A robot vacuum learns a surprising amount about the place it cleans. Room layouts, obstacles and images help it navigate, but they also make privacy controls a useful part of the setup process. DJI’s ROMO 2 Local Data Mode gives owners the option to keep that cleaning information stored and processed on the robot once the mode is enabled.
DJI’s 29 October 2026 announcement says ROMO 2 can continue its core cleaning functions without an internet connection. The practical details matter: there is an initial online mapping step, the feature requires compatible firmware, and it sits alongside separate controls for permissions, photos and account access. Here is what the announcement means for Australian owners.
What is DJI ROMO 2 Local Data Mode?
A modern robot vacuum needs a useful picture of the home to get around it. Room maps and obstacle images help the machine work out where to clean, where furniture sits and what to avoid. Those details are also why data controls deserve a place alongside suction and mopping specifications.
According to DJI’s ROMO Trust Centre, Local Data Mode disconnects the DJI Home app from the internet and keeps maps and images stored and processed locally on the ROMO device. There is an initial online step: when first powered on, ROMO connects to the internet to create its map. Once Local Data Mode is activated, that mapping data is stored locally rather than in the cloud.
DJI says core cleaning functions continue offline, including navigation and obstacle avoidance. Its Australian announcement also specifies that owners can start and customise cleaning cycles and send the robot back to its dock. That makes the feature relevant both to privacy preferences and to the less glamorous occasion when the home internet decides it has done enough for the day.
How to turn on Local Data Mode
First, update ROMO 2 to the latest firmware supporting the feature. In the DJI Home app, open Device Settings, choose Security Settings and switch Local Data Mode on. DJI’s 29 October announcement identifies ROMO 2 as the first model to receive the mode, with support planned for future ROMO models. It does not establish availability for every earlier ROMO.
That initial map creation is the distinction to keep in mind when setting up a new unit. DJI describes Local Data Mode as an operating choice made after the initial internet-connected mapping process. Once enabled, the company says the maps, images and other data used for navigation and obstacle avoidance are handled locally.
What cleaning functions work offline?
DJI’s Australian announcement specifically identifies navigation and obstacle avoidance as functions that remain operational without internet access. Owners can also start and customise cleaning cycles and return the robot to its base station. In practical terms, losing the internet connection need not mean abandoning the cleaning run.
Those are the functions DJI describes for Local Data Mode. Remote access over the internet and cloud-dependent services are separate from local cleaning, so the offline capability should not be interpreted as a promise that every connected feature remains available. The point is to give owners a useful cleaning mode with a different approach to data handling.
Photo, permission and deletion settings
Local Data Mode sits alongside several other controls described in DJI’s announcement. Owners can use a passcode or a one-time mobile verification code for account access, manage permissions for camera and voice features, and turn off On-Site Photo. DJI says disabling that photo-display function does not stop the robot detecting or avoiding obstacles.
The company also describes encrypted online data transmission, an optional setting that deletes photos older than 14 days, and a factory reset that erases device data. These settings do different jobs: local processing controls where information is handled, while permissions and deletion settings give owners more say over capture and retention. They are worth exploring during setup rather than leaving every choice at its default.
Security information and model-specific assessments
DJI’s Trust Centre also publishes information about external assessments and certifications for ROMO devices and the DJI Home app. These include its description of a 2026 TÜV SÜD penetration test of the ROMO P2 and app. DJI says that assessment identified no critical, high or medium-risk findings, with the findings that were identified subsequently addressed.
For owners, the everyday controls remain the place to start: review account access, choose the permissions you want to allow and decide whether you want obstacle photos displayed in the app. Local Data Mode adds another choice to that process. The manufacturer’s ROMO security and privacy page sets out those controls and the scope of its published assessments.
Matter support and smart-home integration
DJI also announced Matter support for ROMO, linking compatible devices with supported controllers in Apple Home, Google Home, Amazon Alexa, SmartThings and Home Assistant. Available controls depend on the platform and its Matter implementation. That announcement should be read separately from offline cleaning: it does not mean every remote or cloud-based smart-home feature remains available in Local Data Mode.
ROMO 2 cleaning hardware
ROMO 2 is also a substantial development of DJI’s cleaning hardware. The Australian ROMO P2 listing describes a LiDAR-guided robotic arm with a 123-degree swing and 7.8cm more reach than the previous generation. That is intended to extend cleaning coverage around edges and awkward spaces. Its robotic legs are rated for single steps up to 4cm and a particular two-step arrangement totalling 8.5cm, under DJI’s test conditions.
The practical appeal is a machine designed to reach more of the floor while letting its owner choose how cleaning data is handled. For background on where the range began locally, our original DJI ROMO Australian launch coverage covers the earlier generation. That range’s pricing and specifications should not be confused with ROMO 2.
Australian pricing and availability
For ROMO 2, DJI’s Australian store listed the ROMO P2 Water Tank Version at A$2,399 alongside an A$2,899 reference price when checked on 1 November 2026. Pricing is for that specific configuration, and offers can change. Existing owners looking for Local Data Mode should check their model and firmware, then follow the security-setting instructions above.
The price check is for the ROMO P2 Water Tank Version listed by DJI in Australia, rather than every ROMO model or accessory bundle. The Local Data Mode update is a firmware feature for the supported device, not a separately priced hardware accessory in the supplied announcement.
A useful choice for a device that maps the home
The interesting part of Local Data Mode is the control it gives the owner over a routine household job. A cleaning robot needs to understand its surroundings, but the way it stores and processes that information can be a setting the owner chooses. DJI’s approach keeps the focus on useful local cleaning while making that data decision more visible.
For someone setting up ROMO 2, checking the privacy menu is therefore as relevant as setting the cleaning schedule. Update the firmware, review the available permissions and choose the operating mode that suits how you want the robot to work in your home.
Zachary Skinner is the editor of TechDrivePlay.com, where tech, cars and adventure share the fast lane.
A former snowboarding pro and programmer, he brings both creative flair and technical know-how to his reviews. From high-performance cars to clever gadgets, he explores how innovation shapes the way we move, connect and live.
