How to turn on Wi-Fi 6 on Xiaomi router: a complete guide with pictures and tips

Why Wi-Fi 6 doesn’t always work on Xiaomi – and how to fix it

You bought a top-end Xiaomi router with Wi-Fi 6 support (AX3600, AX6000 or AX9000), But the speed of the Internet is not good, and there's not even a mention of a new standard in the settings, and the problem isn't the hardware, because 90 percent of users just don't know where to look for the options. The fact that Xiaomi by default hides advanced settings behind the “mode for experienced users”, and in some firmware Wi-Fi 6 is disabled due to compatibility bugs with outdated devices.

This article is not just an instruction "where to click", but a complete guide with a discussion of nuances: from checking the compatibility of your gadgets to fine-tuning channels and bandwidth. We’ll tell you how to make Wi-Fi 6 work to the maximum, even if your smartphone or laptop does not officially support the standard. 802.11ax. And also – we will analyze the typical errors, due to which the speed drops 2-3 times, although everything is “on correctly".

Spoiler: on Xiaomi routers with MiWiFi firmware R4A And the newer Wi-Fi 6 is activated in 3 clicks, but there are pitfalls. For example, if you live in an apartment building, automatic channel selection can negate all the benefits of the new standard.

Which Xiaomi Routers Support Wi-Fi 6 (Full List)

Before digging into the settings, make sure your model is even capable of Wi-Fi 6. Xiaomi releases routers with support 802.11ax from 2019, but not all of them are equally useful. Here's a current list of models with maximum speed and number of streams:

Note: Even if your router is on the list, Wi-Fi 6 may not work for three reasons:

• 🔌 Outdated firmware (needs a version of MiWiFi) R4A or newer).
• 📱 The client device (smartphone, laptop) does not support 802.11ax.
• ⚙️ The router's settings include compatibility mode with 802.11a/b/g/n/ac.

To check Wi-Fi 6 support on your smartphone or laptop, check the specifications on the manufacturer’s website or use the WiFi Analyzer (Android)/Wireless Diagnostics (macOS) app. If the device is released before 2019, chances are it only works on Wi-Fi 5 standard (802.11ac).

Step-by-step: how to turn on Wi-Fi 6 on Xiaomi

Turning on Wi-Fi 6 on Xiaomi routers takes no more than 5 minutes, but requires care. Follow the instructions strictly in order to avoid disrupting network settings.

Step 1. Log in to the router's web interface

Open the browser on any device connected to the router and type in the address bar:

http://miwifi.com

Or an alternate address:

192.168.31.1

Sign in with your login and password (admin / password from the sticker on the router by default). If you can't log in, reset the settings with the Reset button (hold 10 seconds).

Step 2: Switching to Power User Mode

By default, Xiaomi hides advanced settings to see them:

1. Go to Settings. → Additionally. → Mode of work.
2. Select the "Mode for experienced users".
3. Confirm the action and wait for the router to restart (1-2 minutes).

Update the router to the latest version

Connect to the router via cable (recommended)

Disconnect all devices from Wi-Fi except one

Write down the current network settings (SSID, password)-->

Step 3: Incorporation of the standard 802.11ax

Now that all options are available:

1. Go to Settings → Wi-Fi → Additional settings.
2. Find the Wi-Fi standard (or Wireless Mode).
3. Choose. 802.11ax for both bands (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz).
4. Save the settings and wait for the reboot.

Attention, if there's no list. 802.11ax, signifier:

• 🔄 Your firmware is outdated (update it to Settings) → Update).
• 📵 The router does not support Wi-Fi 6 (check the model at the beginning of the article).
• 🔌 You are connected to the guest network (reconnect to the main one).

Step 4: Optimization of channels and bandwidth

To make Wi-Fi 6 work at full capacity, set up:

• 📶 5GHz channel: select 149–165 (less crowded in cities).
• 📊 Channel width: set 160 MHz (if devices support).
• 🔄 Regime. DFS: Turn on if you want to use 50-144 channels (but be prepared for rare reconnections).

If the channels 149-165 are prohibited in your region (for example, in Russia), the router will automatically switch to the Internet. DFS-The channels, but the speed can be slowed by radar checks, so you'd better manually select a 36-48 channel with a width of 80 MHz.

💡

After turning on Wi-Fi 6, check the speed on your supported device 802.11ax (For example, iPhone 11 or Samsung Galaxy S20). If the speed has not increased, try to disable the Smart Channel Selection function in the router settings - sometimes it chooses suboptimal options.

Problems After Turning On Wi-Fi 6 and Solving Them

Even if you do everything right, you can have problems, and here are the most common ways to fix them:

If after turning on Wi-Fi 6, some devices stopped connecting, do not rush to roll back the settings. most likely, the problem is the type of encryption. WPA3, which does not support devices older than 2018:

1. Go to Settings → Wi-Fi → Security.
2. Choose. WPA2-PSK / WPA3-PSK (hybridism).
3. Save and reconnect the problem devices.

