WiFi Motion is an opt-in feature that uses your Xfinity WiFi equipment, including your gateway and WiFi Extenders, and WiFi-connected devices in your home to sense motion based on changes in WiFi signals.
It does not use cameras, capture images or video, or record audio. When enabled, WiFi Motion can send push notifications about activity in your home, giving you added awareness and peace of mind.
WiFi Motion is included with Xfinity WiFi Shield for eligible customers and can also be used with Shield Select from Xfinity Home. WiFi Motion can work with Home Watch, Away Watch, and Dark Watch where those modes are available.
Note: WiFi Motion is not a home security service and is not professionally monitored. WiFi Motion is provided to you as part of your Xfinity Internet services and subject to the Xfinity residential services agreement and xfinity.com/privacy/policy.
Comcast does not monitor the motion and/or notifications generated by the service. The placement of your Xfinity Gateway and WiFi connected devices, along with your home size, layout and building materials, can impact the way WiFi signals connect and may limit the ability of the service to detect motion.
WiFi Motion will function only in areas of your home where you have strong WiFi signals traveling between your gateway and your WiFi connected devices, and Comcast does not guarantee or warrant performance. You are responsible for periodically testing your WiFi signal to determine if it notifies you of motion in the locations within your home where you desire motion detection.
You are solely responsible for complying with any laws applicable to your use of WiFi Motion and your use of the services. You confirm that you are using WiFi Motion for your own lawful, residential purposes. Like all technology providers, Comcast may be required to disclose information generated by WiFi Motion in response to a valid subpoena, court order, search warrant or other lawful legal process, as required by law. In limited situations permitted by law, information may be disclosed in connection with legal proceedings, dispute resolution, or emergency situations.
Note: This feature is not available to Xfinity Home Security customers.
FAQs
Check out these FAQs about the WiFi-based motion sensing feature in the Xfinity app.
What is WiFi Motion?
WiFi Motion is an opt-in feature that uses your Xfinity Advanced Gateway and connected devices to detect motion in your home. It uses no cameras and does not capture any images or recordings. When enabled, customers can receive activity notifications in the Xfinity app when motion is detected.
WiFi Motion provides you with information about activity within your home. It is not a security system and not professionally monitored.
How is motion sensed using WiFi?
If you opt in using WiFi Motion, motion sensing areas are formed between the Xfinity WiFi equipment and up to five WiFi connected devices. To visualize your motion sensing area, picture an oval connecting your Xfinity WiFi equipment and the selected WiFi-connected device (see oval in diagram below). That oval is your motion-sensing area.
Motion is detected within the sensing area when movement disrupts the wireless signals that travel between your Xfinity WiFi equipment and selected WiFi-connected devices within the sensing area. Notifications will be sent only when motion disrupts the wireless signals in the sensing area between the WiFi equipment and your connected devices.
Compatible Xfinity WiFi equipment includes:
- Xfinity WiFi Gateway (XB7, XB8, XB9, XB10)
- Commscope XB7 (TG4482A) excluded
- XE2 WiFi Extenders
How should I set up my devices?
If you opt in, there are several things to consider when setting up WiFi Motion so it works with your home's layout and suits your preferences. First, maximize the WiFi coverage in your home by placing your gateway in the most central location of your home and WiFi Extenders halfway between your gateway and areas of your home that need additional WiFi coverage. Make sure the gateway is at least a couple of feet off the floor and in an open space.
Next, think of areas in your home where you would want to be aware of activity, like entryways or common living areas. Select WiFi-connected devices in those areas to provide the best coverage for your floorplan. Imagine an oval sensing area formed between your Xfinity WiFi equipment and each of your selected WiFi-connected devices (see the oval in the diagram above). In the diagram below, notifications would be sent if motion is sensed in any one of the three ovals.
Make sure the oval sensing area crosses the area where you would like to detect movement. Once set up, test that you receive notifications of activity in the locations within your home where you desire motion detection.
If you live in a multistory home, avoid devices that are directly above or below your WiFi equipment on other floors.
You have a few options to adjust your motion sensing areas to better suit your preferences:
- Relocate your selected WiFi-connected devices to adjust your coverage areas.
- Connect additional WiFi-enabled devices that are not yet connected to your gateway in areas you want to get coverage.
