One of the greatest perks that come with the Cable TV service delivered by Xfinity from Comcast is the Xfinity Stream app. Watching shows and movies on the big home screen on a Sunday afternoon is sure great fun. But with the pace of life growing faster by the day, watching on the go is sometimes the only way you can keep yourself from missing out on your must-watch shows and games. Whether it is during a long commute, or while you wait at the DMV, having a mobile app that allows you to tune into live and on-demand TV is a modern-day entertainment essential. And the Xfinity Stream App gives you just that!

Our article today looks at the different aspects of the Xfinity Stream app. For new Xfinity X1 subscribers, this guide can be of help as they set things up for TV on the go. And also for those who want to check out how good the Xfinity Stream app is before signing up for an Xfinity package.

Who is eligible to use the Xfinity Stream App?

As we said, as an Xfinity subscriber you will get access to the Xfinity TV Stream app without an additional cost. If you are a non-Xfinity TV customer, you can use the app but the selection of programs available to you is restricted. And if you are a non-Xfinity Internet customer, you will only be able to stream TV Everywhere (TVE) channels. For access to all channels in your lineup via the Xfinity TV app, you must be connected to Xfinity Internet.

Once the order is placed, Xfinity subscribers can start using the app to stream a popular selection of live sports, news and On Demand titles even before their service(s) are installed. All that is needed is WiFi via a 3G/4G cellular network, and you can enjoy TV in advance of service installation.

But, do keep in mind your mobile device must meet the requirements of the Xfinity Stream app to be able to run it. And you must have an Xfinity ID and password in order to register the device to your account. You can easily set up your Xfinity credentials here.

Which devices support the Xfinity Stream app?

All Android devices running on Android 5.0 or later are compatible with the Xfinity TV app. Download the Stream app version 6.9.0 or later from Google Play Store.
All iOS devices running on iOS 13.0 or later are compatible with the Xfinity streaming app. Download the Stream app version 6.9.1 or later from Apple App Store.

And here are the devices not supported by the Xfinity Stream app:

Android TV
Nook devices
Windows tablets and phones
Xi5 or streaming TV boxes for Xfinity Flex
Apple Watch
Apple TV

For Amazon devices, users can download the latest version of the Xfinity Stream app from the Amazon App Store.

How to set up the Xfinity Stream app

The Xfinity TV stream app is rather easy-to-use with a simple and user-friendly interface that opens up a world of entertainment options for you. Here is what you need to do when setting it up the first time:

Download the Xfinity TV appfrom Google Play Store, Apple App Store, or Amazon App Store
Open the app andtap on Get Started
Enter yourXfinity ID and password and tap on Continue, so your device gets registered to your account. You need to sign in only the first time. Following the registration, the Xfinity app will recognize the device, and not ask you to sign in again.
Once signed in, you will be prompted to accept the terms of activation. Click on Yes. And you are done!

Xfinity TV App: Exploring the Menu options

When you launch the app, the interface can vary slightly between Android and iOS devices, but the basics of it remain the same. So here is what it is likely to be like:

The For You screen will appear when you first launch the app. And to reach the Main Menu depending on your device, you will have to swipe right. Or else you can use the menu icon in the top left corner of the screen.

Under the Saved or My Library tab, you will see these sub-tabs listed: For You, Recordings (completed and scheduled), Favorites, Purchases, and Downloads.
Under the Live TV tab, you’ll find All Channels, Favorite Channels, and TV Go Channels (the ones you can watch from your lineup when out of home). This is where you access the entire collection of networks you are subscribed to. But not all channels can be accessed when out of the home. You can only view the ones labeled TVE (TV Everywhere).
The Browse tab allows you to search by category from living and on-demand content by genre. Search from TV, Movies, Sports, Kids, News, Networks, and Latino.
The Settings icon at the bottom right of the screen allows you to access mobile app settings. This is where you will see Accessibility Options and Parental Controls.

How to use the Xfinity Stream app features

While having the Xfinity streaming app is a great perk, it can give you good value for your money only if you know how to use it properly and make the best of its capabilities. Here are a couple of tips to get you started. But, with how user-friendly it is, it won’t be long before you start feeling at home with the new app in your life, and discover how to use its many features to make it your go-to app for TV Everywhere.

All Channels

Your first stop could be the All Channels tab under Live TV. It shows all the networks in your subscribed lineup. Here you can also filter networks by Available out of Home, High-Definition, Video Description, etc.

To watch a live channel, select the channel.
To see the description of a program just select it. You’ll find links to watch the channel, record the program or get more info about it such as any upcoming airings.
Browse through Upcoming airings of your selected show, and Related programs similar to it.
Plus see all episodes of your selected program available On Demand.
You can also choose to record the selected and all upcoming episodes of a show

Favorites

To manage your beloved TV shows and movies, as well as sports teams, you can include these in the Favorites under Saved or My Library Use the Search function to find your favorite TV show or movie. Select the program, and go to Series Info. And, then select Add to Favorites.
You can also add a program from Live TV to your Favorites. All you have to do is to select Info for your desired program, and then select Add to Favorites.
Additionally, use the Search function to find your favorite sports team(s), select Info, and Add to Favorites.

All TV shows, movies, or sports teams, including to Favorites by you or another member of the family via Xfinity X1, the app or the Stream web portal, show up on the Favorites screen.

