ANSWERED: Personalizing and Controlling Your Home Network with XFINITY xFi

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 This article provides details on the personalization and control features available with XFINITY xFi.

For more information on the xFi web portal and app for mobile devices, see our xFi portal and app overview article. For xFi troubleshooting tips, see troubleshooting WiFi connectivity.

Devices

How To Manage Devices with XFINITY xFi

In the Devices section, you can view all devices that are currently or were previously connected to your home network.

• Active devices are those currently connected to your home network.
• Paused devices are those whose WiFi access is currently paused.
• Inactive devices are those which are not currently connected to your home network.

Identifying Devices

When a device first connects to your home network, the default name of the device, which is either the manufacturer-set name (i.e., hostname or MAC address) or the one you gave your device when you first set it up, will be displayed.

If you do not recognize a device:

• Select the device, then select Device Details to see the manufacturer.
• If the device is connected to your home network, there should be a green dot indicating that it's online, which may also help with identifying what device it is.
• Access the hostname or MAC address in your device's settings. If the default name displayed is a long string of numbers and letters, it's likely the MAC address.

Personalizing and Organizing Devices

You can personalize a device name for easier reference. Select the device to give it a nickname and choose an icon, then assign the device to a profile. If you have devices connected to your home network that still need to be personalized, you'll see that indicated at the top of the Devices section. Simply select Personalize to nickname and assign to a profile.

Device Indicators

• A green dot indicates the device is currently connected to your home network.
  
   
• A pause symbol indicates the device is currently paused and cannot access your home network.
  
   
• A crescent moon symbol indicates the device is currently in Bedtime Mode.
  
   
• A grayed-out device icon means the device is not currently connected to your home network.
  
   

Removing Devices

You can remove an inactive (disconnected) device from the Devices section by selecting the name of the device, then Device Details > Forget Device. This will remove the device from the Devices section and unassign it from the profile it was associated with, if applicable. It will also permanently delete all historical network activity of this device. If the device reconnects to your home network, it will appear as a new device.

Pausing Devices

Pausing a device blocks it from accessing the Internet when connected to your home network. In-progress activity might not stop immediately. Access to local network devices (like printers) and connections that use cellular data or other WiFi networks won't be paused.

To pause an individual device simply select the device and then select Pause Device. You can either pause the device for a specific amount of time (for example, 30 minutes, one hour or two hours) or indefinitely until you choose to unpause the device.

When attempting to access the Internet on a paused device, the user will see the device's default message that the site cannot be reached or that it is not connected to the Internet.

How To Pause Devices with XFINITY xFi

Note: If you've previously set up a device block from your Gateway's Admin Tool (http://10.0.0.1), you should see the device listed with a pause icon in xFi indicating WiFi access over your home network is already paused. Once you Pause/Unpause a device or access Bedtime Mode or Port Forwarding through xFi, you will no longer be able to access similar features (block, scheduled block or port forwarding) through the Gateway's Admin Tool (http://10.0.0.1).

 

People

How To Manage People and Profiles with XFINITY xFi

In the People section, you can organize all of your connected devices by the people who use them. Once you've created profiles, you'll be able to access additional features to manage your home network, including the ability to set Parental Controls.

Creating Profiles

You can manage devices connected to your home network more efficiently by assigning them to a profile. Create a profile for an individual (e.g., John, Mom) or group (e.g., Kids), then assign their devices to that profile. You can create profiles from the People section by selecting Create Profile, or during the process of naming a device in the Devices section.

After you create a profile, it will appear in the People section. For all the devices assigned to that profile, you can view how active they are on your home network, see which devices are online, instantly pause WiFi access, set a bedtime, and enable Parental Controls.


In addition to the custom profiles you create, we provide two profiles for you to use:

• Household - can be used to assign smart home devices (e.g., Smart TV, thermostat, security system, door locks)
• Guest - can be used to assign visitors' devices

These profiles will only appear in the People section if a device is assigned to them; they cannot be deleted.

Pause All Devices

You can block a profile or group of devices from accessing the Internet when connected to your home network by selecting Pause All. You can either pause the devices for a specific amount of time (for example, 30 minutes, one hour or two hours) or indefinitely until you choose to unpause the devices. Once a profile is paused, any new device assigned to that profile will be paused. Please note that any in-progress activity might not stop immediately. Additional details about pausing a device are included above.

Bedtime Mode

Bedtime Mode allows you to automatically pause WiFi access over your home network during scheduled times for all devices assigned to a profile. For example, you can pause kids' WiFi access during dinnertime or bedtime. Different schedules can be set for school nights (Sunday - Thursday) and weekends (Friday - Saturday).

To set Bedtime Mode, select a profile, then select Edit next to Bedtime Mode. Select the desired nights for Bedtime Mode and the sleep and wake times. All devices assigned to that profile will then be paused during the sleep times selected.

Note: If you've previously set up a scheduled block for a device(s) from your Gateway's Admin Tool (http://10.0.0.1), you should be alerted when you attempt to set up Bedtime Mode that your prior settings will be cleared. Once you access Bedtime Mode, Pause/Unpause a device or access Port Forwarding through xFi, you will no longer be able to access similar features (scheduled block, block or port forwarding) through the Gateway's Admin Tool (http://10.0.0.1).

How To Set Bedtimes and Manage Parental Controls with XFINITY xFi

Parental Controls

Parental Controls help reduce the risk of children accessing age-inappropriate content from their devices.

To set Parental Controls, select a profile, then select Edit next to Parental Controls. Next, select On to only allow access to content deemed appropriate for all ages. The following third-party settings are applied to profiles that have xFi Parental Controls enabled:

• Google SafeSearch: On
• Bing SafeSearch: Strict
• YouTube Restricted Mode: On

If a device assigned to that profile attempts to access a website or app known to host inappropriate content for that level, a block page will be displayed. In the case of secure websites or mobile applications, the block page may not be displayed, but access is still prevented.

 

Home Network Activity

In addition to viewing aggregate network activity for all profiles and devices on your home network in the Overview section, you can view activity for individual devices and profiles. Simply select a device or profile to view network activity over the past 24 hours and the past 30 days.