Visitor
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Connected devices are showing up multiple times
I have noticed that cell phones are showing up multiple times as connected devices under the xfinity app. Only 2 household members have iphones, however, sometimes 3 iphones are listed as connected. Today I am the only one home and it is showing 2 iphones connected to our gateway. My phone is connected to our 2.4 network. This unknown other phone is connected to the 5 network. Is this my phone connected twice or is this my childs phone showing up as still connected even though they have left the house with their phone?
This has also happend with a older galaxy phone. Our gateway showed 2 phones connected all day, but the phone was taken from the house multiple times. Then it would show only one phone connected while this person was away with their phone. They came home and 2 phones were connected. The phone that stayed connected was on the 5 network. Again, I don't know if this is one phone showing up twice or are there two phones?
XfinitySara
Official Employee
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1.8K Messages
24 days ago
Hello, @user_3poszp! It sounds frustrating to see devices listed multiple times on your Xfinity app. I'm glad you've reached out to our Digital Care Team, though! We're great to work with because we'll always do our best to review and resolve issues quickly. Let's explore some possibilities to figure out what's going on.
It could indeed be your phone showing up twice, or it could be a lingering connection from your child's phone. Here's a breakdown of why you might be seeing these duplicates:
- Dual-band connection: Many modern phones can connect to both the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands of your Wi-Fi. The Xfinity app might be listing each connection as a separate device. Since you mentioned your phone is on the 2.4 GHz network and the unknown one is on the 5 GHz, this is a strong possibility.
- Delayed disconnection: Sometimes, when a device leaves the network, it might take a little while for the gateway and the app to register that it's no longer connected. This could explain why your child's phone might still appear briefly after they leave.
- MAC address randomization: Some newer phones have a privacy feature that uses a different MAC address for each Wi-Fi network they connect to. While this is less likely to cause a persistent duplicate within your own network, it's something to keep in mind.
- Temporary glitches: Occasionally, there can be temporary glitches in the app or the gateway's reporting that cause devices to be listed incorrectly.
To get a clearer picture, here are a few things you could try:
1. Check the MAC addresses: The Xfinity app usually shows the MAC address (a unique identifier) for each connected device. You can find the MAC address of your iPhone in its Wi-Fi settings. Compare the MAC addresses listed for the two "iPhones" in the app. If they are different, it's likely two separate connections (either your phone on both bands or your phone and your child's phone). If they are the same, it's likely your phone listed twice.
2. Have your child turn off Wi-Fi when they leave: The next time your child leaves with their phone, ask them to turn off the Wi-Fi on their device before they go. Then, check the Xfinity app after a few minutes to see if the second iPhone disappears. This would indicate that it was their phone still showing as connected.
3. Restart your gateway: Sometimes, a simple restart of your Xfinity gateway can resolve temporary reporting issues. Unplug it from the power outlet for about 30 seconds, then plug it back in and wait for it to fully power on. Then, check the app again.
4. "Forget" the 5 GHz network on your phone (temporarily): To see if the dual-band connection is the culprit, you could temporarily tell your iPhone to "forget" the 5 GHz network. This will force it to only connect to the 2.4 GHz network. Then, check the Xfinity app to see if only one iPhone is listed. Remember to reconnect to the 5 GHz network later if you prefer using it.
By trying these steps, you should be able to narrow down whether you are seeing your phone listed twice due to a dual-band connection or a delayed disconnection of your child's phone.
If you continue to see unexpected devices or are concerned about unauthorized access, it would be a good idea to change your Wi-Fi password through the Xfinity app or website for added security. Please let me know if this helps!
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