QoS in the settings of the Xiaomi router: why you need, how it works and how to set traffic priority

Have you ever encountered a situation where, during an online game, a video suddenly starts to “lay” on YouTube, and a downloaded file slows down the download? or when a video call in Zoom is interrupted because someone on the network has launched a torrent? All these problems are solved by QoS (Quality of Service) technology, a tool that is in every modern Xiaomi router, but most users do not even know it exists.

In this article, we will discuss in detail what QoS is in Xiaomi routers, how it works at the network level, what types of traffic can be prioritized, and most importantly, how to properly configure this feature so that the Internet works stably for those tasks that are important to you. We will consider the features of the implementation of QoS in the firmware MiWiFi (for models Xiaomi Router). 4A/4C/4Q/AC2100 and others), and give practical advice on optimizing the network for gamers, streamers and remote workers.

Spoiler: Proper QoS setting can increase ping in games by 20 to 30 percent, reduce video buffering, and even extend the life of your router by reducing the load on the processor. But there are pitfalls, too.

What is QoS and why you need it in the Xiaomi router

QoS (Quality of Service) is a set of technologies that allow a router to manage network traffic by distributing channel bandwidth between different types of data. Simply put, QoS decides which data packets should be transmitted first and which can wait.

Without QoS, all the devices on your network compete for bandwidth on an equal footing. 4K smart TV, And your child is downloading an update to play on the Xiaomi Pad 6, and the router will handle both streams the same way, so the movie can hang up and download slower. QoS avoids this by prioritizing one of the traffic types.

In Xiaomi routers, QoS technology is implemented at the MiWiFi firmware level and works on the principle of packet prioritization. The algorithm analyzes the type of traffic (gaming, video stream, file downloads, etc.) and allocates network resources so that critical data (for example, packages for online games) is transmitted without delay, even if the channel is loaded.

• 🎮 For gamers: QoS reduces ping and reduces the number of lags in multiplayer games (CS2, Dota 2, Fortnite).
• 🎥 For streamers: stabilizes bitrate when broadcasting on Twitch or YouTube, preventing “teared” picture.
• 💼 For remote work: provides a clear communication in Zoom/Teams, Even if someone on the network is downloading torrents.
• 📱 For smart home: Prioritizes commands for Mi Home devices (such as cameras or sensors) to trigger without delay.

It's important to understand that QoS doesn't increase Internet speed, it just optimizes the use of your bandwidth. If your ISP's 100 Mbps, even with QoS, you won't get 200 Mbps. But you can make sure that those 100 Mbps are distributed the way you want them to.

How QoS works in MiWiFi firmware: technical details

In Xiaomi routers (Router models) 4A, AX3600, AX6000 QoS is based on the Intelligent QoS mechanism, which combines:

1. Traffic classification – The router automatically determines the type of data (game, video, voice, etc.) by ports, protocols, and packet signatures.
2. Dynamic bandwidth distribution – The algorithm analyzes network load and redistributes resources in real time.
3. Packet queues – High priority traffic is placed in a “fast” queue, and background tasks (such as OS updates) are placed in a “slow” queue.

Technically, QoS in Xiaomi works at the Layer level 3 (layer OSI), packet-heading IP and TCP/UDP. For example, online gaming packages (usually using the protocol) UDP) are marked as high priority and torrent traffic (often TCP with a large number of connections - as a low priority.

The peculiarity of implementing QoS in MiWiFi is the use of hardware acceleration. IPQ6000 (for example, Xiaomi AX6000) Some traffic classification operations are performed at the chip level, which reduces the load on the system. CPU router and reduces delays. in budget models (e.g. Router) 4A) QoS is software-based, which can slightly increase ping at high loads.

In models with firmware MiWiFi version below 3.0.12 QoS may conflict with the function MU-MIMO, This causes accidental shutdowns. Update the firmware before setting up!

Where to find QoS settings in Xiaomi router

The QoS interface on Xiaomi routers may vary slightly depending on the model and firmware version, but the overall path is the same.