⚠️ Note: If your Xiaomi router AX6000 or AX9000 After the firmware update began to "lose" the Wi-Fi 6 settings, this is a well-known MiWiFi version bug. R4B and R4C. The solution is to roll back R4A Wait for a patch from the manufacturer.

How to Check if Wi-Fi 6 is Working

Turn on the settings is half the battle, and now you have to make sure that the devices are actually connected to the standard. 802.11ax, don't fall on 802.11ac Here are 3 ways to check for compatibility:

Method 1. Through the router's web interface

Go to Settings. → Status. → Connected devices. In the list, find your device and look at the Standard column. 802.11ax.

Method 2. Using mobile applications

For Android:

• 📱 Install WiFi Analyzer or NetSpot.
• Connect to the router network.
• Open the Connection Info tab, and there will be a Wi-Fi Standard bar.

For iOS:

• 🍎 Use the AirPort Utility app (hidden feature: click on the Wi-Fi icon in the upper right corner).
• In the About My Wi-Fi section, the connection protocol will be specified.

Method 3. Through the command line (Windows/macOS)

On Windows, open the Command Prompt and type:

netsh wlan show interfaces

Look for the radio type line – there should be 802.11ax.

On macOS in the Terminal, do:

system_profiler SPAirPortDataType

Find the conclusion PHY Mode - meaning 802.11ax It will confirm the work of Wi-Fi 6.

Additional settings for maximum speed

Wi-Fi 6 is on, but the speed is still below the declared 3000.+ Mbps? The thing is, by default, Xiaomi limits some parameters for stability. To get the most out, set up:

1. Inclusion MU-MIMO and OFDMA

These technologies are the backbone of Wi-Fi 6, but sometimes they're disabled "for compatibility."

1. Go to Settings → Wi-Fi → Additional settings.
2. Find the options. MU-MIMO and OFDMA — set "On".
3. For AX9000 Also turn on 160 MHz Channel if your devices support you).

2.QoS (Quality of Service) Optimization

If you have many devices (smartphones, smart home, game consoles), turn on traffic prioritization:

• 🎮 For gamers: Settings → QoS → Game mode.
• 📺 For streaming: Select Priority for video.
• 💻 To work: activate the Low Latency Mode.

3. Disabling unnecessary functions

Some options are slowing down the network.

• 🔄 Smart channel selection (better to set up manually).
• 📡 Signal amplification (may increase delays).
• 🔒 Filtration MAC-Addresses (if not used).

⚠️ Attention: On Xiaomi routers AX3600 MiWiFi-based R4D there is a bug: when you turn on 160 MHz and OFDMA At the same time, the speed of 2.4 GHz drops to 50 Mbit / s. OFDMA or upgrade to R4E.

Compatibility of Wi-Fi 6 with other devices

One of the big myths about Wi-Fi 6 is that if the router supports the standard, all devices will fly.

What devices support Wi-Fi 6?

Complete list of gadgets with 802.11ax:

• 📱 Smartphones: iPhone 11/12/13/14/15, Samsung Galaxy S10/S20/S21/S22, Xiaomi 11/12/13 series, Google Pixel 4/5/6/7.
• 💻 Laptops: MacBook Pro/Air 2019+, Dell XPS 13/15 2020+, HP Spectre x360 2020+.
• 🎮 Game consoles: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S.
• 🖥️ PC: Needs a Wi-Fi 6 card (e.g. Intel) AX200 Killer. AX1650).

If your device is not on the list, it doesn’t mean it won’t work with Xiaomi’s router, it will simply connect to an older standard (Wi-Fi 5 or Wi-Fi 4) and speed will be limited by its capabilities.

How to Make Incompatible Devices Work Faster

Even if you have an old laptop or smartphone, you can improve the situation a little:

• 🔌 Connect to the router via cable (gigabit Ethernet will give up to 1000 Mbit / s).
• 📶 Use the 5GHz band instead of 2.4GHz band (even on Wi-Fi 5, speeds will be higher).
• 🔄 Update Wi-Fi adapter drivers (sometimes this adds support for new standards).

Example: The MacBook Pro 2017 officially only supports Wi-Fi 5, but after upgrading macOS to Monterey and installing drivers, Broadcom can connect to Wi-Fi 6 at speeds up to 866 Mbps (instead of 433 Mbps on Wi-Fi 5).

💡

Wi-Fi 6 Compatible with all previous standards (802.11a/b/g/n/ac), But the maximum speed will be limited by the weakest device on the network. AX6000 Connected smartphone with Wi-Fi 4, The router will automatically reduce the speed to 150 Mbps for this client.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Wi-Fi 6 Xiaomi