Why Is the Blue Light Flashing on My Xfinity Cable Box

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Last weekend my friends and I were geared up to play NBA 2K21 all night on a friend's brand new 4K Smart TV. But his internet connection had other plans – we could not connect the TV to the WiFi at all!

I noticed a continuous flashing blue light on his Xfinity router. From my time being the first responder to almost every internet problem at work, I knew it was code for something specific.

With a bit of digging through help docs and manuals, it turns out we only needed to restart the WPS mode. However, given how commonplace router issues are, I thought about compiling a comprehensive troubleshooting guide to save you the trouble.

If the Xfinity router is flashing blue, restarting the router usually fixes it. However, if that does not fix it, you may need to factory reset the router.

What Does the Flashing Blue Light on the Xfinity Router Mean?

The flashing blue light on your Xfinity router indicates WPS pairing mode. It means that the router is looking to establish a secure connection with a wireless device. Then, it automatically changes to steady white light, indicating a protected link between the gateway and another device.

However, if the blue light flashes persistently, then the router cannot find a stable connection. Here is a list of potential problems –

• Out-of-order modem or router
• Loose wirings in the setup resulting in weak signals
• Faulty splitter interrupting the connection
• Service outage on the ISP end

There can be multiple factors that can cause trouble with your Xfinity router. Before you pick up the phone and try customer service, here are a few DIY troubleshooting methods that can save you time and put you back online almost immediately.

Restart the Xfinity Router

Our first troubleshooting method is a standard procedure that does not require any technical expertise whatsoever.

Whenever a sophisticated electronic device starts acting up, our first instinct is to reboot it. We do it for our laptops and smart TVs, so routers are no exception.

Before we attempt a restart, it is best to check the interface cables and the power plug to ensure they are firmly connected. I've seen a surprising number of routers where the trouble was loose contacts in connections.

The router should be ON. Push the WPS button to look for wireless devices again. If it doesn't work, here are the steps to restart your Xfinity router –

1. Switch off the router and unplug the power cable
2. Remove the interface cable and hold your breath for a minute
3. Put the power cord back into the socket, and turn on the router
4. Initiate the WPS mode to see if the router can find a secure connection now

Remember that you are not resetting the router to factory defaults here. Hence, you will not lose your router configuration like username and password in the process.

Soft Reset the Xfinity Router

If you are familiar with troubleshooting desktop PCs and smartphones, you may have performed a soft reset as a quick fix. It refers to restarting the device after deleting any unsaved data on the RAM and clearing cache memory.

For soft resetting the Xfinity router, we will do the same steps as restarting it. The only exception is to hold down the power button for about 10 seconds while shutting it down and then to release it. Before turning off, the router drains any residual power in the circuit.

Soft reset differs from a hard reset as it does not wipe any customized settings from the router. A hard reset would restore your router to the same state as initially shipped from the factory.

Replace your Splitter

If you have a cable box and an Xfinity router, you may be using a splitter to connect the two to your coaxial cable outlet. Splitters are an inexpensive solution to linking multiple devices to a single outlet.

However, faulty splitters are a leading cause of the flashing blue light issue in Xfinity routers. It either weakens or interrupts the signal, failing to connect with a wireless device.

If you use a splitter, I recommend removing it and directly plugging the coaxial cable from the wall outlet into your router. If you have a modem in between, remove any splitters from the connection and make it direct.

Restart the WPS Mode

We've already talked about what WPS means in a router, but restarting it initiates the pairing procedure again, and who knows, you might get lucky.

You should find a WPS button on the top of your Xfinity router. Pressing it down will restart the WPS mode. The older generation Xfinity router has the WPS button on the front panel, so check your model.

Generally, the blue light on your router blinks for about five minutes until it shuts down when it cannot pair with another wireless device. After that, you can restart the WPS mode again or try connecting to a different device.

Disconnect Xfinity Router from the Modem and Reconnect

By now, you've tried troubleshooting the router, and nothing has worked. So it's time to inspect the modem.

Here are the steps to troubleshoot the connection between your Xfinity router and the modem –

1. Start by switching off the router and disconnect it and the modem from the wall socket.
2. Disconnect the Ethernet cable between the router and the modem
3. Wait patiently for a while, maybe grab a glass of water
4. Reconnect the modem's power adapter to the wall
5. Plug the router's power cord and switch both ON

If you still see a flashing blue light, it is time we moved towards a factory reset.

Restore Network Settings to Factory Defaults

As a last resort, we will hard reset the Xfinity router to its factory defaults. Unfortunately, it means you'll lose your customized Wi-Fi settings, and the username and password will revert to the ones on the router label.

However, it also restores your router to a refurbished state, and you can set it up to your preferences again. Here are the steps to follow –

1. Locate the reset button on your Xfinity router. It should be on the back.
2. While keeping the device on, use a paper clip or a pin to press the button down until the lights turn off. It may take up to 40 seconds.
3. Restart the router, and you will have to reconfigure it like the first time using the admin tool.

Alternatively, you can initiate a factory reset from the web interface –

1. Type in the router's IP address into your browser URL bar and enter your router credentials.
2. Navigate to the Troubleshooting tab, followed by Reset/Restore Gateway from the left panel
3. Click on the Restore Factory Settings option

Contact Support

Usually, the factory reset solves any internal issues with the router, especially a flashing blue light issue. However, if none of the solutions works, there may be a problem with the router itself or the ISP end.

You can raise a ticket with their 24 x 7 chat service and seek resolution from technical experts. Alternatively, look for the nearest Xfinity store or find information about outages and standard issues from their Status Center.

If you're due for an upgrade, you can even check out a few Xfinity Compatible Routers, to take advantage of more modern technology for better speeds, and to avoid paying Rent to Comcast.

Keep your Xfinity Router from getting the blues

While we have extensively talked about hardware solutions to fix the flashing blue light, you can also restart the router from the My Account app –

1. Use your Xfinity account credentials to log in.
2. Navigate to Manage Internet, followed by Restart Modem and "Start Troubleshooting Xfinity router not working after reset."

The process takes about seven minutes and fixes any detected issues automatically.

You May Also Enjoy Reading:

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• How To Setup Wi-Fi Extender With Xfinity In Seconds

Frequently Asked Questions

What lights should be flashing on my modem?

On your Xfinity router, you will notice two prominent LED indicators – the green one for power and the quivering blue light for WPS mode. The two lights should be stable in a fully functional router, and the other LED indicators may flicker, indicating that a user is transferring data over WiFi.

How do you reset the Xfinity WIFI?

Press the reset button on the back of your router to initiate a hard reset of your WiFi. It restores the factory defaults as your username and password and wipes out any personalized settings. You may need a paper clip or a pin to press the button.

How can I boost my Xfinity WiFi signal?

• Restart your router routinely for software updates
• Place the router in a central location in free space away from thick concrete walls and other household electronics emitting signals (such as microwaves and cordless phones)
• Switch to an Ethernet cable for high-bandwidth usage
• Use the personal in-house connection and not the router's public hotspot
• Position the antenna such that they are perpendicular to each other (it should imitate the clock hands for 12:15 or 12:45)

How many devices can Xfinity WiFi Support?

At the same time, register up to 10 devices on My Account to connect to the Xfinity WiFi.

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Source: https://robotpoweredhome.com/xfinity-router-flashing-blue-light/#:~:text=The%20flashing%20blue%20light%20on%20your%20Xfinity%20router%20indicates%20WPS,the%20gateway%20and%20another%20device.

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