1. Connect to your router’s network (via Wi-Fi or cable).
2. Open your browser and type in the address bar 192.168.31.1 (or miwifi.com).
3. Log in (login and password from the router, by default — admin/sticker).
4. Go to the Additional Settings section → QoS (in some firmware, the path may be the network) → QoS).

In older versions of the firmware (up to) 2.0.XX) The QoS menu could have been called "Broadband Management" or "Traffic Priority." If you don't find this section, update the firmware through Settings. → Update.

In the Mi WiFi mobile app (available for Android and iOS), QoS settings are hidden deeper:

1. Open the app and connect to your router.
2. Go to the Devices. → [router name] → Settings.
3. Select Additional → QoS.

If your router model does not have a QoS tab, it could mean:

• 🔄 You have an old firmware (update it).
• 🛠️ The router is in “access point” mode (QoS is automatically disabled).
• 📶 Your tariff from the provider does not support traffic management (for example, some PPPoE connections).

💡

Before setting up QoS, check the Internet speed without it using Speedtest, which will help you evaluate the effectiveness of changes after applying the rules.

Step-by-step QoS setup on Xiaomi router

Now, let's get to the practice. Xiaomi's QoS setup has three main steps: turn on the function, choose the type of prioritization, and create rules for traffic. Let's take a closer look at each step.

Step 1: Enabling QoS and Selecting Mode

After you go to the QoS section, you will see the switch "Enable QoS." Activate it. Then select the mode of operation:

• Automatic – The router itself sets priorities based on traffic types (recommended for most users).
• Manual – you manually prioritize devices or applications (for advanced users).

To start, select Automatic and set the maximum upload and download speeds, which should be 10 to 15 percent lower than your actual rate, for example, if the provider promises 100 Mbps, specify 85 to 90 Mbps.

Step 2: Set traffic priorities

In automatic mode, Xiaomi offers predefined traffic categories with priorities:

• 🎮 Games (high priority)
• 📹 Video and streaming (medium)
• 💬 Voice calls (high-level)
• 📥 Downloads and updates (low)

You can change priorities by dragging categories with your mouse or selecting a level from a drop-down list, for example, if you're a streamer, put "Video and Streaming" on the first level and "Downloads" on the last.

In manual mode, you can create your own rules.

• Prioritize traffic for IP-The address of your Xiaomi Black Shark (Gaming Smartphone).
• Set a high priority for ports 3074 (used on PlayStation) or 27015-27020 (used on PlayStation) CS2).
• Limit speed for a device that pumps torrents (such as a laptop with uTorrent).

Check the real speed of the Internet|Update router firmware|Write it down. MAC-Device addresses that need priority|Turn off background downloads on other devices|Check that the router is not in bridge mode"

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Step 3: Preservation and testing

After settings have been applied:

1. Save the changes and restart the router (via Settings) → Reboot).
2. Connect the device that is prioritized (e.g., Xiaomi Pad for streaming).
3. Start loading the network: Start downloading a large file on another device and check the quality of the priority traffic (e.g., in-game ping or video call stability).

If the results are unsatisfactory, go back to settings and adjust your priorities or speed limits.

💡

QoS is only effective when the channel is loaded, and if your network is less than 70% used, the difference before and after setup will be minimal.

Common errors in QoS configuration and how to avoid them

Even experienced users sometimes make mistakes when working with QoS, which negate all efforts to optimize, here are the most common mistakes and ways to correct them:

⚠️ Note: If the Internet started to work slower after QoS activation, check if the total speed in QoS settings does not exceed the real speed of your tariff. For example, if you specified 200 Mbps and the provider only gives 100 Mbps, the router will try to squeeze out a non-existent bandwidth, which will lead to delays.

