Mi wifi Russian version. Setting up a Xiaomi mini WiFi router

A feature of Xiaomi Wi-Fi routers, which makes it difficult to configure the Internet and Wi-Fi networks, is the problem with the translation of the interface. Even in the English version of the firmware, some of the inscriptions remain in Chinese. It is recommended to use an online translator, such as Google Translate, to configure these items via a browser.

Differences in setting up Xiaomi routers

All Xiaomi models are configured through the same interface. As it can be used:

• Administrative panel in the browser;
• Client for Android;
• IOS app;
• Windows utility;
• Mac software.

All steps for specifying parameters are the same, but depending on the availability of additional functions, different settings are available for different devices. Routers "Mi WiFi 3" and "Mi WiFi Mini" support two-band wireless networks: 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz. They also have a USB port that allows you to connect external devices (hard drives, flash drives).

The Nano model is similar in design to the Mini router. The differences between the routers are visible on the rear panel. Instead of a connector for a Xiaomi power supply, a Micro-USB input is used. This allows the Mi WiFi Nano to be connected even via a mobile phone charger. In addition, there is no USB port for connecting external drives.

Note! The Xiaomi lineup also includes professional routers with up to 6 TB of built-in memory. They are distinguished by higher technical characteristics and the presence of active cooling.

Connecting and logging into the web interface

Plug your ISP cable into the blue port on the back of your router. If you have home computers or laptops with an Ethernet connector, connect them with a cable to the gray ports. Unlike most routers from other brands, Xiaomi budget devices do not come with a network cable. You need to purchase it separately or use a Wi-Fi connection.

When buying with delivery from China (for example, in the Aliexpress store), it should also be borne in mind that the power supply plug is of type "A". To plug into a Russian outlet, you will need an additional adapter. Connect the adapter to your router and plug it in. There are no power buttons on Xiaomi routers, the devices start working immediately after connecting.

Despite the presence of client applications for smartphones and computers with different operating systems, the admin panel remains a universal way of setting. It can be accessed using any software and hardware platform. It is enough to launch the browser and enter the standard IP of the Xiaomi router into the address bar: 192.168.31.1.

When connecting for the first time, check the box confirming that you agree with the terms of the license agreement, and click the button above it. The system will prompt you to enter a new name for the Wi-Fi network (SSID) and its password. Please provide this information and proceed to the next step. Then enter the new password to enter the router settings. When the device reboots, connect to the created network and enter the administrator password.

The start screen contains basic information about the router and statistics of its operation. At the bottom of the page, graphs of network utilization (wired and wireless) and the load of hardware components are displayed. If the router operates in dual Wi-Fi bands, data is output for each connection created.

Important advice! If you have difficulty connecting, use the built-in connection diagnostic utility. Restarting the router may also help.

Internet and Wi-Fi setup

To specify the provider data, click the third item in the top menu: "Common settings". Open the "Internet settings" tab and select which settings you want to change. Various connection protocols will be available in the drop-down list. If you don't know the type of connection you are using and your account details, check with your ISP's support.

Wireless network settings on Xiaomi routers are indicated on the next tab in the same menu: "Wi-Fi settings". Dual-band routers allow you to set separate SSIDs and security settings for 2.4 and 5 GHz networks. In the "Encryption" column, select the encryption protocol, in the text field below it, specify the Wi-Fi access key.

You can install the guest network at the bottom of the page. To start it, change the value of the first item from “Shut down” to “Open”. Enter the SSID of the guest Wi-Fi, select the security type from the drop-down list. If encrypted access is specified, you will also need to enter the password for the guest network. The settings will take effect after the router is rebooted.

http 192.168.31.1 and miwifi.com- the addresses at which to enter the settings of the Xiaomi Mi WiFi 3 router, as well as its brothers, the cheaper 3C and the top-end 3G. For many fans of ordering equipment from China, IP 192.168.31.1 has become very familiar. After all, it is under it that the entrance to the administrator panel of Mi WiFi routers, as well as other network equipment of this company, is hidden. Today we will talk about how to set up Xiaomi Mi Router 3, but the instruction is also relevant for other models - Xiaomi Router 3G, 3C and earlier, or that have already been discussed on our website.

