery casing. Once the casing is removed, gently remove the battery. Inspect the battery leads for signs of damage or corrosion.

Use a small wire brush to gently brush away any corrosion or dust inside the casing. Follow with Return all the parts of the vacuum back together and power the vacuum on.

If your Dyson cordless vacuum keeps shutting off, the motorhead could be malfunctioning. If the filter was not fully dry before returning it to the vacuum, the water from the filter could have caused a short circuit and damaged the motor, causing it to shut off.

Related Articles

Dyson Cordless Vacuum Battery Problems

Dyson Cordless Vacuum Not Working

Dyson Stick Vacuum Not Working

ReadyToDIY is the owner of this article. This post was published on March 9, 2022.

Dyson Vacuum Keeps Clogging (How to Fix)