Quick answer
- Satellite dish: call 1-800-531-5000 and say you want to cancel.
- Internet service, no dish: sign in at directv.com/accounts/stream/packages and select Cancel service.
- Ask for your end date, any early termination fee and which equipment to return.
- Return leased equipment within 21 days (satellite) or 14 days (internet) to avoid non-return fees.
Service runs to the end of your billing cycle. DIRECTV doesn't refund the rest of the month unless the law requires it. A contract can mean an early termination fee of up to $480. If you signed up through Roku, Amazon Fire TV or Google Play, that company bills you and you cancel there.
| Cancel online | Yes for internet service, at directv.com/accounts/stream/packages. Satellite only in states that require it, such as NY, IL and CO |
|---|---|
| Billed through | DIRECTV directly · Roku, Amazon (Fire TV) or Google Play, if you signed up through them |
| Access after cancelling | Until the end of your billing cycle. Free trials, and cancelling within 14 days of buying with a DIRECTV device, end right away |
| Refunds | None for partial months, unless the law requires one. Full refund within 14 days of buying with a DIRECTV device |
| Cancellation fee | None without a contract. With one, $20 a month left, up to $480 |
| Retention offer | A package review for a better price, or a pause |
| Free trial | 5 days on streaming plans, for new customers without a DIRECTV device |
| Checked by a person | Not yet — treat these steps as a starting point, confirm them on the provider’s own page and check anything that costs money. |
| Sources reviewed | 2 Oct 2026 |
Fee warning
New satellite customers have a 24-month commitment. Cancelling early costs $20 for each month left, up to $480. Satellite customers who added or upgraded equipment or moved may have a new 12- or 24-month commitment. Internet customers who started before April 13, 2025 may also have one. Check the term details under Monthly Charges on your Billing and Payments page. After your service ends, return leased receivers and Gemini devices within 21 days (satellite) or 14 days (internet), or DIRECTV charges $45 to $135 per device. If you're still paying off a DIRECTV device, such as a Gemini, in installments and you cancel, DIRECTV charges you the outstanding balance under your installment agreement. You keep the device.
First, find out who bills you
DIRECTV usually bills you itself. If you signed up through Roku, Amazon Fire TV or Google Play, that company may bill you instead. Otherwise, what decides how you cancel is how the TV reaches your home: through a satellite dish or over your internet connection.
Fastest check: Look for a DIRECTV dish on your home. If there's none and you watch on a DIRECTV Gemini device, your own streaming device or the DIRECTV app, your service comes over the internet. DIRECTV's own help pages split every answer the same way.
| What you see | Who bills you | Go to |
|---|---|---|
| A DIRECTV satellite dish at your home | DIRECTV (satellite) | Cancel by phone or chat |
| No dish. You watch on a Gemini device, your own streaming device or the DIRECTV app | DIRECTV (internet service) | Cancel online (internet service, no dish) |
| A DIRECTV charge on a Google Play receipt | Google Play | Billed by Google Play |
| A DIRECTV charge from Amazon, after signing up on Fire TV | Amazon | Billed by Amazon |
| A DIRECTV charge on a Roku receipt, or DIRECTV in your Roku subscriptions | Roku | Billed by Roku |
| You started a free trial in the last 5 days | DIRECTV | Free trial |
Cancel by phone or chat
Calling works for every DIRECTV account, and it's the main way to cancel satellite service. Chat is for service over the internet.
- Have your account password ready. DIRECTV asks for it for most account changes by phone.
- Call 1-800-531-5000 (every day, 8 am to 9 pm Central Time). If your service comes over the internet, you can also select Chat now on directv.com/customer/cancel-help.
- Say: "I want to cancel my DIRECTV service. Please tell me the end date, any early termination fee and which equipment I need to return."
- Write down the date, the agent's name and any confirmation number.
Done when: The agent confirms the date your service ends. If you have leased equipment, DIRECTV emails you which pieces to return.
- DIRECTV's terms let satellite customers in states that require it, such as New York, Illinois and Colorado, cancel online at directv.com too.
- If you have a dish or a DIRECTV device, turning off Auto Bill Pay doesn't cancel your service.
Cancel online (internet service, no dish)
If DIRECTV comes over your internet connection, you can cancel in your account without calling.
- Open directv.com/accounts/stream/packages and sign in as the account owner.
- Select Cancel service.
- Follow the prompts to the end and keep the confirmation.
Done when: DIRECTV confirms that your service is cancelled. If you have leased equipment, DIRECTV emails you which pieces to return.
- Some accounts show the option as Cancel my subscription, on the Manage my TV Subscription page.
- No way to cancel online? Call 1-800-531-5000 or chat at directv.com/customer/cancel-help.
- Bought service with a DIRECTV device in the last 14 days? Cancel by 7 pm Eastern Time on day 14 for a full refund and no early termination fee, then return the equipment within 14 days of receiving it. Your service ends right away.
