DirecTV isn’t perfect and large-scale outages can occur with its TV services, leaving you wondering ‘is DirecTV down?’ Sometimes, though, the problem isn’t with them; it’s with your devices or connections. This article explains how to:

  • Check for large-scale outages across DirecTV’s network.Troubleshoot common internet and television problems on your end.

How to Tell if DirecTV is Down

Not sure whether it’s DirecTV with the problem or not? Here are a couple of quick ways to check.

  • Check your account for information. AT&T is DirecTV’s parent company so it tracks problems for the television provider, too. Sign in and see if there are any reports you should know about. You can also sign up for text alerts here, which can give you up-to-date information for future outages.
  • Search Twitter for #ATTdown. Tweet timestamps will tell you if other people are experiencing problems with AT&T like you are. While you’re on Twitter, check AT&T’s Help Twitter page to see if it’s offering any information about DirecTV.
  • Use a third-party “status checker” website like Downdetector, Downhunter, or IsTheServiceDown. These sites offer fast information about outages reported by customers and include coverage maps and other information to show you exactly where problems are occurring.
  • IsTheServiceDown.com

What to Do When You Can’t Get Connected to DirecTV

If no one else seems to be reporting an outage, it’s a good bet the problem lies on your side of things. Try these troubleshooting tips to see if you can get things running again.

Check your account for information. AT&T is DirecTV’s parent company so it tracks problems for the television provider, too. Sign in and see if there are any reports you should know about. You can also sign up for text alerts here, which can give you up-to-date information for future outages.

Search Twitter for #ATTdown. Tweet timestamps will tell you if other people are experiencing problems with AT&T like you are. While you’re on Twitter, check AT&T’s Help Twitter page to see if it’s offering any information about DirecTV.

Use a third-party “status checker” website like Downdetector, Downhunter, or IsTheServiceDown. These sites offer fast information about outages reported by customers and include coverage maps and other information to show you exactly where problems are occurring.

  • Log in and check your DirecTV account status. Confirm your account is in a paid status and that no services are being blocked.
  • Check carefully for:
  • Error messages from your TV or another device you’re trying to access DirecTV on. There might be a simple adjustment you can make to correct the error.
  • Loose connections. Indicator lights can tell you if the cable box is actually plugged in and turned on; if you don’t see those, it could be a wiring or cable issue causing the problem.
  • Input issues. If you’ve recently used your TV for gaming or to play a DVD, it could just be that you need to change the Input back to TV.
  • A poor HDMI connection.
  • Bad Wi-Fi connections.
  • Home electrical connections or electrical service interruptions in your area.
  • Check internet connection problems on your side. You can also check your internet speed if that seems to be part of the problem.
  • Check to see if your universal remote could be causing a problem.
  • Try rebooting your cable box. If it’s properly plugged in and indicator lights show it’s turned on, then check the cable modem. The problem could be in the phone connected to it. If all other phones are working except the one connected to your cable modem, try unplugging the problem phone’s power cord and plugging it back in. Then:
  • Confirm that other electrical devices aren’t interfering with the modem: Is it located too close to computers, monitors, appliances or other electrical devices?
  • Try rebooting your modem.
  • If you’ve tried all these things and your service still isn’t working properly, try talking with others about DirecTV installation, DVR & receiver, or app problems in the AT&T Community Forums.
  • Still having trouble? It’s time to contact DirecTV customer service or try a chat with its tech support team.

Log in and check your DirecTV account status. Confirm your account is in a paid status and that no services are being blocked.

 Check carefully for:

  • Error messages from your TV or another device you’re trying to access DirecTV on. There might be a simple adjustment you can make to correct the error.
  • Loose connections. Indicator lights can tell you if the cable box is actually plugged in and turned on; if you don’t see those, it could be a wiring or cable issue causing the problem.
  • Input issues. If you’ve recently used your TV for gaming or to play a DVD, it could just be that you need to change the Input back to TV.
  • A poor HDMI connection.
  • Bad Wi-Fi connections.
  • Home electrical connections or electrical service interruptions in your area.

Check internet connection problems on your side. You can also check your internet speed if that seems to be part of the problem.

Check to see if your universal remote could be causing a problem.

Try rebooting your cable box. If it’s properly plugged in and indicator lights show it’s turned on, then check the cable modem. The problem could be in the phone connected to it. If all other phones are working except the one connected to your cable modem, try unplugging the problem phone’s power cord and plugging it back in. Then:

  • Confirm that other electrical devices aren’t interfering with the modem: Is it located too close to computers, monitors, appliances or other electrical devices?
  • Try rebooting your modem.

If you’ve tried all these things and your service still isn’t working properly, try talking with others about DirecTV installation, DVR & receiver, or app problems in the AT&T Community Forums.

Still having trouble? It’s time to contact DirecTV customer service or try a chat with its tech support team.

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