After I updated my Mac Studio, I had no Internet. I have a hard-wired Ethernet connection to my Xfinity Xfi Gateway, Instead, I got this strange Web page:

Of course, as usual, the Xfinity advice was totally wrong since there is no Xfi App. It has been retired in favor of the plain Xfinity app. It is impossible to use Xfinity internet without a cell phone!

I called Xfinity for support, and as usual, they required me to reboot the Gateway, and refused to talk to me again until 10 minutes had passed, even though the reboot had finished. Their new mode of support is via text messages, which I hate because I have trouble texting. Xfinity claimed that they had reset something, and all would be well in a few hours.  I also complained and got a $50 credit, so be sure to ask for one. That was last night.

This morning, nothing had changed. The URL of the above image said "captiveportal" This is the mode you get into when you log onto a new network, and before signing in. But this was my network. And Internet worked perfectly on all my other devices.

I called Comcast again. After another useless Gateway reset and 10-minuite delay, the following ensued:

YESTERDAY

Conversation with 78125

[9/26/23 18:35] 78125: Comcast Care Chat: Reply 'Y' when you are ready to chat with one of our specialists. This session will expire in 5 minutes if we don't receive a valid response.

[9/26/23 18:36] Me: Y

[9/26/23 18:36] 78125: Comcast Care Chat: We are now connecting you with a specialist. Reply STOP to cancel or HELP. 

[9/26/23 18:37] Me: Help

[9/26/23 18:37] 78125: Comcast Care Chat: If you need more help or have questions, our Xfinity Assistant is available 24/7/365. Chat with a live agent at https://t.cmp.xfinity.com/IVR

[9/26/23 18:37] 78125: Comcast Care Chat: Hello, thank you for contacting Xfinity. My name is Naginder. How may I help you today?

[9/26/23 18:38] Me: Updated Mac. It now says this device is paused  

[9/26/23 18:38] Me: And to open Open xfinity Xfi app

[9/26/23 18:39] Me: There is no such app

[9/26/23 18:39] 78125: Comcast Care Chat: Please go for Xfinity my account app.

[9/26/23 18:40] Me: I have an xfinity app

[9/26/23 18:40] Me: Nothing there

[9/26/23 18:42] 78125: Comcast Care Chat: I have send update signals to your modem and will start working within 2 hours.

[9/26/23 18:42] Me: Why did this happen

[9/26/23 18:42] Me: says unable to access account details but i am logged in

[9/26/23 18:42] Me: and to use xfinity app

[9/26/23 18:43] Me: I depend on this for my work

[9/26/23 18:43] 78125: Comcast Care Chat: It happened due to some technical errors which were need to be fixed and be assured I did that for you.

[9/26/23 18:44] Me: updating my Mac should not do that

[9/26/23 18:44] Me: +

[9/26/23 18:44] 78125: Comcast Care Chat: Please make sure the modem is connected to coax for upcoming 2 hours.

[9/26/23 18:44] Me: +it is

[9/26/23 18:44] Me: but 2 hgours is too long

[9/26/23 18:44] Me: give me a credit

[9/26/23 18:45] 78125: Comcast Care Chat: No worries I will put you in priority list so it will be solved in 30 to 50 minutes.

[9/26/23 18:45] Me: thanks

[9/26/23 18:45] Me: this is why people hate xfinity

[9/26/23 18:45] 78125: Comcast Care Chat: Tha t is why I have put you in priority list. No worries let me put credits too. I will be very happy to do that.

[9/26/23 18:46] Me: thanks

[9/26/23 18:46] Me: and it is now impossible to use xfinity without a cell phone!

[9/26/23 18:46] 78125: Comcast Care Chat: Please do not worry I will give you good credit amount and will also put you in priority.

[9/26/23 18:46] Me: cannot set port forwarding except with the app

[9/26/23 18:46] Me: this is a BIG step backwards

[9/26/23 18:47] Me: no one seems to care

[9/26/23 18:48] Me: THANKS

[9/26/23 18:49] 78125: Comcast Care Chat: Thanks for bringing this to my attention. Let me update this to our dedicated team so that they will bring this feature in future

[9/26/23 18:51] 78125: Comcast Care Chat: I am going to give credit of $50 for the services interruptions.

[9/26/23 18:51] Me: Thanks.

[9/26/23 18:51] 78125: Comcast Care Chat: i think it will be good for 2 hours interruption. Right?

[9/26/23 18:52] Me: They actually took away this feature from the! Modem

[9/26/23 18:52] Me: Put it back

[9/26/23 18:53] 78125: Comcast Care Chat: And now they will add it as it is demand of our valuable customers like you.

[9/26/23 18:53] 78125: Comcast Care Chat: I will definitely take care of this issue personally.

