Xfinity’s new Holiday Mode will pause WiFi for all devices: How it works

Xfinity is introducing a new “Holiday Mode” feature in its app, with a little help from actor John C. Reilly, who plays the Ghost of Very-Recent Christmas Past in a new holiday advertisement.

Holiday Mode lets customers pause WiFi for all devices on their home network with a single tap on their phone screen. The idea is to keep families connected and off their phones, if only for a few precious moments during the holidays.

The company said that Holiday Mode will be available starting from Nov. 9 for eligible Xfinity Internet customers through the Xfinity app.

The company also debuted a new Christmas advertisement to promote the feature, starring the aforementioned ghost. Reilly’s character rescues people who miss precious holiday moments because they can’t look away from their phones, an unfortunately relatable scenario.

90-second and 60-second versions of the holiday ad are debuting on Nov. 9 on YouTube and TV.

“Our business is built around keeping people connected, so telling families to turn off their WiFi might seem like an unexpected move,” said Julie Scelzo, the Chief Creative Director of Xfinity at Comcast, in a press release shared with Mashable. 

“But at Xfinity, we believe that sometimes the most important connections happen IRL. And at the holidays, stepping away from our screens makes room for the wonder of time spent together. Technology should enhance our lives, not get in the way of it.”

If you’re an Xfinity Internet customer, here’s how to activate Holiday Mode:

1. Open the Xfinity app and select Holiday Mode. 

2. Choose the devices or people you’d like to pause. 

3. Tap once to pause WiFi on those devices. 

4. When you’re ready, tap the screen again to reconnect. 

We’re not encouraging parents to secretly pause WiFi for all the teenagers in their household on Thanksgiving, but we’re not not encouraging you to do that.

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