How to increase the speed of the Xiaomi router: from basic settings to advanced hacks

Your Xiaomi router is slowing down and your internet speed is falling at peak hours? The problem isn't always with the provider -- often the fault is with the device's incorrect settings, congested Wi-Fi channels, or outdated software. 10 Proven ways to increase the speed of the Xiaomi router (including Mi Router models) 3/4/4A/4C/5/AX), From basic tricks to little-known optimizations for power users.

We won’t advise you to “just reboot the router” — instead, you’ll get detailed instructions explaining why a particular method works. 149-165 ranged 5 GHz can give you speed up to 30%? Or that disabling Mu-MIMO sometimes increases connection stability?The article also takes a look at the typical errors users make when setting up Xiaomi routers, and gives specific recommendations for different scenarios (gaming devices, smart home, streaming video).

1. Current speed check: basic network audit

Before you optimize, you need to know where the bottleneck is. Most people just test the speed on their phone -- that's not enough.

📱 Test on different devices: check the speed on your smartphone (Miui/Android/iOS), laptop (Windows/macOS) Xiaomi TV (The difference in performance will indicate a problem with a particular client.
📡 Measurement next to the router: connect to Wi-Fi 1 meter away from the device. If the speed is still low, the router or provider is a problem.
🔌 Direct cable connection: use LAN-If the cable is fast and the Wi-Fi is not, the wireless settings are to blame.

For accurate measurements, use the services:

Speedtest.net (check on your provider’s server)
Fast.com (from Netflix, shows real speed for streaming)
WiFi Analyzer (channel load analysis)

📊 What is your Xiaomi router?

Mi Router 3/3C

Mi Router 4/4A/4C

Mi Router 5/5G

AX1800/AX3000/AX6000

Other

Critical indicators that should be noted:

Parameter	Norma.	Problem.
Ping (ms)	<30	>100 (delays in games)
Wi-Fi speeds of 5 GHz	>70% of the tariff	<50% (packet loss)
Signal (dBm)	-50…-60	<-70 (weak-signal)
Jitter (ms)	<10	>30 (unstable connection)

⚠️ Note: If the cable speed is below the provider's rate, the router is not the problem. First, call the ISP's support and ask them to check the packet loss line. -t ya.ru in the command line will show stability).

2. Optimization of Wi-Fi channels: how to avoid interference

Most Xiaomi routers by default choose the channel automatically - and this is the most common reason for slow Wi-Fi. 1, 6, 11 (2.4 GHz and 36-48 (5 GHz) is usually overloaded. Here's how to fix it:

For the 2.4 GHz range:

🔍 Use WiFi Analyzer (Android) or NetSpot (Windows/macOS), And in urban settings, it's often the least congested channel. 13 (if supported) or 11.
📶 Set a fixed channel manually: go to Settings → Wi-Fi → Additional settings → Canal.
🛡️ Turn it off. WMM (QoS) if you have older devices (e.g. Xiaomi Mi Router 3) this feature may conflict with some customers.

For the 5GHz range (where the speed is higher but the range is smaller):

🚀 Choose channels. 149-165 (They are less crowded because they require support. DFS (dynamical frequency selection).
⚡ Enable 80 MHz channel width for maximum speed (but only if there are no other networks nearby on that channel!).
🔄 If the speed is unstable, try 40 MHz, which will reduce peak speed but increase stability.

How to check for support DFS in your region?

In Russia and Europe, channels 149-165 Officially allowed, but some routers (e.g. early Mi Router versions) 4A) If you don't have them in your settings, upgrade your firmware or use alternative software (e.g. Padavan).

Most users’ critical error: using automatic channel selection in range 5 GHz.The router algorithm often selects congested channels 36-48, ignoring free 149-165.

3. firmware update: why it's more important than you think

The firmware of Xiaomi router affects not only security, but also performance, and newer versions often optimize:

🔄 Routing algorithms (reduced delay)
📶 Support for new Wi-Fi standards (e.g, 802.11ax for AX-series)
🛡️ Fix vulnerabilities that may be slowing down the network (e.g. attacks) KRACK)

How to update the firmware correctly:

Go to Settings → General → Update firmware.
If the automatic update does not find new versions, download the firmware manually from the official Xiaomi website (choose the version for your model!).
For manual installation: download the.bin file, then select Local Update in the router’s web interface.

