What is QoS and why is it needed in Xiaomi routers?
If your internet is slowing down during online gaming despite high-speed rates, or Zoom video calls are interrupted when someone downloads a large file on the network, the problem is not with the provider, but with the lack of traffic prioritization. Here comes QoS (Quality of Service) technology built into Xiaomi routers (Mi Router 4A, 4C, AX1800, AX3000, AX6000 and others).
QoS allows you to automatically distribute bandwidth between devices and traffic types, giving priority to critical tasks: online games (CS2, Valorant, Fortnite, video conferencing (Zoom, Microsoft Teams), streaming video (Netflix, YouTube in the Internet) 4K) or IP-Without QoS, the router processes all data packets the same way, whether it's downloading a torrent or a match in Dota 2, which leads to lags.
In the routers Xiaomi implemented a simplified version of QoS called MiWiFi QoS (in firmware based on MiWiFi). ROM) Bandwidth Control (in OpenWRT models, for example, AX3600). The function works at the application level (priority by traffic type) and/or device level (priority by traffic type) MAC-It's important to understand that QoS doesn't increase the speed of the Internet, but it makes it reasonable to use it.
Preparing Xiaomi router for QoS setting
Before you turn on QoS, make sure your Xiaomi router meets the minimum requirements:
- 🔄 Router firmware updated to the latest version (check Settings) → General. → Firmware updates: Outdated versions may not support QoS or may work with errors.
- 📶 Internet connection speed is stable (check on Speedtest). QoS is useless if the provider gives less than promised.
- 📱 All critical devices (PC for gaming, smartphone for streaming) are connected via Ethernet cable or at least in the 5 GHz band (to minimize delays).
- 🔌 The router is not overloaded: the number of connected devices does not exceed 20–25 (model AX3000/AX6000 — before 50).
If your Xiaomi router runs on an alternative firmware (like Padavan or OpenWRT), the QoS setting will be different. In this case, use the instructions for a specific firmware - there is no universal solution. For a standard MiWiFi ROM, the next steps will suit.
⚠️ Note: QoS may conflict with VPN-compounds IPTV (If the TV goes missing after setting up, turn off QoS or add MAC-prefix.
Step-by-step QoS setup in standard MiWiFi firmware
The QoS interface in Xiaomi routers is intuitive, but hides a few nuances. Consider the process using the Mi Router AX3000 example (for other models, the steps are similar, only the names of menu items may differ).
- Open the router's web interface. Enter 192.168.31.1 (or miwifi.com) in your browser, log in under the administrator.
- Go to QoS: Additional settings → QoS (Quality of Service).
- Turn on the function by moving the slider to the position On..
- Choose the Prioritization Type: 🎮 By application – priority is given to games, video calls, streams (recommended for most users). 🖥️ By devices - priority is assigned to specific gadgets (it is useful if there are "voracious" devices on the network, for example, NAS).
Set up the bandwidth.
- Specify Inbound and Outbound speeds (10-15% less than the provider gives to avoid overloading). For example, if the tariff is 100 Mbps, specify 85-90 Mbps.
- Activate Automatic Limit so that the router itself adjusts the speed at peak loads.
- Save the settings and restart the router (required!).
⚠️ Warning: When manually configured, avoid assigning a very high priority to more than 2-3 devices.This can lead to starvation of other gadgets on the network (they will receive minimum speeds).
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If you don't know. MAC-Device address, find it in the list of connected clients (Settings) → Status. → Devices) or via the ipconfig command /all In the Windows command line (ifconfig on the macOS/Linux).
Optimizing QoS for specific tasks
General QoS settings are suitable for most users, but specific scenarios require fine-tuning. Let's look at the three most popular cases.
1. Priority for online gaming (CS2, Valorant, Fortnite, etc.)
It's not so much the speed that's critical for games as the stability of ping and the absence of batch losses.
- 🎮 Add the game to the rules of the application with priority Very high.
- 🖥️ Assign gaming PC/console a high priority on the device.
- 📡 Turn off Mu-MIMO in Wi-Fi settings (may conflict with QoS on some Xiaomi models).
- 🔌 Connect your console/PC via Ethernet cable (even if you normally use Wi-Fi).
2. stable video calls (Zoom, Teams, Discord)
For video conferencing, both speed and ping are important.
- 📹 Add Zoom, Teams and Discord apps to the High Priority Rules.
- 🎤 Turn off background downloads on the device from which the call is coming (especially torrents!).
- 📶 If you use Wi-Fi, connect to the 5 GHz band and select a channel with minimal interference (check in Settings). → Wi-Fi → Channel analysis).
- 🔄 Turn it on. WMM (Wi-Fi Multimedia in Wi-Fi settings is an analogue of QoS for wireless networks.
3. 4K streaming video (Netflix, YouTube, IPTV)
To watch high-resolution video, medium priority is sufficient, but it is important to exclude buffering:
- 📺 Add Netflix, YouTube and IPTV (c) Rules with priority of the average.
- 📡 If you’re looking at Wi-Fi, activate Band Steering (automatic switching between 2.4 and 5 GHz) in your router settings.
- 🔌 For IPTV use a separate one. VLAN (If the provider requires, or add MAC-prefix address with QoS exception.