Does Xfinity Stream App Work With Shield TV? [2023]

Being the largest cable service provider in the US, it was only a matter of time before Xfinity too started providing its services through an app.

The Xfinity Stream app was launched in Q1 of 2017 and has ever since been the cord-cutting alternative to the company's cable TV platform.

Free to all who have an Xfinity subscription, the Xfinity Stream app is available in Android, Apple, and certain streaming devices like Amazon Firestick and Roku devices.

With over 200 channels including live sports, movies, and news with local news availability, the Xfinity Stream app has been an integral part of my streaming rendezvous since its inception.

But when I purchased my first Shield TV(2017 model) back in 2018, I was baffled at the fact that the Xfinity Stream app was not available natively on the system.

Being one of the most powerful and reliable streaming devices in the market, one would always think that it's a one-and-done sort of deal.

Offering streaming and gaming features on an Android platform is as convenient as it sounds.

Nonetheless, the unavailability of the Xfinity Stream app made me go on the prowl to find out how you could use the app on the Shield TV.

You cannot use the Xfinity Stream app on the Shield TV directly. It is not supported on Shield TV (Android TV) but you can sideload it to your device and then use it.

After an indefinite amount of time spent on finding the right method, I've come up with how to use the Xfinity Stream app on your Shield TV:

Requirements for Xfinity Stream App to Work on Shield TV

Requirements for Xfinity Stream App

Before getting started on the installation process, there are a few things to take care of.

Let's take a look at these basic requirements you need to have before installing the app.

Xfinity Subscription

The absolute first thing to take care of is to have an Xfinity subscription. Without an Xfinity subscription, you will not be able to access the Xfinity Stream app on any of your devices.

Xfinity offers both cable TV and internet services and they provide their own hardware to go on with the service.

Cable TV plans start at $20/month with 10 channels to choose from and go all the way up to $80/month with 260+ channels.

Internet plans range from $39.99/month for up to 200 Mbps speeds to $299.95/month for speeds up to 3000 Mbps.

You can also choose bundle offers that combine the TV and the internet services into a single package for a slightly reduced price.

Subscribing to either of these services automatically makes you eligible to access the Xfinity Stream app.

Shield TV Requirements

Apart from the obvious network connection requirements, there are a few essentialities that you have to make sure are available on your Shield TV to use the app.

As I mentioned earlier, the Xfinity Stream app is not yet available in all its entirety on Android TV devices.

So we have to resort to sideloading the app through an APK file.

For that, you should have a proper browser that supports direct download on your Shield TV. You can also use a USB drive to transfer the file.

Browsers like Firefox, Chrome, Puffin TV, Downloader App, etc. are good choices. Only remember to check whether the browser supports direct download.

Some browsers like the Downloader App natively allow you to install APKs right after you download them. If you cannot do so, you will need a File manager app to install the APK.

Go to the play store and search for file manager. Choose your preferred option from the list of apps.

Next, you will have to turn on the "Unknown Sources". Follow these steps to do so:

1. In the Home tab, click and open Settings.

2. Scroll down and click on Security and Restriction.

3. Under Unkown Sources, grant access to the browser of your choice.

With the necessary requirements taken care of, now let's see how you can install the Xfinity Stream app on your Shield TV.

Similarly, you can also set up emulators on your Shield TV, check out this article on how to use emulators on Shield TV for more info.

How To Set Up Xfinity Stream App

How To Set Up Xfinity Stream App

With the expensive part taken care of, now let's look at the piece de resistance of our endeavor. Here are the steps to follow to properly install and set up the app.

Download and Install APK

Here's how to download and install the Xfinity Stream app on your Shield TV:

1. On your Shield TV, click and open the Browser of your choice.

2. Search and open the website apkmirror.com.

3. On the website page, search "Xfinity Stream".

4. From the available options click on the topmost option because it is the latest version available. Older versions may no longer be supported on your device.

5. Scroll down and click on the download icon link.

6. On the next page, again scroll down and click on the download icon which takes you to another page with the download link and size of the app. Click on the download icon to download the APK.

7. Once the download is complete, click on install to install the APK.

8. If you are using a file manager open the file manager app and install the APK through the app.

You can also download the APK on your PC and use a USB drive to share the file. Install the APK using the file manager app on your Shield TV.

