Robot Mower Winter Storage: Step-by-Step Checklist (Husqvarna, Navimow, Mammotion)

Robot mowers are built to live outside all summer, so it is easy to assume they can sit out all winter. The makers who publish winter guidance say otherwise, and the details differ enough by brand that a generic checklist can send you the wrong way on the one number that matters, the battery level. This guide goes through the published winter instructions from Husqvarna, Navimow X3, Navimow i and Mammotion LUBA 3 AWD, explains why each step exists, and flags where the brands disagree so you know when to defer to your own manual.

What does every brand agree on?

The guides share a core set of jobs, though the order and details differ. Stop the mower from running on its schedule, charge the battery to the level the maker names, switch it off, clean it, check it for wear, and keep it and its dock somewhere dry. Mammotion lists disabling scheduled tasks in the app as the first step, which is worth doing before anything else because a mower that wakes up mid-cleaning is a hazard to your hands. Husqvarna asks you to switch the mower off after the final full charge. Navimow’s i series uses a hibernation mode that does the same job.

None of the three makers publish figures for how often skipped storage causes a failure, so the reasons they give are practical, and we will not invent statistics. Mammotion’s explanation is the clearest: grass clippings, mud and moisture accumulate on the body, cutting system, wheels and charging contacts, and cleaning before storage reduces the risk of corrosion and stops debris from hardening over winter.

How should I prepare the lawn and the mower?

Husqvarna suggests leaving the grass slightly longer, 6 to 8 centimeters (2.4 to 3.1 inches), before winter, since longer grass gives better cold-weather protection for the lawn. That is lawn advice, and it means one of your last mows of the autumn can be set a little higher than usual.

Then clean. Husqvarna says to clean the body, chassis and blade disc, remove clippings and debris from the moving parts and inspect for visible damage or wear. It asks you to rotate the wheels and listen for squeaking, grinding or resistance, and to check the lower front wheel bearings, the blade disc and the body panels. It also says to check the charging contacts on both the mower and the charging station for corrosion or debris. If you find excessive wear, its guidance is to contact your dealer for parts.

Blades get their own step. Husqvarna says to install new blades and screws, which prevents rust and leaves sharp edges for next season. Mammotion asks you to remove the cutting discs, inspect the blades and replace any that are worn, damaged or corroded. Follow its safety and reassembly steps, including powering off and removing the security key. The two brands arrive at the same place from different directions: winter is the moment to replace a blade, because the mower is already open and you have time.

How do I clean a robot mower without damaging it?

Use the cleaning method permitted by your exact model. The water-rinsing steps below are for the named LUBA and Navimow models, not every Automower. Power off the mower before handling blades and remove the security key where fitted, as Mammotion directs. Wear protective gloves. Mammotion is explicit that you should never use a high-pressure washer on the LUBA 3 AWD, because high-pressure water can force moisture into seals, bearings, electrical connectors and sensors. Its guide uses a soft brush and a low-pressure washer, a lint-free cloth for the LiDAR module, the 3D Vision module and the charging contacts, and says to let the mower air dry for at least 30 minutes before reinstalling the cutting discs. It also suggests placing a soft towel under the LiDAR module when the mower is upside down, so the sensor does not get scratched.

Segway’s Navimow guides describe a similar routine. For the X3, you turn the mower upside down on flat ground, wear protective gloves, remove the blade guard and all six blades with a screwdriver (not an electric one), wash the dirt away with a hose and wipe the screen and camera lenses with a soft cloth. For the Navimow i, you remove the blades, brush the mower, rinse with a hose and let it dry completely. The practical lesson is that the cameras and sensors are the parts to wipe, not spray.

What battery level should I store it at?

This is the question where the brands split, so be careful. Husqvarna says to fully charge the mower and switch it off before storage, which it says protects battery health during dormancy. Segway says the Navimow X3 should be at 85 percent or above, then powered off, and the Navimow i should be charged to at least 85 percent and put into hibernation mode. Mammotion says to charge the LUBA 3 AWD to approximately 80 percent.

The numbers are not far apart, but they are not the same, and none of the makers explain why they chose theirs. Take the figure from the manual for your own mower. If you own a brand not listed here, do not borrow another brand’s number, because the battery management inside the mower differs.

What happens during storage differs too. Husqvarna says most models need no charging during storage as long as they were fully charged before powering off, but some older models need a charge every three months, so check the operator’s manual. Segway says that if hibernation mode is not enabled on a Navimow i, the mower needs to be recharged once every three months. Hibernation mode consumes less energy than a normal shutdown, and to wake the mower from hibernation you charge it before turning it on.

Where should it be stored?

