Imagine this. You’re watching your favorite sport on cable. A basketball or a football game, perhaps.
It’s a tight contest. Few seconds left.
And then?
Your Xfinity cable box randomly reboots.
Bummer, right?
Definitely infuriating.
Fret not, though. We have ways to fix an Xfinity cable box that keeps rebooting.
Continue reading to find out:
- How to perform a quick System Refresh.
- 7 easy ways to restart your Xfinity cable box.
- A convenient way to replace your old Xfinity cable box.
- What HDMI-CEC is and why you might have to disable it.
- And this is just the beginning…
Why does my Xfinity cable box keep rebooting?
Your Xfinity cable box keeps rebooting because it’s trying to get a good signal. Resetting the box or performing a system refresh normally fixes this issue. Some of the other possible causes include faulty connections or overheating. In some cases, your Xfinity cable box may need to be replaced.
Xfinity cable box keeps rebooting: 7 fixes
#1: Restart your Xfinity cable box
You may be thinking about contacting Xfinity right now.
But do you know what the first thing their tech support will actually tell you?
“Do a power cycle.”
Power cycle is a simple act of turning your device on and off
In many cases, this solves various issues. Including a cable box that keeps rebooting.
It’s a good thing Xfinity actually provides 5 different ways to restart your cable box.
No need to call tech support just yet. We’ll walk you through each way.
Restart by pressing the Power Button
If your cable box came with its own power button, this is the ideal way. This also happens to be the fastest way to reset your cable box.
To do it:
- Press and hold your cable box’s Power button for about 10-15 seconds.
- Your cable box should restart automatically. Wait for the process to finish.
That’s it. No need to unplug from the power outlet.
By using the Power Cord
This is what’s best to do if your cable box has no power button.
Here are the steps:
- Unplug your cable box from the power outlet.
- Wait for about 30 seconds.
- Plug the cable box back in and wait for it to turn on.
Via the Device Setting
For this method, you’ll need your Xfinity remote.
- Press the xfinity button on your remote.
- Navigate to Settings and press OK.
- Look for Device Settings. Select that and press OK.
- Go to Power Preferences and press OK.
- Select Restart and press OK.
- You’ll see a message box. It’ll ask you to confirm if you want to restart. Highlight Restart and press OK.
You should see a welcome screen. Simply wait for a few minutes for the process to finish.
Via the Help Menu
You’ll also need your Xfinity remote with this method.
- Go to the Help menu by pressing the A button on your remote.
- Select the Restart tile and press OK.
- Select Restart and press OK.
You’ll see a message. It’ll say “We’re rebooting your set-top box”.
By using the Xfinity My Account app
Have you already installed Xfinity My Account on your smartphone? If you have, you can use this method to restart.
Here’s how you do it:
- Open the Xfinity My Account app on your phone.
- Look for the TV tile and select it.
- Navigate to Troubleshoot and click it.
- Select Restart Device.
- Select Start Troubleshooting.
The restart and troubleshooting process may take a few minutes. Allow it to finish.
#2: Perform a System Refresh
System Refresh is a troubleshooting feature on Xfinity cable boxes. You can use this to try to fix the most common cable box issues.
Do you happen to own multiple cable boxes?
With System Refresh, you can troubleshoot all of your boxes’ issues at once. All it takes is a few clicks.
Here’s how to perform a System Refresh:
- Press the A button on your remote control.
- Navigate to the System Refresh tile and press OK.
- You’ll see a message. This will indicate that System Refresh will interrupt all your TVs and recordings. Highlight Refresh Now and press OK.
You’ll now have to wait for the process to finish. System Refresh normally takes up to 10 minutes. See to it that you don’t turn off your TV during the process.
Note: You can only perform a System Refresh once every 24 hours. You also won’t be able to do it if there’s an outage in your area. You may contact Xfinity’s tech support for outage details.
#3: Make sure that all the connectors are secure and properly working
Most Xfinity cable boxes use 3 types of connectors:
One or more of those may not be properly connected. That’s why your cable box keeps rebooting.
