How to change the password on the router Xiaomi 4A: 3 ways + reset settings

Xiaomi Mi Router router 4A It remains one of the most popular budget solutions for home networking, but even experienced users sometimes have difficulty changing the Wi-Fi password. 4C or AX3000), bal 4A-The management interface has its own features, especially if we are talking about firmware older than 2021, in this article we will analyze all the current ways to change the password: through the web dashboard, mobile application and manually after resetting the settings.

It's important to understand that the Wi-Fi password and the router admin bar password are different things: the first protects your network from unauthorized devices, the second protects your network from setting changes. We'll show you how to change both types of passwords, and also what to do if you forget your current login data, and we'll focus on the hidden settings of the MiWiFi R4A firmware that are not dokumented in the official instructions.

1.Preparation: What to Know Before Changing Your Password

Before you start changing your password, check out a few key points:

  • πŸ”Œ The router must be on and stable (power indicator is lit blue or orange).
  • πŸ“Ά Connect to the router’s network – either via Wi-Fi or via Ethernet cable (recommended for stability).
  • πŸ” Make sure you know the current administrator password (often admin or blank by default).
  • πŸ“± Update your firmware if the router does not respond to standard commands (relevant for devices older than 2020).

If you forget the password from the control panel, you will have to do a hardware reset (section 4). If only the Wi-Fi password is forgotten, you can change it through the Mi WiFi application without completely resetting (section 3).

⚠️ Attention: On Xiaomi routers 4A MiWiFi-based R4A Version 2.0.76 and below may not have the option to change your password through the web interface.

πŸ“Š How do you usually set up a router?
Through the web interface
Through the mobile app
Never set up.
Another way.

Method 1: Change passwords through the web interface (192.168.31.1)

The standard method that works on most firmware is suitable for changing the Wi-Fi password and administrator password:

  1. Open a browser (Chrome or Firefox is recommended) and type in the address bar 192.168.31.1 or miwifi.com.
  2. Enter the login and password to log into the control panel. By default: Login: admin Password: admin or blank (depending on the firmware version).

Go to Settings β†’ Wireless Mode (Wi-Fi).

In the Wi-Fi Password field, enter a new password. Recommended length β€” 8–20 symbols using letters, numbers and special characters (e.g. Xiaomi)@4A_2026).

Click Save and wait for the router to restart (1-2 minutes).

If you need to change your administrator password, go to Settings β†’ System β†’ Administrator Password and follow a similar procedure.

β˜‘οΈ Check before saving a new password

Done: 0 / 4

⚠️ Note: On some firmware versions, after changing your Wi-Fi password, the router can automatically turn off the guest network. β†’ Guest network and activate the option again.

3. Method 2: Change password through the Mi WiFi app

The Mi WiFi mobile application (available for Android and iOS) is often more convenient than the web interface, especially if the router runs on the latest firmware.

  1. Download and install the Mi WiFi app from Google Play or the App Store.
  2. Connect your smartphone to the network of the Xiaomi 4A router over Wi-Fi.
  3. Launch the app and click on your router icon in the main menu.
  4. Go to the Wi-Fi settings section (or Network Management in newer versions).
  5. Select Change Password, enter a new one and save the changes.

The advantage of this method is automatic synchronization with the Xiaomi cloud (if Cloud Management is enabled), which means that the password can be restored even after resetting the router, if you have access to your Mi Account.

What to do if the app does not see the router?
Make sure your smartphone and router are on the same network. Turn off the VPN or proxy on your phone. Reboot the router (Reset button for 10 seconds). Update the Mi WiFi app to the latest version.

If the app requests a confirmation code when you sign in, but you don’t get it:

  • πŸ“§ Check the Spam folder in the mail linked to the Mi Account.
  • πŸ”„ Try sending the code again in 1-2 minutes.
  • 🌐 If you use two-factor authentication, confirm the login via SMS.

Method 3: Reset the router to factory settings (if you forgot the password)

If you don't remember your administrator password or Wi-Fi, and other methods don't work, you'll have to reset completely, and that will put the router back out of the box, but all settings (including network name, passwords, device priorities) will be erased.

Discharge procedure:

  1. Find the Reset button on the back of the router (usually it is recessed in the case).
  2. Take a paperclip or toothpick, press and hold the button for 10-15 seconds until the indicators start flashing orange.
  3. Release the button and wait for the reboot (2-3 minutes).
  4. Connect to the network. Xiaomi_XXXX (without password and reset the router through 192.168.31.1.
Action.Router indicationWhat's going on?
Reset button pressedThe indicator burns orange.Starting the discharge process
Holding 5-7 secondsThe indicator flashes orangeResetting settings
Release of the buttonThe indicator flashes blue.Router reboot
Ready to set upThe indicator is on blue.Factory settings applied

⚠️ Attention: On Xiaomi routers 4A With modified firmware (like Padavan), resetting with the Reset button may not work. UART β€” procedure.

