← Back to Guides

⚡ Bitaxe Complete Setup Guide

🟢 Beginner📚 15 min read🔄 Updated Feb 1, 2025
1
Unbox & Inspect
2
Connect Power
3
WiFi Setup
4
Access AxeOS
5
Pool Config
6
Wallet Setup
7
Start Mining
8
Monitor
💡
What You'll Learn
This complete guide walks you through setting up your Bitaxe from unboxing to finding your first shares. Works for Bitaxe Gamma, Supra, Ultra, and all variants running AxeOS firmware.

📋 What You Need

Checklist

0/6 completed
⚠️
Important: 2.4GHz WiFi Only
Bitaxe ONLY works with 2.4GHz WiFi networks. It cannot connect to 5GHz networks. Check your router settings or use your phone's hotspot if needed.
1

Unbox & Inspect

Carefully unbox your Bitaxe and inspect all components. Your package should include:

Checklist

0/5 completed
🔥
Pro Tip: Handle With Care
The display screen may be shipped detached to prevent damage. If detached, carefully reconnect it by aligning the ribbon cable connector at the top of the board. Be gentle - don't force it.
2

Connect Power

Now it's time to power up your Bitaxe for the first time.

Checklist

0/6 completed
⚠️
Power Supply Safety
NEVER use the wrong voltage! Using 12V on a 5V Bitaxe (or vice versa) will instantly damage your miner. Always double-check the voltage rating on both your Bitaxe and power supply before connecting.

What You Should See:

  • Fan spinning (should be audible but quiet)
  • LED lights active (color varies by model)
  • Display showing boot-up sequence
  • Within 30 seconds, you should see "AxeOS" or WiFi setup prompt
3

WiFi Setup

Your Bitaxe creates its own WiFi access point on first boot. You'll connect to it to configure your home WiFi.

Checklist

0/6 completed

📱 Configure Your Home WiFi:

  1. Select your home WiFi network from the list
  2. Enter your WiFi password carefully (it's case-sensitive!)
  3. Click "Connect" or "Save"
  4. Wait 20-30 seconds while Bitaxe reboots and connects
  5. Your Bitaxe's LED will change color when connected successfully
⚠️
Troubleshooting WiFi
If Bitaxe won't connect to your WiFi:
• Verify you're using 2.4GHz WiFi (NOT 5GHz)
• Check your WiFi password is correct
• Make sure your router allows new devices to connect
• Try using your phone's mobile hotspot (2.4GHz mode) as a test
4

Access AxeOS Dashboard

Once connected to your home WiFi, you need to find your Bitaxe's IP address to access the web interface.

🔍 Finding Your Bitaxe's IP Address:

Method 1: Check Router (Easiest)

  1. Log into your router's admin page (usually 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1)
  2. Look for "Connected Devices" or "DHCP Clients"
  3. Find device named "bitaxe" or "axe-XXXX"
  4. Note the IP address (e.g., 192.168.1.105)

Method 2: Use mDNS (Sometimes Works)

Try visiting in your browser:

http://bitaxe.local

Method 3: Network Scanner App

Download "Fing" app on your phone and scan your network to find the Bitaxe.

Checklist

0/5 completed

Now reconnect your phone/computer to your normal WiFi network, then visit the IP address in your browser to access your Bitaxe.

5

Mining Pool Configuration

Now configure which mining pool your Bitaxe will connect to. We recommend MineSolo Pools - built specifically for home miners like Bitaxe with the lowest fees in the industry.

MineSolo Capped 10 (Perfect for Bitaxe!)

1.5% Fee • Designed for Home Miners

Your tiny miner gets the same share as everyone else! Rewards split equally per person, not by hashrate. Perfect for Bitaxe owners.

MineSolo Capped 10 Settingsbash
Stratum Host: pools.minesolo.io
Stratum Port: 3337
User: YOUR_BTC_ADDRESS.worker
Password: x
🎰

MineSolo Solo Lotto (Alternative)

0.5% Fee • Lowest Fee • Winner Takes All

Pure lottery mining. If YOUR Bitaxe finds the block, you keep 99.5% of the reward!

MineSolo Solo Lotto Settingsbash
Stratum Host: pools.minesolo.io
Stratum Port: 3333
User: YOUR_BTC_ADDRESS.worker
Password: x
🔄 Backup Pool Options (Click to Expand)

Public-Pool (Backup)

Open-source solo pool with 0% fee

Stratum Host: public-pool.io
Stratum Port: 21496
User: YOUR_BTC_ADDRESS.worker
Password: x

Solo CK Pool (Backup)

Original solo mining pool, 2% fee

Stratum Host: solo.ckpool.org
Stratum Port: 3333
User: YOUR_BTC_ADDRESS.worker
Password: x
🔥
Why MineSolo Capped 10?
Capped 10 is designed specifically for Bitaxe and home miners. Your ~600 GH/s miner gets the SAME reward share as everyone else when a block is found. It's the fairest option for small miners!

