This past weekend I set up a Google Nest WiFi network.

The size of our new house called for a more powerful, extended network, so I took the opportunity to try out these Google Nest WiFi devices. I started with a router and one point, to be followed by a Google Nest Hello doorbell camera.

However, the setup was not as easy as the instructions would indicate. I actually started trying to set these things up over a week ago, and due to multiple failures, had to roll back to our previous Xfinity network.

I knew that the Xfinity modem would need to be in bridge mode in order to disable its WiFi functionality. However, each time I connected the Google Nest WiFi router to the Xfinity modem in bridge mode, the router failed to find an internet connection during setup. After countless full network reboots as suggested by the Google Home app did not fix the issue, I finally called Google support.

The main issue: I still had an ethernet cable connected to my laptop and the cable modem, while the modem was in bridge mode. Therefore, the cable modem could only accept one LAN connection, which was going to my laptop.

Here are some setup instructions for anyone who would like to set up a Google Nest WiFi router with an existing Xfinity cable modem and router and hopefully avoid my issues.

Yes, you can use your existing Xfinity WiFi modem with your new Google Nest WiFi.

Besides the Google Nest WiFi kit (router, power supply, ethernet cable), here’s what you also need:

• Access to your Xfinity modem’s setup page via a computer
• A mobile device (iPhone, iPad, Android, etc.) with the Google Home app installed
• An ethernet cable and any necessary adapters to connect your computer to the Xfinity modem in case anything goes wrong

How to Configure Bridge Mode on your Xfinity WiFi Modem

Bridge mode disables routing functionality on the Xfinity modem. This clears the way for your Google Nest WiFi device to become your WiFi router. It is important to remember that bridge mode disables both WiFi and hardwire routing. When in bridge mode, only one ethernet port on the modem can be used, which is typically reserved for connecting a router.

How to configure bridge mode on your Xfinity modem:

1. Disconnect any ethernet cables connected to the Xfinity cable modem’s LAN ports.
2. Access the Xfinity modem’s admin panel by browsing to 10.0.0.1 and logging in (default login is username: admin and password: password, unless you have changed it).
3. Browse to Gateway > At a Glance.
4. Change the Bridge Mode setting from Disable to Enable; confirm when asked. The router will now go through a 90 second refresh cycle, at which point all routing will be disabled and only one ethernet port will be able to be used.
5. Once the modem has completely finished its refresh cycle (indicated by a solid light on the ‘online’ indicator on the front of the modem), connect the ethernet cable that came with the Google Nest WiFi device to port 1 on the back of the cable modem (figure 1).
6. Connect the other end of the provided ethernet cable to the network port (indicated by the globe icon) on the Google Nest WiFi device (figure 2).
7. Connect the power to the Google Nest WiFi device, and allow about 30 seconds for it to power on. The device is ready for setup when the white light on its front is a slow pulsing white.
8. Open the Google Home app, and begin the setup.

Figure 1: back of an Xfinity cable modem with Google ethernet cable connected to port 1
Figure 2: underside of the Google Nest WiFi router with Google ethernet cable connected to internet port

How to Roll Back Setup and Return to Xfinity WiFi

Already in bridge mode, having issues with setup and need to return to your Xfinity WiFi? This is where it pays to have the ability to have a hardwire ethernet connection from your computer to your Xfinity modem. Otherwise, with WiFi disabled, you will have no way to access the admin page, and your only option is a factory reset of the modem. This will clear all of your settings, including your previous WiFi’s SSID and password.

1. Connect an ethernet cable to port 1 on the Xfinity modem.
2. Connect the other end of the ethernet cable to your computer.
3. Open a browser window and browse to 10.0.0.1; login using the default or your previously configured login information.
4. Go to Gateway > At a Glance and change Bridge Mode from Enable to Disable; confirm when asked. The router will now go through a 90 second refresh cycle, at which point routing will be turned back on. You should then be able to connect to your old WiFi network.

Hopefully this explanation of bridge mode will help you quickly setup your Xfinity cable modem and your new Google Nest WiFi. Always remember to disconnect any external devices from your cable modem’s ethernet ports before connecting your Google Nest WiFi router!