With all the advantages of this manufacturer, it has one significant drawback, which is characteristic of devices that have only recently entered the market and are not adapted for foreign users - if you go into its settings, the entire interface will first be dotted with spiders-hieroglyphs in Chinese, so a beginner, who just bought this router may experience problems when connecting for the first time. We tried to show the whole process of setting up the Xiaomi Mi WiFi Router 3, 3G and 3C, step by step and in pictures as clearly as possible.

How to connect Xiaomi Mi WiFi 3 router to computer?

The fact that the first thing to do is to connect the Xioami Router through the power adapter to the mains, I think, it makes no sense to talk - and so it is clear.

After that, he will immediately start distributing unpaired WiFi "Xiaomi" - you can connect both by cable and wirelessly. If you are not connecting via WiFi, connect an Internet cable from your ISP to the blue WAN port, and an Ethernet cable to your computer in the LAN.

Also make sure that in the "Local Area Connections" or "Wireless Connection" settings in the "Network and Sharing Center" Windows on the computer itself is set to automatically obtain the IP address and DNS - this is the only way to get to the admin panel at the same time IP address 192.168.31.1, and at the web address miwifi.com.

For reliability, if you got your hands on the Xiaomi Router, you can do a complete reset of all previous settings - to do this, use a pin to press the Reset button on the switched on router, which is recessed into the case.

192.168.31.1 - enter the settings of the Xiaomi router - miwifi.com

The router will automatically detect your type of Internet connection and at the next step we will only need to enter the required parameters for access - for me this is PPPoE, where you need to enter a username and password.

If the type of connection to the Internet of the DHCP provider (that is, when you do not need to configure anything on the computer or router to access the Internet), then to select this type, click on the item of the same name in the lower menu.

On the next page, set a password for entering the admin panel and press the confirm button.

We are waiting for the settings to be applied and the router to reboot - pay attention to the QR code, the link to download the mobile application is encrypted in it.

How to set up Xiaomi Mi 3 WiFi Router?

After that, the Internet will work on our computer and all devices that will be connected to the created WiFi network. Let's go back to the admin area. Everything here is in Chinese, but using one of the browser extensions-translators (it is already built-in in Google Chrome), all the text is miraculously Russified. To do this, in Chrome, right-click on the page and select "Translate into Russian"

Notice how cool the admin panel is. The main page displays a summary of the current information about the network - which devices are connected, how much traffic they use, what is the memory and CPU load. I have not seen anything like this from any other competitor from the budget class.

In the "Equipment" menu, a list of connected devices is displayed - right there, without unnecessary problems, using the switches, you can cut off the Internet for each of them.

In the "General settings" all the basic functions of the network. For example, you can make a separate guest network without access to internal LAN resources.

"Internet settings" - in addition to configuring the connection to the provider, you can select the speed limit of the WAN port, clone the MAC address and switch to the Wi-Fi repeater mode.

In the "Advanced settings" there are more detailed things, such as port forwarding, manual registration of static IPs, DDNS services (there is support for free No-IP), UPnP, etc.

It is also possible to connect to a Xiaomi router from a smartphone.

Setting up the Internet on the Xiaomi Mi WiFi 3 router

I have configured the Internet through a Xiaomi router more than once and I can say that, although rarely, there are errors in determining the type of connection - remember, I said that it is detected automatically? So, in order to change it manually, you need to select your type of connection to the provider from the drop-down list in the "Settings" in the "Internet" section. Three options available

• PPPoE
• DHCP (dynamic IP)
• Static IP

Configuring Xiaomi Router 3 for BeeLine (L2TP)

Unfortunately, the stock firmware does not support L2TP and PPTP protocols, which means that it is not possible to connect the router to the Internet from the Beeline provider. Alternatively, install an intermediate cable router and connect Xiaomi to it.

If you have a PPPoE connection, then enter the login and password in the fields indicated in the image below

If the provider has configured mandatory binding by the MAC address of the computer, then below on the page in the same section it is possible to clone it from the main computer. The MAC of the computer will be detected automatically - we just have to press the left button to apply this function.

That's all - after that, the Internet will start working. Well, I will tell you about how to enter the settings for a Xiaomi router in a separate article.

Xiaomi routers are a budget solution for the most sophisticated Internet and local area network users. The Xiaomi Router 3G model will most likely suit you in every way as an ultra-fast wireless network router.

Review of the router Xiaomi Mi Wi-Fi Router 3G

In appearance - the usual increased (due to non-removable antennas) packaging.

