How to increase the speed of the Xiaomi 4A router: from simple settings to firmware

Why Xiaomi 4A is slowing down and how to fix it

Xiaomi Mi Router 4A (including 4A Gigabit and 4A 100M) remains one of the most popular budget solutions for the home network, but over time users face a drop in Wi-Fi speed, frequent connection breaks or “suspends” when downloading files.

The main bottlenecks of the model:

• 📡 Single-core processor MT7628DA with a frequency of 580 MHz is a weak spot at high load (10+ devices simultaneously).
• 🔋 There are only 64 MB of RAM, which leads to overload when active torrenting or online gaming.
• 🔄 Outdated firmware with factory settings of Wi-Fi channels that conflict with neighboring networks.

In this article, 7 working methods of speeding up the router, from basic (change channel, disable unnecessary functions) to advanced (alternative firmware, hardware modification). All solutions are tested on Xiaomi Router 4A with MiWiFi R4A firmware versions 2.0.1-3.0.27.

1. Optimizing Wi-Fi Channel: How to Avoid Neighborhood Interference

The most common reason for slow Wi-Fi is congested channels in the 2.4 GHz band. In apartment buildings, up to 20 networks can broadcast on a single channel, causing interference. Xiaomi 4A router automatically selects the channel by default, but the algorithm is often mistaken.

To find a free channel:

1. Install the Wi-Fi Analyzer (Android) or NetSpot (iOS) app on your smartphone.
2. Scan the airwaves – look for channels with minimal load (ideally <30%).
3. Log in to the web interface of the router at 192.168.31.1 (the default login and password is the combination with the sticker on the case).
4. Go to Wi-Fi Settings → Additional settings and manually select a free channel (e.g. 1, 6 or 11 for 2.4GHz).

For 5GHz (if your model supports it), choose 36-48 or 149-165 channels, which are less loaded. Also turn off the Auto Channel Selection function so that the router does not switch to occupied frequencies.

⚠️ Warning: Do not use 12-14 channels in Russia – they are prohibited by the regulator and may cause problems with connecting some devices.

2. Update of firmware: official and alternative options

Factory firmware Xiaomi Router 4A often contains bugs that affect speed, for example, in versions before 2.0.15 there was an error with a speed limit on Wi-Fi to 50 Mbps even when connecting to a gigabit port.

Official update:

• 🔄 Go to Settings. → Firmware update.
• 📥 Click Check Updates and install the latest version (at 2026, 3.0.27).
• ⚡ After the update, reset settings (Settings → Additional → Reset).

Alternative firmware: If the official versions don’t solve the problem, consider Padavan or OpenWRT. They optimize the kernel and add features like SQM (Smart Queue Management) to combat lags.

• 🛠️ Padavan for Xiaomi 4A – improves Wi-Fi stability and adds support for IPv6.
• 🐧 OpenWRT is for advanced users (requires skill with SSH).

⚠️ Warning: Installing unofficial firmware voids the warranty and may cause the device to "brick" before you firmware, be sure to back up the settings through Settings → Additional → Backup.

3. QoS (Quality of Service) setting to prioritize traffic

QoS allows you to distribute bandwidth between devices, giving priority to online games or video calls. In the Xiaomi Router 4A, it does not work perfectly, but the right settings can improve the situation.

How to set up QoS:

1. Go to Settings. → QoS.
2. Turn on the function and select Priority mode by device.
3. Add to priority MAC- devices the addresses of your PC, smartphone or Smart TV.
4. Set a limit for torrent clients and background traffic (e.g. 20% of the total speed).

If after setting up QoS speed has not increased, try to disable the function altogether – on a weak Xiaomi 4A processor, it can create additional load.

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To find the MAC- address of the device, enter the command arp -a in the Windows command line or check in the router settings (Settings → Devices).

4. Disabling unnecessary functions and services

The Xiaomi 4A router by default includes a number of background services that consume resources and reduce speed.

• 🔗 IPv6 – if your ISP does not support the protocol (check Settings → Internet).
• 📊 Traffic statistics – collects data about connected devices, but loads the processor.
• 🔄 Guest Network – If not, turn off Wi-Fi Settings → Guest Network.
• 🌐 Xiaomi Cloud Access – sends data to China (disables in Settings → Additional → Cloud Access).

Also check the list of connected devices (Settings → Devices) – perhaps other people’s gadgets or “smart” light bulbs are connected to your network, which constantly exchange data.

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Disabling IPv6 and Xiaomi’s cloud access could increase speeds by 10 to 15 percent by reducing background loads.

5. Hardware improvements: cooling and antenna replacement

Overheating is a common problem for the Xiaomi Router 4A, especially if it works in a closed cabinet or near heat sources.At temperatures above 60°C, the processor begins trottling (automatic performance decline), which leads to speed drawdowns.

Cooling solutions:

• 🌬️ Install the router vertically (e.g., on a stand) for better ventilation.
• 🧊 Stick to the case of a radiator (fits from an old PC) or use active cooling (small USB- fan).
• 🔌 Replace the power supply with a more powerful (5V/2A instead of the standard 5V/1A) – this will reduce the heating of the chip.

If the problem is weak Wi-Fi signal, consider replacing antennas. Stock antennas Xiaomi 4A have a gain of 3 dBi - they can be replaced by 5-9 dBi (for example, the models TP-Link TL-ANT2406A).

1. Unscrew the router cover (you will need a Torx T8 screwdriver).
2. Disconnect the regular antennas and connect new ones (observe polarity!).
3. Secure the cover and check the network coverage.

⚠️ Warning: Replacing antennas with gain greater than 9 dBi may disrupt device certification and cause interference to other networks, with 5-7 dBi being the best option.

6. factory reset and clean configuration

If all previous methods failed, reset the router completely, which will remove the accumulated configuration errors and return the factory settings.

Step-by-step:

1. Press and hold the Reset button on the back for 10-15 seconds (until the lights flash).
2. Connect to the router via cable and access the web interface (192.168.31.1).
3. Go through the initial setup by selecting: Router Mode (not Repiter or Access Point) Wi-Fi channel selected earlier (see Section 1). WPA2-PSK encryption (not WPA3, which may not be supported by older devices).

After resetting, do not restore the settings from the backup, this will return old errors. Configure the router from scratch, following the recommendations from this article.

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Resetting to factory settings solves up to 40% of slow Wi-Fi problems caused by software failures.

7.When it's time to change the router: signs of a "hardware" limit

If none of the methods worked, it's possible the Xiaomi Router 4A has run out of resources.

• 📉 Cable speed (LAN) is consistently below 80 Mbps even at a 100+ Mbps tariff.
• 🔄 The router reboots 1+ times a day for no apparent reason.
• 📶 Wi-Fi disappears more than 5 meters from the router (with no obstructions).
• 🔥 The body is heated to a temperature not to be touched (above 50°C).

Adequate replacements for Xiaomi 4A in 2026:

If your budget is tight, consider buying a used Xiaomi Router 4C or Redmi Router AC2100 – they are equipped with more powerful processors and support MU-MIMO.

FAQ: Frequent questions about the speed of Xiaomi Router 4A