Setting Up Xfinity Stream

After you have downloaded and installed the app, you can open it and log in to your account.

Enter your User ID and password followed by the onscreen prompts to log into your account.

Earlier versions of the Xfinity Stream require a pointing device to navigate on the app, your remote won't be compatible. The newer versions do support remote control navigation.

In the case of older versions, you can either install a mouse pointer application like Mouse Toggle app from the play store or you can use your Nvidia controller to navigate.

After you have successfully logged in, you can watch all your favorite channels and live TV on your Shield TV.

Common Problems when Using Xfinity with Shield TV - How to Fix

With your Xfinity Stream app successfully installed and running perfectly, you may wonder "if it was that easy, why didn't they release a proper version on the Shield TV?"

Well, there are reasons why Comcast (parent company of Xfinity) hasn't provided support for Android TV devices.

The most plausible reason being the DVR capabilities of these devices.

That said here are a few problems you may encounter as a result of the above-mentioned conundrum:

Xfinity Stream Stopped Working

There is nothing to worry about if your Xfinity Stream app abruptly stopped working on your Shield TV.

It is not uncommon for Xfinity to routinely deny access to the app that is running on an unauthorized HDMI-connected device.

This means that the current version you are running on your Shield TV has to be removed or replaced by a newer one.

Simply Uninstall the app by going to Settings> Apps> See all apps> Xfinity Stream app> Uninstall.

Follow the How to Setup guide for reinstalling the newer, updated version.

Cannot find the Xfinity Stream app

The problem with sideloaded apps is that you cannot find the shortcut of the app on the home screen.

You will have to go to Settings> Apps> See all apps> Xfinity Stream app and open it each and every time from there.

You can solve this predicament in a number of ways.

The easiest is installing a side loader launcher like the ATV launcher from the play store.

Simply go to the play store app and type in sideload launcher and choose an app from the list.

Use this launcher to launch your Xfinity Stream app.

Streaming and Connectivity Issues

Like any other streaming service, you may experience some form of difficulty while streaming your shows and movies from time to time.

The reasons may be a minor connectivity issue or some minor bugs in the app.

Here are some quick troubleshooting tips to try out:

  1. Check your internet speed. Having a speed of at least 2 Mbps is crucial for a proper stream. Using a speed tester check your internet speed. If the speeds are inconsistent, try restarting the router/modem and try again.
  2. Try logging out and re-logging in. Make sure to restart your Shield TV before logging in back to give a quick refresh to the app.
  3. Try Clearing the Cache. If your app is lagging and slow, it may be because of a filled-up Cache memory. Go to Settings>Apps>See all apps>Xfinity Stream>Clear cache to clear the memory. After a quick restart, try logging in again.

There you have it, some of the fixes you can try for your Xfinity Stream problems. If you were unable to solve the issue with streaming check out this article.

Final Thoughts

Streaming has enabled us to access entertainment without having to worry about the traditional problems associated with wired services like cable and satellite.

With being able to access the Xfinity Stream app on the Shield TV, the doors to over 200+ channels have opened before us.

You may also experience similar issues with the Hulu app on the Shield TV, check out this article on Hulu app issues on the Shield TV for more info.

Happy streaming.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Does Nvidia Shield TV work on any TV?

Yes, the Shield TV can be operated on any TV having an HDMI connection. Depending on your TV's resolution, you can watch content in SD quality all the way up to 4K.

Can I stream from my phone to Nvidia Shield?

With the built-in Google Chromecast feature, you can mirror or cast any of the shows or app that support mirroring from your phone onto your Shield TV. Simply tap the cast button on the app you want to mirror.

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About Doug Stevenson

Hey! I'm Doug, My passion for tech started by fixing phones and computers for my friends and family.

I started Blinqblinq to give reliable tech advice to anyone who needs it, for free! If you have questions on anything tech-related, feel free to contact me.

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Doug Stevenson

Hey! I'm Doug, My passion for tech started by fixing phones and computers for my friends and family.

I started Blinqblinq to give reliable tech advice to anyone who needs it, for free! If you have questions on anything tech-related, feel free to contact me.

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