Xiaomi 3G router: it comes with a power adapter and instructions

LAN and WAN interfaces are separated from each other by one of the antennas - like the USB port from all Ethernet ports.

Ethernet / USB sockets are located between the antennas of the router

Like the Xiaomi Router 3 / Mini, the Xiaomi Router 3G only has one blue LED.

One LED is a proprietary indication feature of Xiaomi routers

Nothing more: the Xiaomi 3G router has no buttons or switches on the side.

There are no physical controls on Router 3G

A closer look: indication of the exchange of Ethernet traffic on site (by a pair of LEDs). There is a reset button (small hole on the left).

Ethernet indications are more varied than those on Xiaomi Router 3

The ventilation in the Xiaomi Router 3G, like that of its brothers, is almost perfect: the bottom surface of the case is a sieve with long holes.

The Xiaomi 3G router is well ventilated during work

Standard adapter - for American sockets. An adapter for euro sockets is purchased separately.

Router plug adapter not included

Externally, the Xiaomi 3 (G) routers are indistinguishable: it gives out only the number of Ethernet ports (Router 3 has two) and the color of the USB port.

The differences are only visible when viewed from behind

General indication of the operation of Ethernet ports in Xiaomi 3 and the presence of an indication of traffic exchange over Ethernet in Xiaomi 3G.

Differences are also visible on the LAN / WAN indications of both routers

Xiaomi Router 3G is slightly more compact than Router 3. It is also easy to hang on the wall by drilling a couple of elongated holes in order to install the case on the pre-fixed screws (there is more than enough space inside). The printed circuit board with a heatsink is as compact as possible, leaving room for cooling the device during operation.

The radiator is massive and conducts heat well

The processor, RAM, Wi-Fi radio subsystem (excluding the output stages to amplify the signal to the antenna) and flash memory are located under the radiator. Ethernet microcircuits do not need additional cooling. It is possible to install a pair of miniature fans inside from a non-working PC or laptop.

Leading Xiaomi 3G chips are hidden under the radiator

The MediaTek-7621AT processor will "pull" up to 4 LAN ports - but this is already the prerogative of Xiaomi Router Pro (in the future - and higher models when they are released).

Before the MT-7621AT processor runs out of service - before a number of MediaTek-7621x CPUs (MT-76xx processor family) are updated - new versions of the Xiaomi Router will still show their worth.

Table: characteristics of the router Xiaomi Router 3G

Parameter or characteristic	Value (tolerance)
CPU	SoC MediaTek MT7621AT (MIPS32 1004K, 2 * 880 MHz)
RAM	256MB (DDR-2)
Flash drive	128MB (SLC)
Standard, Wi-Fi range	2.4 and 5 GHz, IEEE 802.11ac
Antenna parameters	4, omnidirectional, non-removable
Number of LAN / WAN ports	2 LAN ports, WAN port
File sharing speed in LAN between PC and gadgets	up to 1 Gbps
Wifi LAN Speed	up to 1167 Mbps
Encrypted WAN / LAN Access Protocols	PPTP, PPPoE, L2TP, IPSec
USB ports	one, 3.0
Local servers	DHCP
Encryption, Wi-Fi network protection	Open to WPA-2
Additional functionality	DMZ, NAT, Firewall, SPI, Firewall
Operating modes of the device	access point, repeater mode

Using third-party firmware (modified firmware Asus, TP-Link, ZyXEL, free OpenWRT / DD-WRT / Padavan software), previously unavailable functions are implemented, such as repeater and (hybrid) bridge modes, WiFi2LAN client mode, additional guest networks, and etc.

Video: Xiaomi 3G router review

Setting up a Xiaomi 3G router using the MiWiFi program

Newbies usually start setting up Xiaomi Router 3G not with third-party Padavan or DD-WRT firmware (full version of OpenWRT), but with the MiWiFi application.

The configuration of the routers of the Xiaomi Router line is simplified: Router 3G is not much different from its predecessors - the Mini and 3. For the convenience of users, all commands in the instructions have been translated from Chinese into English / Russian.

Connecting to a Xiaomi 3G router from a PC or laptop

After the first power-on (or reset), the Xiaomi 3G router will enable the open wireless network "Xiaomi_ (device_marking)". Connect to it from a PC, laptop or tablet, type mifiwi.com in the address bar of your browser.

Select Xiaomi 3G network

Now do the following.

