What are the ABCD buttons on an Xfinity remote used for?

In the age of streaming services, many still rely on Xfinity as their source of entertainment and media. Offering a variety of services, including live TV, it’s just one of many brands you may not know that Comcast owns. Naturally, Xfinity provides users with a remote control to navigate the devices, and aside from the typical control buttons you’d expect, there are also four additional buttons labeled ABCD.

Available on select Xfinity remotes, ABCD buttons coordinate with specific quick settings and information access, and make small cleaning tasks easier. Although most of the buttons are relatively simple, two of them offer a bit more options.

Depending on which Xfinity remote you have, you may have four buttons lined up or placed in the corners of your directional control pad. If you want to check which remote you have, you can find the model number printed on the bottom of the remote or inside the battery compartment. You can also visit this Xfinity support page to see all of the company’s available remotes.

Looking at what each button does, the A (triangle) button leads to the Xfinity Help menu on your TV, while the B (square) button is a shortcut to the Accessibility settings. When watching live sports, the C (circle) button lets you view live scores, or you can use it to open the X1 Sports app when watching TV in full screen. Finally, the D (diamond) button deletes DVR recordings in a specific folder. On non-X1 TVs, the D button activates audio descriptions rather than removing content.

If you need, we can also show you how to program an Xfinity remote without using codes. Additionally, if you have an XR15 voice remote that does not have a setup button but has number buttons, the A and D buttons can help you factory reset your remote. Simply press the A and D buttons simultaneously, wait for the light at the top of the device to change from red to green, then press 9-8-1. The remote will flash three times if successful.

Now that we’ve explored the function of each button, let’s return to buttons B and D. Pressing button B once opens the Accessibility Settings menu or navigates to a certain accessibility page when double-tapped. Voice guidance will be the default option, but it can also be changed to open different settings, such as audio descriptions and closed captions.

Here are the steps:

1. Press the B button or hold the Microphone button on your remote and say “accessibility settings.” Either takes you to the Accessibility menu.

2. Using the down arrow, select Remote Shortcut, then press OK on your remote.

3. Using the up and down arrow buttons, choose a function for the accessibility shortcut by pressing OK.

Once edited, you will be able to press the B button twice to access your chosen accessibility shortcut.

As for the D button, let’s see how it can help you delete recordings from your Xfinity TV.

Follow these steps to delete a recording:

1. Go to the Registered tab in the Xfinity main menu.

2. Select Recordings.

3. Highlight a TV show or folder, then press the D button to delete the recording.

4. Confirm your decision by selecting Remove now and clicking OK.

Now you know how to use these buttons on your Xfinity remote, but remember to take care of them and clean your TV remote from time to time.