How to Reset Your Xiaomi Password: All Ways (including Hidden)

Why Standard Instructions Don’t Work and What to Do

The forgotten password from Xiaomi Mi Router is a problem that every third owner of the device faces. The reasons are trivial: infrequent use of the admin panel, resetting settings after updating the firmware or buying a used router with other settings. But if you just go to the web interface to reset your Wi-Fi password, restoring access to the administrative panel requires more knowledge.

The main difficulty lies in the lack of a universal solution for all Xiaomi models. For example, on the Mi Router 4A, resetting through the Reset button works differently than on the AX6000 with OpenWRT firmware. And if the router is linked to a Mi Account, you may need to confirm via SMS — even after a hardware reset. In this article, we will analyze all the current methods, including little-known ones (for example, via Telnet), which work even when the web interface is blocked.

We warn you right away: some methods require physical access to the device and can lead to the loss of current settings (for example, Mesh network binding or parental control). If the router is rented from the provider, contact support: self-reset often violates the terms of the contract.

Method 1: Hardware reset via Reset button (works on 90% of models)

The most reliable and versatile method is a factory reset, suitable for all Xiaomi routers except for devices with modified firmware (for example, Mi Router 3G with Padavan), the main advantage is that it does not require knowledge of the current password or access to the web interface.

Instructions:

• 🔌 Turn off the router power (remove the plug from the socket).
• 🖱️ Press and hold the Reset button (usually located on the back, next to the port). WAN).
• ⚡ Without releasing the button, connect the power back.
• ⏳ Hold Reset for another 10-15 seconds until the indicators start flashing orange (in some models, a quick blink of blue).
• 🔄 Release the button and wait for the reboot (2-3 minutes).

Are all devices disconnected from the router (except power)|

Is there a backup of settings (if the router has already been configured)|

Is the router connected to the 220V network directly (without the UPS)|

Does the power indicator burn after pressing Reset?

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After discharge:

• 🌐 Router to create new Wi-Fi network Xiaomi_XXXX (where XXXX — last-minute MAC-address).
• 🔑 The Wi-Fi password and admin panel will be displayed on the sticker under the router (usually an 8-digit combination).
• ⚠️ All previous settings including Port Forwarding, VPN and QoS) will be removed.

⚠️ Attention: On Xiaomi routers AX9000 and AX6000 MiWiFi-based R4CM The Reset button can only work if it's held for more than 20 seconds. If the indicators don't blink, try repeating the procedure with longer retention time.

Method 2: Reset via Mi Home (if the router is linked to an account)

If a Xiaomi router is linked to your Mi Account, you can reset your password without physically accessing the device.This method works for models with cloud-enabled management: Mi Router 4A Gigabit, AX1800, AX3000 and later.

Step-by-step:

1. Open the Mi Home app on your smartphone.

Once confirmed, the router will restart and return to factory settings.

⚠️ Note: If the router was bought from hand and tied to someone else's Mi Account, this method will not work, in which case you will need to contact the previous owner to untie the device or use the methods in the section about Telnet.

Method 3: Reset via web interface (if the Wi-Fi password is known)

If you're connected to a router network (even without access to an admin panel), you can try resetting your password through a hidden recovery page, which works on MiWiFi R3 firmware and later.

Instructions:

1. Connect to the router’s Wi-Fi network (the password is usually indicated on the sticker).
2. Open your browser and go to http://192.168.31.1/cgi-bin/luci/;stok=/ws (if 192.168.31.1 doesn't open, try 192.168.0.1).
3. Enter the standard credentials: Login: admin Password: leave the field empty or enter admin.

System → Backup / Flash Firmware

Reset to Default Settings

If the page does not open, try an alternative address:

http://192.168.31.1/cgi-bin/luci/;stok=/ws/admin/reboot

Sometimes this URL allows you to reset the router to Restore mode.

💡

If the web interface is blocked, but you know the Wi-Fi password, try connecting to SSH (port 22) with the root login and the password from the sticker. On some firmware, this works even after changing the admin password.

Method 4: Reset via Telnet (for advanced users)

If standard methods don't work, and the router runs on OpenWRT or Padavan firmware, you can use Telnet protocol. This requires minimal knowledge of working with the command line, but allows you to reset your password without losing network configuration.

Step-by-step instructions for Windows:

1. Download and install PuTTY (or use the built-in Telnet client in Windows 10/11).
2. Connect to the router via cable (Wi-Fi may be disabled after unsuccessful login attempts).
3. Launch PuTTY and type: Host: 192.168.31.1 (or 192.168.0.1) Port: 23 Connection Type: Telnet

Open

Login: root


Password: Admin (or password from the sticker)

nvram set http_passwd=""


nvram commit




reboot

After rebooting, the admin panel password will be empty (admin/empty).

⚠️ Attention: On routers with MiWiFi firmware R4A And then the newer Telnet is disabled by default, and you have to get the stok token first from the web interface or the mobile app to activate it.

Method 5: Reset via Recovery Mode (for bricks and non-working routers)

If the Xiaomi router does not load (only power indicators are on, there is no Wi-Fi access), there may be a firmware failure, in which case the recovery mode will help.

Instructions:

• 🔧 Use the MiWiFi Repair Tool (download here) to flash your device.

Once the firmware is successfully run, the router will return to factory settings, and all data (including passwords) will be erased.

💡

If the router doesn't respond to the Reset button and doesn't go into Recovery Mode, the memory chip may be damaged, and only repairs at the service center will help.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Even following the instructions, users often encounter problems, and here are the most common mistakes and solutions:

If none of these methods helped, check:

• 🔋 Router power: try another power supply (especially relevant for Mi Router) 4C, where the original adapter often fails).
• 📡 Antennas: on models with external antennas (AX6000) Check the density of their connection.
• 🔄 Firmware: forums 4PDA often lay out patches to unlock routers with a "brick".

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions