Here is how to resolve an Xfinity WiFi Hotspot not working in Windows 10

The Xfinity Hotspot service runs through millions of sub-hotspots all across the country to ensure that its customers are always connected. Whether you are taking a relaxing stroll through suburban streets or getting a quick ride into town, you’re likely to get automatically connected to one of these hotspots. Xfinity prides itself on delivering fast, convenient Wi-Fi that is free to Xfinity Mobile customers.

As an Xfinity customer, of course, you get to enjoy this service for absolutely free, certain terms and conditions notwithstanding. However, what is the point of a free connection if it cannot even be truly enjoyed, eh? Recently, chances are high that anytime you take a stroll and get automatically connected to one of these secondary Xfinity hotspots, you end up switching back to mobile data because the Wi-Fi is painfully slow to the point of not being worth using at all.

If you’re reading this, it is probably because you’re fed up with slow Xfinity hotspot connections each time you bring your laptop to a public park or another location. You would like to enjoy the advertised fast and reliable wireless connection. In that case, we are here to help. We will show you how to resolve all Xfinity hotspot connectivity problems so you can maximize the time spent on their wireless connection.

Can’t Connect to Xfinity Access Points Anymore

Before we get down to the actual troubleshooting, it is better to gain a complete understanding of why issues with connecting to an Xfinity hotspot can arise.

1. Xfinity Device Limit. This is not as rare as you might think. The issue results from a discrepancy between the number of connected devices and the maximum number allowable under the specific network. If you’ve connected too many devices at once, you might want to disable the connection to some of them.
2. Hidden Network. If the Xfinity WiFi is hidden for some reason, you might have trouble connecting to it. Unless you have third-party software you can use to resolve the SSID of the hidden network, you will keep getting problems trying to connect to it.
3. Automatic WiFi Connection Is Disabled. We are not sure precisely why this happens. Normally, your Windows 10 PC should already be set to automatically connect to a public WiFi connection like Xfinity if it sniffs one. However, some users reported that it isn’t connected automatically. One has to manually trigger the connection to available WiFi networks. Those using Samsung and LG phones have been expressing the same annoyances. Even after enabling automatic connection to Xfinity WiFi, the connection still doesn’t work all the time.
4. Poor Connection. This one has nothing to do with your computer or mobile phone, really. It just so happens that the nearest Xfinity WiFi connection to you has poor connectivity. There is no help for it. You will either have to persist and hope the network improves or switch to another connection. It is up to the secondary WiFi host to fix the connection.
5. Password. Most Xfinity WiFi networks are public and can be freely connected to by Xfinity Mobile customers. However, a few are private and secured with a password or other unlock methods. Without knowing what the security password is, connection to these types of Xfinity WiFi is impossible.
6. Location Services Are Disabled. We are not sure what this has to do with failing Xfinity WiFi connections on PC. However, some users have mentioned that Xfinity connection only works when location services are enabled as well. Otherwise, the connection fails or is epileptic.
7. Conflicting WiFi Networks. If you have more than one WiFi hotspot enabled on your computer, be ready for connection conflicts every now and then. They can arise when two or more hotspots are jointly available and the system tries to automatically connect to more than one at once. If you have the Xfinity connection application and another mobile hotspot application and both are running at the same time, the resultant tug of war might make the connection unstable as it jumps from one network to another.

How to Repair an Xfinity Hotspot That Doesn’t Work

Below are the ways through which you can fix an Xfinity hotspot that is always misbehaving. Each one solves a slightly different aspect of the general Xfinity Hotspot connectivity issue. Therefore, you can simply jump to the one that directly applies to your case. However, you can try another method if your first choice doesn’t work.

Automatically Connect with the Xfinity WiFi Secure Profile

The Xfinity WiFi secure profile is a tool that reduces all the time spent looking for an Xfinity hotspot in your current location. It automatically finds and connects to any hotspot hosted by Xfinity that is close to you.

