Why can’t I rewind live TV on Xfinity? Well, you’re not the only one experiencing this issue!
According to Xfinity, you can rewind, pause, and fast-forward on live TV, but apparently, there is a system flaw that affects many users.
Sometimes, when you try to rewind or pause, the Xfinity TV box simply says, “Top box function not available,” and prevents you from managing live.
If you can’t rewind Live TV on Xfinity, perform a power circulation on your TV box and then execute a system refresh. Next, verify the Coaxial connection in your setup and make sure that Xfinity is not currently in a service outage.
Let’s unwrap more!
Can You Rewind Live TV on Xfinity Stream?
You can rewind Xfinity live only on their DVR (Xfinity X1), all models except the RNG-150 receivers.
In addition, managing free Xfinity live channels might not provide options such as rewind, fast-forward, or pause, so test only on Xfinity subscription channels.
The Xfinity live TV is content that is currently being broadcast live, meaning that you have fewer managing options compared to the on-demand content.
With the Xfinity X1 box, you can Pause, Rewind, and Fast-Forward on a live TV, but again, there are a few restrictions to know.
Xfinity Rewind Live TV
The rewind feature is the most needed option for live TV Xfinity users since the option allows users to re-watch already broadcasted content.
As long as the channel has already shown the content and the feed has been aired, you should be able to rewind on your Xfinity set-top box.
Xfinity Pause Live TV
Pausing content on Xfinity live TV is also possible for every user and simply stops the feed at the exact moment you desire.
Then, you can resume the content from where you’ve left off to re-stream the entire broadcast.
Xfinity Jump Live TV
The fast-forward or “jump” feature with Xfinity live TV is limited. You cannot fast-forward ahead when the broadcast hasn’t been aired yet.
If you pause the live for 30 minutes, you’ll be able to fast-forward the live TV 30 minutes ahead until you catch up with the point of live broadcasting.
How to Rewind Live TV on Xfinity?
We understand how frustrating it must be to hop on Xfinity live TV 10 minutes late and miss the beginning of your favorite program.
This is why you must press one of the arrow buttons on the remote to reveal the options above the Live TV timeline and select the left arrow to rewind.
This will take you back to the beginning of the live TV broadcast, and then you can control the feed again by pressing the right arrow to fast-forward.
This will provide you with the ability to fully control the piece of content you’re watching on your Xfinity set-top box, as per your desire.
Tip: To pause Xfinity live TV, highlight and select the “Pause” button between the rewind and fast-forward arrows (in the middle).
Why Can’t I Rewind Live TV on Xfinity? – Fix in Minutes!
Info: The steps below apply to all Xfinity X1 set-top boxes!
1. Pause Xfinity First, Then Rewind!
Let’s start off with something simple. If you cannot rewind the live TV on your Xfinity, pause the content for a few minutes, then resume and attempt to rewind.
If that doesn’t work, return to the channel guide, enter the broadcast again, and repeat the steps: pause > resume > rewind.
If the rewind option is not working, test the same steps on another channel.
In addition, if possible, test on as many channels as possible to determine the problem’s origin further.
If the rewind option is not working for all of the Xfinity TV box channels, then the problem appears to be related to the TV box and not your service. Keep reading to unwrap more solutions!
2. Power Cycle Your Xfinity TV Box!
The next and most accessible step is to perform a power circulation on your Xfinity set-top box to refresh all services.
Perhaps you cannot rewind due to a system bug or a glitch that can be resolved by restarting the operating system and refreshing your Xfinity set-top box.
Here’s how to power cycle your Xfinity set-top box in easy steps:
- First, power off your Xfinity receiver set-top box.
- Then, unplug the adapter from the power outlet.
- Wait for 60 seconds with the TV box unplugged.
- Test whether the electrical outlet is working well.
- Connect the Xfinity TV box directly to the outlet.
- Turn on your receiver and try to rewind a live TV.
If you’re still unable to rewind, verify that the live channel you’re attempting to rewind is currently streaming.
Wait for about 60 seconds while streaming and try to rewind to the live’s beginning.
Also, if only the rewind option is not working, check and verify whether the fast-forward and pause are also disabled.
So, pause your content for 30 seconds and test to fast-forward. In case that doesn’t help, continue reading!
3. Test to Rewind a Different Channel
Some free Xfinity TV channels do not provide rewind, pause, and fast-forward features, so we recommend testing with other channels.
If your rewind functionality was working in the past, go to the channel that was proven to work in the past and test whether you can rewind there or not.
If you cannot rewind on all channels, the issue appears to be related to your Xfinity TV box and not the channel.
However, if you cannot rewind only specific free live TV channels, they will likely not support the content management features.
Check for Xfinity Outages!
Another reason you cannot rewind on specific Xfinity live TV channels is an ongoing outage on Xfinity’s end.
Luckily, you can check for ongoing Xfinity outages at the Xfinity Outage Map, which might be why some channels don’t function properly and can’t rewind.
Note: In case of service outages, test rewinding your live TV after they have been addressed.
4. Perform an Xfinity *System Refresh*
One of the fundamental reasons you’re unable to rewind is a system bug, which can quickly be resolved via a system refresh process.
This method will not erase anything from your Xfinity TV box but will refresh the signal and your equipment, hopefully resolving the system bug.
Here’s how to perform a system refresh on your Xfinity TV box:
- First, press the “A” button on the X1 remote.
- Then select “System Refresh” from the menu.
- Select “Refresh Now” and confirm with “OK.”
- Do not unplug your Xfinity box until restarted.
- Info: The process might take up to 15 minutes.
When the system refresh is completed, your Xfinity TV box will reboot and, shortly after, turn on and load the welcome screen.
Then, you only need to check whether you can rewind live TV.
Note: Unplugging the Xfinity TV box during the system refresh might corrupt the operating system.
5. Reconnect the Xfinity Service Cable!
The service “Coax” cable is the most critical wire in the entire Xfinity setup, and when the signal is slow or not there, you may not be able to stream or rewind.
To overcome this hurdle, you may need to reconnect the Xfinity TV box’s service cable to refresh the outlet’s and receiver’s signal.
Unplug the Coax cable on both sides for 60 seconds!
This would be enough to reset the signal physically, and in case of any signal obstructions, they would now be gone.
In addition, we recommend inspecting the Coax connectors on both sides and verifying that they are not damaged or defective.
The same goes for the ports and outlets.
Tip: When ready, power cycle your Xfinity TV box again!
Need More Help?
According to our research, the rewind problem affects many users.
Most of them solved the issue by returning the Xfinity receiver equipment for a replacement.
We recommend contacting Xfinity Support first and consulting with them regarding your problem.
Reminder: Don’t forget to share what you’ve already attempted in this guide!
Quick Recap:
Why can’t I rewind live TV on Xfinity?
You can’t rewind live TV on Xfinity due to a system bug, or the selected channel does not support the content management features.
To solve the problem, power cycle the Xfinity TV box and perform a system refresh on our equipment to regain the ability to rewind.
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Finn Wheatley holds a Master’s Degree in Computer Science from UCL, London. He helped small data science consultancy firms, helping large corporations to grow their data capabilities, deploy advanced machine learning-based analytics and troubleshoot tech-related issues. Check out more about him here.