How to reset the Xiaomi router to factory settings: 3 proven ways

Why Reset Xiaomi Router and When It’s Really Needed

Xiaomi routers are some of the most popular home networking devices because of their combination of price, performance and functionality. However, even the most reliable appliances can eventually start to malfunction: slow Wi-Fi, spontaneous reboots, inability to connect new devices or errors in the web interface, in 80% of these cases, a factory reset, a procedure that returns the router to its original state, as after purchase.

But before you grab the Reset button, you need to know if it's really necessary. Reset erases all personal settings: Wi-Fi name and password, guest network, device priorities (QoS), parental controls, IPTV settings, and even tied Mi Home accounts. If the problem is caused by a temporary failure (for example, after a firmware update), try first restarting the router through the web interface or turning off power for 30 seconds. Reset is an extreme measure to resort if:

• 🔄 The router is constantly restarting or “hanging” (indicators burn abnormally).
• 🔒 You forgot your password from the admin panel or Wi-Fi, and it is impossible to restore it.
• 📡 Internet speed has fallen without objective reasons (problems at the provider are excluded).
• 🛠️ You need to transfer the router to another user, deleting all personal data.
• 🔧 After the firmware update, critical errors appeared (for example, 5 GHz does not work).

Importantly, if the router is connected to the Mi Home or Xiaomi Smart Home system, the reset will break the connection with smart devices (lamps, sensors, cameras).

Method 1: Reset via Reset button (hardware method)

The most versatile method that works even if the router does not load or you forgot the password from the admin panel. Reset button (sometimes signed as WPS/Reset) is on all Xiaomi models, from the budget Mi Router 4C to the flagship AX9000.

• 🔘 Recessed in the case (need a paper clip or toothpick).
• 🔘 Speaker (pressed with a finger).
• 🔘 Coupled with a button WPS (long-press resets settings).

Step instructions:

1. Turn the router on (the power indicator should burn).
2. Find the Reset button on the back or bottom (see the photo for your model below).
3. Press and hold the button for 10-15 seconds (for some models, 5 seconds are enough, but it is better to be safe).
4. The indicators will start flashing orange or yellow – this is a signal that the reset is started.
5. Release the button and wait for the reboot (1-2 minutes).

Attention to models! With the Xiaomi AIoT Router AC2350 and AX3600 routers, the Reset button is combined with WPS. To reset the settings, you need to:

1. Press the WPS/Reset button once (a short press activates WPS).
2. Wait 3 seconds until the indicator starts to blink slowly.
3. Press the button again and hold for 10 seconds until the indicators blink quickly.

⚠️ Warning: If the router fails to turn on after reset or the indicators are not on normally (e.g. red), this may indicate a hardware malfunction. In this case, try to turn off the power for 5 minutes, then repeat the reset. If the problem remains, repairs are required.

Method 2: Reset via web interface (if you have access to admin)

If the router works, but you want to return factory settings without physical intervention, use the web interface. This method saves firmware but deletes all user data. Suitable for Xiaomi models with MiWiFi or OpenWRT-based firmware.

Steps for discharge:

1. Connect to the router via Wi-Fi or Ethernet cable.
2. Open your browser and type in 192.168.31.1 (for most models) or miwifi.com. If the page doesn't open, check the FAQ section.
3. Enter the login and password (by default – admin and password from the sticker on the router).
4. Go to Settings → Additional → Backup/Reset (or System → Reset in English).
5. Click Reset settings and confirm the action.

Once confirmed, the router will restart (up to 2 minutes), do not turn off power at this point, this can damage the firmware. If the web interface does not open after the reset, try:

• 🔄 Update the page in 5 minutes (sometimes the router needs time to initialize).
• 🔌 Reconnect the Ethernet cable or restart your computer.
• 📡 Reset your browser cache or try another (e.g. Chrome instead of Edge).

💡

If you have a router that needs to log in to Mi Account after reset, but you don't remember the data, use the Reset button again. Sometimes double reset 1 minute apart helps.

⚠️ Note: On routers with Padavan firmware (alternative firmware), the path to reset may be different: Administration → Factory Defaults: After resetting, such devices may require reconfiguring PPPoE or DHCP manually.

Method 3: Reset via the Mi WiFi mobile app (for new models)

Modern Xiaomi routers (e.g. AX6000, BE7000) support management through the official Mi WiFi app (formerly Mi Router), which is convenient if you do not have access to a computer or prefer to configure the network from a smartphone.

Instructions:

1. Install the Mi WiFi app from the App Store or Google Play.
2. Connect to the router network (if Wi-Fi is not working, use mobile internet and log in via Mi Account).
3. Open the app and select your router from the list of devices.
4. Go to Settings → General → Reset settings.
5. Confirm the action and wait for the reboot.

Features of the method:

• ✅ It works even if you forget the password from the web interface (only Mi Account is required).
• ❌ Not suitable for older models (e.g. Mi Router 3 is not supported).
• 🔄 After the reset, the application will offer to restore the settings from the backup (if it was created earlier).

What to do after resetting: initial router setup

After a successful reset, Xiaomi's router will return to factory settings, which means:

• 📶 The Wi-Fi name will be standard (for example, the name is a standard Wi-Fi name, Xiaomi_XXXX).
• 🔐 Password from the network and the admin panel will be reset to the factory (indicated on the sticker).
• 🌐 Internet settings (PPPoE, DHCP) I'll have to re-introduce.

To quickly restore the network, follow this algorithm:

1. Connect to the router via Wi-Fi (network name and password on the sticker) or via cable.
2. Open the web interface (192.168.31.1) and log in under admin.
3. Set up the Internet: For PPPoE (for example, Rostelecom, Beeline), enter a login / password from the provider. For DHCP (for example, Dom.ru), it is enough to save the default settings.

Change the name and password of Wi-Fi

Wireless mode

Update the firmware

System → Update

A critical mistake many users make: after reset, they do not change the factory password from the admin panel (admin).This makes the router vulnerable to hacking! be sure to set a complex password (at least 8 characters with numbers and letters).

💡

After resetting, the router will not automatically connect to the Internet – you need to re-enter the data from the provider (even if everything worked before).

Common Resetting Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Even a simple procedure like resetting can go wrong. Here are the typical mistakes and their solutions:

If the router after reset does not turn on at all (no indication), this may indicate:

• 🔌 Power supply problems (try another adapter with similar options).
• 🔥 Overheating or failure of the chips (repair required).
• ⚡ Voltage spike (if the router was connected without UPS).

FAQ: Frequent questions about resetting Xiaomi routers