ANSWERED: How to Connect to an Xfinity WiFi Hotspot

ComcastJessie · ‎11-13-2018

Question

What are Xfinity Wifi Hotspots and how to connect to them?

Answer

The Xfinity WiFi hotspot network provides millions of Xfinity hotspots throughout Comcast’s geographical footprint so you can always stay connected. These hotspots deliver fast, convenient WiFi access without any additional fees to customers who subscribe to our Performance Internet package or above. Performance Starter, Internet Essentials and Prepaid Instant TV customers have access to 40 hours of Xfinity WiFi hotspots every 30 days. (Find out your level of Xfinity service.)

For users who don't subscribe to Xfinity Mobile or to an eligible Xfinity Internet package, hourly, daily, weekly and monthly Xfinity WiFi On Demand Passes are available for purchase. Qualifying customers can register up to 20 WiFi-enabled devices with our automatic sign-in feature. This eliminates the need to sign in every time you're on-the-go.

**NOTE**: If you wish to turn on or off a hotspot broadcasting from your own residential Xfinity Gateway, here’s how to do it.

Availability

To find an Xfinity WiFi Hotspot, check the hotspot location map online at wifi.xfinity.com, or download the Xfinity WiFi Hotspots app from the App Store on iTunes or the Google Play store.
XFINITY WiFi Hotspot location map depicted on a tablet.

Visit wifi.xfinity.com.
Click on the Find a Hotspot tab near the top of the page.
Enter an address, city, state or ZIP code to find a nearby hotspot.
You may also look for xfinitywifi or XFINITY in the list of available networks on your WiFi-enabled devices as you travel around town.

Minimum System Requirements

You can connect to Xfinity WiFi from any WiFi-enabled device such as a mobile computer, mobile phone or tablet and from other mobile devices, such as an iPod Touch, Kindle, Nook, etc. Devices without built-in browsers are currently not supported.

How to Connect

To automatically connect at Xfinity WiFi Hotspots and get the best possible experience, install the security profile on your device. To sign in manually when you are at a hotspot:

Using your WiFi-enabled device, connect to the Xfinity WiFi network (network name: xfinitywifi) and launch your browser.
The browser will redirect you to the Xfinity WiFi sign-in page. If you don't see the sign-in page, enter a different URL, like www.xfinity.com, in your browser to be redirected to our sign-in page.
Sign in using your Xfinity username and password and register your device.
- You can use your primary or secondary username and password to sign in.
- Don't remember your Xfinity username and password? Let us help you find your Xfinity username or find your password.

**Note**: Once you've signed in and registered your device, you may be prompted to install the Xfinity WiFi secure profile, which enables you to take advantage of enhanced security features at many hotspot locations. The installation process varies by operating system, so please follow the on-screen prompts.

Secure Xfinity WiFi

Secure Xfinity WiFi Hotspots ("XFINITY") are now available at many outdoor locations and small businesses with additional locations always being added to the network. Once you have connected and authenticated at a secure hotspot, the data traveling over WiFi between the client device and the access point will be encrypted and secure.

In order to access the secure network, you must have a security profile on your device. For non-iOS devices, the profile is part of the Xfinity WiFi Hotspots app. View our FAQs for details.

Once you load the secure profile onto your device, it will automatically authenticate and connect to the secure SSID. Downloading the secure profile is required to connect to the XFINITY SSID automatically, but is optional for the xfinitywifi SSID.

Connection Duration

Xfinity WiFi will disconnect you from the network after you have left the hotspot (typically after five minutes), or after a prolonged period of inactivity. However, once you have successfully signed in using a WiFi-enabled device, your device will be registered for Automatic Sign-In and you will not be required to provide your Xfinity username and password to connect to the Xfinity WiFi network using the same device. These measures are designed for your security and to ensure a better WiFi experience.

Automatic Sign-In

Automatic Sign-In is a feature that identifies devices that have successfully signed in to the Xfinity WiFi service previously, and allows these devices to connect to the network in the future without the need to sign in, as long as the account remains active and in good standing.

Similarly, your device will automatically authenticate and connect to secure Xfinity WiFi if you are using the Xfinity WiFi Hotspots app or if you have installed the secure profile on your device. If you change the password for the account being used to access secure Xfinity WiFi Hotspots, your secure profile will need to be re-installed.

Automatic Sign-In is not supported in the following scenarios:

At certain partner network hotspots. Check the hotspot location map to identify these locations.
If you are not an Xfinity Internet customer.
For customers using a pre-activated Xfinity username: Once your account is fully active, you will be able to use Automatic Sign-In.

To use Xfinity WiFi and Automatic Sign-In on multiple devices, you will have to sign in on each device to register them individually. To access the most up-to-date security features, the secure Xfinity WiFi profile must be installed on each device.

Troubleshooting General Xfinity WiFi Connectivity

A number of factors can affect WiFi connections, including but not limited to your proximity to the WiFi hotspot, device signal strength being hindered by buildings, trees or other structures and even the device type.
If the network name xfinitywifi is not in the list of available networks, you are probably not at an Xfinity WiFi Hotspot. Check the hotspot location map at wifi.xfinity.com or in the Xfinity WiFi Hotspots app for iOS and Android.
If the xfinitywifi network name is in the available network list, and you still can't connect, check your WiFi-enabled device to see how many signal bars are present. If there are only one or two bars, you may need to move closer to the source of the signal. Moving closer to the center of the hotspot will increase the quality of the connection.

Troubleshooting Secure Xfinity WiFi Connectivity

If the SSID or network name XFINITY is not in the list of available WiFi networks on the device, you are probably not at an Xfinity WiFi Hotspot that supports secure connections to Xfinity WiFi.
If you are using the Xfinity WiFi Hotspots app and are unable to connect to Secure Xfinity WiFi, ensure that you have the security profile installed on your device. For iOS/Mac users try selecting the option Sign in as a different user in the app settings menu to re-configure your device for Secure Xfinity WiFi access.
If you change the password for the account, you will have to sign in again to the Xfinity WiFi Hotspots app, or you will have to re-install the security profile at wifi.xfinity.com to connect again to secure Xfinity WiFi.

Access Through Managed WiFi Premium

Xfinity WiFi now provides free WiFi for both customers and non-customers in Wawa convenience stores as part of Managed WiFi Premium. Managed WiFi Premium is a turnkey public WiFi solution targeted at Fortune 1000 companies that have more than 100 locations and more than 2,500 visitors per month per store with the majority of stores in the Comcast footprint.
Wawa is a chain of convenience store/gas stations located along the East Coast of the United States. It operates in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and Florida.

Terms of Service

See the Xfinity Wireless terms of service for customers and non-customers.