How to connect two Xiaomi routers: 4 proven ways

Why combine two Xiaomi routers and what it does

Have you noticed that Wi-Fi signals don’t reach far rooms, and the Internet speeds dip when connecting multiple devices? Combining two Xiaomi routers solves these problems – but only if you do it correctly. Illiterate connection may not only not improve coverage, but also create conflicts. IP-Addresses or “twin” the network, causing devices to constantly reconnect.

In this article — 4 Xiaomi router connection methods (including Mi Router models) 4A/4C/4Q, AX3600, AX6000 Redmi Router, relevant for firmware MIWIFI 2026. We will analyze the pros and cons of each method, give step-by-step instructions with screenshots of the menu and warn about typical errors that lead to “eternal” flashing of the indicator or lack of access to settings.

Spoiler: If you want seamless roaming (automatic switching between points without breaking the connection), the only reliable option is Mesh mode, but it only works on models with support for Xiaomi Mesh (AX-For older routers, a cable connection or a cable connection is suitable. WDS.

Method 1: Connecting via cable (LAN-WAN) — most stable method

This is a good method if the routers are in the same apartment and you can lay a network cable, the advantages: maximum speed (up to 1 Gbps), no delays and minimal settings, the main thing is to correctly allocate the roles of the devices.

You'll need:

• 🔌 Network cable (twisted pair Cat) 5e or higher, up to 100 meters in length).
• 📡 Two Xiaomi routers (one will be the main one, the second will be an additional one).
• 💻 Computer or smartphone to set up.

Step-by-step:

1. Connect the main router to the Internet and set it up (if not already done). IP-range 192.168.31.x (by default Xiaomi).
2. The second router disconnect from the power and reset it to factory settings (reset button for 10 seconds).
3. Connect ports: cable from LAN-port of the main router insert in WAN-port.
4. Turn on the second router and connect to its network (by default). Xiaomi_XXXX).
5. Open the control panel at 192.168.31.1, go to Settings → Operating mode and select Router Mode (not Bridge!).
6. In the section Network → WAN set "Dynamic" IP» (DHCP) and save the settings.
7. Turn it off. DHCP-server on an additional router: Settings → Local area network → DHCP-server → Shut down.
8. Change. IP-address of the second router on 192.168.31.2 (to avoid conflict with the main router).

Cable is connected to WAN-port|

DHCP disabled on the second device|

IP-Routers do not conflict (192.168.31.1 and 192.168.31.2)|

Internet speed on devices not lower than 90% of the original-->

⚠️ Note: If the device does not receive the Internet after setting up, check whether the main router blocks the connection to the Internet. MAC-The settings menu. → Wireless network → Filter MAC It should be "Disconnected».

Method 2: Wireless connection via WDS (without cable, but with a loss of speed)

If you cannot install the cable, use it. WDS (Wireless Distribution System: This method extends Wi-Fi coverage, but has two major drawbacks:

• 📉 Speed loss of up to 50% (dual data transfer).
• 🔄 No seamless roaming – devices will “jump” between networks.

How to set up WDS on Xiaomi routers:

1. Make sure both routers are running in the same range (2.4GHz or 5GHz). 4A Only 2.4 GHz is available.
2. On the main router, fix the Wi-Fi channel (turn off the auto selection): Settings → Wi-Fi → Canal.
3. On the additional router, go to Settings → Mode of work → Bridge (WDS).
4. Select the main router network from the list and enter its password.
5. Turn it off. DHCP on the additional device and save the settings.

After setting up, restart both routers. If the connection is not established, check:

• 🔍 Whether the Wi-Fi standards are the same (for example, 802.11n both-device).
• 🔒 Is the password from the main network correctly entered.
• 📡 Are there any interferences from other networks on the selected channel (use the Wi-Fi Analyzer app for analysis).

Cable (LAN-WAN)|

Through WDS (wireless)|

Mesh mode|

Never tried.|

Method 3: Mesh mode for Xiaomi routers AX-series (seamless roaming)

If you have Xiaomi routers AX3600, AX6000 or AX9000, You can create a Mesh network that automatically switches between points. It's the only way to get seamless roaming, where a smartphone or laptop seamlessly moves from one router to another without breaking the connection.

Requirements for the Mesh network:

• 📋 Both routers should support Xiaomi Mesh (check the specifications of the model).
• 🔄 Firmware not lower MIWIFI 1.0.156 (update via Settings) → Update).
• 📶 It is advisable to use 5 GHz for connection between routers (less interference).

Instructions for setting up Mesh:

1. Connect the main router to the Internet and update its firmware.
2. Install the second router within the coverage area of the main one (no further than 10 meters for a stable connection).
3. Open the Mi Wi-Fi app on your smartphone and select Add Device → Mesh-network.
4. Follow the instructions: the application will find the second router and offer to combine them.
5. Wait for sync (it takes 2-5 minutes). You're done -- you've got one network that automatically switches.

⚠️ Note: Xiaomi Mesh network cannot use different Wi-Fi names for the main and secondary routers. SSID If you manually change the name of the network on the second device, the Mesh will burst.

Method 4: Connecting via Repeat Mode – simple but inefficient

If your router does not support WDS or Mesh, you can try Repeater mode (available on Redmi Router) AC2100 This is the easiest method to set up, but it's very slow and not suitable for stable operation.

How to turn on the repeater mode:

1. Connect to the network of the router, which will be a repeater.
2. Open the Control Panel (192.168.31.1) and go to Settings → Mode of work.
3. Select “Repeater Mode” and click Next.
4. Select the main network from the list and enter its password.
5. Save the settings and wait for the reboot.

Cons of this method:

• 🐢 Speed drops 2-3 times (repeater shares bandwidth with client devices).
• 🔌 It is impossible to connect devices via cable to a repeater (LAN-port off).
• 🔄 Frequent breaks of connection under high load.

💡

If you need to temporarily expand the network (for example, in the country), the repeater mode will do. WDS cable-wire.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Even if you follow the instructions correctly, the connection of two Xiaomi routers may not work correctly. Here are 5 common problems and solutions:

If neither of these methods works, try alternative firmware (like OpenWRT or Padavan) that supports advanced connection settings but requires technical skills. Xiaomi’s official firmware doesn’t allow you to flexibly set channel priorities or load balancing.

💡

Before buying a second router, check if it supports the desired mode (WDS/Mesh). For example, Mi Router 4A He doesn't know how to work at Mesh. AX3600 — supportive.

How to check that the connection is working correctly

After setting up, be sure to test the network:

• 📱 Walk around the apartment with your phone and check if Wi-Fi switches smoothly between routers (in Mesh this should happen unnoticed).
• 📊 Take the speed test at different points. If the speed drops by more than 30 percent, check the settings.
• 🔌 Connect the device via cable to an additional router and make sure the internet is working.
• 🖥️ In the main router control panel (192.168.31.1), check the list of connected devices – it should display clients from both routers.

If the speed through the second router is much lower than through the main router, the reasons may be as follows:

• 📡 Weak signal between routers (in mode) WDS Solution: zoom in or use a cable.
• 🔌 Poor quality network cable (if used) LAN-WAN). Solution: Replace the cable with Cat 6.
• 🔄 Router CPU overload. Solution: disable unnecessary functions (IPv6, Guest network).

FAQ: Frequent questions about connecting Xiaomi routers