How to Install OpenWrt on the Redmi AX6000

{{<notice “danger”>}} WARNING: These procedures are not for beginners. Proceeding means accepting the risk; I am not responsible for damage, although I will try to help if problems occur.

• There are two procedures for two different OpenWrt layouts:

  • Version 1 uses the stock bootloader.
  • Version 2 uses U-Boot Mod. {{}}

• Requirements:

  • A router with SSH enabled (guide).
  • Basic command-line skills.
  • Careful attention to every command and its order.

• Prepare:

  • An Ethernet cable between the PC and router. See this Cat6 cable on Shopee if a separate recovery cable is needed.
  • WinSCP for Windows, available here.
  • OpenWrt firmware from the official downloads.

I. Install the stock-bootloader OpenWrt version

Download these files from OpenWrt:

• xiaomi_redmi-router-ax6000-stock-initramfs-factory.ubi
• xiaomi_redmi-router-ax6000-stock-squashfs-sysupgrade.bin

Open WinSCP:

• File Protocol: SCP
• Hostname: normally 192.168.31.1, port 22
• Username: root
• Password: generate the root password from the router SN.

Click Copy to copy the generated password.

{{< collapse “SCP login screenshot” >}} {{< /collapse >}}

In SCP, double-click the tmp directory on the right and upload openwrt-mediatek-filogic-xiaomi_redmi-router-ax6000-stock-initramfs-factory.ubi.

Log in over SSH and run the commands below in the correct order. Run only the block matching the value returned by cat /proc/cmdline (firmware=1 or firmware=0).

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After reboot, the router address is 192.168.1.1. Log in over SCP at 192.168.1.1:22 (no password), open tmp, and upload openwrt-mediatek-filogic-xiaomi_redmi-router-ax6000-stock-squashfs-sysupgrade.bin.

Log in over SSH and run:

{{}}

The stock-bootloader OpenWrt installation is complete.

II. Install the U-Boot Mod OpenWrt version

{{<notice “danger”>}} The router must already be running OpenWrt with the stock bootloader. Incorrect U-Boot steps or a corrupted download can brick it. Verify the network, PC, and file integrity before proceeding. {{}}

Prepare:

• xiaomi_redmi-router-ax6000-ubootmod-bl31-uboot.fip
• xiaomi_redmi-router-ax6000-ubootmod-preloader.bin
• xiaomi_redmi-router-ax6000-ubootmod-initramfs-factory.ubi
• xiaomi_redmi-router-ax6000-ubootmod-squashfs-sysupgrade.itb

{{<notice “tip”>}} These links use OpenWrt 23.05.2. Find newer versions at OpenWrt.org. {{}}

II.1 Back up the stock-bootloader installation

Log in over SSH and run:

{{}}

Use WinSCP to download these files from tmp to the PC.

II.2 Install U-Boot Mod

II.2.1 Flash initramfs

Upload xiaomi_redmi-router-ax6000-ubootmod-initramfs-factory.ubi to /tmp, then run:

{{}}

After reboot, check the partition table:

cat /proc/mtd

The ubi partition must be mtd5.

II.2.2 Unlock the bootloader partition

Official OpenWrt locks the bootloader partition. Install and load kmod-mtd-rw:

{{}}

Clear persistent logs so OpenWrt does not automatically boot into recovery:

rm -f /sys/fs/pstore/*

II.2.3 Format UBI and create U-Boot environment volumes

ubidetach -p /dev/mtd5; ubiformat /dev/mtd5 -y; ubiattach -p /dev/mtd5ubimkvol /dev/ubi0 -n 0 -N ubootenv -s 128KiBubimkvol /dev/ubi0 -n 1 -N ubootenv2 -s 128KiB

II.2.4 Flash U-Boot Mod

Upload these files to /tmp:

• xiaomi_redmi-router-ax6000-ubootmod-bl31-uboot.fip
• xiaomi_redmi-router-ax6000-ubootmod-preloader.bin
• xiaomi_redmi-router-ax6000-ubootmod-squashfs-sysupgrade.itb

mtd write /tmp/xiaomi_redmi-router-ax6000-ubootmod-preloader.bin BL2mtd write /tmp/xiaomi_redmi-router-ax6000-ubootmod-bl31-uboot.fip FIP

II.2.5 Install U-Boot Mod OpenWrt

sysupgrade -n xiaomi_redmi-router-ax6000-ubootmod-squashfs-sysupgrade.itb

The U-Boot Mod OpenWrt installation is complete.