Cache Clearing on Xiaomi Router: 5 Ways to Return Internet Speed

Your Xiaomi Router is slowing down, pages are loading forever and video is constantly buffered?The reason may lie in the overflowing cache of the device. Unlike smartphones, where cleaning the cache is reduced to a few taps across the screen, routers require a more delicate approach. Cache in routers accumulates in three key zones: DNS-Cache, firmware cache, and temporary log files, ignoring this problem not only causes speed drops, but also causes wifi instability, spontaneous disconnections of devices from the network, and even security vulnerabilities.

In this article, you will find unique methods for cleaning the cache for Xiaomi routers, including hidden MiWiFi firmware features that are not described in the official documentation. We will understand how the procedures for models with Qualcomm chipsets (for example, Xiaomi Router 4A Gigabit) and MediaTek (Xiaomi Router AX3600), and why a standard reset to factory settings is the last resort to which you should resort. If you have never visited the router administrator panel, do not worry: the instructions are adapted even for beginners.

Why the router cache needs to be cleaned regularly

Xiaomi’s router cache performs the same function as smartphones: it speeds up re-access to frequently used data, but in networked hardware, the consequences of overflowing are far more serious:

• 📉 Internet speed drops by 30-50% due to overcrowding DNS-cache that stores outdated IP-site addresses.
• 🔄 Cyclical reconnection of devices to Wi-Fi (especially noticeable on iPhone and MacBook).
• 🛡️ Security vulnerabilities: router logs may contain data about visited sites, passwords of guest networks and even traffic fragments.
• ⚡ Overheating of the chipset due to constant overwriting of temporary files (relevant for models without active cooling, for example, Xiaomi Mi Router) 3G).

The manufacturer recommends clearing the cache every 3-6 months, but in practice the interval depends on the network load. For example, if you have more than 20 devices connected or the router is running in Mesh mode with repeaters, you should clean it monthly, and resetting to the factory settings through the Reset button removes the cache, but also erases all personal settings, including Wi-Fi passwords and parental controls - so it is better to use targeted methods.

Method 1: Cleaning up DNS-cache via web interface

DNS-Cache is a router’s “phone book” where the correspondence between domain names (e.g. google.com) and their names is stored. IP-When this cache gets clogged, the sites start to open slowly or never open at all:

1. Connect to the router network (via Wi-Fi or cable).
2. Open your browser and type in 192.168.31.1 (for most Xiaomi models) or miwifi.com.
3. Enter the login and password (by default — admin/admin, unless changed).
4. Go to the section Additional settings → Network → DNS.
5. Find the Clear DNS cache button (in some firmware it is hidden under the DNS Settings item).
6. Confirm the action and restart the router through the System → Reboot menu.

If the cleaning buttons DNS If you don't have it in the interface, your model uses an alternative method of storing the cache, then you can force the change. DNS-server:

Write down your current DNS settings (in case of rollback)| Connect your router to the UPS (to avoid crashing when rebooting)| Check that there are no active downloads or streams-->

⚠️ Attention: After cleaning DNS The first 5-10 minutes of page loading can be slower than usual -- that's OK. The router re-authorizes domain names. If the speed hasn't recovered after 15 minutes, check the settings. MTU Network (optimum value – 1472 for most providers).

Method 2: Manual cleaning of system logs

The router logs record all connections, errors, and setting changes, and over time, these files grow to hundreds of megabytes, taking up valuable space in the device's memory. DNS-Cache, logs do not directly affect the speed of the Internet, but overflow can cause spontaneous rebukes of the router and errors such as 502 Bad Gateway.

To clear the logs:

1. Go to the router's web interface (192.168.31.1).
2. Go to Additional settings → System → Journals.
3. Click Clear all logs (in some firmware, the button is called Reset logs).
4. For deep cleaning, tick the tick to delete archival logs (if there is such a item).

On models with MiWiFi ROM firmware (such as Xiaomi Router 4Q), logs are stored in a compressed form.

ssh admin@192.168.31.1


cd /tmp/log




rm -rf .log .gz

⚠️ Note: Removing logs through SSH Parental Control may be disrupted if it is based on traffic analysis. After cleaning, restart the router and check your content filtering settings.