On-Demand

To access On-Demand go to Browse and select any of the sub-tabs i.e. TV, Movies, Sports, Kids, News, etc.
Once the program list is displayed you can use filters such as Available for Download, and Available Out of Home to make your search more focused.
Select a program and hit Watch if you wish to start streaming right away, and click on Info to see more about the program and your options.
If the Watch button is grayed out, it means the selected program is available only when connected to your in-home Xfinity Internet network.
And if it is available for download you can tap Download from the Info
The Info screen will also show you the Upcoming option, which displays future airings of a movie or live airings of a show.

DVR Recordings

If you are subscribed to Xfinity Cloud DVR, go to the Recordings It will show you all your recorded content, and you can choose to watch or download any.
Record Options let you change your recording options, or delete content.
And as far as recording a program, it is pretty straightforward. Go to Live TV to get to the list of live channels. Select the program you want to record, and click the Record Choose if you want to record a single episode or the entire series. The recording will get scheduled and available after the episode ends.

What does the Xfinity streaming app let you do on the go?

When you are connected to your Xfinity in-home Internet, you can easily browse and stream all channels in your lineup via your mobile device or the Xfinity Flex 4K streaming box. If however, you are not connected to your Xfinity Internet and are using a guest network at a friend’s house, here is what you can do via the Xfinity TV app.

Browse TV Listings
Watch TV GO content: A selection of live TV and on-demand content
Access your Xfinity On Demand purchases
If you are subscribed to the Cloud DVR or Choice TV & Xfinity Flex service, you can record new programs as well as watch completed DVR recordings
Download DVR recordings as well as select content from your purchases and On Demand so that you can view them offline. This useful feature is available only if you have the Cloud DVR add-on or you are subscribed to Choice TV & Xfinity Flex.
Manage your DVR and schedule recordings on the go. Busy and worried you may miss your favorite TV show? Just schedule it for recording and watch on your timeline.

Xfinity Stream app: Accessibility options

Xfinity TV stream app has some wonderful options to accommodate users. You can find the Accessibility options in the Settings menu and activate the feature.

Closed Captioning (CC): This option allows users to see an on-screen text version of the program audio while the video is playing.
Secondary Audio Program (SAP): This option allows users to hear the ongoing program in another language.
Video description: This option allows access to a descriptive narration that highlights key visual elements of the program.

Set up parental controls on the Xfinity TV app

It is vital to monitor what kind of content your children are consuming and the Xfinity streaming app makes that very easy for you. You can implement Parental Controls via the Settings icon in the Xfinity TV app so the young ones only get to see what you allow. Here is what you can do:

Block movies and shows based on Movie Ratings or TV Ratings
Block programs are shown on a selected channel via Networks & Channels
Limit the program titles and descriptions that get displayed while browsing TV listings via Safe Browse Settings. But keep in mind these settings only hide the title and description, and do not prevent watching. To prevent watching you will have to block specific programs (movies or shows) as well as networks and channels.
Manage programs you have individually blocked by Titles

The Touch ID option available on Apple devices makes it really easy to verify your identity via your fingerprint when you want to modify and implement Parental Controls. But, if you are using an Android device, you must create PIN via the Parental Controls screen.

What you must know is Parental Controls are not shared between devices, so you must implement these on each device individually. This way you can apply different controls on each device.

Xfinity Stream app: How many devices can stream?

Xfinity offers a great opportunity for larger families with its Stream app. A total of 45 devices can be registered on one account if you are an Xfinity X1 customer. Partner devices include mobile devices such as tablets and smartphones, as well as computers.

Simultaneous streams are restricted to 5 at a time when connected to Xfinity home internet. Outside the home, only 3 concurrent streams are allowed. But if you are subscribed to Xfinity Instant TV, the number of simultaneous streams gets restricted to 2.

Conclusion

Xfinity from Comcast carries a reputation for advanced innovative technologies that make its services and products stand out in the crowd. The Xfinity Stream app is a wonderful feature to have, but to use it to its full potential, you must be subscribed to Xfinity Internet and TV. This way you can access your entertainment options to the fullest via the mobile app or the online Stream portal. And, the best part is when you stream at home via Xfinity Internet, it does not use your data allowance.

By any chance, if you are not currently subscribed to an Xfinity bundle, go ahead and add the service which will expand the scope of your on-the-go entertainment options. And if you are not yet an Xfinity subscriber at all, explore Internet and TV options with Xfinity. And, Order Online so that you can find out the exact deals available in your area.

FAQs

Does the Xfinity Stream app have local channels?

When you are connected to your Xfinity home Internet, you can access all the channels in your subscribed lineup via the Xfinity Stream app and the web portal. But outside the home, only the TV Everywhere (TVE) networks would be available for streaming.

What is Xfinity On Demand?

Xfinity On Demand is a library of movies and shows that are available to watch on your schedule. It has thousands of titles for everyone in your family to enjoy. Content from networks included in your channel lineup is free to watch, however, other titles can be rented out. Any rented title is saved for up to 48 hours for you to view.

How many partner devices can I use at once with the Xfinity Stream app?

Xfinity X1 TV customers can use the Stream app on 5 devices at the same time when connected to an in-home Xfinity WiFi network. Outside the home, the number of simultaneous streams is 3. Partner devices include mobile devices such as tablets and smartphones, as well as computers. For Xfinity Instant TV customers the number of concurrent streams is 2.

By Henry Joseph/Provider Updates / 21 Mar, 2023

Your Complete Guide to the Xfinity Stream App |2022