- Remember: You should periodically test the motion sensing areas to determine if you receive notifications in the locations within your home where you desire motion detection.
How can I manage the type or amount of motion I'm notified about?
By default, WiFi Motion is set to detect even small amounts of movement in the motion-sensing areas, including motion caused by small pets. If you're receiving too many or irrelevant push notifications, you can adjust your pet and motion sensitivity settings. Pet and motion sensitivity work together to help you manage your notification frequency.
How do WiFi Motion notifications work with Home Watch, Away Watch, and Dark Watch?
Notification behavior depends on the active mode and the settings you enable. Home Watch is for when people are home and awake. Away Watch is for when nobody is expected to be home. Dark Watch is for overnight use when household members are asleep. WiFi Motion alerts can be configured by mode where supported.
Why am I not receiving WiFi Motion alerts in Dark Watch?
For Xfinity WiFi Shield, WiFi Motion alerts are disabled in Dark Watch by default. Enable WiFi Motion alerts for Dark Watch if overnight WiFi Motion alerts make sense for your household. Customize Dark Watch by choosing which devices send alerts, so you're only notified about activity in the areas that matter most overnight.
Can I use WiFi Motion and Person Alerts together?
Yes, if you have Shield Select and compatible cameras. WiFi Motion uses WiFi signal changes, while Person Alerts use camera-based person detection. It is usually better not to configure both features to monitor the same area unless you have a specific reason to do so.
How can I manage Notifications for WiFi Motion to suit my preferences?
- Notification settings for WiFi Motion are accessible by selecting the WiFi Motion status on the Home tab, then selecting the gear icon in the top right corner of the WiFi Motion Live View page.
- On the WiFi Motion settings page, you can enable or disable notifications or create schedules to receive notifications only during certain times of the day (e.g., you may only want to be notified of motion at night or times you are typically away from home).
- See Home Watch, Away Watch, and Dark Watch in the Xfinity app for additional details.
How many WiFi connected devices can be used with WiFi Motion?
Currently, you can select up to five WiFi-connected devices, in addition to the required Xfinity Gateway and optional WiFi Extenders, to be used with WiFi Motion.
What WiFi-connected devices work best with WiFi Motion? Why don’t I see all my WiFi-connected devices when selecting ones for motion sensing?
The WiFi connected devices that work best with WiFi Motion are always powered on (i.e., do not go to sleep) and are stationary. They must be connected to your primary Xfinity Gateway.
Devices that aren't eligible to be used with WiFi-based motion sensing at this time include:
- Pro WiFi Extender and Storm-Ready WiFi.
- Devices that are typically not stationary (e.g., mobile devices, tablets, computers, wearable devices).
- Devices connected through Ethernet cable.
- Devices connected through unsupported WiFi Extenders (like third-party or XE1 WiFi Extenders).
One or more of my WiFi-connected devices are showing up as an incorrect device type when selecting devices for WiFi-based motion sensing. How do I edit the device type?
On the WiFi tab of the Xfinity app, locate the device from the list of devices connected to your gateway. Select the device, then select Device Details. On this page, you can edit the Device Type field to accurately reflect your device.
Once updated, your device types should be accurately reflected when selecting WiFi-connected devices to use for WiFi-based motion sensing.
Why isn't motion being detected?
Imagine an oval sensing area that is formed between your Xfinity WiFi equipment and the selected WiFi-connected device. If motion is not taking place in the motion sensing area, it will not be reported. Please make sure the area where you want to detect movement is between your WiFi equipment and WiFi device and within the oval sensing area created between the two devices.
Below are some additional reasons that motion may not be sensed:
- Device is not suitable to be used with WiFi-based motion sensing (e.g., device is not stationary, device is not always powered on, device has gone to sleep).
- Device is online but may not have strong connection.
- Device is offline.
- Device is no longer connected to compatible Xfinity WiFi equipment.
- Xfinity Gateway is offline.
Why do I not see WiFi Motion in the Xfinity app?
The account, gateway, Xfinity app access, or equipment may not be eligible. WiFi Motion may not appear for customers using unsupported gateway equipment, bridge mode, Storm-Ready WiFi, CommScope XB7, Xfinity Home Security, Pro Protection, or unsupported extender equipment.
