In short: a modern VPN cannot be set up on the stock MiWiFi firmware — Xiaomi simply has no client for current protocols, and no guide gets around that. The working path is to install OpenWRT on the router: the popular Xiaomi models (the AX3000T first of all) are officially supported and flash in 15–30 minutes, after which the router can do everything — from WireGuard to VLESS. We go through which models fit, what the process looks like, and what to do if you would rather not flash anything.
Straight Up: This Path Goes Through Reflashing
If the words “firmware” and “revision” sound alarming — that is normal, and there are easier routes: on Keenetic and TP-Link a VPN is set up with buttons in the stock web interface, no firmware and no risk. Your Xiaomi router is not going anywhere either — it will keep serving Wi-Fi, and the protected connection can be installed on the devices themselves.
But if you are ready to spend half an hour and turn a budget box into a full VPN router, Xiaomi is one of the best platforms for it in terms of price-to-result. Let’s go.
The practical steps are below; if you'd rather skip the setup, Tainet connects in a couple of minutes - through the Telegram bot or in your account on this site.
Why the Stock Firmware Doesn’t Fit
MiWiFi is a minimalist system: Wi-Fi setup, guest network, parental controls. It has no VPN client for modern protocols (WireGuard, VLESS) — neither in the Chinese nor in the global version. That is why every working “VPN on Xiaomi” guide is in fact a guide to “OpenWRT on Xiaomi, and then VPN on OpenWRT”. Ours is no exception; we just say it out loud.
Which Xiaomi Models Are Supported
| Model | OpenWRT | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Xiaomi AX3000T (revision RD03) | Yes, officially | The best pick: Wi-Fi 6, gigabit ports, about ₽3,000 (roughly $35), flashes in 15–30 minutes. But the revision is critical — see below |
| Redmi AX6S / Xiaomi AX3200 | Yes, officially | A proven option, slightly older |
| Mi Router 4A Gigabit | Yes | Cheap, but weak hardware — enough for modest speeds |
| The newest BE models (Wi-Fi 7) | Partial or not yet | Support arrives with a delay — check the table on openwrt.org |
An important note about revisions — this is the main Xiaomi trap. A revision is a hardware version: the boxes look identical from the outside while the electronics inside can differ. The AX3000T has three such versions, and their fates differ. Your revision is printed on the sticker on the bottom of the router:
| AX3000T revision | What it is | OpenWRT |
|---|---|---|
| RD03 | The Chinese version (a MediaTek chip inside) | Yes — the simple path, 15–30 minutes, no disassembly. This is the one to look for |
| RD23 | The global/international version | Supported, but there is no simple path: you have to open the case and attach wires to the board (this is called UART) — an option for the experienced, not recommended for a beginner |
| RD03v2 | The new Chinese version (an entirely different chip inside — Qualcomm) | OpenWRT cannot be installed, and support is not expected |
What Installing OpenWRT on the AX3000T (RD03) Looks Like
Here is the map of the process. The concrete steps are worth checking against the instructions on your model’s page in the OpenWRT wiki — the project’s official reference at openwrt.org, where every router has its own page: what is supported, which files to download and how to install them. Those instructions are updated alongside Xiaomi’s firmware, so the source is always fresher than any article, ours included:
- Identify the revision and the firmware version — the sticker underneath plus the MiWiFi web interface.
- Download two files from openwrt.org strictly for your model and revision: the first is called initramfs — the “temporary” version for the first boot; the second is sysupgrade — the main firmware that stays on the router. Both are on the model page and are hard to mix up: the names are labelled.
- Get access for uploading the image — on the AX3000T this goes through the stock recovery mechanism / debug access; the method depends on the MiWiFi version, and the current one is described in the OpenWRT wiki for the model.
- Upload initramfs, then flash sysupgrade via System → Backup/Flash Firmware (untick the keep-settings boxes — we install clean).
