Modern users often face problems that seem hardware-intensive but are actually solved by software-based hardware setup. Slow page loading, unavailability of individual sites or intrusive advertising can be signs that the provider's standard settings are not working properly. Owners of popular networking equipment Xiaomi and Redmi have the ability to optimize their home network by changing domain name servers.
Change of change DNS-Router-level addresses allow you to apply new options to all connected devices at once, which means you don't have to configure each smartphone, TV or laptop separately. It is enough to make changes once in the router’s web interface so that Internet traffic can be processed faster and safer through the gateways you choose.
In this article, we will look at how you log in to the control panel and how you change your network settings exactly. We will look not only at standard steps, but also at the nuances that can arise when you use different versions of firmware.
Why Change DNS on Xiaomi Router
The main function of the domain name system is to convert human-readable site addresses into machine addresses. IP-Standard servers provided by the provider are often overloaded or have a low response rate. DNS Large tech companies like Google or Cloudflare run on powerful infrastructure, providing minimal latency.
Besides speed, security is an important aspect. DNS-The services support filtering phishing sites and blocking malicious traffic before it reaches your device, which creates an additional layer of protection for the entire home network without installing additional software.
⚠️ Attention: Use of third-party DNS-servers may affect the performance of some local services of the provider, such as personal pages or IPTV, if they are tied to a specific IP-operator's address.
It's also worth noting that you can bypass simple locks. DNS-Filtering to restrict access to certain resources, changing addresses to alternative ones often allows you to restore access to information. However, this is not a full-fledged tool for anonymity, but only changes the way domain names are allowed.
Preparation for setting up the router
Before making changes to the network configuration, you need to make sure the connection is stable. LAN-cable is the most reliable way to make adjustments, as it eliminates the risk of communication breakage in the process. If this is not possible, make sure that your mobile device or laptop is in the zone of confident reception of the Wi-Fi signal.
You will need to know the login address to the control panel. By default, most Xiaomi and Redmi devices use the address 192.168.31.1 or the domain name miwifi.com. Also make sure you have the administrator password you set when you first set up the router.
☑️ Checking before setting up
It is recommended to choose the server addresses you plan to use in advance, write them down or keep them on hand so as not to search for information during the field editing process. Popular options include Google DNS (8.8.8.8) and Cloudflare (1.1.1.1), which have proven to be fast and reliable solutions.
Log in to the administrator web interface
Open any modern browser on a device connected to the router's network. IP-Your router's address. It's usually 192.168.31.1. If the page doesn't load, check your computer's network adapter settings, which should be in automatic receiving mode. IP-address (DHCP).
Once you have accessed the address, the system will request authorization. Enter the administrator password. Some versions of the MiWiFi firmware may require you to log in through your Xiaomi account if you have previously done so. Be careful when entering characters, as security may block access after several failed attempts.
The interface may vary depending on the firmware version (Chinese or global). Global versions usually have English or Russian interface language, whereas Chinese versions may require the use of a built-in translator in the browser or knowledge of basic characters.
What to do if you forget your password?
Search for the Network Settings section
Once you've logged in, you'll be taken to the main status page, which shows you connected devices and current speeds, and we need to find the section that handles the Internet settings, and depending on the version of the interface, it can be called Settings, Internet Settings, or Network Settings.
In the classic Xiaomi interface, you go to the Common Settings tab and select Internet Settings. This is where the ISP connection options are located. Look for a button or link called DNS Settings or simply DNS.
If you're using a Mi Home or Mi Wi-Fi mobile app, the search logic is similar: Choose your router from the device list, go to settings, and find the item associated with network management. The mobile interface often hides advanced settings under the "More" or similar button.
It is important not to confuse the settings of WAN (external Internet) and LAN (local network), we are interested in setting up DNS for external connection, so that the router can correctly request site addresses from the selected servers.
Instructions for changing DNS addresses
In the Internet settings window that opens, you'll see the input fields, and the default setting is "Automatic" or your ISP's address, and we'll need to switch to Manual, and find the drop-down list or switch, and select the manual DNS option.
Once manual mode is activated, the fields for Primary DNS and Secondary DNS will be available, enter the main server address in the first field and the backup in the second field, and use two addresses to ensure fault tolerance: if the first server does not respond, the request will go to the second.
Example of popular addresses:
Google DNS: 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4
Cloudflare: 1.1.1.1 and 1.0.0.1
Yandex DNS: 77.88.8.8 and 77.88.8.1Once you have entered the digital values, be sure to click on the Save or Apply button at the bottom of the page, and the router may lose its connection to the Internet for a few seconds while the new settings are applied.
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Use it. DNS-DoT-enabled servers (DNS over TLS) or DoH if your version of Xiaomi firmware supports encryption DNS-This will increase the privacy of your online activities.
There is a table of popular servers that can be used for various purposes:
| DNS Provider | Main address | Alternative address | Feature |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Public DNS | 8.8.8.8 | 8.8.4.4 | High speed and stability |
| Cloudflare | 1.1.1.1 | 1.0.0.1 | Emphasis on privacy and speed |
| OpenDNS | 208.67.222.222 | 208.67.220.220 | Flexible content filtering |
| Quad9 | 9.9.9.9 | 149.112.112.112 | Blocking malicious domains |
Testing of results and diagnosis
Once you save the settings, make sure the changes are effective, and the easiest way to do this is by rebooting your router via a web interface or power button. Once you turn on, try opening a few previously slow-loading sites.
For more accurate diagnosis, you can use the command line on your computer. Enter ipconfig /flushdns (for Windows) or sudo dscacheutil -flushcache (for macOS) to clear the local DNS cache. Then run nslookup google.com and see which server is listed in the response.
If pages load faster and previously unavailable resources are working, the setup has been successful. If you have problems with Internet access, go back to your router settings and select automatic DNS to roll back the changes.
⚠️ Attention: If after the shift DNS The TV from the provider stopped working (IPTV), return the settings DNS on "Automatically" for the main connection, and DNS for IPTV manually write in the settings of the console or separate VLAN, if the router supports it.
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Successful DNS change requires not only entering new addresses, but also cleaning the cache on client devices to apply the changes instantly.
Possible problems and solutions
One of the common problems is the inability to save settings. This can be due to an error in the input format (for example, unnecessary spaces or letters instead of numbers). Carefully check the data entered.
Sometimes users are faced with a situation where the router writes “No Internet connection” after changing the DNS, which means that the selected servers are not available from your network or blocked by the provider, in which case, try alternative addresses, for example, switch from Google to Cloudflare or vice versa.
If the router interface is no longer responding, try a hardware reset, but this is an extreme measure, most often just waiting for 1-2 minutes while the router applies the configuration and restarts network services.
- 🔍 Check the correct input. IP-address DNS, misspelling.
- 🔄 Try to change the main and additional places DNS server.
- 📡 Make sure the provider cable is securely connected to the port WAN.