Unlocking Full SMB Access on the Mi WiFi R2D 1TB NAS Router

The Mi WiFi R2D 1TB NAS router is a decade-old yet beautiful piece of technology packed with features that were ahead of its time. Even though Xiaomi officially ended support with the last firmware update on August 15, 2018, it still remains a solid device for NAS functionality. However, accessing files via SMB on a Mac can be frustrating—something I experienced firsthand.

The SMB Access Dilemma

After enabling SMB on the Mi WiFi router, I found that I could only access the folders I explicitly shared using the Mi WiFi mobile app. This limitation was driving me crazy because my phone had no trouble accessing all files, whereas my Mac only showed the shared directories. Interestingly, I noticed that PC users in review videos were able to access the entire directory without issues, making me question what was different about the Mac experience.

The Discovery: A Not-So-Secret Menu

After years of using this router, I finally stumbled upon an essential setting hidden in the web UI. If you're struggling with limited SMB access on your Mac, here’s how to fix it:

Steps to Enable Full SMB Access:

  1. Use Chrome with Auto-Translate – Since the web UI is in Chinese, enabling Chrome’s translation feature will make navigation easier.

  2. Access the Web Interface – Log in to the router’s web UI.

  3. Go to Routing Status – Find this option in the interface.

  4. Check the Terminal Equipment List – This section displays connected devices.

  5. Enable Full Disk Access – Locate the toggle button next to your laptop and turn it on.

  6. Reconnect via SMB – Now, when you log in as a Guest, you should see the entire directory without manually sharing individual folders.




Conclusion

For years, I was limited to accessing only shared folders on my Mac, while my phone had full access. Thanks to this simple toggle switch in the web UI, I can now fully utilize the Mi WiFi R2D’s NAS functionality. If you’re a long-time owner of this device and have been facing similar frustrations, I hope this discovery saves you the same headache. Happy file sharing!

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