First of all, and if you don’t already use the Xfinity WiFi secure profile, you need to sign into an Xfinity hotspot.

1. When you’re close to an Xfinity hotspot, the network will be visible in your connection selection window. Simply select the Xfinity WiFi (name: xfinitywifi) and connect.
2. Now, open a browser window, and you will be automatically taken to the Xfinity WiFi sign-in page.
3. At this point, enter your Xfinity username and password, or create an account if you’re a new user. Doing this registers your device on the Xfinity WiFi network.

At this point, you will be prompted to install the Xfinity WiFi secure profile. Click the relevant link and go ahead to perform the installation. When it is done, from here on out, you don’t need to trouble yourself about manual connections. Moreover, any time there is more than one Xfinity hotspot around you, the secure profile tool will take over and automatically connect you to the one with the strongest signal. This will drastically reduce the chance you will be stuck with a poor network.

By getting the Xfinity WiFi secure profile you get the Automatic SIGN-IN feature as well. No matter where you are, you are guaranteed instant connection to any secondary Xfinity WiFi hotspot as long as your account remains active.

Move Closer to an Xfinity WiFi Hotspot

In hindsight, this is common sense, but it is not immediately obvious. The distance between you and the nearest hotspot will, of course, affect the strength of the connection. Therefore, if you’re receiving a poor connection from a hotspot under the Xfinity WiFi umbrella, you can try moving closer to the source and the network signal and speed should get progressively stronger and faster.

Sometimes, Xfinity WiFi hotspots don’t display in the list of available networks at all. In this case, you’re probably nowhere near any of the Xfinity hotspot locations. If you know where the nearest one is, nothing stops you from walking there. If you have no idea where the closest one is, you can find it on the Xfinity website.

Simply click the Find a Hotspot tab at the top of the Xfinity homepage and type in an address identifier such as your current city, state, zip code, or street name, and the nearest hotspot location will be shown to you.

Also, always keep in mind that your location relative to the structures around you can affect WiFi reception. So, even if the nearest location is just a stone throw away, you can still get a weak connection if there are structures like tall buildings, trees and overhead bridges between you and the signal.

Sign Out of the Xfinity WiFi Hotspot Application and Sign In Again

Sometimes, you might have absentmindedly changed your Xfinity WiFi secure connection password. Maybe there were reports of a dangerous WiFi virus going around that made you do so. The point is, if you’ve previously altered the details of your Xfinity profile, you might be unable to automatically connect to the network.

Fixing this is very easy. Just log out of the application and sign in back using your new details. This error is caused by a conflict between your latest user ID and password values and the ones registered via the hotspot app. So, signing in with the new password harmonizes everything and ensures you can connect to the Xfinity WiFi network without further issues.

Change Connection Settings for Xfinity WiFi

This method is another option if the in-app adjustments to Xfinity WiFi don’t help with giving you a better, stronger, more durable connection to the hotspot. Perhaps, tweaking the connection settings in Windows 10 might prove more fruitful. There is nothing to lose anyway, so, here it goes.

If the network is configured to be turned on when you’re connected to public networks, this might have a part to play in the issue you’re dealing with. Configuring network discovery in Windows 10 to be off when connected to public networks like Xfinity WiFi can help make the hotspot connection more stable.

1. Open the Settings application by selecting it from the Start menu. The Settings app is represented by the Gear icon. Click that, and the tool will open.
2. In the open Settings homepage, select Network & Internet to display settings related to your network and internet.
3. Since you’re connected to a WiFi network, in this case the Xfinity hotspot, select WiFi in the pane on the left.
4. In the WiFi network settings window on the right, select the Change Advanced Sharing Settings option.
5. The Advanced Sharing Settings window will open. Click your current profile once to expand it.
6. Under your current profile, there are two options.
   • If “Turn on network discovery” is not enabled, enable it and also tick the checkbox next to “Turn on automatic setup of network connected devices”.
   • If the “Turn on network discovery” setting is already enabled, enable the “Turn off network discovery” option.
7. Click Save Changes and confirm the User Account Control dialog if one pops up.

