Is your xFi gateway overheating? Well, this expert guide will teach you exactly what to do!
Dealing with the constantly elevated temperature of the xFi gateway has been difficult for most owners.
Thanks to that, many suggestions and effective resolutions exist that will dramatically reduce the consumption rate of the gateway and stabilize the temperatures to a working level.
When the xFi gateway is overheating, power cycle the unit by unplugging the power cord and reducing the utilization of the available network bandwidth.
Let’s learn more about overheating!
Why is My Xfinity Gateway Overheating?
Like any other network device, the xFi gateway’s hardware temperature elevates when under high utilization or due to environmental conditions.
Determining what causes the unusually high temperature of the gateway is the key to producing working methods to cool down the device!
Here are all of the possible causes why the xFi gateway is overheating:
When Does xFi Gateway Overheat?
All network devices, including the xFi gateway, overheat at a temperature over 90°Fahrenheit or 32° Celsius.
Hence, you must keep the internal HW temperature below the known threshold to prevent the xFi gateway from reaching the thermal margin.
Warning: The longer the gateway overheats, the more likely some hardware components will get severely damaged due to the elevated temperature.
How to Reduce the xFi Gateway Overheating – 8 Methods
Tip: Follow the steps in consecutive order!
1. Unplug the xFi Gateway Adapter
A practical method to reduce the internal temperature of the xFi gateway is to unplug the power cable continuously.
Also called the “power cycle,” this process will discharge the xFi gateway’s hardware and temporarily deactivate all network functions to provide you with a fresh startup.
Here’s how to perform a power cycle on the xFi gateway in easy steps:
- Hold the “WPS” button on the front part of the gateway.
- Unplug the Power cable of the device from the outlet.
- Unplug the other end of the cable from the back of xFi.
- Wait for 5 minutes while the gateway is disconnected.
- Reattach the power cord back into the electrical outlet.
- Plug the other end of the cable into your xFi gateway.
In the meantime, keep reading…
2. Resolve Outlet Power Insufficiency
The primary cause of overheating of the xFi gateway is issues with the power supply.
Thus, an unstable, fluctuating, or simply degraded power supply may overload the hardware and increase the temperatures of your xFi gateway components.
Signs of issues with the power supply may involve:
- Damaged power adapter or gateway power port.
- Fluctuating electrical outlet or loose installation.
- Issues with the room’s A/C or the circuit breaker.
Tip: Try connecting your xFi gateway to a different electrical outlet.
3. Unclog the Gateway’s Ventilation!
The xFi gateway’s ventilation depends on the ventilation openings, and when they are clogged or entirely blocked by dust, your device may overheat.
Thus, you must remove the accumulation by cleaning the xFi gateway, so unplug the device from power and prepare a microfiber cloth!
Here’s how to clean the ventilation openings of the xFi gateway in easy steps:
- Unplug the power and service cables from the gateway.
- Turn the xFi gateway upside down and locate the vents.
- Use a dry cloth to collect all dust or debris on the vents.
- Position the device in a way not obstruct the ventilation.
- Connect the router to the power and test the overheating.
How to Prevent xFi From Gathering Debris?
Keeping the gateway in dusty spots or enclosed compartments can be one of the particular causes why the vents are constantly getting clogged and the router overheats.
Hence, verify that the gateway is placed on a clean, well-ventilated spot close to a window or aperture.
Tip: Opening the window next to the gateway is a reliable cooling method!
4. Remove Nearby Heat Conductors
The xFi gateway could be heating up due to nearby heat conductors actively transmitting heat and elevating the temperature of the network device.
There are many requirements to preserve the proper temperature of the gateway’s hardware, and removing nearby heaters is one of them.
Verify there are no heaters, furnaces, or radiators close to the xFi gateway, which could cause the network device to hold heat.
Instead, position the xFi gateway in a well-ventilated spot to significantly improve airflow and reduce temperatures.
