Why OTA Access Point is important for Xiaomi devices
If you've ever seen a firmware update on a smartphone, router, or Xiaomi's smart device over the air (OTA), you've probably noticed that sometimes it's not over the Internet, but over a local network, and OTA Access Point, a dedicated access point that distributes update files between devices without having to download them from the manufacturer's servers, is responsible for this, but what is it in practice and why is it useful?
In the Xiaomi ecosystem (especially in routers, Mi TVs, and some IoT gadgets), OTA Access Point is used to accelerate the spread of updates on the local network. Imagine: you have 5 Xiaomi devices at home, and each of them separately downloads the same update weighing 500 MB. This not only wastes traffic, but also loads the network. With OTA Access Point, one device downloads a file, and the rest pull it up from the local “server” – your router or dedicated gadget.
However, not all users know that this feature can be manually configured – for example, prioritize certain devices, limit the speed of the transfer, or even turn it off to save power. In this article, we will understand how OTA Access Point Configuration works in Xiaomi devices, where to find it in the settings and how to optimize for your needs.
What is OTA Access Point and how does it work?
OTA (Over-The-Air) is a wireless firmware update technology that allows devices to receive new versions of software without connecting to a computer. Access Point in this context is a local access point that distributes these updates within your network. Simply put, one Xiaomi device downloads a file from a server and then distributes it to other gadgets over Wi-Fi or Ethernet.
How this works in practice:
- 📱 Initiator: First device (e.g. Mi Router router) 4A Redmi Note 12 smartphone is downloaded OTA-package from official Xiaomi servers.
- 🔄 Distribution: The device creates a local OTA Access Point and starts giving away the file to other gadgets on the network.
- 📲 Receipt: Other devices (TVs, smart speakers, light bulbs) connect to this point and download the update “from inside” the network without straining the Internet.
Advantages of this approach:
- ⚡ Saving traffic: one download instead of five.
- ⏱️ Process Acceleration: Local data transfer is usually faster than external server download.
- 🛡️ Reliability: If the Internet goes down, devices can still upgrade via the local network.
But there are nuances, too: For example, if OTA Access Point is set up incorrectly, it can:
- 🔋 Discharge the battery on mobile devices (if the distribution is from a smartphone).
- 📶 Slow down the network if there are many downloads at the same time.
- 🔒 Conflict with other access points (for example, if you already have guest Wi-Fi).
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If you have slow internet but many Xiaomi devices, turn on OTA Access Point on your router – this will speed up updates for all gadgets at once.
Where to find OTA Access Point settings in Xiaomi devices
Unfortunately, not all Xiaomi devices have an explicit OTA Access Point Configuration section on the menu, most often hidden in network settings or updates.
| Type of device | The path to settings | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Mi Router (4A, 4C, AX3000, etc.) | Settings → Additional → Local Updates (OTA) | You can turn on/off the distribution, limit the speed |
| Xiaomi/Redmi/POCO smartphones | Settings → The phone. → Updating the system → ⋮ → Local Update | The feature is only available on MIUI 12+ and not on all models. |
| Mi TVs (4S, 5X, Q2, etc.) | Settings → About the device → Software Update → OTA settings | You can choose the source of updates: the Internet or local network |
| Smart speakers Mi AI Speaker | Only through the Mi Home app | Settings are hidden in the "Updates" section of the device |
If you don’t find the OTA Access Point partition on your device, it could mean:
- 📵 Your model does not support the feature (e.g., budget smartphones Redmi). 9A or old routers).
- 🔧 The function is disabled by default and only activated when there are updates.
- 🌐 Your firmware is outdated – update the device to the latest version.
How to check if OTA Access Point is working on your router?
Step-by-step: how to set up OTA Access Point on the Xiaomi router
The most flexible OTA Access Point settings are available on Xiaomi routers, so let’s take a look at the process using their example. Take the popular Mi Router 4A Gigabit Edition model with MiWiFi-based firmware:
- Connect to the router via the web interface: 🌐 Open your browser and type 192.168.31.1 (or miwifi.com). 🔐 Enter the login and password (by default – admin and password from the sticker on the router).
Go to the section Additional → Local Updates (OTA).
Activate the switch to Enable OTA Access Point.
Set the parameters (if available):
- 📊 Speed limit: Specify the maximum speed of the distribution (for example, 10 Mbps, so as not to load the network).
- 🕒 Schedule: Select hours when the handout is active (for example, at night when the network is not loaded).
- 📱 Priority devices: add MAC-Addresses of gadgets that should receive updates first.
- Save the settings and restart the router.
Limitations:
- 🔋 The function actively consumes the battery, so it is better to connect the phone to charging.
- 📶 Distribution is only via Wi-Fi (not via mobile Internet).
- 📱 It only works on MIUI 12 and newer (on POCO shelled POCO Launcher may be disabled).