Can you use Xfinity Home Camera without service?

Yes, you can use the Xfinity Home Camera system without service, as Xfinity allows you to own the camera. You can do so through resetting the camera, and bypass the account creation process Xfinity prompts you to do.

If you are considering joining Xfinity, there are plenty of services under the brand, aside from Internet connectivity. Among these is their Home Camera service, which is part of their Home Security package – and offers a high-quality range of devices and services that help you ensure your security, such as smart cameras and sensors. They are even more useful and convenient to monitor from your smartphone, as they can connect to the internet.

However, this setup not only works with an internet connection; it can do so without one, although this will deny you access to certain features that only work when your Home Cameras are connected to the internet.

How Xfinity Home works

To understand how to setup your home cameras without an Xfinity internet connection, it helps to know how the system works. As we mentioned earlier in the article, the Xfinity Home setup relies on an internet connection, which you get through a paid subscription.

Regardless of the subscription you choose, there are certain premium benefits you will access such as 24/7 professional monitoring, real-time notifications, instant alerts on the Xfinity smartphone app, recorded and live videos, and 24/7 video recordings.

Overview of Xfinity Home Camera plans

Plan	Starting price	Benefits
Base Home System	$15 monthly or $360 upfront	Cellular and battery backups One pet-friendly motion sensor Touchscreen control panel Xfinity Home app for remote control Xfinity Home Security yard sign 3 door or window entry sensors
Complete Home System	$20 monthly or $480 upfront	All benefits of the Base package HD outdoor and indoor Xfinity cameras Wireless keypad 5 Window and door sensors
Home Security Plan	$40 monthly	Smart home automation 24/7 monitoring Instant alerts to your smartphone Backups Remote control through the mobile app Live HD monitoring Viewing TV cameras through working with Xfinity X1
Home Security Plus plan	$50 monthly	Motion-trigger recording 24/7 monitoring In-built AI (artificial intelligence) Distinguishing between pets, vehicles, and people Advanced video options, including backup Smart home automation

When can you use Xfinity cameras without service?

In many instances, people who opt to use the cameras without the service are searching for a way to save on home security costs, as these can range between $10 and $40 monthly. Additionally, initial investments are lower when setting up the camera system without an Xfinity subscription – it is a very easy process, thanks to a DIY camera hack.

Using Xfinity cameras without an account and service

As we mentioned earlier, all the cameras you use in your home link to your Xfinity account and use the internet connection in your home to access the internet. Therefore, you will use a different Wi-Fi network when you want to use the cameras without paying the monthly subscription fee.

The good news is that you will not need to sign in to the camera system with your Xfinity account if you are using another internet provider. This makes the setup simple to accomplish, as long as you reset the camera first.

How you can setup the system

Before you begin setting up the system, you need a set of items to accomplish the task:

• A stable internet connection – this can either be a Wi-Fi or LAN connection
• A Y cable connector
• A pin

Once you have these items, you can set up the system by following these steps:

Resetting the Xfinity cameras

If you want to set up the cameras without using your Xfinity account, you must reset them to their original settings. To do so:

1. Locate the reset button on the camera (you will find it on the bottom of the camera, and it is in form of very small pinholes).
2. Press the reset button using the pin, and hold it for 10 seconds.
3. Let go of the reset button, and this will reset the camera to its default settings. Repeat this process for the camera’s power adapter to reset it.

Connect the camera to your home network

The Xfinity camera system is a smart system, so an internet connection is essential to their operation. Since you are not using the Xfinity Wi-Fi network however, you will need to connect them to your alternative home network through these steps:

1. Take the Xfinity Y cable connector and set it up with the cameras, which will allow them to get internet access.
2. Ensure that the home network you are using has a stable internet connection of at least 2 Mbps.
3. Link the cameras to the home network through Ethernet or a Wi-Fi connection.
4. Note the camera IP addresses.
5. On your smartphone’s browser or on your PC, set up the monitoring system the cameras will use through using third-party video surveillance apps such as ZoneMinder or iSpy.

Accessing the footage

There are several options you can use to access the camera’s footage, thanks to the video surveillance apps you can use, such as iSpy. However, the drawback is that you cannot access the premium security features and exclusive management tools that come with an Xfinity Home premium subscription.

If you want to upload the footage, the best choice to do so is through connecting your account on the surveillance app to your Cloud. Alternatively, you can choose to purchase a dedicated NVR or DVR kit to backup and access your footage.

Conclusion

If you want to use the Xfinity Home Camera service without signing in to your Xfinity account, it is possible to do so. However, it is worth noting that you will miss out on some management privileges when you do so, although Xfinity still allows you to use the cameras on a lifetime basis.

FAQs

Does Xfinity Home security work without Internet?

No, it does not. However, there are bundling benefits that come with combining your Xfinity Home and Internet subscriptions, as their design allows them to work together optimally.

Can I still use my Xfinity camera without service?

Yes, as Xfinity allows you to own the camera. All you need to do is reset the camera and set it up to use an alternative network.

Do Xfinity cameras need to be plugged in?

Yes, they do. Their power adapters give them a connection point to a Wi-Fi network – otherwise, they cannot operate without a network connection.

Do Xfinity cameras work without Wi-Fi?

No, they cannot. They are designed to work alongside an internet connection, particularly a stable one, regardless of whether it is Xfinity or an alternative network.