1. Accept the agreement with Xiaomi and click Next.

   Confirm that you agree with Xiaomi PM

2. Protect your Wi-Fi network by entering a new name (you do not need to change) and a WPA-2 password.

   Assign a strong, burglar-proof wireless password

3. For maximum protection, enter a different password from the router's web interface.
4. Wait for the restart of the Wi-Fi networks on the Xiaomi 3G router.

   Please wait, the router will now restart

The router is ready for further configuration.

Connect to router with new Wi-Fi password

Reconnect to the Xiaomi Router 3G network with a new password.

Changing the firmware language of the Xiaomi 3G router

In some cases, when you connect the provider's cable, access to the Network may already be turned on, so you can use the Google translator to facilitate the settings.

1. Go back to miwifi.com and enter the router settings.

   Enter your Admin password

2. Click the Routing Status tab.

   Working status of Xiaomi Router 3G

3. Give the command "General settings - System status". Download the English version of Xiaomi Router 3G software.

   You can easily change the Chinese version of Xiaomi 3G to English

4. Click the gray button - "Manual Update". Select a folder on your PC to save the Xiaomi 3G firmware file, wait for this update to download.
5. Select English in the Xiaomi Router 3G software settings.

   First, select English

6. Re-enter the router settings (using your username and password) and give the command "Status - Connected devices".

   The router also informs about the available Wi-Fi 5GHz devices

7. Give the command "Internet" - "Test (more)". The internet speed will be checked.

   The router will inform you about the internet speed and IP connection settings

8. Write down (or take a screenshot) of all IP addresses. They will come in handy when reconfiguring your router.

Advanced Wi-Fi Settings for Xiaomi Router 3G

Do the following.

Setting up a local network Xiaomi Router 3G

General configuration of the local router is performed only when the Internet is turned off. If the router is automatically logged into the Network, temporarily disconnect the provider's cable.

For example, the primary IP is 192.168.0.1 and the DHCP range is 192.168.0. (100-200).

Setting up general access to the Network for Xiaomi Router 3G

Do the following.

Fine tuning the security of Xiaomi Router 3G

If malware has entered the router or your passwords have become known to everyone around you, change them.

Reset, restore settings and update Xiaomi Router 3G

A factory reset may reset the web interface to its Chinese version. Use Xiaomi 3G reset in case of emergency.

Working with disks and modems on a Xiaomi 3G router

The USB port of Xiaomi Router 3 supports USB drives and 3G / 4G modems. By changing the firmware to free software that is universal for routers of many brands and models (OpenWRT Pro and its analogues), you may get the functionality of printers, scanners, copiers and other office equipment controlled via USB.

Of particular interest is the operation of a router as a separate gadget / router with USB-RS485, C2000-USB interface converters and other microcontrollers - over a local network, for example, control of fire and security alarms or front entrance turnstiles in a protected area. The latter of the above may require programming skills - at least minimal - to change some of the programming code of Xiaomi routers (before updating). You may also need to reprogram (or at least update the firmware) the USB converter itself.

Do the following.

1. Connect an external drive, for example, an SSD-drive, give the command "Storages".

   

For the initial setup, it is most convenient to use the MiWiFi mobile application; you can download it by scanning the QR code from the original packaging.

On Xiaomi smartphones with a proprietary MIUI shell, to call the scanner, it is enough to swipe from top to bottom to call the information panel. In the right corner of the search field there is a scanner call icon.

In principle, the application can be found manually on Google Play, it is called MiWiFi Router.

At the first launch, the application will prompt you to create a new Mi account, or log into an existing one. On Xiaomi smartphones, you can log into an existing account with just one click, the system will automatically detect all login parameters.

It is necessary to connect to the wireless network of the router in advance. On Mi smartphones, "native" routers are marked in the list of networks with a corporate logo. After connecting to a wireless network, the application searches for devices on the network.

The setup process is extremely simple and resembles setting up a Zyxel Keenetic router using the appropriate mobile application. A special step-by-step wizard is used in which only the most important parameters are configured.

After changing the wireless network settings, the application will automatically switch the smartphone to the new network. Everything is automated as much as possible and does not require user participation. For beginners and inexperienced users just right.

By the time this post was finalized, the application has been updated with minor interface changes. The menu is divided into 4 categories: Mi Router, Storage, Plug-ins, Settings.

In the Mi Router section, you can switch between several routers (if there are several of them), as well as view statistics on traffic and connected devices.

