DIRECTV Troubleshooting Guide

We’ve got the whack-simple steps you need to reset your receiver, refresh your signal strength, and solve other DIRECTV problems.

By Randy Harward

Jan 23, 2024 | Share

5-day free trial: Tired of cable and satellite TV but not quite sure if you wanna cut the cord? DIRECTV STREAM is a good streaming alternative for folks who want the look and feel of old-school TV without the installation requirements, equipment fees, and other headaches that come with cable. And it comes with all the same channels and pricing as traditional DIRECTV.

Is your DIRECTV service on the blink? You used to be able to fix poor TV reception with one good whack—it’s not that easy with today’s TV technology. But we’re here to help.

We’ve researched and compiled this DIRECTV troubleshooting guide so you can test the solutions to the most common DIRECTV problems—some of which are almost whack-simple. Then you can settle back into your La-Z-Boy and finish watching your sportsball game.

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Troubleshooting your DIRECTV service

A number of factors, from elemental to technical, can cause DIRECTV service problems. Fortunately, it doesn’t take much time to check, and fix, the most common ones.

Confirm a DIRECTV outage

Visit the DIRECTV outage reporting page and either sign in or enter your zip code. You’ll see a list of known outages. If your outage is on the list, DIRECTV is already working to restore service. If it’s not, you can file a report so they can get to fixin’ it.

You can also file outage reports via the myAT&T app.

Related DIRECTV service troubleshooting articles

Troubleshooting your DIRECTV devices

If you sensed that we’re about to ask, “Have you tried turning your DIRECTV receiver off and on again?”—we’re almost there. But first, you should check your cables to see if you have any loose connections.

Check your cables and connections

This one’s a snap—all you gotta do is ensure that all of your power and HDMI cables are plugged firmly into the proper ports. You should also verify that you’ve selected the correct HDMI port on your DIRECTV remote.

Ready to check your connections? Here’s a checklist to guide you.

  1. Check your TV power cable (outlet end)
  2. Check your DIRECTV Genie power cable (outlet end)
  3. Check your Genie HDMI-to-TV cable (both ends)

If you fixed a loose cable, and now have a clear picture and sound, return to your couch and resume watching TV. If you still don’t have a signal, let’s ensure you’ve selected the proper input source on your DIRECTV remote.

Press the “input” button on your remote. You should see an on-screen list of the cable connections you just checked.

Now confirm that you’ve selected the port that your DIRECTV cable is plugged into. It should be labeled “HDMI 1,” “DIRECTV,” or “satellite TV.” If not, select the correct source.

Did this fix your problem? Great. Enjoy the game.

If not, don’t worry. More quick tips are comin’ right up.