You can now close the Settings window and check out what is happening with the Xfinity hotspot. Hopefully, it should be working better than before now.

Note that it is not advised to turn on network discovery for long if you’re using public WiFi in locations such as cafes and airports. This fix is just a temporary measure. So, if turning it on does the trick, turn it back off as soon as possible.

Reducing the Number of Devices Connected to the Network

The Xfinity WiFi system allows a maximum number of connected devices per user. Different users have different limits. Thus, if you’re trying to connect one more device than allowed, you’re in for some gnashing of teeth. The issue is easy to resolve, though, so here’s how.

So, gather your devices together and identify which ones don’t require connection to the Xfinity hotspot at the moment. Next, you should clear the MAC address of the device from your account.

Clearing the Media Access Control address of your device from your account with Xfinity isn’t hard at all. Just follow these steps.

1. You need to visit the Xfinity home page, precisely the login area. Log in with your primary ID and password.
2. Once you’re in your Xfinity account, navigate to the device management area. You will see a list of your connected devices here.
3. Assuming that the maximum number of devices have been connected, it is recommended to remove one device and also the current device that you are trying to connect. This creates space for one more device and allows you to connect the current device afresh as well. Also, removing a device will help if your current device isn’t already connected because you have reached your maximum permissible number of connected devices.
4. When you have located a device to remove, click the Remove link on the right of the device name.
5. You will be prompted to confirm that you are sure you want to remove this device. Just click Remove again.
6. Now, connect your current device to the Xfinity hotspot again and you should be successful this time.

Flush and Renew Your IP Configuration

Flushing the IP configuration has proven useful to solve many network issues. The Xfinity WiFi issue isn’t an exception. Several users who had been battling with a failure to connect their Windows 10 PCs to Xfinity WiFi have narrated how flushing and renewing their IP configuration solved the problem for them.

If you’re also battling with this problem and nothing has worked for you so far, you can go ahead and try this method as well.

1. Bring the cursor over to the bottom left of the desktop screen where the Start menu is located.
2. Right-click the Start menu icon and select Command Prompt (Admin) from the Quick Access menu.
3. A Command Prompt with administrative privileges will open. Run the following command in that CMD window:

ipconfig /release

1. Next, run this command as well to renew your IP configuration:

ipconfig /renew

Close the Command Prompt window and verify that you can now connect to the Xfinity hotspot.

Use a Third-Party MAC Address Tool to Connect

If you’re still searching for how to fix the Can’t connect to an Xfinity hotspot issue, you can place your trust in third-party software called WirelessMon. This tool wirelessly monitors software so it can solve network-related errors. Certainly, it has proven useful for some users who were contending with hidden Xfinity WiFi SSIDs.

You too can benefit from WirelessMon’s vaunted error busting prowess to fix your Xfinity WiFi problem.

1. Go to this link and download the program installer from there.
2. Double-click the installer and follow all the steps to complete the installation.
3. Launch the WirelessMon tool when the installation is complete.
4. You will be prompted to purchase the paid version of the app. Since you won’t need if for other reasons, ignore that and click Continue instead.
5. A list of networks available for you will be presented on the next screen. You might need to wait a few moments for the tool to finish generating everything.
6. At this point minimize the WirelessMon window and connect your PC to the Xfinity hotspot again.
7. If you successfully connect but cannot browse, maximize the WirelessMon window, find the problematic WiFi network, and select Connect to AP.
8. A Connect to Access Point window will open. You will notice that the Connect using SSID option is selected.
9. Change that option to Connect using MAC.
10. Click the Connect button.

That is all. Your device should be able to connect to the Xfinity WiFi easily now. Not only that, using bandwidth from the connection should no longer pose any problems.

