Xfinity Stream App Guide
Learn more about how the Xfinity Stream app can enhance your TV experience at home and on the go.
Features:
- Free to download
- Offline viewing
- 5 streams at home, 3 on the go
Is the Xfinity Stream app good?
Overall, Xfinity’s mobile viewing app, Xfinity Stream, is a good streaming app. It has a massive amount of content available to view in or out of the home on various mobile devices and web browsers.
It also has multiple simultaneous streams (five at home, three away), content filtering, device management options, offline viewing, and parental controls.
There are cons to accompany those pros—but they’re minor. In fact, there’s only one worth mentioning outside of the box below: some content is unavailable for mobile viewing.
Xfinity TV customers will love the app—and even Xfinity internet-only customers can use it to watch a select variety of free content.
If you’re currently thinking of switching TV providers, we think the Xfinity Stream app is a nice perk that could sway your choice.
Xfinity Stream app pros and cons
Pros
- On-the-go viewing of 200+ channels, most Xfinity On Demand titles, and DVR recordings
- Offline viewing
- 5 streams at home, 3 on the go
- Parental and data-usage controls
Cons
- No on-the-go viewing on some content
- Auto-deletion of downloads if you sign out
- No casting without Google Chromecast
- No Fire TV support
- No AirPlay support
What can I do with Xfinity Stream?
Naturally, Xfinity Stream’s reason for existing is to help you watch TV—but it does other stuff, too. Roll up your pants legs and we’ll wade deeper into Xfinity Stream.
Xfinity Stream content at a glance
| Package |
| Home |
| On the go |
| Xfinity channel package | Local channels | Xfinity On Demand | DVR Recordings | X1, pay-per-view, adult channels | Downloading/offline viewing | Streams |
| ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 5 |
| Up to 200+ TV Go channels |
ABC, NBC, FOX, Univision, Unimás, and Telemundo |
Most titles |
✓ | ✗ | ✓ | 3 |
Watch TV at home using Xfinity Stream
Sure, Xfinity Stream is a mobile app. But what happens when someone in your house is hogging the good TV and the crappy backup? That’s right: you sit in the corner, plug in your earbuds, and stream to your mobile device.
Since Xfinity Stream gives you five simultaneous streams at home, it accommodates up to four more disappointed family members/roommates. And everybody can watch every live, local, X1, pay-per-view, and adult channel—plus Xfinity On Demand titles and DVR recordings.
You can also cast to a TV at home with a Google Chromecast—assuming there’s a free TV in the house. And even then, you may not need to cast if you already have Xfinity on that TV. So could casting be a better on-the-go option? Hmm . . . .
Watch TV on-the-go with Xfinity Stream
Xfinity Stream doesn’t let you watch quite as much content when you’re away from home—but it’s still overflowing with stuff to watch. The main differences:
Xfinity Stream on the go (in a nutshell)
- Depending on your package, you’ll have up to about 60 fewer channels to watch on the go.
- The only local channels you can watch on the go are ABC, NBC, FOX, Univision, Unimás, and Telemundo—No CBS or The CW.
- Some Xfinity On Demand titles aren’t available on the go.
- You can’t watch some of your X1 subscription channels, pay-per-view channels, or adult channels. But much of that content is best suited to home viewing, isn’t it?
- You get only three simultaneous streams (instead of five) on the go.
That’s still a ton of content to watch on the go, and a healthy amount of ways to watch it. And if you take all of those movies and shows to a friend’s house along with a Google Chromecast, you can still watch it on a big screen.
Watch offline with Xfinity Stream
Xfinity Stream also allows you to download titles for offline viewing, so you can watch anywhere, even if you don’t have access to Wi-Fi or mobile data. Watching offline can come in handy at home too, since it saves bandwidth when everyone is home and online.
But one warning about downloads: if you sign out of Xfinity Stream, the app deletes all of your mobile downloads. Fortunately, it’ll warn you before this happens.
Filter content with Xfinity Stream
There’s so much content on Xfinity Stream that you need filters. Otherwise, you’re gonna spend your precious couch time browsing instead of watching. We wish Xfinity Steam would allow you to filter by genre, but no streaming app is perfect, right?
Stream allows you to filter for the following criteria:
- Available for download
- High Definition (HD)
- Closed Captioning (CC)
- Secondary Audio (SAP)
Manage parental controls with Xfinity Stream
Kids are smart. They can get into trouble when left to their own devices.
Plenty of kids have phones or tablets nowadays, and the accompanying internet access. And the internet’s just flooded with nefarious content and bad influences (probably TikTok, jk).
Stream helps you protect your brood by allowing you to restrict content based on ratings, channels, and titles. That’s an excellent way to supplement good ole parental supervision.
Manage devices and downloads with Xfinity Stream
So Xfinity Stream allows five simultaneous streams at home and three outside of the house. What happens when your account has reached its device limit and you wanna watch Mystery Science Theater 3000? If you’re the boss of your Xfinity account, you give someone else the boot right from the app.
The same goes for your downloaded content. Xfinity Stream allows only one downloaded copy of a title at a time. It must be “returned” before someone else in your household can download it on their device. So if somebody’s bogarting Revenge of the Bridesmaids, you can “return” it for them—and then check it out yourself.
How to watch Xfinity Stream
| Amazon |
| Android |
| Apple |
| Device(s) | Operating system (OS) | Xfinity Stream version |
|
Amazon Fire HD 6 and newer, but no Fire TV |
n/a |
4.11.0 or later |
|
All except Android TV |
Android 5 or later |
5.2.0 or later |
| iPhone 4s or later, iPad 2 or later, iPad Air, iPad Mini, iPod Touch 4th gen. or later, AirPlay is NOT supported |
iOS 12 or later |
4.11.2 or later |
Xfinity Stream supports a variety of mobile devices. There’s also an online portal that you can access through your web browser. Here’s what you need to get started:
- Xfinity TV service or internet-only service (limited content)
- A Wi-Fi internet connection or 3G/4G mobile connection
- A supported device (see table below) or web browser
- Your Xfinity username and password
Final take on Xfinity Stream
Xfinity Stream has a ton of content, multiple ways to watch, and only one mentionable drawback (minor content restrictions on mobile viewing). If you have Xfinity TV service and you’re not using this app, you’re missing out.
If you’re thinking of switching TV providers, the Xfinity Stream app is definitely a perk worth considering, especially if you have a large household or travel a lot.
Xfinity Stream app FAQ
What devices support the Xfinity Stream app?
Xfinity Stream supports the following devices:
- Amazon: Fire HD 6 and newer—but no Fire TV. Requires Xfinity Stream version 4.11.0.
- Android: All Android devices running Android 5 or later. Requires Xfinity Stream version 5.2.0 or later.
- Apple: iPhone 4s or later, iPad 2 or later, iPad Air, iPad Mini, or iPod Touch (4th generation and later), running iOS 12 or later. AirPlay is not supported. Requires Xfinity Stream version 4.11.2 or later.
Is Xfinity Stream free?
The Xfinity Stream app is free to Xfinity (both TV and internet-only) customers. To get the most entertainment options you will need to have a TV plan.
Does Xfinity Stream use data?
Yes, Xfinity Stream does use up your mobile data allowance if you use it without a Wi-Fi connection (and if you’re not watching previously downloaded content). The amount of data Stream uses depends on the length and resolution of the programs you stream.
How much is Xfinity Stream per month?
Xfinity Stream is free to users who already have Xfinity internet and TV service. But if you have only Xfinity internet, you can watch selected channels and on-demand content free.
