At the moment of writing, Comcast offers the xFi Advanced gateways XB6, XB7, and XB8. These are all modem and router combo devices. The XB7 and XB8 gateways offer faster speeds, improved WiFi capabilities, and more Ethernet ports compared to the XB6. The XB8 is the newest and most advanced model.
Since most customers refer to their gateway as an Xfinity modem or an Xfinity router, we are going to explain the meaning of the Xfinity modem/router LED lights or to be more precise, the meaning of the Xfinity gateway lights.
Xfinity (Modem/Router) Gateway Lights Meaning
The xFi Advanced gateways XB6, XB7, and XB8 have one multi-colored LED light at the top that changes its color depending on the gateway and network status. This LED light can be either blinking or solid.
Blinking light – it usually indicates an activity or that an action is required
Solid light – solid light on the gateway can indicate no activity and no action required.
As for the LED light colors, here is the specific meaning of each color for each of the gateways we have mentioned.
Xfinity Gateway LED Light Off
Meaning
The gateway is either turned off or the power cable is loose or defective.
Troubleshooting
Is the gateway turned on? Check whether you have turned the gateway on.
Is the power cable connected and not damaged? Also, make sure that the power cable is plugged into the electrical wall outlet and into the gateway as well. Hopefully, the cable is not damaged or malfunctioning or you will have to replace it.
If you the Online light is off, check our seven quick fixes for the Xfinity Router Online Light Off issue.
Xfinity Gateway Solid White
Meaning
The solid white light is the LED light we want to see on our Xfinity gateway. It indicates that the device is connected to the internet and functioning properly. And that there are no issues in the network.
Troubleshooting
n/a
Xfinity Gateway Blinking White
Meaning
Although you may notice the white blinking light during the startup process, if the gateway blinks white longer than usual it can mean that the modem is not activated, or its operation is limited.
Troubleshooting
Check these basic troubleshooting steps to resolve the problem.
Is the gateway activated? Everything should be fine once you activate the gateway. Read and follow your Getting Started Guide or check this article on how to activate using the Xfinity app.
Check all the cables. A loose cable can make the connection unstable so it’s recommended to check whether each cable is connected firmly and properly. Also, there shouldn’t be any damage to the cables so inspect them carefully and replace them if necessary.
NOTE: Read our Xfinity gateway blinking white troubleshooting guide here.
Xfinity Gateway Blinking Orange/Yellow
Meaning
The blinking orange light on the Xfinity gateway means that the gateway is trying to register a downstream channel.
The orange blinking light shouldn’t last long and if you notice it is taking longer than usual it means that there is a connection issue or a glitch preventing it from registering the downstream channel successfully.
Troubleshooting
Here are some basic troubleshooting steps to address the issue.
Check the Xfinity Status Center. The first thing you should do is check the Xfinity Status Center and see whether there are any service disruptions or outages in your area. In case there are, then the issue is likely to be resolved once the outage is fixed.
Restart your Xfinity Gateway. Try restarting your Xfinity Gateway by unplugging it from the power source for about 1-3 minutes and then plugging it back in.
Check your device connections. Make sure that all of your device connections, such as Ethernet cables, are properly connected to your Xfinity Gateway and devices. If any of the connections are loose, try tightening them or replacing the cable.
Update your Xfinity Gateway firmware. Make sure that your Xfinity Gateway firmware is up to date. You can check for updates in the Xfinity Gateway settings and update the firmware if needed.
Contact Xfinity support. If none of these steps resolve the issue, then you should contact Xfinity support for further assistance. They will be able to troubleshoot the issue with you and help you resolve the problem.
NOTE: You can also read our detailed Xfinity gateway blinking orange troubleshooting guide.
Xfinity Gateway Blinking Green
Meaning
The blinking green light on the Xfinity gateway means that the gateway is trying to register an upstream channel.
The green blinking light shouldn’t last long, but if you notice that the gateway is stuck in this state it means that there is a connection issue or an error preventing it from registering the upstream channel successfully.
Troubleshooting
Here are some basic troubleshooting steps that you can try.
Wait for the device to finish syncing or updating its firmware. The best thing to do is to wait for the device to finish its task. This may take a few minutes, so be patient.
Check the Xfinity Status Center to see if there is an outage or the service is down in your area. If there are, then the issue is likely to be resolved once the outage is fixed.
Restart your Xfinity Gateway.
Check your gateway connections. Make sure that all of your device connections, such as Ethernet cables, are properly connected to your Xfinity Gateway and devices. If any of the connections are loose, try tightening them or replacing the cable.
Update your Xfinity Gateway firmware if needed.
Contact Xfinity support if none of these steps resolve the issue,
NOTE: Read more troubleshooting tips on our Xfinity gateway blinking green guide.
Xfinity Gateway Blinking Blue
Meaning
The gateway is in WPS pairing mode, which allows you to connect other devices to your network using WPS. It appears after you press the WPS button.
Troubleshooting
Take note that there are some basic troubleshooting steps you can perform to troubleshoot the issue.
Check the WPS-enabled device. Is the device you want to connect turned on and is WPS enabled on it?
Move the device closer. If you have initiated the WPS pairing, make sure the gateway and the device you want to connect are close enough.
Disable WPS pairing mode. If you’re not trying to connect a device using WPS, you can disable WPS on your Xfinity Gateway settings.
Restart your Xfinity Gateway. This will help to stop the WPS pairing activity and may resolve the issue.
NOTE: For additional troubleshooting tips read our Xfinity Gateway blinking blue guide.
Xfinity Gateway Red Light
Meaning
A red light on your Xfinity modem usually indicates that there is a problem with your internet connection, or there is no internet connection at all.
Troubleshooting
Here are some basic troubleshooting steps you can take:
Check for outages.Initially, it is best to check whether there is a service outage in your area. You can visit the Xfinity website, check the Xfinity page on DownDetector.com, or call Xfinity customer service to find out.
Check all the cables. Check whether each cable is connected firmly and properly. Also, make sure that the cables are not damaged or bet too much.
Restart the gateway. Unplug the Xfinity gateway from the power source and wait for 1-3 minutes before plugging it back in. This can help reset the gateway, and clear any temporary glitches and issues.
Contact Xfinity customer service.If the recommended solutions don’t work, it’s best to contact Xfinity customer service. They can help you troubleshoot the issue further and offer solutions to get your internet connection back up and running.
NOTE: For more information read our Xfinity gateway red light guide.
LED Lights On Ethernet Ports – Meaning
At the same time, we have to mention that there are two LED lights on each Ethernet port.
The left LED light should be green, and the right LED light on the ethernet port should be orange.
When these lights are off, it means that there is no link, i.e. nothing is connected to the Ethernet port(s).
Left LED Solid Green – 1000 Mbps link connected
Left LED Blinking Green – Data being sent and received through the 1000 Mbps link
Right LED Solid Orange – 10/100 Mbps link connected
Right LED Blinking Orange – Data being sent and received through the 10/100 Mbps link
To Sum Up
In conclusion, understanding the Xfinity gateway (modem/router) lights is important as it helps in identifying the state of the internet connection and the device itself.
Each color of light has a specific meaning, and this article provides an explanation of what each color means, what may be causing the possible issue, and tried and tested solutions for each one.