Billed by Google Play
If you signed up for DIRECTV through Google Play, Google Play bills you, and you cancel there.
- Open the Play Store and tap your profile icon.
- Tap Payments & subscriptions, then Subscriptions.
- Tap your DIRECTV subscription.
- Tap Cancel subscription.
Done when: Google Play shows the date the subscription ends.
- On a computer, open play.google.com/store/account/subscriptions and sign in with the Google account that paid.
- Uninstalling the DIRECTV app doesn't cancel the subscription. Google says you keep access for the time you've already paid.
Billed by Amazon
If you signed up for DIRECTV through Amazon Fire TV, Amazon bills you, and you manage the subscription in your Amazon account.
- Go to amazon.com/your-account and sign in with the Amazon account that pays for DIRECTV.
- Select Your Apps under Digital content and devices.
- Select Your Subscriptions under Manage.
- Find your DIRECTV subscription and turn off auto-renewal.
Done when: Amazon shows that your DIRECTV subscription won't renew.
- Amazon says access continues until your current subscription period ends.
Billed by Roku
If you signed up for DIRECTV through Roku, Roku bills you, and you cancel in your Roku account.
- Go to my.roku.com/subscriptions and sign in to your Roku account.
- Under Active subscriptions, select your DIRECTV subscription.
- Select Manage subscription, then Turn off auto-renew.
Done when: Roku shows that auto-renew is off for DIRECTV.
- On the Roku itself: press Home, highlight the DIRECTV app, press the Star button, select Manage subscription, then Turn off auto-renew.
- Roku says you keep access until the current billing cycle ends. It doesn't give partial-term refunds.
Pause instead of cancelling
Satellite: if your account is in good standing, you've had it for at least two months and you have no balance due, you can suspend service for 30 days to 9 months at no charge. Call 1-800-531-5000 or chat to set it up. The months left on your agreement wait for you instead of running down. Promo credits end, sports subscription installments continue, and third-party subscriptions through DIRECTV, such as Netflix or Peacock, are cancelled.
Internet service: most accounts in good standing can pause for 1, 2 or 3 months. Sign in and open your TV package page. If you're eligible, it shows a Pause my service link at the top of the Manage my TV Package page. If it doesn't, call 1-800-531-5000. The pause starts on the first day of your next billing cycle. You aren't charged and can't watch during it, and service restarts on its own when it ends.
Some accounts with special offers can't suspend, and a pause can cost you other promotions or credits, such as Video Loyalty Credits.
Free trial
DIRECTV's streaming plans start with a 5-day free trial for new customers who stream without a DIRECTV device. If you left DIRECTV in the last 12 months, or you lease a DIRECTV device, you don't get it. You need a valid card, and DIRECTV may put a temporary hold on it during the trial.
Cancel before the 5 days end to avoid the first charge. A trial cancellation takes effect right away, so you lose access the same day, and you aren't charged. After the trial, the plan renews every month until you cancel.
If you bought service with a DIRECTV device, you have 14 days from purchase to cancel for a full refund instead. Cancel by 7 pm Eastern Time on day 14 and send the equipment back within 14 days of receiving it. Your service ends as soon as you cancel.
What DIRECTV shows you before you leave
DIRECTV's cancel page first asks why you're leaving. The options for missing content, technical trouble and cost lead to a chat, and the cost option offers to review your package for a better value. The page also suggests pausing or moving your service.
To cancel, use the Personalized cancellation section further down the page. On the phone or in chat, say that you want to cancel today.
- A review of your package to find a better value: Say you've decided to cancel, and ask for your end date and final charges.
- Pause your service instead: Say you want to cancel, not pause.
What happens after you cancel
- Access: Service continues to the last day of the billing cycle in which you cancel. Cancelling a free trial ends access right away. So does cancelling within 14 days of buying service with a DIRECTV device.
- Equipment: Return leased receivers and Gemini devices with their remotes and power cords. Satellite: you have 21 days from your end date. Take the unboxed equipment and your account number to a FedEx Office Print & Ship Center, or use the return kit or label DIRECTV sends. Internet service: you have 14 days. Mail it by USPS with the label from the original box, or call 1-800-531-5000 for a label. If DIRECTV gives you a FedEx label instead, take the box to a FedEx Office Print & Ship Center. You keep the dish, mount and cables, and anything you own. If you signed up for internet service before July 27, 2023, you don't need to return the equipment included in your package price.
- Your data: You can see your bills and purchases for up to a year with your existing sign-in. Satellite recordings are erased. On internet service you lose access to your recordings, and DIRECTV says they come back if you resubscribe before they expire after 9 months.
- Add-ons: Your TV package, add-ons and the streaming services that come through DIRECTV end with it. Subscriptions you pay to those apps yourself aren't part of DIRECTV and continue.
