How to Test if the Litter-Robot Hopper Is Working

Testing the hopper is a quick but important step anytime the robot has fresh litter, is newly installed, or has recently been reassembled. These are the moments when you need to test if the Litter Hopper is dispensing or not. Here’s the simplest way to test it based on my hands-on experience with the Litter-Robot 4.

1. Test After Replacing All the Litter

When you empty the globe completely and refill it with fresh litter, you need to check if the hopper is working properly. How to test it after emptying the globe:

1. Turn the unit on and wait for Ready mode.
2. Add clean litter to the globe but leave it low, below the fill line.
3. Enable the Litter Hopper in the app (if you have disabled it).
4. Press Cycle to run a full rotation.
5. Watch the dispensing — the hopper should drop litter smoothly.

After the cycle ends, you can add more cat litter to the globe since you’ve already confirmed the hopper is working properly. Once you add more litter, press Reset to calibrate the new litter level.

2. Test During the First-Time Installation

When setting up a brand-new Litter-Robot, the hopper needs its initial reference point. Quick setup test:

1. Assemble the unit completely.
2. Turn the unit on and wait for Ready mode.
3. Add litter up to below the fill line.
4. Press the Reset button to calibrate the unit.
5. Press the Cycle and Connect buttons simultaneously for 3 seconds.
6. You should hear the motor run for 1 second and receive a notification in your app.
7. Run a cycle manually.
8. Observe the dispensing — it should be steady and consistent.
9. You can add more cat litter up to the fill-line level, then press reset.

If the hopper behaves smoothly during the first testing rotation, it’s ready for regular use.

3. Test After Deep Cleaning the Litter-Robot

When doing a deep clean of the Litter-Robot where you remove the globe and temporarily disable and re-enable the hopper in the app, you test the Litter Hopper the same way. Add a small amount of litter, press the Reset button, run one cycle, and confirm if it dispenses normally. I made a video showing the full process of removing and reinstalling the hopper for cleaning, in case you need that step. (You’ll find it at the end of the article.)

4. Testing the Hopper When the Globe Still Has Litter

If you reinstalled the hopper for any reason without emptying the globe, here’s how to test if the Litter Hopper is working: Remove cat litter from the globe until the level is low (about halfway below the fill line). Once you have removed enough litter, press Reset. Then press a manual Cycle, and the Hopper should start dispensing litter during the rotation. If it doesn’t dispense, remove more cat litter and repeat the same process. If it still doesn’t dispense, you need to check if the Hopper was correctly installed (see how to correct this further down the article). If you want to see exactly how I tested the Hopper with litter still inside the globe, here’s the short demo video:

If the Hopper Isn’t Dispensing Enough Litter

If the hopper drops too little litter, dispenses only once, or never reaches a proper level, you need to calibrate the unit. How to recalibrate it:

1. Press Reset twice.
2. You’ll see a soft purple light when you press, which means the unit has been recalibrated.
3. During this process, the hopper will dispense litter on every rotation until it reaches the correct level.
4. When the level is right, the hopper stops automatically.

If you skip resetting (recalibration), the hopper usually dispenses only one time, even if the globe is still too empty. You need to press reset (recalibrate) the unit every time you empty the waste drawer or add new cat litter.

In Case the Litter Hopper Doesn’t Dispense

Most likely the hopper is not correctly installed. Check the following:

• Leave no gap between the hopper and the bonnet.
• Check that the hopper tab is hooked into the small gap of the bonnet.
• Make sure the lid is tightly shut; if the lid is not correctly closed, the hopper won’t dispense. Press the tabs to close it, then release them and listen for a “click,” which means the lid is properly locked.

Conclusion

Testing the hopper only takes a moment and prevents dispensing issues, especially after adding fresh litter, installing the unit, or reassembling it after cleaning. And if it seems to dispense too little, the double-reset calibration solves it in seconds. If it isn’t dispensing at all, check whether the Hopper is correctly installed.

If you ever need to remove the Litter Hopper for a deep clean, here’s the full step-by-step video showing the entire process — from removal to reinstalling and confirming the hopper is fully dispensing: