My Comcast Wifi Connection Gets Continuously Interrupted
Is Your Xfinity Wi-Fi Slow? Here's How to Troubleshoot it
Pro tips to get your Xfinity internet moving
Apr 28, 2022 Share
Brand Guides, Internet Speed Guides
Slow internet is bad, but what's worse is not knowing why your internet is so slow. After all, it's hard to fix a problem if you can't identify the source. If you're getting slow internet from Xfinity, is it Xfinity's fault? Or can you fix the problem easily at home?
Our pros have curated this list of common reasons why your Xfinity internet could be sluggish and tips on if and how you can fix them.
Looking for a change? Compare every provider available in your area to see if you can get better speeds.
How to figure out why your Xfinity internet is slow
The first thing you should do to assess your Xfinity internet problem is take an internet speed test.
A speed test gives you a reading of exactly the kinds of speeds you're getting over your internet connection. To get the most accurate measurement, close out any browser tabs or apps that are running other than the speed test and plug your computer into your router with Ethernet. (Using your Wi-Fi to take the test is fine too.) Take a test at different times throughout the day for a few days and keep track of your findings.
So, what kinds of speeds are you getting? If your speed is just as fast as what you're paying for, congratulations—you don't have a problem with your internet! The bad news is that your internet is too slow to meet your needs, and it's probably time for you to get a faster Xfinity internet plan.
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If your speeds are far lower than what you're paying for, then there's likely an issue with your internet connection—either on Xfinity's end as a provider or somewhere in your home network.
It's probably an issue with Xfinity's network when you experience any of the following:
- Sudden loss of internet connection, even though your Wi-Fi signal is still strong
- Slow speeds during certain times of day when a lot of people in your area get online (and you don't have a lot of people using your home Wi-Fi)
- Fewer Mbps of bandwidth than your plan is supposed to give you
You can tell it's an issue with your own home network when you have these issues:
- Slow Wi-Fi connections even though wired connections are fine
- Slower connections when multiple people in your home are using the Wi-Fi
- Increasingly slow speeds or network issues since the last time you restarted your equipment
- Slow internet on one specific device but no problems on other devices
Pro tip:
If your internet is out entirely, take a look at our internet troubleshooting guide for all the tips on how to get the Wi-Fi gravy flowing again.
Xfinity speed problems and how to handle them
We'll be upfront about this: if you're not getting the correct internet speeds from Xfinity, you probably need to contact Xfinity customer service to get it fixed. You can check if there's a network outage by checking the Xfinity app, looking up your provider on social media, or consulting a website like DownDetector.
If you experience problems even while getting your plan's advertised speed, it may be best if you upgrade your plan—that way you'll get faster speeds and better performance overall.
Wondering if there are better internet options out there from other providers? Run a search with your zip code to find out.
What to do if there's an Xfinity network outage
If you stop receiving an internet signal altogether, it may be a network outage. One symptom of this is still having a Wi-Fi signal but no connection to the internet.
A large section of Xfinity's network can experience a random outage for any number of reasons. Sometimes these outages are for maintenance or due to bad weather conditions. Either way, the best thing to do if there's an Xfinity network outage is to report it to Xfinity, which you can do by logging in to your Xfinity account and navigating to the Status Center.
In the Status Center, you'll find an outage map to see if other people in your area have been affected. You can also opt in to text alerts from Xfinity so you'll get progress reports about the network's status. Unfortunately, if the network is down, you can't really do anything but wait for Xfinity to fix the issue.
What to do if the Xfinity network is congested
Xfinity is a cable internet network. A cable network is built around neighborhood-wide nodes, so your connection can slow down when too many users use the internet at the same time. This is more likely to happen in the evenings on weekdays, although it could happen at other times as more people these days work from home.
You can tell Xfinity's network is congested if slowdowns happen frequently around the same times of day (like in the early evenings when everyone gets off work and starts watching Netflix). If it makes you feel better, you're probably not alone. All your neighbors who use Xfinity are also experiencing slower internet speeds at the same times as you.
If network congestion seems to happen a lot, keep track of when the network slows down and try to avoid being online at those times. Schedule big downloads (like computer updates or game patches) for late at night when there are fewer people online.
What to do if you simply aren't getting enough Xfinity speed
There are two possible reasons why your Xfinity speed is too slow:
- You're not signed up for a fast enough internet plan.
- You're signed up for a fast internet plan but aren't getting the speeds.
If you take an internet speed test and your result is near the amount of Mbps you're supposed to be getting from Xfinity but you're still having issues with slow internet, you may just need to upgrade your plan.
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If you take a speed test (or several) and the results are much slower than you're paying for, you need to take it up with Xfinity.