[9/26/23 18:54] Me: It is so much easier to do things on computer than a phone

[9/26/23 18:54] 78125: Comcast Care Chat:  have also added $50  for the interruption  and will be adjusted to your account in the net month bill.

[9/26/23 18:54] Me: Thanks again

[9/26/23 18:54] Me: Bye

[9/26/23 18:55] 78125: Comcast Care Chat: Even I like to use computer I totally agree on you.

[9/26/23 18:55] Me: I have a blog about this

[9/26/23 18:55] 78125: Comcast Care Chat: Sure, I was happy to help you.

[9/26/23 18:56] 78125: Comcast Care Chat: May I know how was your experience with my assistance  today?

[9/26/23 18:56] Me: Jamesrome.net/xfigateway

[9/26/23 18:56] Me: Excellent

[9/26/23 18:56] Me: Bye

[9/26/23 18:57] 78125: Comcast Care Chat: I really appreciate your time an efforts over the chat

[9/26/23 18:58] 78125: Comcast Care Chat: It is pleasure to chat with customer like you. You have shown utmost cooperation and it is heart warming.

[9/26/23 18:58] Me: 😃

[9/26/23 18:58] Me: Ditto

[9/26/23 18:58] 78125: Comcast Care Chat: Once the chat is over your will get the page where I would appreciate your feedback for the assistance and experience I have provided during the chat. I hope you have an amazing day ahead. ❤️

[9/26/23 18:59] 78125: Comcast Care Chat: Thanks I will really appreciate you.

[9/26/23 19:00] Me: It just died again

[9/26/23 19:01] Me: Now back. Network changed

[9/26/23 19:04] Me: 61 Mbps down (I have 1.4  download service)

[9/26/23 19:08] Me: Dead again

TODAY

[9/27/23 09:38] 78125: Comcast Care Chat: Reply 'Y' when you are ready to chat with one of our specialists. This session will expire in 5 minutes if we don't receive a valid response.

[9/27/23 09:38] Me: Y

[9/27/23 09:38] 78125: Comcast Care Chat: We are now connecting you with a specialist. Reply STOP to cancel or HELP. 

[9/27/23 09:39] Me: Help

[9/27/23 09:39] 78125: Comcast Care Chat: If you need more help or have questions, our Xfinity Assistant is available 24/7/365. Chat with a live agent at https://t.cmp.xfinity.com/IVR

[9/27/23 09:39] 78125: Comcast Care Chat: Hello, thank you for contacting Xfinity. My name is Suraj. How may I help you today?

[9/27/23 09:40] Me: Since updating Mac to Sonoma, Internet on my device is paused

[9/27/23 09:40] 78125: Comcast Care Chat: A Wonderful day! Thank you so much choosing Xfinity! I am your Xfinity Ambassador for today. It will be great pleasure to assist you today. Kindly tell me more about your concern, and let's start working on it.

[9/27/23 09:41] Me: Called last night.  still dead

[9/27/23 09:41] Me: Cam access gateway

[9/27/23 09:41] Me: Says open xfi app. That is discontinued

[9/27/23 09:42] Me: Can you please access gateway

[9/27/23 09:42] 78125: Comcast Care Chat: Just to be on the same page you are unable to access the wifi correct?

[9/27/23 09:42] 78125: Comcast Care Chat: Sure let me check it for you.

[9/27/23 09:42] Me: Says device paused

[9/27/23 09:43] Me: Modem was rebooted

[9/27/23 09:45] 78125: Comcast Care Chat: I am refreshing the signals for you.

[9/27/23 09:45] Me: They did that yesterday I think

[9/27/23 09:46] Me: It is just my Mac that is paused

[9/27/23 09:47] Me: How to unpause it

[9/27/23 09:47] 78125: Comcast Care Chat: I see, thank you for specifying it.

[9/27/23 09:48] Me: Parental control is of on gateway

[9/27/23 09:49] Me: Nothing on xfinity app that I see

[9/27/23 09:49] 78125: Comcast Care Chat: Thank you for the information.

[9/27/23 09:50] 78125: Comcast Care Chat: I am checking it for you.

[9/27/23 09:50] 78125: Comcast Care Chat: Just to confirm your internet is working fine on other devices correct?

[9/27/23 09:50] Me: Yes

[9/27/23 09:51] 78125: Comcast Care Chat: Thank you for confirming.

[9/27/23 09:51] Me: Changed when I updated to sonoma

[9/27/23 09:52] 78125: Comcast Care Chat: Okay got it .

[9/27/23 09:52] Me: Get xfi message that device is paused

[9/27/23 09:53] 78125: Comcast Care Chat: Thank you for the information let me help you with it.