Turn off all customers from Wi-Fi|Connect the router to the UPS (or laptop)|Download the correct version of the firmware|Do not interrupt the process (take up the process). 3-5 minute)-->

⚠️ Note: Some users report a slowdown after upgrading to the Mi Router 4A (If the speed has dropped after the update, try to roll back to the previous version via SSH (guideline).

For advanced users: if standard firmware is not satisfied, consider alternative firmware:

Padavan is optimized for speed, supports WireGuard and AdGuard Home.
OpenWRT – for full control of the network (requires skills to work with the Internet) SSH).

QoS (Quality of Service) setting: prioritizing traffic

QoS (or Xiaomi’s Smart QoS) allows you to share bandwidth between devices, which is disabled by default, but setting it right can greatly improve the experience:

How to set up QoS on Xiaomi routers:

Go to Settings. → Additionally. → QoS.
Enable Smart QoS and select the connection type (usually PPPoE or Dynamic). IP).
Please indicate the actual speed of your tariff. 10-15% below the declared provider).
Set priorities: 🎮 Games: Maximum priority for UDP-ports, for example, 27000-27030 steam). 📺 Streaming: High priority for Netflix, YouTube, Twitch. 🖥️ Work: A middle priority for Zoom, Teams.

Configuration details:

If you have a Mi Router AX, Turn on Mu-MIMO only if all connected devices support it (otherwise, the speed may drop!).
For Xiaomi Mi Router 4C Turn off Airtime Fairness – this feature often conflicts with QoS.

💡

If you have speed issues with online gaming, add a rule to QoS for the game. ICMP-This will reduce delays in checking the connection.

5. Optimization DHCP and DNS: speeding up page loading

Slow Internet is not always associated with slow speed, and delays in resolution are often to blame. DNS receiving IP-Here's how to fix it:

Setting up DHCP:

🔄 Reduce the rental time IP This will reduce delays when connecting new devices.Way: Settings → Local area network → DHCP.
📋 Limit the range of issued IP-For example, if you have 10 devices, set the range from 192.168.31.100 to 192.168.31.120.

Change of DNS:

🌍 Replace. DNS Provider on faster: 1.1.1.1 (Cloudflare) - the fastest for most regions. 8.8.8.8 (Google) - stable, but sometimes blocked. 77.88.8.8 (Yandex) - optimized for Russia.
🔒 Use AdGuard to block ads DNS: 176.103.130.130.

To change the DNS on the Xiaomi router:

Go to Settings. → Internet → Settings IP.
In the field Main DNS enter 1.1.1.1, in the Alternative DNS — 1.0.0.1.
Save the settings and restart the router.

💡

Replacement DNS on Cloudflare (1.1.1.1) It can reduce the loading time of pages 20-40% Faster resolution of domain names.

6 Advanced settings: SSH, MTU Disabling unnecessary functions

If the basic methods don't work, it's time to dig deeper, and these settings require caution, but they can give you a significant boost in speed.

Change of change MTU:

📏 Optimal value MTU For most providers, it's 1472 (instead of the standard 1500) and it reduces packet fragmentation.
To change MTU On a Xiaomi router, you will need to SSH-Enter the command: nvram set mtu_wan=1472 nvram commit reboot

Disconnection of unnecessary services:

🔌 Turn it off. IPv6, If your provider does not support it (check in Settings). → Internet).
📡 Turn off Googles. DNS over TLS (If enabled, this may add delays.
🔄 Disable Remote Management (in Settings) → General) if you do not use access to the router from the outside.

Optimization through SSH:

For Mi Router models 3/4/AX You can manually turn off the extra processes. SSH (login: root, password - from the router label) and follow:

Disconnecting unnecessary services


/etc/init.d/dnsmasq stop




/etc/init.d/nas stop



Increase network buffers



echo 4194304 > /proc/sys/net/core/rmem_max




echo 4194304 > /proc/sys/net/core/wmem_max

⚠️ Note: Incorrect commands in the SSH You can build a router. Before you experiment, back up your settings in Settings. → Additionally. → Backup.

