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. If you have already decided, keep the call focused on processing the cancellation.
Before you hang up: get a confirmation number, ask for email verification, and confirm your final bill amount and equipment return deadline.
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.
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 |
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 | If you are outside New York or California, call 800-531-5000. |
| Don’t know which product you have | If you received a DirecTV device, you are likely on “DirecTV streaming” with a contract. If you use your own Roku or Fire Stick, you are likely on “DirecTV via Internet” with no contract. |
| Retention pressure | Keep the call focused on cancellation and ask for the confirmation number, final bill amount, and return deadline. |
| No return label received | Call back and request one before the 14-day deadline gets close. |
| Equipment fee after returning device | Call with your USPS tracking number and receipt. |
| 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 does not prorate. Check the billing-cycle end date before choosing a cancellation date. |
Final Checklist
- Identify whether you have DirecTV via Internet or DirecTV streaming with the DirecTV device
- Call 800-531-5000, or cancel online if you are in New York or California
- Confirm ETF amount, final billing cycle, and 14-day grace-period eligibility
- Get a confirmation number, email verification, and equipment return deadline
- Return any DirecTV streaming device within 14 days using the prepaid USPS label
- Keep return tracking, device photos, confirmation, and final bill
- Handle bundled AT&T internet as a separate cancellation if needed