Important: Avoid direct sunlight from shining onto your xFi gateway!
5. Cool the xFi Gateway Externally!
There are many options to reduce the temperature of the xFi gateway by utilizing an external cooling device.
Whether it is a small fan, a cooling pan, or perhaps a specialized router cooling product, it will be effective against the elevated hardware temperatures of your xFi gateway.
Options for External xFi Gateway Cooling!
A case fan might be one of the best options to cool the xFi gateway externally.
It is a small, compact, foldable fan that is perfect for the size of your xFi gateway, and it even comes at an affordable price.
- As for the positioning, make sure the fan is aimed towards the gateway vents.
By channeling an external wind flow into the gateway’s hardware, the internal fan won’t be as necessary as it currently is to maintain the proper temperature.
In fact, portable phone fans’ RPM can be adjusted up to 6000 revolutions per minute.
Tip: Lift your gateway from the surface by positioning a small box underneath, preventing the device from holding heat.
6. Reduce the Xfinity Network’s Usage!
The elevated hardware temperature of the gateway can be caused by overuse of the network or too many connected devices draining data simultaneously.
Here are the most potent methods to reduce the bandwidth utilization:
- Unpair unused devices from the Xfinity gateway’s Wi-Fi network.
- Stop all high-consuming processes such as downloading/uploading.
- Reconnect the service cable of the gateway to refresh the connection.
- Upgrade the speed of your xFi plan to achieve higher data allowance.
If you’re experiencing any issues with your Xfinity service apart from the overheating, contacting the customer support team is strongly advised.
Also, you can always check for temporal service outages impacting your area at the Xfinity Status Center. If the overheating continues, keep reading!
7. Factory Reset Your xFi Gateway!
If the xFi gateway’s temperature is still elevated, restoring the device to factory defaults is highly recommended.
There could be a high-demanding system task or an enabled feature that utilizes all of the gateway’s resources, causing the hardware to heat up excessively, so a reset will help!
Here’s how to restore the xFi gateway’ system to factory defaults:
- Locate the reset pinhole on the back of your xFi gateway.
- Uses a small, non-metallic object to insert into the pinhole.
- Press and hold the Reset button for up to 10-15 seconds.
- Stop holding the reset button once the LED of xFi flashes.
- Then, wait for the xFi gateway to complete the factory reset.
Remember that interacting with the gateway during the factory reset could accidentally cancel the reset or cause further issues with the network device.
Once the reset is complete, you can set up the gateway through the web GUI after pasting the default gateway into a web browser.
Alert: The gateway network will be temporarily offline during and after the factory reset!
8. Inspect the Internal Cooling Fan
We must mention that inspecting the internal components of the gateway and recognizing any potential issues and defects is a task for users with basic technical skills.
Also, remember that taking the gateway apart will void the active warranty, so if it’s active, we suggest claiming it.
Here’s how to take apart the xFi gateway and inspect the internal fan:
- Unplug the power cable from the back of the device and the A/C outlet.
- Next, undo the screws on the back compartment of the Xfinity gateway.
- Carefully lift off the cover to expose the motherboard and its cooling fan.
- Check the cooling fan’s 3-pin connection with the gateway’s main board.
The primary defect of the cooling fan could be a defective power cable that connects to the motherboard.
If there was a recent power outage or the gateway has been overheating for far too long, it is possible that the mechanism of the cooling fan can no longer withstand the heat.
Note: In case of any further trouble, contact the customer support!
Quick Recap:
To fix whenever the xFi gateway overheats, power cycle the network device and inspect the integrity of the internal cooling fan.
If the temperature is still elevated, attempt to cool down the xFi gateway externally and force a factory reset to stop all demanding services.
Follow our blog for more xFi troubleshooting!
Kevin has over five years of experience working in various Tech startups and providing Technical solutions. He has contributed to many Tech publications and websites. Check out more about him here.