- Rejoining: Sign in with your old DIRECTV user ID and follow the prompts, or call 1-800-531-5000. For satellite, go to directv.com/accounts/reconnect or call 1-855-792-2547 (Monday to Friday, 11 am to 8 pm, and Saturday, 9 am to 6 pm Central Time). DIRECTV says your price may be higher when you restart.
How to check it worked
- Keep the date, the agent's name and the confirmation number, or a screenshot of the online confirmation.
- Watch for DIRECTV's email about equipment to return, and keep the receipt or tracking number when you drop it off or mail it.
- Compare your final bill with what you were told: service to the end of your billing cycle, plus any early termination fee or remaining device installments.
- After your next billing date, check your card or bank statement for a new DIRECTV charge.
Getting a refund
- Billed by DIRECTV: No prorated credit or refund for a partial billing period or for shows you didn't watch, unless the law requires it. When you cancel, DIRECTV reviews your account and refunds overpayments that aren't regular service charges.
- First 14 days: Internet service bought with a DIRECTV device: cancel within 14 days of purchase and return the equipment for a full refund. Satellite: cancelling before installation avoids the early termination fee, and DIRECTV refunds the cost of service where it applies.
- Prepaid months: Services sold in blocks of whole months are credited for the full months you haven't used. Seasonal sports subscriptions aren't credited once the season starts.
- Charged after you cancelled: Contact DIRECTV at 1-800-531-5000 or through directv.com/customer-service, and have your confirmation details ready.
- Billed by Google Play: Within 48 hours of a purchase, you may be able to request a refund on Google Play. After that, Google says to contact the developer, DIRECTV.
Refund rules differ by country and by provider.
Questions people ask
Can I cancel DIRECTV satellite online?
Usually not. DIRECTV's terms send satellite customers to the phone, 1-800-531-5000. In states that require online cancellation, such as New York, Illinois and Colorado, you can also cancel at directv.com. Cancelling in your online account is for service over the internet.
How much is the early termination fee?
$20 for each month left on your commitment, up to $480 for a 24-month term. Existing satellite customers who added or upgraded leased equipment pay $10 for each month left on that commitment. Dropping below the minimum package during a commitment also triggers the fee. New streaming customers have no contract. If you started internet service before April 13, 2025, check the term details under Monthly Charges on your Billing and Payments page.
What equipment do I have to send back?
Leased receivers and Gemini devices, with their remotes and power cords. DIRECTV's lease agreement lists non-return fees per device: $45 for a basic receiver or Genie Mini, $120 for a Gemini or Gemini Air, and $135 for a DVR. You keep the dish and outdoor equipment.
Will I get money back for the rest of the month?
Usually not. Service runs to the end of your billing cycle, and DIRECTV doesn't prorate unless the law requires it. If you bought service with a DIRECTV device less than 14 days ago, cancel by 7 pm Eastern Time on day 14 and return the equipment for a full refund. Services sold in blocks of whole months are credited for the full months you haven't used.
Does turning off Auto Bill Pay or deleting the app cancel DIRECTV?
Deleting the app doesn't. DIRECTV renews your service every month until you cancel it by phone, chat or online, or with Roku, Amazon or Google Play if they bill you. If you have a dish or a DIRECTV device, turning off Auto Bill Pay doesn't cancel it either.
Will HBO Max, Netflix or other apps I get through DIRECTV stop?
Yes. Add-ons and streaming services that come with your DIRECTV package end when you cancel. Subscriptions you pay to those apps yourself aren't affected.
Can I still watch anything for free after cancelling?
Yes. MyFree DIRECTV is a free, ad-supported lineup in the DIRECTV app and on owned Gemini devices, with no card needed. Sign in with your old DIRECTV user ID and select Start Watching.
About this guide
Sources
Reviewed 2 Oct 2026.
- Cancel your DIRECTV service directv.com
- What happens after I cancel my DIRECTV service? directv.com
- Return or recycle your DIRECTV equipment directv.com
- Pause or suspend your DIRECTV account directv.com
- DIRECTV Residential Terms of Service directv.com
- DIRECTV Equipment Lease Agreement directv.com
- DIRECTV Fee Schedule directv.com
- DIRECTV STREAM Cancellation Policy directv.com
- DIRECTV Customer Service directv.com
- DIRECTV Streaming TV Plans directv.com
- How to sign up and watch MyFree DIRECTV directv.com
- Update Payment Method for DIRECTV directv.com
- Manage or cancel subscriptions on Roku support.roku.com
- Manage Your App Store Subscriptions from the Website amazon.com
- Cancel, pause, or change a subscription on Google Play support.google.com
- Apps, games, & in-app purchases (including subscriptions) refund policies support.google.com
- Category
- Entertainment
- Usually billed through
- The provider’s own website or account.
A guide is marked as checked only once a person has gone through it. Service names are trademarks of their owners. Aurabill is not affiliated with, sponsored or endorsed by them.