Checklist

0/8 completed
⚠️
Common Mistakes to Avoid
• Don't include "stratum+tcp://" in the Stratum Host field
• Make sure your Bitcoin address is correct - you can't change it once mining starts
• Password is just "x" - nothing complex needed
• Port numbers must be exact - 3337 for Capped 10, 3333 for Solo Lotto
6

Bitcoin Wallet Setup

You need a Bitcoin wallet address to receive your block reward if you find a block. Here's what you need to know:

💡
Wallet Address Requirements
Your Bitcoin address should start with bc1 (SegWit/Bech32), 3 (SegWit P2SH), or 1 (Legacy). Modern wallets use bc1 addresses.

✅ Recommended Wallets:

  • Hardware Wallets: Ledger, Trezor (most secure for large amounts)
  • Software Wallets: Electrum, BlueWallet, Sparrow Wallet
  • Mobile Wallets: BlueWallet, Blockstream Green (good for beginners)
⚠️
NEVER Use Exchange Addresses
DO NOT use addresses from Coinbase, Binance, or any exchange! Solo mining pools may send transactions that exchanges don't recognize, and you could lose your block reward. Use only wallets where you control the private keys.

Checklist

0/6 completed
7

Start Mining!

After saving your pool configuration, your Bitaxe will automatically start mining. Here's what to look for:

✅ Signs Your Bitaxe is Mining:

  • Hashrate Display: Should show ~400-700 GH/s depending on model and clock speed
  • Pool Status: Should say "Connected" or show green indicator
  • Shares Accepted: Should increase every few minutes
  • Temperature: Should stabilize around 45-65°C
  • Fan Speed: Should adjust automatically based on temperature

Checklist

0/6 completed
Congratulations!
Your Bitaxe is now solo mining Bitcoin! While your chances of finding a block are very small, every share you submit is a lottery ticket. Who knows - you might get lucky! 🎰
8

Monitor Your Mining

Now that you're mining, you'll want to keep an eye on your stats. There are two places to monitor:

📊 AxeOS Dashboard (Local)

Visit your Bitaxe's IP address to see:

  • Real-time hashrate
  • Temperature and fan speed
  • Shares accepted/rejected
  • Power consumption
  • Uptime and efficiency

🌐 Pool Website (Remote)

Visit your pool's website to monitor your miner:

💡
What to Monitor Daily
Hashrate: Should remain stable at expected levels
Temperature: Should stay 45-65°C under normal operation
Shares Accepted: Should be 99%+ (rejected shares under 1%)
Pool Connection: Should always show as connected
Best Share: The closest you've come to finding a block

📱 Pro Tip: Set Up Alerts

Configure AxeOS to send you alerts if:

  • Temperature exceeds 70°C
  • Pool disconnects for more than 5 minutes
  • Hashrate drops below expected levels
  • Device goes offline

🔧 Common Issues & Solutions

❌ Bitaxe won't power on
  • Verify correct voltage (5V or 12V matches your model)
  • Check power supply is providing sufficient amperage (6A+ for 5V models)
  • Inspect barrel jack connection - should be firmly seated
  • Try different power outlet
⚠️ Can't connect to pool
  • Double-check you entered "pools.minesolo.io" NOT "stratum+tcp://pools.minesolo.io"
  • Verify port number is correct (3337 for Capped 10, 3333 for Solo Lotto)
  • Check Bitcoin address format (should start with bc1, 3, or 1)
  • Confirm WiFi is connected and stable
  • Try pinging the pool: ping pools.minesolo.io
🌡️ Temperature too high (>70°C)
  • Ensure good airflow around the device - don't enclose it
  • Check fan is spinning properly
  • Clean dust from heatsink and fan
  • Consider room temperature - move to cooler location if needed
  • Reduce clock frequency in AxeOS settings (will lower hashrate but reduce heat)
📉 Low hashrate or frequent rejected shares
  • Check pool configuration is correct
  • Verify stable WiFi connection (weak signal causes issues)
  • If temperature is high, reduce clock speed
  • Power supply might be insufficient - verify amperage
  • Update AxeOS firmware if available

🚀 Next Steps

🎉 You're Now Solo Mining Bitcoin!

Your Bitaxe is now competing for the next Bitcoin block. While your odds are small, every share is a chance to win. Good luck, and may the hash be with you! 🎰