To learn why the Xfinity box says BOOT then shuts off, dedicate 5 minutes of your time to reading this short guide.
This is a common Xfinity issue that can be solved as soon as the culprit is identified so let’s start with the most important first.
The reason why Xfinity Box says “BOOT” and then turns off is due to power fluctuations due to the source or cable connections.
It’s also possible that your Xfinity TV Box is too hot and overheating which also causes the device to shut down before it can boot.
Let’s next unwrap the reasons why this is happening…
Xfinity “BOOT” Shutdown – Explained
The reason why your Xfinity box says “BOOT” and shuts down is mainly related to the power income of your cable box.
That involves everything from the cable’s configuration all the way to the electrical outlet and ports on your TV box.
6 Reasons Why Xfinity Says “BOOT” and Shuts down:
- Power-related issues (cables, ports, outlet).
- Ongoing firmware update (upgrade restarts).
- When overheating the Xfinity TV box shuts down.
- An error during the boot (operating system start).
- Faulty HDMI cable or television HDMI port.
- Issues or interference from the TV box remote.
Xfinity Box Says BOOT Then Shuts OFF – Best Solutions
Info: The guide below is designed in chronological order that will help you not only solve the issue but also identify the true source.
We strongly recommend not skipping anything!
1. Power Cycle the Xfinity TV Box
One of the first steps against the “BOOT” message followed by an Xfinity box shutting down, is to perform a power circulation.
The method is easy to apply and doesn’t require technical steps!
Here’s how to perform a power cycle on the Xfinity TV Box:
- Turn off the Xfinity TV box using the remote.
- Unplug the power cable from the wall outlet.
- Also, disconnect the cable from the Xfinity TV box.
- Wait for at least 60 seconds for the power cycle.
- Reconnect your Xfinity TV box to the power.
- Test whether the Xfinity box will be able to boot.
In case the Xfinity TV box continues to say “boot” and shuts down, keep reading!
2. Prevent TV Box Overheating
The overheating could be a major factor that might cause the Xfinity TV box to say “boot” and shut down immediately after.
The reason why the TV box turns off when overheating is to secure and preserve the hardware components from potential heat damage.
There are a couple of ways to decrease the temperature and prevent overheating:
- Clean the ventilation openings on the Xfinity TV box
- Use compressed air to remove dust accumulation
- Ventilate the air in the Xfinity TV box environment
- Remove heat conductors near the Xfinity TV box
The main reason for overheating is the lack of maintenance of your Xfinity TV box as well as the heat from the hot summer seasons.
When combined with prolonged usage time, overheating causes your Xfinity TV box to say “boot” and shut down.
3. Try A Vocal System Reset
Another way to refresh your Xfinity Box is by holding the “Microphone” button and saying “restart my TV box”, to check whether this will help.
Such a basic command will most certainly help whenever there is a temporary bug, so it’s the first thing to attempt without losing time.
In case your Xfinity TV box doesn’t do anything after the vocal command, keep reading!
4. Inspect for Loose Wiring
During the boot process of your Xfinity box, the device attempts to reach the Comcast servers in an attempt to acquire the necessary information.
When the cables are loose, especially the Ethernet connection, this might prolong the booting process.
Then after an extended period of time, the TV box shuts down due to a memory leak.
The Xfinity cable box consists of the following input connections:
- xFi Wireless Gateway
- Coaxial Cable
- Power Adapter
- Ethernet Cable
Ensure that the involved connections on your Xfinity TV box are secured and preferably, unplug and re-plug all cables tightly.
Then restart your Xfinity TV box and test whether it will shut down.
5. Switch to Another Power Outlet
Proceeding further we can’t skip paying attention to the Xfinity TV box power outlet, which is one of the fundamental reasons for random shutdowns.
The best course of action is to relocate your Xfinity TV box or carry out a power divider to test the box from a fresh power source.
- Simply take power from a different power outlet or connect directly!
Feel free to use a power extender to carry electricity from an outlet, located in a different room, hence on a different circuit fuse.
This will eliminate the possibility of power fluctuations that are preventing your Xfinity TV box from booting into the user interface and shutting down instead.
6. Inspect The Xfinity Box Remote
Even if rarely, the TV remote might send false signals and make the Xfinity cable box says boot then shuts off.
The best thing you could do is eject the remote’s batteries for the time being and test whether the Xfinity TV box will be able to boot into the operating system.
With the batteries ejected from the Xfinity remote, press ALL buttons twice, and then hold the power button for 30 seconds. This will soft reset the remote and eliminate any possibilities.
It’s also important to mention that your Xfinity TV box might interfere with another remote even from a different room. So in case of a second Xfinity box, don’t forget to check for interference.
Tip: Feel free to re-insert the remote’s batteries if that’s not the case!
7. Secure the HDMI Connection
In some cases, the reason why you only see “boot” before the Xfinity TV box shuts down is due to a damaged HDMI cable, connectors, or ports.
This is why to secure the HDMI connection both on your Xfinity TV box and your television/monitor.
Follow the steps below:
- Unplug both ends of the HDMI cable.
- Closely inspect the connectors for bents.
- Check the cable’s body for cuts and rips.
- Inspect the HDMI ports on the box and TV.
- Connect the HDMI cable tightly on both ends.
- Prevent twisting the cable or any pressure.
In case the Xfinity TV Box still stays “boot” and shuts down, proceed with the next step!
8. Replace the TV Box Power Cable
Another helpful solution is to test connecting your Xfinity TV box to the power with a different power cable and adapter.
The best-case scenario would be having a secondary adapter that matches the Xfinity cable box and checking whether this will help the device finally boot.
In case you haven’t got replacement power equipment for the Xfinity cable box we recommend checking the Xfinity User Manual to learn more about the adapter you need.
9. Check for TV Incompatibility!
It’s possible that your TV does not support the Xfinity cable box.
Well, the Xfinity TV box supports all of the newer TVs, but if yours is not one of them you might not be able to use the cable box on this particular television.
There are several main requirements for a TV to work with Xfinity cable box:
- HDMI Input (a working HDMI or HDMI ARC port on the TV).
- HDCP Support (required for video transfer from Xfinity).
- Resolution (the TV has to support at least 720 progressives).
In case your television falls beneath these requirements, chances are that this is why your Xfinity box only shows “boot” and then shuts down.
The best course of action would be to test your Xfinity TV box on another television in your home.
Good luck!
Still Here?
It’s not excluded that your Xfinity TV box is saying “boot” and shutting down because of an internal hardware failure.
In those cases, there is pretty much nothing we can do at home and the best next step would be to seek help from a professional.
In case your warranty is intact, contact Xfinity Customer Service, otherwise, contact your local merchant. When your warranty is expired, there are services that would fix the Xfinity TV box.
Tip: Don’t forget to share what you’ve already attempted in this guide!
Quick Recap:
Hence, when the Xfinity box says BOOT then shuts off, start by performing a power cycle on the device and inspecting the cable connections.
Further troubleshooting includes preventing any overheating and securing the HDMI and TV (compatibility) connection.
Read Next: How to Turn On Xfinity Cable Box Without Remote? – Complete Guide!
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.