Tips to get your Xfinity home network running faster
Troubleshooting your Xfinity home network for issues with slow internet speeds can be a little daunting. Don't worry—we've got a few surefire ways to optimize your Xfinity home network to get you up to speed.
And if you need a more in-depth walkthrough, check out our guide to troubleshooting your home network.
Start with a restart
Symptom: Slow speeds or network issues since last restart
A lot of the time, turning your modem and router off then on again can help with sluggish internet speeds. Doing this effectively gives your home networking equipment a chance to wipe away any glitches and start fresh.
Here's how to restart your internet equipment (it's super easy):
- Turn off or unplug your modem and your router.
- After about 10 seconds, turn your modem back on and wait for it to establish an internet connection. This could take a few minutes.
- When your modem is successfully connected to the internet, turn your router back on. It will reestablish your Wi-Fi network in a few minutes.
If you have an Xfinity gateway or modem and router combo device, simply turn it off, wait 10 seconds, and turn it back on.
If that doesn't work, you can log in to your Xfinity account in a browser or with the Xfinity app to reset your modem or gateway from their end—this makes sure that your modem is synched up to their network as well.
Replace old devices
Symptom: Only certain devices have speed issues, regardless of location
If your slow internet problems are isolated to a single device—like a PC or smartphone—the issue may be with the device and not the internet. There are exceptions to this rule, of course, but if all your other connections work fine and one doesn't, your network is probably working as it should.
There are a few reasons why an older device might not get good internet speeds, even if it has a wired connection or a strong Wi-Fi signal. For example, the device's hardware might not be able to handle fast internet speeds because it was made before such internet speeds were possible.
Upgrade your router
Symptom: Your router is more than 5 years old and often needs to be reset to restore internet speeds
If you often find yourself having to restart your router, it might be time to replace it with a better router for Xfinity. Wi-Fi standards have changed dramatically twice in the past seven years, so it's quite possible that your router is out of date.
An old router can really mess with your internet use—most older routers are built to handle only a few connections at a time. If you have multiple people with multiple devices that slow down your router, it'd be a good idea to upgrade to a Wi-Fi 6 router. Newer routers are also better for range and data speed.
Get a new router from Xfinity
If you're renting a gateway from Xfinity and haven't had a replacement in several years, ask for a newer one. The xFi Wireless Gateway, xFi Advanced Gateway, and xFi Gateway 3rd Generation are Xfinity's newest rental units. Ask if you can upgrade your old box to one of them.
Get a faster internet plan
Symptom: Your internet provides the speeds advertised in your internet plan but still seems too slow, especially when multiple people are online
Your Xfinity internet might be slow because you don't have enough bandwidth in your current plan to keep up with your internet use. This may especially be the case if you've started working or learning from home.
If your router isn't the issue, but your internet still seems to get sluggish when there are multiple people online, it might be time to get a better plan.
See all Xfinity internet plans here.
Check out the available Xfinity internet plans in your area to find the speed you need.
FAQ about slow Xfinity internet
How can I speed up my Xfinity Wi-Fi?
You can speed up your Xfinity Wi-Fi by upgrading your internet speed, updating your router, plugging your computer directly into your router using Ethernet, or moving your router to a more centralized location in your house.
What is download speed?
Download speed is internet speed that involves downloading content from the internet. Examples of using download speed include streaming video, reading emails, and downloading a video game update.
What is upload speed?
Upload speed is internet speed that involves uploading content to the internet. Examples of using upload speed include posting to social media, participating in a Zoom call, and uploading files to a cloud server. Upload speeds are usually much slower than download speeds, but fiber-optic internet delivers symmetrical upload and download speeds.
Author - Rebecca Lee Armstrong
Rebecca Lee Armstrong has more than six years of experience writing about tech and the internet, with a specialty in hands-on testing. She started writing tech product and service reviews while finishing her BFA in creative writing at the University of Evansville and has found her niche writing about home networking, routers, and internet access at HighSpeedInternet.com. Her work has also been featured on Top Ten Reviews, MacSources, Windows Central, Android Central, Best Company, TechnoFAQ, and iMore.
Editor - Cara Haynes
Cara Haynes has been editing and writing in the digital space for seven years, and she's edited all things internet for HighSpeedInternet.com for five years. She graduated with a BA in English and a minor in editing from Brigham Young University. When she's not editing, she makes tech accessible through her freelance writing for brands like Pluralsight. She believes no one should feel lost in internet land and that a good internet connection significantly extends your life span.
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Source: https://www.highspeedinternet.com/resources/7-reasons-xfinity-is-so-slow
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