How to Cancel AT&T DirecTV Stream Service

Quick Summary

Call 800-531-5000 to cancel (8 AM - midnight ET)
Two very different products with very different cancellation costs:
- DirecTV via Internet (your own Roku/Fire Stick): No contract, no ETF. Cancel anytime.
- DirecTV streaming (DirecTV device + 2-year contract): ETF up to $480, prorated at $20/month remaining
Return the DirecTV device via USPS within 14 days or pay a $120 non-return fee
No prorated billing - you pay through the end of your cycle
14-day grace period on new accounts - full refund if you cancel within 14 days of purchase
In New York and California, you can cancel online. Everyone else has to call.

How to Cancel

Phone

Call 800-531-5000, available 8 AM to midnight ET. This is the primary cancellation method and the only option for most states.

You’ll get routed to retention. They will pitch you. If you’ve already decided, don’t engage with the offers - just stay firm and ask them to process the cancellation.

Before you hang up: get a confirmation number, ask for email verification, and confirm your final bill amount and equipment return deadline.

Tip: Have your account number and billing cycle date ready. Know which product you’re on - “DirecTV via Internet” (no contract) or “DirecTV streaming” (2-year contract with device). If you’re on a contract, calculate your remaining months so you know your ETF before the agent tells you. Knowledge is leverage.

Online

Only available if you’re in New York or California (state consumer protection laws require a self-service option). Everyone else has to call.

Sign in at directv.com
Go to Manage my TV Subscription
Select Cancel
Follow the prompts

If you have AT&T Fiber or Internet bundled with your DirecTV Stream, that’s a separate cancellation. Handle it at att.com/support/how-to/cancel.

What It Costs

Early Termination Fee

This is where it gets confusing, because AT&T sells two different products under the DirecTV Stream name.

Product	Device	Contract	ETF
DirecTV via Internet	Your own (Roku, Fire Stick, Apple TV)	None	$0
DirecTV streaming	DirecTV device (provided)	2 years	Up to $480

The ETF on the device contract is $20 per month remaining. On a fresh 24-month contract, that’s $480. At month 12, it’s $240. The math is simple - just multiply $20 by however many months you have left.

Important: If you signed up and received a DirecTV streaming device, you’re almost certainly on the 2-year contract whether you remember agreeing to it or not. Check your agreement before calling. The difference between the two products is the difference between $0 and $480.

14-Day Grace Period

New subscribers get a full refund if they cancel within 14 days of purchase. This applies to both product types. If you’re within that window, cancel now and skip the rest of this article.

Billing

DirecTV Stream doesn’t prorate. Cancel mid-cycle and you still pay the full month. Your service continues through the end of the billing period, so at least you get to use what you paid for. Time your cancellation accordingly.

Equipment Return

What You Return

Only the DirecTV streaming device (the one they shipped you). If you’re on “DirecTV via Internet” using your own Roku or Fire Stick, there’s nothing to return.

How to Return It

DirecTV sends a prepaid USPS return label after you cancel. Package the device and drop it at any USPS location.

Deadline

14 days from cancellation.

Non-Return Fee

Equipment	Fee
DirecTV streaming device	$120

Important: Ship the device back as soon as you get the return label. 14 days is tight, and USPS transit time counts against you. Photograph the device, note the serial number, and keep your shipping receipt until the final bill comes clean.

After You Cancel

Final bill includes your monthly charge through the end of the billing cycle, any applicable ETF, and the $120 equipment fee if you didn’t return the device. No surprises if you handled everything on time.

Confirmation should arrive by email within 24-48 hours. If it doesn’t show up, call back at 800-531-5000 and get it documented.

Reactivation is available anytime, but don’t expect new-customer pricing if you rejoin within 30 days.

Common Problems

Problem	Solution
Can’t cancel online	You’re outside NY/CA. Phone is your only option - call 800-531-5000
Don’t know which product you have	If you received a DirecTV device, you’re on “DirecTV streaming” with a contract. If you use your own Roku/Fire Stick, you’re on “DirecTV via Internet” with no contract
Retention pressure	Stay firm. Say you’ve already switched to another service. Don’t engage with counter-offers
No return label received	Call back and request one. Don’t wait - the 14-day clock is already ticking
Equipment fee after returning device	Call with your USPS tracking number and receipt. Escalate to a supervisor if needed
Bundled AT&T internet service	DirecTV Stream and AT&T Internet are separate cancellations. Handle internet at att.com/support/how-to/cancel
Charged full month after canceling	DirecTV Stream doesn’t prorate. Nothing to dispute - time it better next time