• 🔧 Error: Set a maximum speed equal to the provider's tariff. Solution: Reduce the values by 10-15% (for example, instead of 100 Mbit / s, specify 85 Mbit / s).
• 📡 Error: QoS is enabled, but priorities are assigned incorrectly (e.g. torrents have higher priority than voice calls).Solution: Check the order of categories in the settings and move critical traffic types to the top positions.
• 🔄 Error: QoS rules conflict with other router functions (e.g. Parental Control or Guest Network).Solution: Disable other functions temporarily and check QoS separately.
• 🛠️ Error: Set up QoS on a router with a weak processor (e.g. Xiaomi Router) 3G) Solution: Use simplified rules or disable QoS altogether, because hardware constraints will not allow you to effectively manage traffic.

Another common problem is that QoS does not work in the “bridge” mode (when the router is connected to another router), in which case the traffic control is taken over by the main router, and the QoS settings on Xiaomi are ignored.

If after all the manipulations, QoS still does not give the expected effect, try:

1. Reset router settings to factory (Settings) → Recovery).
2. Update the firmware to the latest version (via Settings) → Update).
3. Try alternative firmware (like Padavan or OpenWRT) if your model is supported.

QoS for specific tasks: games, streaming, remote work

There is no universal QoS setting, and the optimal settings depend on how you use the Internet. Let's look at the three most popular scenarios.

🎮 QoS setting up for online gaming (ping reduction)

For gamers, the key is to minimize latency and avoid packet loss, so you can set up QoS for games:

1. Turn on QoS manually.
2. Add a rule to UDP-ports used by your game (e.g. 27,000–27030 for the game) CS2, 3074 for Call of Duty).
3. Assign high priority to IP-address of your PC or console (PlayStation/Xbox).
4. Limit download speeds for other devices to 50% of the maximum.

Example of rules for Xiaomi AX3600:

Priority: High




Protocol: UDP




Ports: 27015-27020




IP- Devices: 192.168.31.100 (your PC)

It is also recommended to disable MU-MIMO in Wi-Fi settings, if you play wirelessly, this will reduce delays by disabling multiplayer mode.

📹 Optimizing QoS for streaming (Twitch, YouTube, TikTok)

For streamers, bitrate stability is critical. QoS will help avoid "teared" images and broadcast interruptions.

• Put the video and streaming category first.
• Add a rule to TCP-Port of 1935 (used for the RTMP-stream).
• Limit background downloads to 30% of bandwidth.
• Turn on Bandwidth Control (if available in firmware) and reserve 20 Mbps for a streaming PC.

If you stream from Xiaomi Pad 6 or smartphone, add it MAC-Address to High-Priority Devices List.

💼 QoS for remote work (Zoom, Teams, VPN)

For video conferencing and remote servers, low latency and no jitter (ping variations) are important.

• Prioritize the “Voice Calls” category.
• Add rules for ports: UDP 3478–3481 (used in Zoom) TCP 443 (for) VPN and Teams)
• Limit traffic to devices not in use (e.g., Smart) TV or smartphones with background updates).

If you are connected to the corporate network through VPN, Add a rule for the OpenVPN protocol (UDP 1194) or WireGuard (UDP 51820).

QoS vs. Other Traffic Management Technologies: Which is Better?

QoS is not the only way to optimize network traffic, and Xiaomi routers also offer:

• Bandwidth Control – a strict speed limit for devices (for example, “no more than 10 Mbps for Smart devices”) TV).
• MU-MIMO — Simultaneous data transfer to multiple devices (useful for large networks).
• Beamforming is the focus of the Wi-Fi signal on specific devices.
• Parental Control: Restricting traffic by time or content type.

Which instrument to choose?

For most users, QoS is the best choice, as it combines flexibility and automation. Bandwidth Control is useful if you need to tightly restrict a device (for example, a child on a tablet). MU-MIMO Only use networks with 10+ The devices where maximum speed is important for all.

⚠️ Note: The simultaneous use of QoS and Bandwidth Control can lead to unstable network performance. If you set a device a strict 10 Mbps limit and QoS prioritizes it, the router will try to allocate more traffic, but the Bandwidth Control restriction will not allow this.

FAQ: Frequent QoS questions on Xiaomi routers