Comcast activates free Wi-Fi motion sensing on Xfinity routers
The new feature, available at no extra cost for customers with an XB7 gateway or newer, allows users to detect movement by monitoring Wi-Fi signal disruptions.
Comcast is activating free Wi-Fi motion sensing on compatible Xfinity gateways via an update to the Xfinity Internet app, enabling routers to detect home movement by monitoring Wi-Fi signal disruptions. The feature, part of the Xfinity Shield service, provides home security notifications without the need for additional hardware.
The update arrived on August 18th and is opt-in, requiring an XB7 gateway or newer. Users can toggle sensing via new app modes: Home Watch, Away Watch, and Dark Watch. Kohposh Kuda, SVP of consumer products at Xfinity, stated the company spent three years refining the algorithms to improve accuracy and reduce irregularities.
Xfinity positions the technology as providing an "adequate level of security protection" for average households, though it does not yet replace traditional security systems with cameras. Xfinity Shield Select remains a separate paid service at $15 per month, offering indoor cameras, door and window sensors, and 24/7 urgent response.
Wi-Fi motion sensing technology has existed for some time but has only recently become accurate enough for widespread adoption. Linksys launched a similar service in 2021 but discontinued it a few years later. Other companies, such as Wiz in 2023 and Philips Hue, have deployed similar radio-frequency sensing technologies in smart bulbs and products.
ADT recently acquired Origin Wireless, one of the original Wi-Fi motion sensing companies, indicating broader industry interest in the space. Potential use cases extend beyond home security to include "aging in place" solutions. Comcast views this capability as the foundation for more advanced future applications.
