Comcast is one of those providers (AT&T and some local providers) who is frequently criticized for geo-restrictions and throttling the internet speed when users try to use Peer-2-Peer services. However, even though a VPN tool should help you avoid possible obstacles just fine, we need it to work in order to do so. And, seemingly, some Comcast routers don’t support PPTP protocol, which is a commonly used (less encryption, but less latency and faster bandwidth) VPN encryption protocol. Hence, VPN traffic being blocked by Comcast is rather common. In order to address this, we prepared some equally common solutions, both recommended by Comcast’s support and knowledgeable users around the web. If you’re unable to run VPN with the Comcast equipment or facing VPN access being blocked in the Comcast network, make sure to check the steps we provided below.
Can Xfinity see my VPN?
Xfinity (Comcast) can indeed get a hold of your online activity through data provided via your ISP modem, for example. This is why it is important to choose a VPN that bypasses ISP throttling. ➡️ Does Xfinity/ Comcast block VPN? In the past, Comcast was actually infamously renowned for such practices that lead to Xfinity not working with VPN. Consequently, many Comcast/Xfinity users reort Comcast dropping the VPN connection or blocking VPN ports. Nevertheless, their policies have changed lately and you can officially use VPNs with Comcast routers by enabling the Bridge mode in the XFINITY router’s settings.
How to set up a VPN on an Xfinity router?
How to fix VPN issues with Comcast?
1. Make sure you’re using a proper VPN
This is quite important. As we already said on various occasions, choosing a proper VPN solution that suits your needs isn’t exactly a walk in the park. Especially, when we take into consideration the fact that all valid solutions are mostly premium. Of course, if you only need to hide your IP address once in a while, going on a spending spree isn’t recommended. On the other hand, if you want a permanent solution to avoid bandwidth throttling, privacy infringement, and geo-restrictions, you’ll need to invest some funds in a monthly subscription. Going premium does not come free, but it does not necessarily mean you will have to break the bank. Considering what it offers, ExpressVPN is a very cost-effective option. Comcast-wise, this best-in-class VPN solution is your best bet as it can overcome ISP blockages, allow you to access all geo-restricted content you need, and it does so without latencies and data limitations. Boasting ultra-fast download speeds, unlimited bandwidth, and an impressive network of thousands of servers located in 94 different countries, ExpressVPN is ideal for Xfinity/ Comcast. Unblock one website after another, regardless of your physical location, eliminate online censorship and enjoy a smooth, buffering-free Comcast experience. ExpressVPN keeps your identity private, your browsing anonymous, and your data protected with the highest level of encryption.
2. Update the router’s firmware
As the official source confirmed, a certain router model (Technicolor Wireless Gateway for XFINITY Internet Service) has had issues with the PPTP security protocol. The problem is, allegedly, resolved by updating your router’s firmware. We can’t say with certainty that this indeed was dealt with, as there’s no abundance of users’ feedback. However, it’s worth a try and, hopefully, after you update your router’s firmware, the VPN solution should work as intended. On the other hand, Xfinity blocking VPN traffic is a known matter and if you were wondering how to update the firmware on the Comcast XFINITY router, this is automatically done after restarting your devices. Just wait for some time until upgrades are installed and try connecting via VPN tunnel again. Also, if by chance, you have your own router, you can use it to bridge the connection, avoiding possible evasive measures. Any third-party router would work, and the only thing you should do is enable the Bridge mode in XFINITY router’s settings.
3. Change the protocol, change VPN encryption and switch servers
There are two protocol suits which are covering the same thing in a different manner. TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) is a standard network and internet communication protocol and there’s also UDP (User Datagram Protocol), a more app-oriented and faster protocol. A lot of users who were using the latter have had issues with Comcast router blocking VPN. Therefore, even though it’s seemingly slower, TCP should be your communication protocol of choice. You can configure it in the router settings. ➡️ Protocols Besides that, we recommend changing two-variable options in the VPN itself. Firstly, we recommend changing your encryption protocol to OpenVPN or L2TP/IPsec instead of PPTP. That should be an easy task to perform, as most VPN solutions offer a variety of alternative encryption protocols. ➡️ Encryption Have in mind that the encryption level is reversely proportional to speeds. Basically: the better the encryption, the slower the bandwidth. OpenVPN is in the middle, with both formidable encryption levels and average latency. ➡️ Server Finally, we recommend switching to an alternative server or location or IP address. Namely, even though we’re addressing the Comcast blocking VPN issue, there’s still the chance that your current server is overcrowded or unstable. Give an alternative a try, and look for improvements.
Which VPN works best with Xfinity?
There are several options that work well with Xfinity routers (among others) such as ExpressVPN PIA or CyberGhost VPN , all owned by Kape Technologies, or NordVPN. That’s a wrap-up. In case you have any questions or suggestions on how to resolve the issues with VPN on Comcast, feel free to tell us in the comments section below.
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