To set up WiFi with Xfinity, activate your supported gateway in the Xfinity app, then connect your devices using your home network name and password. For standard residential cable Internet activation, sign in as the Primary user or a Manager. NOW Internet uses a separate activation flow and the Wi-Fi credentials printed on its supplied gateway.
The short version
- Start with the app: Install the official Xfinity app and sign in with your Xfinity ID.
- Activate your equipment: Follow the gateway setup prompts using a Primary or Manager account for standard cable Internet.
- Choose your credentials: Set your network name and password when prompted during standard onboarding, or use the gateway sticker for NOW Internet.
- Connect your devices: Select your private home network in each device’s Wi-Fi settings and enter its password.
| Activation route | Where to start | Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Supported rented Xfinity Gateway | Xfinity app, Get Started | Sign in as the Primary user or a Manager |
| Replacement gateway or modem | Account > Set up equipment or devices | Start activation manually when needed |
| Approved customer-owned cable modem | Equipment activation in the Xfinity app | Use a modem/router combination or separate wireless router for Wi-Fi |
| NOW Internet supplied gateway | Activate now in the Xfinity app | Use the fixed credentials printed on the gateway |
| Customer-owned router at an eligible fiber property | Contact Xfinity for the required service configuration | Complete the router manufacturer’s setup after Xfinity changes the configuration |
Get the Xfinity app and your account ready
Download the Xfinity app from Xfinity’s official app page, using its App Store or Google Play download option. Install it on a supported iOS or Android device, then sign in with your Xfinity ID. For standard gateway or modem activation, your account must have the Primary or Manager role.
Standard cable self-installation requires an eligible location, a working cable outlet, and electrical power. Before starting activation, follow your equipment instructions to connect the gateway to an active coax outlet and power. Sign in only through Xfinity’s own app or website, and never share a code, password, or remote access with someone who contacts you.
Activate a rented Xfinity Gateway
Open the Xfinity app and tap Get Started to begin setting up a supported rented gateway. Complete the equipment setup prompts, then wait for activation to finish. Activation starts your Internet service; connecting a phone or computer to Wi-Fi comes afterward.
If you are a new customer using Xfinity’s onboarding flow, the app can prompt you to create a network name and password after ordering service, before gateway activation. Enter the name and password you want to use, then finish activation. Reuse your previous home network’s name and password if you want existing devices to reconnect automatically.
When replacing a supported gateway or modem, you can start activation manually if the setup prompt does not appear. Select Account > Set up equipment or devices > Internet > Xfinity Gateway or Modem. Follow the activation prompts for the replacement equipment.
Activate your own cable modem
You can activate an approved customer-owned cable modem through the Xfinity app on a compatible Internet plan. With the modem connected to coax and power following its installation instructions, sign in as the Primary user or a Manager and start equipment activation. Complete the prompts for that modem.
For Wi-Fi, use a modem/router combination or connect a separate wireless router. After modem activation, complete the router manufacturer’s setup to establish your wireless network. This cable-modem route does not apply to NOW Internet or the customer-owned-router configuration at eligible fiber properties.
Follow the separate NOW Internet setup
For NOW Internet, use the supplied XB3 TG1682P gateway and its separate app flow. Connect the gateway following the kit instructions, then install the Xfinity app directly or through the kit’s QR code. Under Got new equipment to set up?, tap Activate now, then tap Get started.
Locate the Wi-Fi name and password printed on the gateway, then tap Next. Once the top three gateway lights remain steady, tap Lights are solid. Leave the app open and the gateway powered while activation runs, then tap Done and allow the gateway to restart.
Connect each device using the network name and password on the gateway sticker. Xfinity says NOW Internet credentials cannot be changed, so the standard credential-editing steps below do not apply. If the app cannot find the gateway connection during activation, tap Chat with Xfinity Assistant.
Confirm your home network name and password
For a compatible rented Xfinity Gateway, open WiFi > WiFi details > Edit WiFi settings in the app. Edit WiFi name or WiFi password, then select Save. Reconnect your devices using the updated credentials.