7. Hardware improvements: placement of router and antenna

Even the most powerful router Xiaomi AX6000 It's going to slow down if you're in the wrong place:

Optimal accommodation:

📍 Put the router in the center of the apartment, at height. 1.5-2 meter (for example, on the cabinet).
🚫 Avoid areas near: Microwaves (produce interference at 2.4 GHz), Mirrors and aquariums (reflect signal) Metal structures (shield signal)
🔄 If the router is in the corner, deploy it with antennas at an angle of 45.° better coverage.

Signal amplification:

📶 For the Mi Router 4A You can buy external antennas with connector RP-SMA (For example, TP-Link TL-ANT2408CL).
🔗 If you need a larger coverage area, use a Mesh system (e.g., Xiaomi Mi Mesh Router) or a repeater (Mi Wi-Fi Repeater 2).
🔌 For stable connection of critical devices (e.g. Xiaomi) TV or gaming PC) use Powerline adapters (wiring Internet transmission).

Heating problems:

Xiaomi routers (especially Mi Router 3 and 4) are prone to overheating, which leads to trottling (automatic speed reduction).

🌬️ Provide ventilation (do not put the router in a closed cabinet).
🔥 If the case is hot, use a cooling stand (for example, for laptops).
🔄 Reboot the router once in a while. 2-3 day (you can set up automatic reboot on schedule).

8. Diagnostics and solutions to specific problems

If the speed is still low after all the settings, check these nuances:

Problem: Speed drops in the evening

📉 The ISP (network congestion) Solution: turn on QoS and limit torrents on other devices.
🔄 Switch to a less loaded channel (see Section 2).

Problem: Low speed at 5GHz

📶 Check if your device supports 5GHz (like old Xiaomi Redmi smartphones) 4A They only work at 2.4 GHz).
🔌 Reduce the channel width to 40 MHz (instead of 80 MHz) if the signal is weak.

Problem: Router "hangs"

🔄 Turn it off. IPv6 and DNS over TLS (They can cause conflicts).
🛠️ Reset the settings to factory (Settings) → Additionally. → Reset) and reset the router.

Problem: Slow Wi-Fi on Xiaomi TV

📺 Connect the TV by cable (Wi-Fi modules in Xiaomi) TV frequently).
🔄 In the router settings, turn on IGMP Snooping (for stable use) IPTV).

💡

If the Wi-Fi speed on your Xiaomi phone is lower than on other devices, check the power saving settings: turn off “Wi-Fi Optimization” in the “Battery and Performance” section.

FAQ: Frequent questions about speeding up Xiaomi router

❓ Why did the speed drop after the firmware update?

In some firmware versions (e.g. 2.28.15 for Mi Router) 4A) There are bugs with Wi-Fi drivers. Solutions: Reverse to the previous version through SSH. Install an alternative firmware (Padavan or OpenWRT) reset to factory settings and reset the router.

❓ Which 5GHz channel to choose for maximum speed?

Optimal channels (if supported): 149-165 (Less busy but need support DFS). 36-48 (standard, but often overloaded). 100-144 (Use WiFi Analyzer to find the freest channel in your region.

❓ Should I turn off 2.4 GHz if there is 5 GHz?

No, not necessarily. 2.4 GHz needed for: Devices with weak Wi-Fi (such as smart light bulbs Xiaomi Yeelight). Improved coverage (signal) 2.4 GHz is better at going through walls. But you can separate networks: create two different Wi-Fi networks (e.g., GHz, MyWiFi_2G and MyWiFi_5G) and connect devices selectively.

❓ How to check if the router is slowing down due to overheating?

Signs of overheating: Router body hot to the touch.Speed drops after 1-2 Hours of operation. In logs (Settings) → Additionally. → System logs have thermal errors. Solutions: Improve ventilation (e.g., put the router on a stand); Reduce load (disable torrents, limit the number of connected devices); If the router is old (e.g., Mi Router). 3), Consider replacing the passive cooling model (e.g, AX3000).

❓ Can you increase the speed of the Xiaomi router with an external antenna?

Yes, but with reservations: ✅ Suitable for models with connectors RP-SMA (Mi Router 4A, Mi Router 5G). ❌ It won't help Mi Router. 3 and AX1800 (antennae). 📶 Speed increase: up to 20-30% if the antenna is properly placed (directed towards the devices). TL-ANT2408CL (8 dBi) or Alfa Network APA-M25 (2.4/5 GHz).