The Storage section is focused on using an external hard drive. On Xiaomi routers, you can deploy a small cloud to which you can configure the upload of files from your smartphone when it is connected to your home network. The function is aimed at owners of Xiaomi smartphones. However, there is a desktop client for PC and Mac, which will allow you to use the device's functionality as a regular network drive.

The plugins section contains router settings in terms of its direct functions. But such settings as password, time zone, etc. moved to a separate section of settings.

You get used to the application very quickly, after which you unmistakably get to the necessary section. For experienced users, the list of available options will be clearly insufficient, for example, there are no IPTV settings, no support for 3G modems, and in general, all options and settings are greatly simplified and optimized for inexperienced users.

Xiaomi routers are greatly simplified in terms of settings and make them ideal for inexperienced users who need a simple and reliable solution.

A little more settings are available through the web interface, which is available under the domain name miwifi.com, or IP 192.168.31.1 (sometimes 192.168.28.1).

By the way, if you use Kaspersky Anti-Virus, for some unknown reason, sometimes it blocks access to IP 192.168.31.1 and 192.168.28.1 via the HTTP protocol, which makes it impossible to access the web interface. Disabling the antivirus and changing the home subnet in the router settings to the more familiar 192.168.0.0/24, 192.168.1.0/24, 192.168.2.0/24 helps. In the future, no problems should arise.

If this is the first time you are setting up the router without using the mobile app, you will also be greeted with a setup wizard upon first launch.

Below you can familiarize yourself with all the available options configured using the web interface.

The list of available options is much wider than in the mobile application.

There are a couple of notes on setting up and using the interface. First, the QoS option should not be enabled if necessary. The fact is that by default, all traffic passes using HW_NAT (hardware NAT), without creating a load on the central processor. More precisely, when processing 94 Mbps? CPU utilization will be only 2-4%. When QoS is activated, the use of HW_NAT will become impossible and all traffic will go through the processor. The more devices in the network and the higher the connection speed, the higher the processor load will be, up to 100%.

WiFi performance and quality

Both routers are equipped with an excellent processor providing good performance.

Please note that MiWiFi devices are designed primarily for the domestic market of China, which is why L2TP and PPTP support is implemented here in a basic form.

When using native firmware, in conjunction with L2TP / PPTP, you can only count on 50-60 Mbit. For those who like working with a file, we inform you that on alternative firmware, both routers provide up to 100 Mbps when working with VPN without any problems, and much more.

Regarding the most common types of connection via DHCP / Static IP / PPPoE / IPoE - there are no complaints about routers on the stock firmware at all, up to 95 Mbit is guaranteed to you.

In terms of Wi-Fi, to be honest, both routers were very pleasantly surprised. When the maximum power level is set to “Block” (on some firmware versions “Wall penetration”), both routers “break through” the main bearing walls without any problems.

Quite expectedly, Mi WiFi Mini is slightly inferior to Mi WiFi Router 3 in signal level, which is clearly visible on air scans.

The older model provides a higher signal level in both 2.4 and 5 GHz bands. Sometimes this difference can reach 10 dBm, but most often the difference does not exceed 2-4 dBm.

Many users have a question, why do you need 5 GHz support in a router that is equipped with 100 Mbit ports?

In a "spherical vacuum", 802.11n in the 2.4 GHz band, using MIMO 2x2 and 40 MHz channels, pumps 94-95 Mbps without any problems. In real life conditions, especially in apartment buildings, the 2.4 band is loaded to such an extent that even 50 Mbit will already be an excellent result.

The 5 GHz band provides more non-overlapping channels and faster speeds.

Let's take a look at a real-world example. There is a laptop with 5 GHz support, but no 802.11ac support (802.11n only). We placed the laptop at a distance of 8 meters from the MiWiFi Router 3, between the devices there is 1 load-bearing main wall made of brick (~ 55 cm) and 2 half-brick walls.

In 802.11n + MIMO 2x2 + 5 GHz mode, we got an average of 90 Mbps over the air. This is a great result.

Now let's see what happens in real life for 2.4 GHz.

Less than 20 Mbps, only, comments are superfluous here. As you can see, there is a benefit from 5 GHz even on older devices.

Let's see if a proprietary expander can correct the situation. For fun, we tried to place the Mi WiFi Amplifier in the middle. As a result, the speed became more stable and rose to 21-22 Mbps.