πŸ’‘

If the router doesn't give away Wi-Fi after reset, check if the Access Point (AP) mode is on in the settings. Switch it back to Router Mode.

5. Frequent errors and their solutions

When you change your password to Xiaomi 4A, users face typical problems.

  • πŸ”„ Page 192.168.31.1 Check the router connection (Wi-Fi or cable). Try another browser or clear the cache. If the router is new, maybe it's in hotspot mode, connect to the network. Xiaomi_AP.
  • πŸ” Administrator Password is not suitable Try combinations: admin / admin root / admin Empty password (just click Login) If nothing works - do a reset (section 4).
  • πŸ“΅ After changing the Wi-Fi password, the devices do not connect Make sure the new password does not contain Cyrillic characters or spaces. Restart the router manually (turn off power for 30 seconds).

Another common mistake is that the router freezes when you save your settings, which is common for firmware older than 2019.

  1. Turn off the router from power for 1 minute.
  2. Connect to it via cable (not Wi-Fi!).
  3. Repeat the password change procedure.

πŸ’‘

If the router starts to slow down after changing the password, check if the Smart Speed Limit function is enabled in the QoS settings.

6. Additional security settings

Changing your password is just the first step to protecting your network, and you should also set up:

  • πŸ”’ Type of encryption: select WPA2-PSK or WPA3-PSK (In new firmware. Avoid obsolete ones. WEP.
  • πŸ“‘ Hiding SSID: Turn off network visibility in Wireless Mode settings β†’ Hiding the network won't make the network completely invisible, but it will reduce the number of attempts to connect.
  • πŸ›‘οΈ Filtration MAC-Addresses: Allow connection only to trusted devices (Settings section) β†’ Wireless mode β†’ Filter MAC).
  • πŸ”„ Update firmware: check the relevance of the software in Settings β†’ System system β†’ Firmware update.

For maximum safety, change the standard IP-The router address (from 192.168.31.1 to another, such as 192.168.10.1) will make it harder to access the control panel from the outside. β†’ Network β†’ LAN.

How to check if your router has been hacked?
Go to Settings. β†’ Status. β†’ Connected devices and check the list. MAC-Addresses (especially those with unusual names) may indicate unauthorized access.

7. Restoring access after unsuccessful changes

If after changing the password, the router stopped working correctly (does not distribute the Internet, the control panel does not open), try the following steps:

  1. Hard reboot: Turn off the router power for 1 minute, then turn it back on. This will reset the temporary errors.
  2. Checking the Internet connection: if the router does not issue IP-address (DHCP), Connect to it by cable and manually assign yourself. IP ranged 192.168.31.X (for example, 192.168.31.100).
  3. Firmware rollback: If the problems started after the update, download the previous version of the software from the official Xiaomi website and manually thread the router.

If the router is completely "bricked" (does not respond to reset, does not burn the indicator), you will need to restore through UART.

  • πŸ”§ USB-TTL adapter (e.g, CP2102).
  • πŸ–₯️ PuTTY or Screen (for the purposes of Linux/Mac).
  • πŸ“„ Firmware in.bin format for your model.

The UART recovery procedure is beyond the scope of this article, but you can find detailed instructions on the 4PDA or OpenWRT forums.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions

Can I change my password to Xiaomi 4A without accessing the settings?
No, if you don't know the current administrator password, the only way is to reset hardware (Section 4), and then the router will return to the factory settings, and you can set a new password.
How to find your current Wi-Fi password if you forget it?
If you have a device that is already connected to the network (such as a smartphone or laptop), you can look at the password: On Windows: Control Panel β†’ Network and Internet β†’ Network Control Center β†’ Wireless Network β†’ Properties β†’ Security (check Check Display Typed Signs). On Android: root rights or an application like WiFi Password Viewer are required. On MacOS: Open (Connection) β†’ Wi-Fi β†’ Additional β†’ Show Password.
Why did the Wi-Fi speed drop after changing the password?
This may be due to: Automatically switching to a less loaded channel (check Settings β†’ Wireless β†’ Channel); Enabling Smart Speed Limit (turn it off in Settings β†’ QoS); Router failure (reset it).
Can I put a password on the control panel if it was not?
Yes, many Xiaomi 4A defaults to an administrator password. To set it, go to the control panel on 192.168.31.1. Go to Settings β†’ System β†’ Administrator password. Enter a new password and save the changes. We recommend using a complex password other than the Wi-Fi password.
Will this guide be suitable for the Xiaomi Router 4C or 4A Gigabit Edition?
Partially. The interface and basic steps are similar, but there are differences: Xiaomi 4C: no Reset button on the case - reset is done via Power button Hold 10 seconds. 4A Gigabit Edition: supports WPA3 and has advanced QoS settings. For precise instructions on these models, look for separate manuals.