Method 3: Reset the firmware cache (without losing settings)

Firmware cache is a temporary file that is created when you update your router software. If you interrupt the update process or install the firmware with errors, these files remain in memory and may conflict with the current version of the software. Clearing the firmware cache does not delete your settings, but requires accuracy.

Instructions for models on Qualcomm (Xiaomi Router 4A Gigabit, AX6000):

1. Download the latest firmware version for your model from the official Xiaomi website (Support section).
2. Connect the router to the computer via cable.
3. Go to 192.168.31.1 → Additional → Software Update.
4. Click Select File and download the same firmware version that is already installed.
5. Uncheck the box from Save Settings and confirm the update.

For models on MediaTek (Xiaomi Router AC2100, AX3600), the process is different:

1. Turn the router off the power.


2. Press the Reset button and, holding it, connect the power.




3. wait for the blinking of the orange indicator (recovery mode).




4 Connect to the router via Wi-Fi (the network will be called Xiaomi_XXXX_Recovery).




5. Open in the browser 192.168.1.1 and download the firmware through the web recovery interface.

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If the router doesn't turn on after cleaning the firmware cache, wait 10 minutes - some models (Xiaomi Router 4C) automatically restore the backup of the settings. If the indicator keeps flashing red, repeat the procedure with another version of the firmware.

Method 4: Cleaning up ARP-cache (to solve connection problems)

ARP-The Address Resolution Protocol (Cash) stores the correspondence between the IP and MAC-If that cache is clogged, the router can confuse the devices, give them the wrong ones. IP Or block access altogether:

• 🔌 The device connects to Wi-Fi, but the internet doesn’t work (“Without network access»).
• 🔄 IP-The address of the device is constantly changing (for example, from 192.168.31.100 to 192.168.31.101).
• ⚠️ The router's logbook has errors. ARP conflict.

To cleanse. ARP-cash:

1. Connect to the router on SSH (login — admin/password your router).
2. The command is ip neigh flush all.
3. Reboot the router with the command: reboot

If access is available SSH disabled, enable it in the web interface: additionally → System system → Remote control → Turn on SSH. On models with firmware Padavan (alternative firmware) ARP-cache cleared through the network menu → ARP-table → Clean up.

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Cleanup ARP-Cache helps solve 80 percent of Wi-Fi connection problems when the network is visible but the Internet is not working, and it is especially effective after a change in provider or change in the network. MAC-router.

Method 5: Complete resetting of settings (last resort)

If all the previous methods didn't work, the atomic option is to reset the router to the factory settings, which will delete all the cache, but also erase:

• 🔐 Wi-Fi (main and guest network) passwords).
• 📱 QoS settings (prioritize traffic for games/streams).
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Parental Control Rules and Device Blacklists.
• 🌐 Settings VPN Port forwarding (port forwarding).

How to reset the settings correctly:

1. Back up your settings: System → Backup/Restore → Create a backup.
2. Press and hold the Reset button on the back of the router for 10-15 seconds (until the lights flash).
3. After restarting the router, connect to it via cable (Wi-Fi will be turned off).
4. Go to 192.168.31.1 and restore the settings from the backup (do not restore the copy older than 3 months - it may contain an outdated cache).

⚠️ Attention: On Xiaomi routers with dual-band Wi-Fi (AX1800, AX3600) After the reset, the 5GHz grid may disappear. To return it, go to the Wi-Fi settings. → In addition, and enable the Allow option 5G (In some cases, it is disabled by default).

How to prevent cache clogging in the future

Regularly cleaning the cache is a treatment for symptoms, not causes, to minimize the accumulation of debris:

• 🔄 Update your firmware at least once every 2 months. ROM Optimized algorithm for cleaning temporary files.
• 📵 Turn off the guest network if no one is using it. Every device you connect generates a record in the network. ARP-cash.
• 🛡️ Use static. DNS (e.g. 1.1.1.1 or 8.8.8.8) instead of DNS Provider – this reduces the load on the cache.
• ⏳ Set up an automatic router reboot once a week (in the System) → Planner).

For advanced users, if your router supports the installation of alternative firmware (OpenWRT, Padavan), consider this option. For example, Padavan has a built-in automatic cache cleaner script that runs on a schedule. However, keep in mind that informal firmware deprives you of warranties and may contain vulnerabilities.

FAQ: Frequent questions about cleaning cache on Xiaomi Router