How do you manually upgrade the firmware of a Xiaomi router? I've played the developer version for two months, and there are three types of people who really shouldn't touch it

Last month, my AX3000T automatically updated its firmware in the middle of the night, and the next day the robot vacuum started disconnecting. I checked the update notes, and it just said, "Optimized connection stability for some devices." Isn't that frustrating? Later, I simply turned off auto-upgrades and switched to manual farming, and also applied to play the developer version I'd been thinking about for a while. This article will thoroughly explain the complete manual upgrade process and real developer experience. If you want to copy the homework, just follow along.

clarify first: what exactly is the difference between the stable and developer versions

Xiaomi router firmware has two wires, and many people who have used it for years still don't understand this. Stable Version is the official version released irregularly, updated every month or two, tested internally before updates, with a low chance of issues; development is a trial version updated every Thursday and Friday, with new features listed here first, but bugs are also here.

The most practical difference between

two lines is that the developer version can enable SSH and get root access, while the stable version cannot. What can you do with SSH enabled? Install ad plugins, change transmission power, run scripts to check the device's real-time speed—those who use the OpenWrt system are familiar with this process. If you haven't tried it, check out my previous I wrote before flashing—the idea is solid.

I'll use my own timeline for your reference:

the proper path to manual upgrade: Firmware upload in the background of 31.1

manual upgrades are not difficult; the entrance is hidden in the backend. Connect your phone or computer to the router, enter 192.168.31.1 in your browser (if you can't get in, check this login portal troubleshooting . I later added an article about recovering the password I forgot). The path is:

Common Settings → System Status → Manual Upgrade , click in and select the firmware package you downloaded. After confirming, the router will restart and flash automatically. The whole process takes about two to three minutes.

during these few minutes absolutely do not cut off the power . Firmware flashing basically means rewriting the system into the chip. If the power goes off halfway, the machine becomes bricked, and then you have to go through the brick recovery process—TTL cable, _RESET long-press setup. I wrote about how troublesome it was in the article CR6609 failed flashing attempts. So before upgrading, I check if the router indicator lights are all normal. If your home is experiencing frequent power outages, it's better to wait and refresh.

Mijia app also allows upgrades: Device page → firmware update, and a new version will prompt. However, the app only pushes you to the version of your current line. If you want to flash across routes (for example, from the stable version to the developer version), you must manually upload via the webpage backend.

Where to download

firmware: Match both model and hardware version, then click download

firmware is downloaded from the Xiaomi router's official website miwifi.com, then go to the "Service Support" firmware download page and search for your model. Here's a common pitfall for beginners: same model, there may be hardware versions . Flip the router over, and the bottom sticker shows the model and hardware version. For example, the AX6000 has several generations. The first-generation firmware can't be flashed into the second-generation machine, and if installed incorrectly, it can show a verification failure at best, or at worst it can be completely bricked.

my habit is to take a photo of the sticker before downloading, and compare it to the version list on the webpage, one character per character. The downloaded file is a bin, no need to extract it, just upload it directly under the manual upgrade mentioned earlier. Filenames usually include the version number. For example, the version I flashed this month is 2.2.38. The first two digits start with 2 means major versions, while the last two digits get newer and newer. The official website still lists historical versions, so if you want to roll back, you can download to the old firmware.

Three things I must do before upgrading

this is a list of losses I've suffered myself. Before refreshing, I spent five minutes reviewing it :

• backup configuration : 31.1 Background → Common Settings → In the system status, there's a configuration backup. Export a copy and save it on your phone. Upgrades within the same route usually don't change configuration, but no one dares to guarantee it.
• note down the broadband account : if you need to reset, you must enter the dial-up account password back. My home uses the optical modem for dialing without going through the router, so this one can be skipped; Be sure to remember the home dialed by the router.
• pick a time without internet : after 10 p.m. or before going out. Flash the phone for two or three minutes, then restart, and the whole family disconnects from the internet. Don't be careless while your family is running online classes or video meetings.

downgrade is a separate point: if you switch back from the new version to the old version, your specs will most likely be wiped out and factory settings will be reset. So don't have the mindset of "try to level up first, then retreat if it doesn't work"—there's no such smooth pill for regret.

Two months of

development version tested: Sharing both the great and the real pitfalls

I play the developer version mainly because I want SSH. The process is to manually flash the developer firmware into the router, then take the Xiaomi account bound to the router to apply on the Xiaomi router open platform. Use the router's SN number to exchange for a root password. The SSH toolkit official website also provides it. The whole process takes half an hour, much simpler than expected.

after getting root, I did three things: I installed an ad-removal plugin, which cut most of the splash ads on YouTube; I assigned my home IoT devices to 2.4G for dedicated care. Previously, I the signal differential modulation through wall mode and the idea was more detailed in the command line; Then there's a real-time monitoring script, making it clear who is competing for bandwidth at a glance.

pitfalls have truly come into play. The developer version updates weekly. One morning, a new version was pushed, and I upgraded it while I was on the spot. After restarting, I found the scheduled restart setting was gone, but the WiFi name was still there. There was another more mysterious time: the wireless backhaul sub-router firmware was one version different from the main router, so Mesh roaming started sticky. The phone clung to the old AP and wouldn't let go, and only after both were flashed to the same version did it settle down. Later, I learned my lesson: after upgrading the main router, the sub-router was upgraded the same day, and the version was always aligned.

How exactly should you keep the

automatic upgrade switch

back to the initial question: Should automatic upgrades be turned off? My current answer is stable users enable auto, and development users turn off automatic . Stable versions are slow to update, tested every version, and automatically upgrades for peace of mind; The developer version updates once a week. If I upgrade in the middle of the night and mess up, the next day my whole family will be offline and will be delayed in classes and school. How to turn it off? In the article about firmware automatic upgrade I wrote about general diagnostic logic. Here, Xiaomi has the automatic upgrade switch on the system status page, a one-click thing.

wrapping up with a personalized answer:

my order of finishing: check the sticker to confirm the model → the corresponding firmware on the official website → backup configuration → choose a time to upload → After flashing, align the router align. The whole process takes less than ten minutes, which is much more reassuring than waiting for an auto-upgrade midnight sneak attack.