RobotPoweredHome is reader-supported. When you buy through links on my blog, I may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
I found cable TV to be my best escape from reality recently, but when something gets in the way of it, I get upset fast.
My issues with my Xfinity box started one day when a message appeared on my TV which mentioned the error code XRE-03121.
It didn’t allow me to watch any of my channels.
As I was already invested in Xfinity’s ecosystem, I decided to fix the issue on my own.
I found out online that it was a pretty common issue, and it had something to do with authenticating your account.
If you get the XRE-03121 error code on Xfinity, refresh your Xfinity TV box by going to the settings and selecting System Refresh. Ensure your internet connection is working so that your cable box can authenticate your account online.
If the XRE-03121 error appears when you try to watch any channel, it is most likely an equipment problem that warrants a Comcast technician’s visit.
What is the XRE-03121 Error?
The error happens when your cable box can’t tell if you’re allowed to watch the channel that you’re on.
You can run into this specific error when trying to change channels while in TV mode and also when actually watching your channels.
Your cable box might be doing something wrong, like not notifying Xfinity that you’re authorized to watch the channel which stops them from letting the box access the channel.
Xfinity can also misidentify your set-top box and think it is associated with another account, and not give it access to the channels that you have.
I’ll be dealing with both of these potential reasons in the sections that follow.
Refresh Your Xfinity Box To Get Your Channels
Xfinity has a feature that lets you refresh your cable box quickly which can help you get your channels back.
To do a system refresh:
- Press A in your remote control. (You can also use the System Refresh voice command to skip to step 3 directly).
- Select the System Refresh and press OK.
- Confirm the prompt to move on. Starting a system refresh will stop all recording, scheduled or otherwise, until the refresh finishes.
Remember to not turn off the box or unplug it from power when it is going through the process of resetting.
The number of refreshes that you can do is limited to once per 24 hours, but it is separate from the refreshes that you can make customer support do.
Xfinity support can also do a refresh on their end, so if you need to, you can make use of two refreshes just in case.
When the refresh completes, go back to the channel you saw the error on, and check if you fixed it.
Check If Your Internet Is Working
If your router is having internet issues, your box can fail to authenticate your connection which could explain the XRE-03121 error code you’re seeing now..
The easiest way to diagnose internet issues is to try using your phone or computer to load a webpage.
Go to the router and make sure that there are lights turned on or blinking on your Wi-Fi router if your phone or computer can’t access the internet.
Make sure none of them are red or any warning color, like orange or yellow which could signify a connection issue..
If they are, restart the router.
After the restart process completes, tune in to the channel that you want to watch
Change your Channel Package To Fix The Error
Sometimes, the only way to fix this nagging issue is to change the channel package you have currently.
You won’t need to upgrade in most cases, just change to a package that has the channel you’re having trouble with.
You can always go back to your older package if the issue doesn’t get fixed by talking to Xfinity.
But before you make changes to your channel package, contact Xfinity support and ask them if you are subscribed to the channel you’re having issues with.
If they say you haven’t, you can get them to change you to a package that has the right channel.
Once they change what package you’re on, it might take a few minutes for the change to happen.
Tune into the channel again and see if you can watch it without getting the XRE error..
Restart your Xfinity Cable Box
Restarting your Xfinity cable box works a little differently to the refresh because it affects the box itself along with the software that it runs on.
Doing so will soft reset the hardware of the box and restart the entire system, and it won’t take more than a few minutes.
To restart your Xfinity cable box, first identify if your TV box has a Power button on the front.
If the box has a power button:
- Press and hold the Power button for at least 10 seconds.
- The TV box will turn off and start the automatic restart.
If the box doesn’t have a power button:
- Find the power cord at the back of the box.
- Unplug it from the wall outlet.
- Wait for at least 10-15 seconds before plugging it back in.
- Turn on the TV box.
Tune to the channel and check if the authentication goes through.
Contact Support
If you are having trouble with any of these troubleshooting steps, or if going through this guide didn’t help, contact Xfinity support.
They can give more personalized fixes for you after they consult the file that they have on you and know what set-top box you have.
Dealing With Authentication Errors
The XRE-03121 error is only seen on the newer Xfinity cable boxes, so if you have other ones at home, those won’t get this error.
The root cause of this specific error code is the authentication process that lets Xfinity know what channels you can access.
This authentication error can also happen when Xfinity themselves have issues, and the easiest way to know if it is an Xfinity issue is to call customer support..
If you see the same error in all of your channels, it is most likely an issue with your equipment, but if it is only for a few channels or even a single channel, then contacting Xfinity would be your best bet.
But before you contact Xfinity, try everything that I suggested because it can end up fixing the issue.
You May Also Enjoy Reading
- Can you Get Apple TV on Xfinity? [2021]
- Your System Isn’t Compatible with Xfinity Stream: How to Fix [2021]
- Xfinity Moving Service: 5 Simple Steps to do it effortlessly [2021]
- How to Replace an Xfinity Comcast Modem With Your Own In Seconds [2021]
- TLV-11-Unrecognized OID Xfinity Error: How to Fix
Frequently Asked Questions
What does XRE 03121 mean on Xfinity?
XRE-03121 is an error code that tells you there is an issue with authenticating your account to give you access to certain channels.
Run a system refresh on your Xfinity cable box and if that doesn’t work, check with support and see if you have the channel included in your package.
What does XRE stand for in Comcast?
XRE stands for Xfinity Runtime Environment, which is the software that yoru Xfinity cable box runs on.
All error codes start with XRE so that customer support can roughly know what model cable box you have when you report the error.
How do I send a refresh signal to my Comcast box?
To refresh your Comcast box, go to the Help section in Settings and select System Refresh.
Go through the process and once the box restarts, the refresh has been completed.