To be honest, I didn't expect any special results from WiFi Amplifier. The problem is, the company overdid it to make the device cheap. The expander only supports legacy 802.11b / g / n standards, SISO configuration (MIMO 1x1) and internal antenna. As a result, ideally 150 Mbit channel speed is available, which needs to be divided between clients and an uplink. In conditions of noisy air, we get the same 20-40 Mbit.

Mi WiFi Amplifier is able to increase the coverage radius, but you should not expect high speed from it. The extender is more suitable for “smart home” and “Internet of things”, when there are no large speed requests to the network.

Finally

In two weeks of using both routers (daisy chain), I had no problems in terms of speed and stability of the network.

There are still remarks, but they relate to the features of the software. There is no familiar Russian language, there is Chinese and English. If you try to update from the official website, you may get the device entirely in Chinese. To switch to English, you need to set the "Europe" region in the Wi-Fi settings, after which English will become available. There are also special English firmware, which we recommend to use, or alternative, if you have the necessary knowledge to install them.

If you are looking for an inexpensive but powerful yet easy-to-configure router, both models are great buy, especially if you own a Xiaomi smartphone.

Of the minuses, it should also be noted that there is not a rich list of available settings on official firmware.

Online course on networking

I recommend Dmitry Skoromnov's course "". The course is not tied to the equipment of any manufacturer. It provides the fundamental knowledge that every system administrator should have. Unfortunately, many administrators, even with 5 years of experience, often do not have even half of this knowledge. The course covers many different topics in simple language. For example: OSI model, encapsulation, collision domains and broadcast domains, loopback, QoS, VPN, NAT, DNS, Wi-Fi and many more topics.

Separately, I will note the topic on IP addressing. It describes in simple language how to make translations from decimal to binary and vice versa, calculation by IP address and mask: network address, broadcast address, number of network hosts, subnetting and other topics related to IP addressing.

The course has two versions: paid and free.

I specially bought a Xiaomi mini WiFi router to prepare some detailed instructions for setting up this interesting router. By the way, judging by the reviews and comments in online stores, the Xiaomi router is very popular. And this is not even strange, for a small amount we get a beautiful, powerful and high-quality router. In addition, the router is dual-band, of course, with support for the 802.11ac standard, and even with a USB port. Yes, this is a Chinese router, but Xiaomi is a good company and very popular.

The router itself from Xiaomi is very beautiful, stylish and unusual. I will review this router in a separate article. And in this article, I want to describe in detail the process of first setting up a Xiaomi mini WiFi router. I will show you how to connect a router, set up a Wi-Fi network, and the Internet. In the near future, I will prepare instructions for setting up file sharing on a USB drive, router firmware, etc.

Control panel in Chinese. What to do, how to change the language?

As for setting up Xiaomi mini WiFi, this is most likely the only point that can disappoint you in this router. The fact is that the settings of the router are in Chinese. There is no way to choose Russian, or even English. If you want the control panel to be in Russian, you will have to flash the router with a third-party firmware (PandoraBox, Padavan). The firmware process itself is complex. Perhaps I will write about this in a separate article.

English can be added. You need to change the region to Europe in the Wi-Fi settings, and update the firmware. I will also write about this in a separate article. Well, I advise you not to bother, and just set up the Xiaomi mini router according to my instructions. Does anything change if the settings are in English? This is a router, you configure it, and forget about this control panel. And everything is exactly in what language it is. The main thing is that the Internet works well and stably.

One more point, the router can be configured from a smartphone or tablet through the Mi Router application. The application is in English, everything is clear there. We will also consider this option at the end of this article.

This instruction should be suitable not only for the Xiaomi mini model, but also for WiFi MiRouter 3, and Mi WiFi Nano.

Xiaomi Mi Router Mini: setting up Wi-Fi and the Internet

First, connect the power to the router, and connect the cable from the provider or modem to the "Internet" port.

Next, we need to go to the settings of the Xiaomi router. First, we will look at the first setup from a computer (laptop). You can connect your computer to the router like a cable (however, there is no cable included) and via Wi-Fi. Immediately after turning on, a wireless network with the name "Xiaomi_some numbers" will appear. It is not password protected. We connect to it.

If you have the Internet right through your router, then it makes sense to configure it through the Chrome browser, or Yandex Browser. They know how to translate pages on the fly. And the control panel will be more intuitive. The translation there is not perfect, but still better than the Chinese characters.

