Can You Use Xfinity Camera Without Service?

One of the common questions on many Xfinity camera forums is, can you use Xfinity camera without service? And if so, how do you go about it?

An Xfinity camera is a home security solution that relies on wireless cameras powered by Xfinity WiFi.

It is part of the Xfinity Home, a paid subscription that offers modern home monitoring and surveillance solutions.

But what if you don’t want to pay for a subscription. Can you still use Xfinity Home security?

Yes. You can use an Xfinity camera without an Xfinity Home subscription by resetting the camera and bypassing Xfinity account creation. 

But then, when using Xfinity camera for free, you won’t get access to the premium features that the Xfinity Self Protection or Xfinity Home Security/Plus subscriptions come with.

If you want to use your Xfinity camera(s) for free, this guide has it all. Find out more about Xfinity subscriptions, and importantly, how to set up your Xfinity camera and use it without a service or Xfinity account.

Can You Use Xfinity Camera Without Service?

Before getting into the finer details on how to use Xfinity indoor/outdoor camera without an account or subscription, here is an overview of Xfinity Home.

What is Xfinity Home Subscription Service?

As mentioned above, Xfinity Home, including Xfinity camera surveillance, is available as a paid subscription.

You need to be on one of the two Xfinity Home subscriptions, Self Protection or Home Security/Plus, to enjoy all the perks that come with Xfinity cameras.

Some of the features you get with these subscriptions include 24/7 video recording, live and recorded video, instant app alerts, real-time motion notifications, and even 24/7 professional monitoring.

Why Use Xfinity Camera without Service or Account?

Many of the users who ask the question, can you use Comcast camera without service are looking for ways to get savings on home security.

One of the reasons you want to use an Xfinity camera without a subscription is to cut on monthly costs. The current subscription costs range between $10 and $40. While this looks like pocket-change, you can end up saving a lot in just a year.

Besides the monthly subscription costs, the initial investment is lower now while setting up an Xfinity camera without subscription.

In fact, this is a simple DIY Xfinity camera hack that you can handle yourself instead of relying on a rather costly professional installation.

What’s more? There are dozens of cheap used Xfinity camera deals on sites such as Craigslist.

How to Use Xfinity Camera without Service and Account?

Now that you know a thing or two about Xfinity Home and the subscriptions, let’s find out how to use your Xfinity camera without an Xfinity account or a subscription. What’s important is understanding how it all works.

As you may be aware, Xfinity Home uses Xfinity WiFi to operate and communicate with other smart home security devices. That means your Xfinity camera(s) are linked to your Xfinity account.

To use Xfinity cameras without paying for the subscription, the hack is using a different WiFi network apart from Xfinity.

When using other internet providers, apart from Xfinity, it’s not a must that you sign in with your account. All that is required is a simple setup process, and you are good to go.

How to Connect Xfinity Camera Without Service and Account

Connecting your Xfinity camera when on a paid subscription is pretty straightforward. But how do you connect your Xfinity camera if you have not subscribed to any of the plans?

You will need to reset the camera first and then connect it to your home network.

To start below is a list of the things needed to set up your Xfinity cameras without a plan and Xfinity account.

• Pin
• Y cable connector
• Stable internet connection (LAN / WiFi)

1. Reset Xfinity Camera

To set up your Xfinity xCam without service or account, you need to reset the camera to its default settings.

Below is a step-by-step guide to setting up your Xfinity camera and using it without worrying about monthly charges.

Step 1: Locate the camera’s reset button (a tiny pinhole on the bottom of the camera). 

Step 2: Use the pin to press the reset button and hold it for 10 seconds.

Step 3: Release the reset button, and that’s it.

Your camera is now reset to default settings.

Note: You also need to reset the camera's power adapter.

2. Connect Xfinity Camera to Home Network

As you may be aware, Xfinity cameras are smart, so you will need an internet connection. Xfinity cameras can’t work without WiFi.

After resetting the camera, the next stage is connecting it to your home network. Below is a step-by-step guide to connecting an Xfinity camera to your home network.

Step 1: Use the Xfinity Y cable connector to allow the camera (s) to connect to the internet.

Step 2: Make sure you have stable internet (at least 2Mbps) on your home network.

Step 3: Connect the camera(s) to your home network via WiFi or Ethernet.

Step 4: Note down the IP address(s) of the camera(s).

Step 5: In the last step, set up a monitoring system with a PC or mobile using software such as iSpy, ZoneMinder, or any other compatible open-source video surveillance app.

Once you are done, you can now monitor your home without incurring any monthly charges.

How to Access Footage when Using Xfinity without Service

Now that you have set up your Xfinity camera, the elephant in the room is, how do you access the camera’s footage? Well, there are a few options here.

With software such as iSpy, you can monitor your home in real-time from your PC or Smartphone.

For those who want to backup the footage, the best option is connecting to Cloud. Another option of accessing footage is investing in a dedicated DVR or NVR kit.

Xfinity Home is one of the home security systems that don’t require a monthly fee to use. Even though the company has paid subscriptions only, you can bypass the Xfinity camera and still monitor your home 24/7 by connecting to your home network.

But, unfortunately, you won’t enjoy the exclusive management tools and state-of-the-art security features that Xfinity Home tags along with.

Read Next: How to Move Xfinity Router to Another Room?

Wrapping Up

That’s it, folks, a detailed answer to the common question on Xfinity forums; can you use Xfinity camera without service or an Xfinity account?

As discussed above, it is possible to use Xfinity Home service without buying a subscription.

So, if you are tired of the monthly subscriptions, you know what to do. Execute this simple Xfinity camera hack and enjoy lifetime home security without spending a dime!