See to it that the connectors are all attached securely.
Regarding the coax cable. Make sure you screw it tightly.
See to it that the HDMI is properly attached to your TV and cable box. The same goes with the power cord.
It’s also possible that one of these connectors is defective. If you believe that’s the case, look for a replacement. Those connectors are readily available online for purchase.
And if you suspect your power outlet may be the problem? Try to plug your cable box into another outlet in your home. One that you’re sure is working.
#4: Disable the HDMI Device Control feature
Xfinity cable boxes that use an HDMI also have a feature called HDMI Device Control.
“What does this feature do?”
Among others, it automatically sets your cable box to Standby mode when your TV is off. It also automatically wakes up your cable box when the TV is turned on.
This is an excellent feature. But is also a common reason for unexpected cable box reboots.
And since this feature is on by default. You may want to turn it off if it’s causing issues.
Here’s how to turn off HDMI Device Control:
- Press the xfinity button on your remote.
- Go to Settings and look for Device Settings.
- Navigate to Power Preferences.
- Go to HDMI Device Control and select Off.
#5: Allow your Xfinity cable box to cool down
Overheating may also cause your cable box to reboot intermittently.
Some cable boxes have this built-in mechanism. Where they’ll force-reboot when they reach a certain level of temperature. This serves as protection for the internal hardware of your cable box.
Make sure that your cable box is properly ventilated. Never place objects like books on top of it.
You may also want to turn it off for a while. Give it a rest for a few hours to allow it to cool down.
You might also like: How To Use Smart TV Without Cable
#6: Use the Restore Defaults option
Make sure to exhaust other troubleshooting steps before using this option.
This is unlike a restart or a system refresh. Restore Defaults is essentially a factory reset. It will wipe out all of your data. So proceed with caution.
Here’s how to do it using a remote:
- Press the Power button on your Xfinity cable box.
- On your remote, press the Power and Menu settings together. This will open up the User Settings.
- Navigate to the Restore Defaults option.
- Press the Right Arrow button on your remote. You’ll see a message saying “Restore Default. Press OK to confirm”.
- Press OK to begin the restore process.
#7: Update your Xfinity cable box
It’s another possibility. The reason your cable box keeps resetting?
It may very well be outdated.
The great thing about Xfinity is they actually offer a cable box update. And they do inform customers via email if their device needs to be replaced.
“That’s awesome! But do I actually have to pay for that?”
Not if you’re just renting your cable box. And it’s old enough that it qualifies for an update.
“Great! How do I sign up for that?”
You may follow the steps below:
- Visit Xfinity’s official website and search for the Equipment Update page.
- Once you’re there, log in with your Xfinity ID and password.
- Click the Get Started button.
- You’ll see a What You Have and What You’ll Get page. Your current cable box and the one that you’ll be receiving. Click Continue.
- Make sure that the delivery address is accurate. Click Submit Order.
You’ll then get a confirmation that your order’s been placed. You’ll also receive instructions on how to return your current cable box.
It may take a few days or weeks to deliver. Once you receive your new cable box, you may set it up yourself.
You may check out this video on how to easily set up your Xfinity cable box:
Bonus: Contact Xfinity for support
When all else fails. Xfinity cable box still keeps rebooting. Then it’s best to contact Xfinity for technical support.
Xfinity offers a great technical support system. They’re available via phone. Or online via chat and email.
One of the things you can actually ask them is a signal refresh.
Their agents can basically send a signal from their computer to your cable box. And sometimes, this would be enough to resolve persistent issues.
They can also inform you if there’s an ongoing outage in your are.
In addition, you may also ask them to schedule a technician to visit you.
Your cable box’s issue may very well be caused by defective wirings. Either in your household or in your entire neighborhood. Having a technician come over to your house to check will definitely help.
Further reading: Are Arlo Cameras Compatible With Xfinity Home? 3 Facts