There you are, at your favorite comfortable space to unwind, do some creative work or just hang out. The atmosphere is just right, tasty drink within reach, and you’re ready to type away and then… Out of nowhere your web browser opens up to an Xfinity webpage asking for your user name and password.
You brush it off as a one-time annoyance and close the browser. But just like a child begging for attention it comes back, looks up at you, and taps on your shoulder asking to go on an Internet joyride, not once, not twice, but EVERY time you close the browser.
You can finally put this wild child in time out and get back to your happy place.
The problem lies within two areas, the public access portion of the router in either the home or business your connected to and the network list on your Mac.
Public Access
In Comcast’s infinite wisdom, they’ve re-provisioned their routers to allow subscribers to log into their Comcast account and connect to the Internet wherever service is available through the network name “xfinity wifi”. Those wanting this broad availability without a Comcast account are out of luck.
This allows subscribers to do two things:
First, it connects subscribers to the many routers within Comcast’s territory, creating a mesh network of public wi-fi hotspots with just your login information without incurring additional fees to your own account.
Second, it separates the connection between the home or business owners from that of the subscribers who temporarily attach to the router and does not count as traffic generated from the owners of the router.
Now on to getting this issue out of the way.
Mac Network List
The big trouble with little “Xfinity Wifi” getting in your face lies within a place you have control over – your network list.
A couple notes on Mac network preferences:
Because the Xfinity Wifi is an open network, it doesn’t require a username and a password until you log into the network.
Open networks get preferred status and are attempted first when the wireless adapter looks for a network to join.
You can tweak your Mac’s default behavior by rearranging the list in the Network panel in System Preferences.
Tweak Your List Of Preferred Networks
1. In System Preferences click on Network.
2. The first Network option listed should be Wi-Fi ensure this is highlighted.
3. Next, find and click on the Advanced button on the lower right.
4. You can move your preferred networks higher in the list according to frequency to the top of that screen. Find the “Xfinity wifi” network in the list click on it and then click the “-” button to rid yourself of this beast.
5. If your iCloud keychain is active, click Remove (All devices connected to iCloud will also remove the “Xfinity wifi” network.)
6. Click OK.
7. Click Apply.
Now you don’t have to worry about Mac’s constantly opening your web browser every time you want to connect to a wireless network.