Xiaomi’s “network access is limited to 138”: what it means and how to fix the bug

You've turned on a Xiaomi Mi TV or smartphone, but instead of the usual interface, you see a message saying, "Access to the network is limited. Error code: 138"? This problem is familiar to many owners of the brand's technology - it blocks access to Wi-Fi, suspends applications and can even interrupt the broadcast of the film. What is the reason and how to return the device to a stable connection?

Error 138 is not just a network failure, but a system response to a conflict between device settings and router parameters, which can occur after a firmware update, a change of provider, or even a simple “glitch” in the Wi-Fi module. In this article, we will analyze all possible causes of error, from simple (incorrect Wi-Fi password) to complex (MIUI software limitations), as well as give step-by-step instructions for troubleshooting Mi TVs, smartphones and other Xiaomi devices.

Important: If the error occurred after connecting to a new network (for example, in a hotel or office), the problem may lie in the router’s security policy – some public networks block devices with non-standard devices. MAC-But everything in order.

What does the error mean, “Access to the network is limited to 138”?

Code 138 in Xiaomi system signals that it is impossible to obtain IP-It's basically a device that sees the network, but it can't connect to it because of a configuration conflict:

• 🔄 DHCP-The router server does not issue the device IP-address (for example, due to the limitation on the number of connected gadgets).
• 🔒 MAC-Filtering is enabled on the router, and your Xiaomi address is not listed on the whitelist».
• 📡 Incompatibility of Wi-Fi standards: the device tries to connect over the Internet 802.11ac, The router is only running in mode. 802.11n.
• 🛠️ Software failure in the Wi-Fi module (relevant after updates) MIUI or TV firmware).

In Mi TV, the 138 error is often accompanied by an endless load when trying to connect to the network or a complete lack of access to the Internet, even if other devices (laptop, smartphone) are stable. On Xiaomi smartphones, the problem can manifest as a permanent disconnect from Wi-Fi or an icon “!” next to the network name.

⚠️ Note: If the error occurred after the change of provider, check whether the new network requires authorization through the portal (for example, entering a login / password on the router page.

The reason for the 138 error on Xiaomi

We analyzed Xiaomi’s user reviews and technical documentation to identify 7 major causes of the bug, some of which are fixed in 2 minutes, others require a deep router setup or even a device firmware.

The most common reason is a failure in work DHCP. Routers can “forget” the issued IP-For example, if 10 devices are connected to the network and the router settings have a limit of 8, new gadgets will receive an error of 138.

How to Fix Error 138 on Xiaomi Mi TV

If the problem occurs on Mi TV 4/4S/5 or newer models, start with simple steps:

1. Reboot the TV and the router. Turn both devices off the socket for 30 seconds, then turn on the router first, and after 1-2 minutes, turn on the TV.
2. Check your Wi-Fi password. Sometimes the 138 error is caused by incorrect character input. Delete the network in your TV settings and reconnect: Settings → Network → Wi-Fi → [Select Network] → Forget
3. Set up a static IP. If the router does not give out an address automatically, assign it manually: Settings → Network → Wi-Fi → [Your network] → Additional → Set up IP manually Specify IP from your local network range (e.g., 192.168.1.100), mask 255.255.255.0, gateway 192.168.1.1 and DNS 8.8.8.

If these actions do not help, go to the advanced settings:

Turn off the filtering. MAC-address

Set Wi-Fi on 802.11n (if the TV is old)

Turn off the "Fast Roaming" function

Increase the DHCP limit to 20 to 30 devices

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On some Mi TVs, error 138 is caused by a conflict with the Smart Home feature, and try to turn it off temporarily.

Settings → Smart home → Disable synchronization with Mi Account

⚠️ Note: If the TV is connected to the network via an Ethernet cable, but error 138 still appears, check the port settings on the router. VLAN speed limit.

Solution for Xiaomi smartphones (Redmi, POCO, Mi)

On smartphones, error 138 is most often associated with MIUI settings or a conflict with the router.

1. Reset your network settings. Go to: Settings → Connections and Sharing → Reset your Wi-Fi, mobile network and Bluetooth settings After reset, restart your phone.
2. Turn off the Smart Transfer feature. It sometimes blocks connection to some networks: Settings → Connections and Sharing → Smart Transmission → Disable
3. Check Wi-Fi mode. If the router is running in 802.11ac mode and the phone only supports 802.11n, the connection will reset. Change the router settings or update the smartphone firmware.

For the POCO F1/F2/F3 and Redmi Note 8/9/10 models, there is an additional trick: turn on developer mode and turn off Wi-Fi Assistant:

Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (click 7 times)


Settings → Additional → For developers → Wi-Fi Assistant → Disable

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If error 138 only appears on one network (e.g., at work), try connecting via a VPN.Some enterprise routers lock Xiaomi devices due to security policies.

Setting up a router to fix Error 138

If the problem is not in the Xiaomi device, but in the router, follow the following steps (instructions are suitable for Xiaomi Mi Router, TP-Link, ASUS and others):

1. Turn off the filtering. MAC-address. 🔧 Go to the router control panel (usually at 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1). 🔍 Find the Wireless section → MAC Filter (or “Filter”) MAC-address»). 🚫 Turn off the filtering or add MAC-Address of your Xiaomi in the list of allowed.
2. Change the Wi-Fi mode of operation. 📶 Go to Wireless Settings → Mode. 🔄 Set the regimen. 802.11b/g/n Mixed (if you have an old TV) 802.11n/ac For new devices mixed).
3. Increase the pool. DHCP. 📊 In the section LAN → DHCP Server set the range IP from 192.168.1.100 to 192.168.1.200. ⏳ Set a lease time IP 24 hours or more).

For Xiaomi Mi Router routers, it is also recommended to disable the Smart antenna feature (if it is in firmware), as it can conflict with the brand’s devices:

Router settings → Wi-Fi → Additional → Smart antenna → Disable

Additional Methods: When Nothing Helps

If you have tried all the ways, but error 138 remains, take drastic measures:

• 🔄 Network reset on the device. On the TV: Settings → System system → Resetting and remediation → Reset network settings. On a smartphone: Settings → System system → Reset → Resetting network settings.
• 📥 Update of firmware. Outdated versions MIUI or TV OS You may be in conflict with modern routers. → On TV/phone → Updating the system.
• 🛠️ Change of change DNS. Sometimes the error is related to the lock. DNS ISP. Try using Google. DNS (8.8.8.8) or Cloudflare (1.1.1.1).
• 🔧 If the error occurred after the update, go back to the previous version (relevant for smartphones). To do this, download the necessary firmware from the Xiaomi website and run through Fastboot.

Critical information: On some Xiaomi TVs (e.g. Mi TV 4A), the error 138 may be due to a hardware failure of the Wi-Fi module. If after all the manipulations the problem remains, contact the service center - you may need to replace the module.

⚠️ Warning: Do not use programs to “hack” Wi-Fi or change it MAC-Addresses on Xiaomi smartphones, which can lead to blocking IMEI loss of warranty.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Error 138

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In 90% of cases, error 138 is fixed by resetting the network settings on a Xiaomi device or changing the DHCP settings on the router, only in rare cases, flashing or repairing is required.