How to turn on WPS on Xiaomi 3 router: the complete guide

Modern users often face the need to quickly connect gadgets to the home network without entering long passwords. Owners of Xiaomi equipment can use Wi-Fi Protected Setup technology, which greatly simplifies this process. Xiaomi Mi Router 3 is a popular model that supports this standard, but its activation sometimes raises questions for beginners.

The technology allows you to transfer credentials to the network automatically when you press a button or enter it. PIN-This is especially true for devices without a full keyboard, such as printers, game consoles or smart appliances. In this article, we will discuss in detail all the available ways to activate a function on your router.

What is WPS Technology and Why is it Needed?

WPS stands for Wi-Fi Protected Setup, a security standard designed to make it easier to build a home wireless network, and the idea is that users don't have to memorize or enter complex passwords every time they need to connect a new device, instead using an encrypted key exchange method.

On the Xiaomi Mi Router 3 router, this function works as a bridge between the access point and the client. When you initiate a connection, the router temporarily opens the port to receive a request from a device that is in WPS search mode. After a successful handshake, the device receives all the necessary network parameters, including the type of encryption and password.

⚠️ Attention: Technology WPS has known vulnerabilities in the method PIN-Hackers can theoretically brute-force 8-digit code, and it is recommended that you use a physical button or application instead of typing. PIN-screen-code.

Despite the potential risks, for a home network with a strong password from the router’s admin panel, using WPS remains a convenient tool, and the main thing is to understand that at the time of activation, the function becomes available to all devices within the signal range, so you should only turn it on for the duration of the connection.

Physical activation through a button on the router’s body

The fastest and most reliable way to start the pairing process on Xiaomi Router 3 is to use a hardware button. On the back of the device, next to the LAN ports and the Reset button, there is a key with the appropriate label or symbol. In some revisions, it can be combined with the reset button, but on the "three" it is usually a separate element.

To activate the device search mode, you need to do a short press. Don't confuse this with resetting, which requires long retention. Just press the button once and release it. The system indicator on the front of the router should start flashing, signaling that the pairing mode is active.

The window is limited, and Xiaomi's router usually waits for a client request within 120 seconds, and if the device is not found during that time, the function will automatically shut down for security reasons, and the indicator will stop flashing, in which case the procedure will have to be repeated.

It is important to note that the physical button only works if the feature has not been software disabled in the web interface.It is active by default, but if you have previously changed your security settings, it is worth checking their status through the browser.

Configure WPS through the router’s web interface

All wireless network parameters are managed via a web interface. To log into the Xiaomi Mi Router 3 control panel, you need to connect to its network and open the browser. IP-The gateway address, which is usually 192.168.31.1 or the domain name miwifi.com.

Once you enter the address, the system will ask for the administrator password, and if you didn't change it when you first set it up, try the standard one, or use the Wi-Fi password if it was set as the management password. Once you enter the main menu, you go to the section that is responsible for settings for the wireless module.

Path to the menu: Settings → Wi-Fi → WPS settings

Inside the Wi-Fi settings section, you'll see a status switch, and you can not only turn it on or off. WPS, But you can also see the current status. The interface of the Xiaomi router also allows you to generate PIN-code if your connected device requires this authorization method.

This is where the web interface is where you can force a WPS session to end if it freezes or you forget to turn it off after you use it, an important cybersecurity measure to close a potential perimeter security hole.

Use of the Mi Wi-Fi mobile application

Smartphone owners can control the Xiaomi Mi Router 3 router much more conveniently through the official Mi Wi-Fi app (formerly known as Mi Router).This tool is available for Android and iOS platforms. The application allows you to activate WPS remotely from anywhere in the world where there is Internet access, although the device itself must be connected within the range of the signal.

Once you log in to the app (you need to use the Mi Account associated with the router), you go to the device's home page. In the tool list or in the Wi-Fi settings section, you find "WPS." By clicking on it, you start a waiting timer for the connection.

The interface of the application shows the status of the connection, and you'll see the animation of the device search, and once the client device (like the printer) starts transmitting data, the screen will display a notification of a successful connection, which confirms that the security protocol worked correctly.

The advantage of mobile is that you can always check your connection history or turn off a feature with a single touch, even if you're not near the router, which gives you an extra layer of control over the network.

Connecting different types of devices

The connection process may vary slightly depending on the type of gadget. Printers (HP, Canon, Epson) often require you to press the WPS button on the printer itself and then activate the search on the router. Some models have a separate button, others have a combination of keys on the control panel.

Game consoles like PlayStation or Xbox have a separate option in the network settings menu called "Connect via WPS", and after selecting this option, the console goes into the waiting mode for a signal from the router, at which point you need to press a button on the Xiaomi Router 3 body.

The algorithm is similar for TVs and Smart TVs, and the network settings menu selects the wireless connection, then the Push Button (WPS) method, and the TV will scan the airwaves for an active request from the router.

⚠️ Warning: Make sure the device you are connecting is in the zone of confident reception of the signal. 1-2 division WPS It may end in a timeout due to non-stop1sluice.

If you run a WPS on a router while the printer is connected and then try to connect the phone, the second request will be ignored until the first operation is completed.

Diagnostics of problems and frequently asked questions

Despite the simplicity of the technology, users sometimes run into difficulties: Xiaomi Mi Router 3 router may not see a device if older Wi-Fi drivers are installed on it or if the WPS protocol is blocked by the provider (although this is rare for home hardware).

A common problem is conflict. IP-address-overflow DHCP. If WPS If it doesn't work, try restarting the router by turning it off for 10 seconds, and check if the filtering is on. MAC-Addresses that can block new connections even if they are successful WPS-handshake.

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If the WPS button on the router does not respond, check whether the function "Parental Control" or "Guest Wi-Fi" is activated. On some firmware Xiaomi WPS does not work for the guest network.

In some cases, it helps to update the firmware of the router, manufacturers regularly release patches that correct the errors of the wireless module, and check for updates in the web interface in the "Status" or "Settings" section.

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If none of the methods work, try temporarily disabling WPA2/WPA3 encryption, activating WPS, connecting, and then returning the security settings back.

Below are answers to the most popular questions that will help to eliminate problems without contacting the service center.