- The router reboots into OpenWRT: address 192.168.1.1, login root, empty password — set your own right away.
Tainet works with either path: a WireGuard config for the stock client, a VLESS subscription for OpenWRT — one subscription, both formats, plus the same servers on your phone and your computer. Sign up through the Telegram bot or in your account on this site, from $0.10 a day.
Try it →If Something Goes Wrong
The main thing is not to panic and not to pull the power during any recovery operation. There are two situations:
The router boots, but something works oddly (no internet, no Wi-Fi). This is almost always settings rather than damage: reset OpenWRT to factory defaults (the Reset button — hold for about 10 seconds while the router is on) and set it up again by the instructions.
The router shows no signs of life or reboots in a loop (a “brick”). On the AX3000T this is reversible in most cases: Xiaomi has an official tool for restoring the stock firmware (Mi WiFi Repair Tool), and the model page in the OpenWRT wiki describes the recovery procedure — look for the recovery/unbricking section. The same place, in the AX3000T thread on the OpenWRT forum, is home to a community that has been through this dozens of times — searching the thread for “brick” usually finds a ready solution for your exact case.
From Here On It’s Any OpenWRT: 15 Minutes to a Working Connection
From this point your Xiaomi is an ordinary OpenWRT router, and setting up the Tainet connection is described one-to-one in the OpenWRT guide: installing HomeProxy, adding the subscription as a link, choosing a server, filtering configurations and routing modes — it is all there, no need to repeat it. A subscription with VLESS servers takes 30 seconds to get — in the Telegram bot or on this site in your account, with the first 7 days free: enough time to test the pairing of “your Xiaomi + our servers” before paying.
The money side, and why people like this path: an AX3000T (about ₽3,000) plus half an hour of your time equals a router with capabilities that cost two or three times as much in other ecosystems.
If You’d Rather Not Flash Anything: Three Alternatives
Clients on the devices. A phone, a laptop and a tablet are each covered by an app in five minutes — Happ, INCY (it even works on Apple TV) or Hiddify, one subscription for all devices.
For a TV — a set-top box or a direct install. If the whole point of this is the TV, see the TV guide: on Android TV and Google TV everything installs without a router at all.
A router with support out of the box. If you need “a VPN for the whole home” but flashing feels scary, Keenetic or GL.iNet solve the same problem with stock features; a comparison of the paths is in the guide to devices. And if you are drawn to professional hardware instead — MikroTik can do VLESS through a container, with no reflashing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a VPN be set up on Xiaomi without flashing?
For modern protocols — no: MiWiFi has no client for them. Guides promising otherwise are either outdated or describe exotic schemes with a separate server. The honest options are OpenWRT or the alternatives above.
Will the warranty be void?
Yes, reflashing is not a warranty case. For a router costing about ₽3,000 many consider that an acceptable price; it is your call.
Can the stock firmware be restored?
Yes, on the AX3000T the stock is restored with Xiaomi’s official tool — the procedure is described in the same OpenWRT wiki.
Which Xiaomi should I buy for this?
The AX3000T in revision RD03 — the sweet spot of 2026: recent hardware, official OpenWRT support, minimal price. The revision is the key parameter: the RD23 only goes through disassembly with UART, and the new RD03v2 on Qualcomm is not supported at all. Ask about the revision before buying.
What speed will I get through the VPN?
On an AX3000T with VLESS, 80–150 Mbps is realistic — enough for 4K video and work for the whole flat. Figures by device class are in the OpenWRT guide, and if the router is being bought for gaming, ping and server choice have a separate breakdown for gamers.
One subscription for the router and the phone — is that allowed?
Yes: a Tainet subscription is multi-device — the router covers the home, and the same link in Happ works everywhere else.
If you have decided to flash it, the road map is this: the OpenWRT wiki for your model → our OpenWRT guide → a Tainet subscription, the first 7 days free (in the Telegram bot or on this site in your account), from $0.10 a day.