Husqvarna strongly advises indoor storage for the mower, the charging station and the power supply, in a dry place above freezing. It adds that the mower should rest on all its wheels on a flat surface, or on an Automower Wall Hanger. For the Automower NERA, only the top of the charging station needs to come indoors, and the baseplate is designed to stay outside. Husqvarna also suggests labeling each wire for easy reconnection in spring, and keeping the power supply in a dry, frost-free place.

Mammotion’s threshold is tied to climate: if winter temperatures regularly fall below -20 degrees Celsius (-4 degrees Fahrenheit), move both the mower and the charging station indoors. In milder climates, Mammotion’s guide does not require it, though the charging station still needs its ground screws removed and its base cleaned. Navimow’s i guide says to pack the mower, charging station, antenna and cables back in the box and store it in a dry, frost-free location between 5 and 45 degrees Celsius (41 to 113 degrees Fahrenheit).

If your charging station has to stay outside, Husqvarna says to keep it connected to mains power, keep the boundary and guide wires connected, and give it weather protection. Segway’s X3 guide adds a useful tip for any exposed connector: cover it with protective film or a plastic bag, and lift it slightly off the ground to reduce moisture getting in from rain or snow.

What about boundary wires, antennas and reference stations?

This depends on how your mower navigates, and it is where a mistake can cost you a map.

With a wire installation, Husqvarna says the boundary and guide wires can stay in the ground all winter. Nothing needs to be dug up.

With Husqvarna’s wire-free EPOS system, the reference station is weatherproof and designed for year-round outdoor use. Husqvarna recommends leaving it outdoors with the power supply connected, since that keeps all virtual boundaries and map settings. If you store it indoors, keep its mounting arm installed on the post or wall so you can reinstall it in the same position, because relocating it means recreating the virtual boundaries. It can be stored in temperatures from -20 to 70 degrees Celsius (-4 to 158 degrees Fahrenheit).

Navimow’s RTK model works on the same logic. Segway says to mark the charging station’s location, and the Navimow i box includes four silicone pegs for exactly that, leave them in the ground, and disconnect the antenna cable. For a ground-mounted antenna, the head comes off and the lower pole stays in place. The Navimow i guide says to cover a wall- or roof-mounted antenna; the X3 guide says to leave a wall-mounted antenna in place. Segway warns that changing the antenna location requires creating a new map. In other words, the spot matters more than the hardware. Photograph it and mark it.

Should I use a dealer winter service?

Husqvarna says customers on its Warranty Plus, Service Plus or Lease Plus plans can contact their dealer for included winter maintenance and storage, and that it recommends scheduling service before the new season begins. The annual service typically covers wear part replacement, firmware updates and diagnostics, cleaning and blade replacement, battery testing and charging, and safety tests. What is included varies by country and dealer. If your mower supports GeoFence, Husqvarna says to disable it before bringing the mower to the dealer, and if you are storing it within the GeoFence area to keep it active. Some dealers also offer winter storage to save garage space, so ask when booking.

What should I do in spring?

Reverse the process. Charge the mower, as Navimow notes for hibernation mode, reinstall the blades and discs, reconnect the dock and power supply, and for Navimow and Husqvarna’s EPOS check that the dock and antenna sit where the markers were. Mammotion’s inspection list is a useful spring check as well: look at the lifting seal sleeve for cracks or wear, check the guard bracket screws and confirm all cutting discs and fasteners are secure. Mammotion says that if the lifting seal sleeve is damaged, you should contact its after-sales service before operating the mower.

If you are still choosing a mower and storage matters to you, our guide to choosing a robot lawn mower explains the trade-offs between wire, RTK and vision navigation, and how long robot mowers last covers what affects lifespan. If you are worried about the mower while it sits in the yard before you store it, see our theft protection guide.

Common questions

What battery level should I leave it at? Husqvarna says fully charged, Navimow at least 85 percent, Mammotion about 80 percent. Your manual wins.

Does it need charging during storage? Usually not, per Husqvarna, though some older models need a charge every three months. A Navimow i without hibernation mode needs a recharge every three months.

Can it stay outside? Husqvarna strongly advises indoor storage. Mammotion says to bring it in if temperatures regularly fall below -20 C.

Do I dig up the wire? No. Husqvarna says boundary and guide wires can stay in the ground.

Bottom line

Do not put a mower away dirty and flat. Charge it to your brand’s number, switch it off or hibernate it, clean it using your model’s permitted method, replace worn blades, bring it and the dock indoors where you can, and mark where the dock and antenna sat so spring does not mean remapping. Prices and models change, so check today’s price on blades or accessories you need. Sources: Husqvarna US Automower winter storage guide, Navimow X3 and Navimow i winter storage guides, and Mammotion’s LUBA 3 AWD winter maintenance guide.