1 Open any browser, and go to the address miwifi.com (it is indicated at the bottom of the router)... Or 192.168.31.1 ... You can see the detailed article in which I showed. On the first page, just click on the big Chinese button 🙂 This is something like a license agreement.

2 Next, you need to set the name of the Wi-Fi network and the password to it. The password must be at least 8 characters long. Since the router is dual-band, the password will be the same for networks on two frequencies. It can then be changed in the control panel. We continue with the configuration.

3 In the next window, we need to set a password that will protect the settings of the router. This password will need to be specified when entering the router settings. Write down the password and click on the button to continue. If you want the password from the router to be the same as the password from Wi-Fi, then you can just check the box. But I don't recommend doing that.

4 We see a message that the router will create two Wi-Fi networks at different frequencies, their names will be indicated there. The router will reboot.

After rebooting, a Wi-Fi network will appear with the name that we specified during the setup process. Connect to this network using the set password.

5 In the settings window, if you have not closed it yet, you can click on the button and you will see a message prompting you to install a proprietary application on your smartphone to control the Xiaomi router. You can install this application in the App Store, or Google Play if you need it. It is called Mi Router. Below I will show you how to set up a router from your phone using this application.

An important point! If the Internet via the router is already working on your devices, then the configuration of the Xiaomi router is completed. If you want, you can go to its settings, I'll show you how to do it below.

If the Internet through the router does not work, then you need to configure it.

Entering the settings of the Xiaomi router and setting up the connection to the provider

1 Again in the browser go to the address miwifi.com... A password prompt will appear. Enter the password that you set during the first setup. This is not a password from Wi-Fi, but from a router.

2 To configure the Internet (connection to the provider) go in settings to a separate page as shown below. Select your connection type from the list. Most likely you need to choose PPPoE. It's just that if you had a DHCP (Dynamic IP) connection type, then the Internet through a router would work without configuration. You can check the type of connection with your provider.

3 After selecting PPPoE, you will need to set the necessary parameters for the connection. These parameters are provided by the Internet provider. Also, they are most likely indicated in the documents that were given to you when you connected to the Internet.

4 If the provider uses MAC address binding, then you can change it on the same page, below. Just write down the required MAC. Or ask the provider to register the MAC address of your router, which is indicated in this field, or on the case of the device itself.

You need the router to connect to the Internet and start distributing it to your devices.

Configuring a 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz wireless network. Change Wi-Fi password

If you want to change the name of the Wi-Fi network, password, channel, or, for example, disable the network at some 5 GHz or 2.4 GHz frequency, then go to the settings and go to the page as shown below.

If you scroll down the page below, then you will see the 5G Wi-Fi settings there, as far as I understand the guest network settings and the region change.

As you can see, nothing complicated. Even though the settings are in Chinese.

The first setup of a Xiaomi router from a phone or tablet (Mi Router)

You can also configure the router from a mobile device. First you need to install the proprietary Mi Router program on your phone. We install it from Google Play, or the App Store. If you do not want to install the application, then you can configure it through the browser of the mobile device, as I showed above.

Connect your smartphone to the Xiaomi router. The Wi-Fi network will have a standard name and will not be password protected. Also, do not forget to connect the Internet to the router.

On my iPhone, right after connecting, a window appeared with the settings for the router. And on Android, in the Mi Router program, you need to select the "Set up a new router" item. We indicate the place where the router is installed and click the "Next" button.

The router will check the Internet connection, and if your provider uses a DHCP connection, you will see a message that the Internet is connected. Like mine in the screenshot below. And if you have PPPoE connection technology, then you will need to set some parameters (login, password).

The last step is to set a password for the Wi-Fi network, and change the name of the network. Provide this information and click the "Finish" button.

Please note that the password set on the Wi-Fi network will also be used to access the router settings when entering the control panel at miwifi.com.

That's it, the router setup is complete. If something did not work out, then go to the settings through the browser and change the necessary parameters.

Even without the firmware of the router in English, or Russian, it can be configured without any problems, and everything will work. Yes, in the settings, which are very difficult to understand in Chinese. Even in English it would be easier. There is an English version of the original firmware, in a separate article I will show you how to install it.

I really liked the router, both externally and stable work. Write your feedback on this model, share tips, and ask questions. I am always glad to help with advice!