Update Your Network Driver with Auslogics Driver Updater

If none of the methods so far has proven successful, it can be because of hardware issues related to your own PC. If the network card is faulty, for example, nothing you are doing is likely to make much of a difference in the end. Moreover, the drivers for the network card may be hopelessly out of date.

Some network cards are very old, and the drivers that came with them might have outlived their usefulness on Windows 10.

If the network adapter was manufactured by a competent developer, they have probably released an update for the driver that will make the card fully compatible with Windows 10. It is up to you, not them, to bring your drivers up to date.

However, you may encounter difficulties in this quest. For one, if Windows Update hasn’t already updated the network card driver automatically, this means the driver may be hard to find or doesn’t exist. You better hope this isn’t the case. Meanwhile, you can visit the website of the hardware manufacturer to search for the latest driver for the network adapter.

Another problem arises here, especially if you are relatively inexperienced in the world of Windows and drivers. You might struggle manually searching for the correct drivers. Moreover, you might have little clue about what you’re supposed to be looking for in the first place.

You can decide to keep plugging away in search of the correct device driver, or you can let Auslogics Driver Updater do the hard work for you. This tool spares you hours and even days of effort: all you need to do is install it and let it do the rest. It really is that simple. When it is done with a scan, the results will be displayed for your perusal. The latest version of your network card driver will be shown as well. From there, you simply click the Update button, and Auslogics Driver Updater will download and install it for you.

Ready to give Auslogics Driver Updater a go? We have explained what you need to do here:

1. First, visit the software download page here and download the installer for the software.
2. Right-click the installation file and select Run or simply double-click the file.
3. Click Yes when the User Account Control dialog shows up.
4. When the installer for the software is launched, quickly set your choices for software language, install location and shortcut creation.
5. Next, select the Click to Install button to begin the process of installing the software to your PC.
6. When the software finishes installing, it will immediately begin to scan your computer for missing or corrupt drivers and present the results to you. Be aware that it needs an internet connection to find the latest versions of every driver on the machine. So, you might have to use another connection source if the Xfinity WiFi isn’t working.
7. If the software doesn’t open automatically, launch it manually through the created desktop shortcut or search for it via Search. When launched, click the Scan button and it will do the same thing as above.
8. You will be presented with the results, arranged according to whether the drivers are up to date or outdated.
9. If the tool shows that your network adapter driver is indeed out of date, just click the Update button to update it.

Device Manager in Windows 10 is another way you can use to automatically update the driver for your computer’s network adapter. With this method, you can also get some information, albeit not always reliable, about the state of your hardware driver.

To update your network card driver with Device Manager, open the Windows applet first of all. There are several ways to do this. You can type “Device Manager” in Search and choose the top result to launch it. You can also press the Windows Logo and X keys at the same time and select Device Manager from the hidden Windows 10 power menu.

Once in Device Manager, click the “Network adapters” node to expand it. Your network adapters will be displayed here. The one you’re looking for is your wireless network adapter. It will usually be manufactured by Realtek or Broadcom.

Right-click the network adapter, then select Update Driver. In the next window, choose the “Search automatically for updated driver software” option.

Windows will start looking for the driver online. When it finds the driver, it will download and install it automatically. After the installation has finished, you will get a notification to that effect. In some cases, Windows will return a message that your current driver is the latest one available for the device. This is often, but not always, the case. You might have to manually download the driver from the OEM website. This is why using Auslogics Driver Updater is the best option.

When Windows has updated the driver, you will be prompted to restart your computer so that the OS can begin using the updated driver. Do so.

After the reboot, check that you can connect to the Xfinity hotspot. Test the connection as well to make sure you can actually use the internet.

Conclusion

Everyone subscribes to an internet service with the express intention to make use of it. If you are an Xfinity Mobile customer who has been battling with connection issues, this guide should prove helpful. After trying the tips and workarounds here, your problems with the network should be successfully solved.