[9/27/23 09:54] Me: You need to update error messages

[9/27/23 09:55] 78125: Comcast Care Chat: Please follow the step to un pause it

[9/27/23 09:56] Me: What step

[9/27/23 09:56] 78125: Comcast Care Chat: Select the person from the Connected to your WiFi section on the WiFi tab. Select Unpause all devices. You can also select Unpause all devices directly from WiFi. If the person is paused under a downtime schedule, you can choose to Wake up all devices directly from the WiFi tab.

[9/27/23 09:56] Me: I am on ethernet

[9/27/23 09:57] Me: Where do I do that

[9/27/23 09:57] 78125: Comcast Care Chat: I see, thank you for specifying that.

[9/27/23 09:58] 78125: Comcast Care Chat: However you will be able to see the connected devices with network.

[9/27/23 09:59] 78125: Comcast Care Chat: Please once restart your device as well.

[9/27/23 10:00] 78125: Comcast Care Chat: I mean the PC or laptop that is not connecting.

[9/27/23 10:00] Me: Now it is going on and off

[9/27/23 10:00] 78125: Comcast Care Chat: Got it! Thank you for the update.

[9/27/23 10:00] Me: Restarted 4 tines

[9/27/23 10:01] Me: Dead Again

[9/27/23 10:01] 78125: Comcast Care Chat: I see, thank you for letting me know that I really appreciate your efforts.

[9/27/23 10:02] Me: The gateway is stopping Me

[9/27/23 10:04] Me: How do I unpause it on xfinity app

[9/27/23 10:05] 78125: Comcast Care Chat: Please go to the devices tab and then check the connected devices.

[9/27/23 10:05] 78125: Comcast Care Chat: You will see your connected devices and click on the one you want to unpause.

[9/27/23 10:07] Me: Not paused

[9/27/23 10:08] 78125: Comcast Care Chat: I see, and you are still unable to access the internet on your Laptop/PC correct?

[9/27/23 10:09] Me: Yes. Mac studio

[9/27/23 10:10] Me: Started when I upgraded is to Sonoma

[9/27/23 10:10] 78125: Comcast Care Chat: Thank you for letting me know that.

[9/27/23 10:11] 78125: Comcast Care Chat: i am checking it with my team now so I can help you with it appropriately.

[9/27/23 10:15] Me: have other mac users seen this after Sonoma upgrade

[9/27/23 10:16] 78125: Comcast Care Chat: Please try now and check if you are able to connect now.

[9/27/23 10:17] 78125: Comcast Care Chat: I see, thank you for letting me know that, if it still does not work I will escalate it to the advanced team so that we can fix it for you as soon as possible.

[9/27/23 10:18] Me: no

[9/27/23 10:18] Me: 
This device is paused.

To resume access to the Internet on your home network, open the 'Xfinity xFi ' app

[9/27/23 10:18] Me: have to tether on my phone

[9/27/23 10:18] 78125: Comcast Care Chat: Thank you for specifying it,

[9/27/23 10:18] Me: http://edge-http.microsoft.com/captiveportal/generate_204

[9/27/23 10:19] Me: is casptiveportal a clue

[9/27/23 10:20] Me: A captive portal is a web page accessed with a web browser that is displayed to newly connected users of a Wi-Fi or wired network before they are granted broader access to network resources. Captive portals are commonly used to present a landing or log-in page which may require authentication

[9/27/23 10:20] 78125: Comcast Care Chat: No, as you are getting that error you should be able to unpause it using the Xfinity App.

[9/27/23 10:21] Me: but app says not paused

[9/27/23 10:21] Me: and everything says to use xfi app which does not exist. so frustrating

[9/27/23 10:22] 78125: Comcast Care Chat: Yes that is why I need to escalate it to our advanced team so we can check it further and fix it for you.

[9/27/23 10:23] Me: escalate it

[9/27/23 10:23] Me: troubleshooting on app says it is ok

[9/27/23 10:24] 78125: Comcast Care Chat: Thank you for letting me know that I will add the notes on the account for the same.

[9/27/23 10:25] Me: hmm. I paused it and unpaused it, and it is working I hope

[9/27/23 10:26] 78125: Comcast Care Chat: If you are able to unpause it now I am glad.

[9/27/23 10:28] Me: so, for others with this issue, tell them to pause and unpause the device

[9/27/23 10:28] Me: but it should not have happened, so it is a comcast bug

[9/27/23 10:28] 78125: Comcast Care Chat: Awesome! That's great :)

[9/27/23 10:29] Me: please report it

[9/27/23 10:29] Me: I wasted 4 hours on this!

[9/27/23 10:29] Me: bye

But this is Apple's fault too. Something in the Sonoma update triggered this.