How to Use VPN Feature in Mi Router 3C

In a digital world where at every node your footprints are being tracked, privacy bears the prime importance now and hence it demands changes in the primal ways we connect & represent ourselves in a tangled net of virtuality. Mi Router 3C was designed with this in mind and that is why it comes with the VPN feature inbuilt, which helps you stand armor-protected in a virtual world.

How to Use VPN Feature 

For this tutorial we will use Mi Wi-Fi app (Android or iOS) although same can be accomplished via WebUI too.

Step 1

Open Mi Wi-Fi App on your phone and go to settings > network settings > VPN settings, if you haven't installed it yet then follow this guide.

Step 2

Click new VPN and fill in the details of your VPN:

• Name: Seed4.Me VPN
• Protocol: PPTP
• Server: us.seed4.me (All available locations)
• Your Seed4.Me Username
• Your Seed4.Me password

Step 3

Click OK to save the VPN connection and turn it on.

That’s it! Now your public IP will be different, check the comparison below:

Advanced VPN Settings

It comes with smart VPN settings using which you can control the use of VPN for particular devices or websites only and continue using normal connection for other devices or websites.

Filter use of VPN based on Websites

Enable ‘limit bandwidth according to VPN IP address’ and you will have the submenu called ‘address list’. List the web address one by one for only which you want to connect via VPN, the rest will be connected via normal connection

Filter use of VPN based on Devices/MAC

Enable ‘limit bandwidth for individual devices’ and you will have two options named ‘add devices’ and ‘add MAC address’. Clicking add devices will let you choose the already present devices on the network and add MAC address will let you add devices using its MAC address. Now only the devices added will use VPN connection.

FAQ

What is VPN, how it's beneficial to me?

In simple terms it can be taken as a tunnel which provides secure and encrypted connection between your devices and the world wide web. In a nutshell it offers privacy by hiding your internet activity, allows you to evade censorship, allows you geo-spoof your location and much more.

How it is beneficial on a router level?

Running VPN on a router level gives you freedom from a cumbersome task of running client apps on each device or setting up the same thing on each device.

From where I can buy VPN?

There are numerous choices out there, compare by weighing the features they have to offer and don’t forget to check for PPTP support.

Do I have to enable VPN again every time?

To enable automatic connection after every reboot, open WebUI on 192.168.31.1, under advanced - VPN - enabled ‘connect automatically when the device is on’

How do I delete VPN config entry in app? 

Click & hold the entry you would like to delete and it will be deleted

How do I delete added devices or address from the list?

Click & hold the each entry you want to send to the trash.

Full marks to the Mi team for this awesome guide!