You can access the WiFi tab with a Primary, Manager, or Member account on compatible rented gateways. Use the app for credential changes on XB6 and newer gateways. The default name and password on a standard gateway’s side or bottom label apply only when installation did not replace them or factory settings have been restored.
To share your private home network, open WiFi > WiFi details. Have the other device scan the displayed QR code if it supports Wi-Fi QR codes. Alternatively, select Share and choose a supported messaging, email, or sharing app.
Connect your phones and computers
On an iPhone or iPad, open Settings > Wi-Fi and turn on Wi-Fi. Select your private home network and enter its password. A blue checkmark beside the network confirms the connection.
On Android devices using Google’s interface, open Settings > Network & internet > Internet. Select your home network and enter its password when requested. Alternatively, swipe down, tap Internet, and select the network. Manufacturer labels can differ, and some of these steps require Android 12 or later.
If your Android device needs to join a hidden network, select Add network and enter the network’s details. Open Advanced options, choose Yes under Hidden Network, then tap Save.
The Windows steps here use Windows 11 menus. Select the taskbar’s Network, Sound, or Battery area, then select Manage Wi-Fi connections on the Wi-Fi control. Choose your home network, select Connect, enter the password, and select Next.
On a Mac, open the Wi-Fi menu in the menu bar and select your home network. Enter its password when requested, using your current network credentials.
For TVs, printers, consoles, and other wireless devices on a customer-owned modem/router network, use the device’s network settings or setup wizard to select your home network and enter its password. Exact menu names depend on the model, so follow the manufacturer’s instructions. Xfinity’s generic examples use WiFi or Wireless for a TV and Setup > Network for a printer.
Add extenders after the gateway is active
Activate your gateway before setting up compatible Xfinity WiFi Extenders. Your gateway must broadcast Wi-Fi, use a shared network name and password across bands, and have Bridge Mode disabled. If your connection works but coverage is weak in part of your home, you can also troubleshoot a weak Wi-Fi signal.
Turn on your phone’s Bluetooth, then open Services > Activate more devices > WiFi Extenders in the Xfinity app. Choose the extender type and tap Get Started. Follow the app’s placement and pairing prompts, using an unobstructed outlet between the gateway and the weak-coverage area.
Get help when activation does not finish
If replacement equipment does not trigger setup automatically, start the manual activation flow under Account > Set up equipment or devices. Confirm that you are signed in as the Primary user or a Manager for standard cable activation. For a NOW Internet gateway that cannot be found, tap Chat with Xfinity Assistant within the activation flow.
For unresolved setup problems, open Xfinity’s official activation help and use its assistance option. The activation landing page directs you to the app and does not offer a general browser-only gateway activation wizard. For standard residential service, contact Xfinity to arrange professional installation when self-installation is unsuitable. Professional installation is unavailable for NOW Internet.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need the old xFi website to manage your network?
You do not need the former xFi browser dashboard, which Xfinity retired. Use the current Xfinity app to manage your compatible home network.
Is the Xfinity public hotspot the same as your home Wi-Fi?
The public Home Hotspot is separate from your private home network, and its controls do not activate your private Wi-Fi. With a Primary, Manager, or Member account and an eligible hotspot-capable rented gateway, open WiFi > View WiFi equipment > Advanced settings > Xfinity WiFi hotspot network in the app. Move the toggle right to enable the hotspot or left to disable it.
Can you activate your own router at an Xfinity fiber property?
At eligible communities with fiber delivered to individual units, you can use a compatible customer-owned Ethernet router that supports your subscribed speed. Contact Xfinity to request the customer-owned-router configuration. After Xfinity changes the service configuration, connect the router directly to the Comcast-owned ONU with Ethernet and complete the router manufacturer’s installation and activation process. Xfinity app activation does not apply to that router.
How do you remove an Xfinity WiFi Extender before replacing your setup?
In the Xfinity app, open WiFi > View WiFi equipment and select the extender registered to your home network. Choose Device details > Remove WiFi Extender, then tap Remove.