Is AT&T Internet Down?
Your internet outage may not be your fault
Oct 8, 2024 | Share 
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No matter what type of internet you have from AT&T, outages are a fact of life. Your mobile service or 5G home internet could go down, and in rare circumstances, even your AT&T Fiber could fail. Network failures also occur on older DSL connections.
Often, however, an internet outage is a problem at your home. And that’s good news! It means you can troubleshoot and get back online fast.
How to find out if AT&T internet is down
The first sign your internet is down is usually an error message from your browser, apps, smart TV, or smart speaker. The following steps will help you figure out whether the problem is your device, your home setup, or a widespread AT&T internet outage.
Step 1: See if you can get online with a different device
Step 2: Check the lights on your modem and router or gateway
Step 3: Restart your devices or perform a complete power cycle
Step 4: Check your AT&T app or or the AT&T outage map online
Step 5: Look for construction crews or ask your neighbors
Check your router lights to see if you’re connected
Pro tip: Find out about AT&T outages on social media
If AT&T internet is having a widespread problem, you’re probably not the only impacted customer out there. Sometimes, your fellow irate customers may be more helpful than AT&T itself. Look for info and get help at r/at&t on Reddit or find the official AT&T support team on X (formerly Twitter).
Still can’t get AT&T internet to connect? Call customer service
If you can’t get online with AT&T and can’t figure out why, reach out to customer service. You can message the company online or try calling +1-800-288-2020.
If you’re having trouble with your AT&T mobile phone instead of home internet, visit AT&T Wireless support or call +1-800-331-0500.
Learn more in our expert resource library
Sometimes fixing a problem with your internet is as easy as unplugging it and plugging it back in, but we know it’s not always that simple. Browse the following articles in our expert resource library for more help.
Customer-reported AT&T outage info
We asked real AT&T fiber customers about reliability, and we have to say, we were impressed. More than 9 in 10 customers said they were “somewhat,” “very,” or “completely” satisfied with the reliability of their service. More than half said their speeds were “rarely” or “never” significantly slower than promised.
Customers also told us about how often they experienced outages.
Results from the 2023 Customer Satisfaction Survey. Data is self-reported.
Refunds for AT&T outages
AT&T’s terms of service say it “does not guarantee performance of your service on an end-to-end basis.” In other words, it’s not legally required to give refunds in case of an internet outage.
However, AT&T does have a history of offering outage-related refunds. After a major national outage in February 2024, for example, the company volunteered to give impacted customers $5 each. If you were one of those customers, you should have gotten notification from AT&T.
If you have any other outages, it’s probably worth calling AT&T once your service is back up to see if you can get a credit on your bill.
AT&T customer feedback
We make a habit of asking people around the country what they think of their internet service providers. In our most recent customer survey, AT&T tied for second place in customer satisfaction alongside Verizon and Xfinity. All three came in just a few points behind first-place winner T-Mobile.
AT&T placed third for reliability. It came out just behind Verizon, which came out on top, and two providers that tied for second place: T-Mobile and Xfinity. Overall, AT&T got its highest scores for speed. It makes sense, because AT&T Fiber offers some of the fastest and most reliable internet out there.
| Provider | Overall satisfaction | Speed | Price | Reliability | Customer Service |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | 3.9 | 3.9 | 3.7 | 3.8 | 3.8 |
*Rating based on a five point system used in our Customer Satisfaction Survey. Higher is better.
In addition to collecting opinions about individual aspects of service, we asked survey respondents for their thoughts about AT&T internet. Here’s some of what we heard.
“I’m satisfied with the price. I don’t like that the speed doesn’t match up with the speed that was promised. I don’t like that the signal isn’t all that great in different areas of the house. But I do like that it’s been mostly reliable.”
“AT&T service is fast and reliable. I work remote and have had less than three outages in a seven-month period. I would say I do not like the installation, as a hole is drilled from the outside and I am unable to move my router. Other than that, I have no complaints.”
“I enjoyed AT&T from an internet standpoint, as I get amazing speeds of internet when playing video games and watching streams. They also have great connectivity when I have several devices connected to the same internet and no slowdown on the speeds.”
“They provide reliable services at great prices. However, for troubleshooting it is best to contact local customer service support. Do not request service from the website or corporate call center.”
Sourced from customers in all regions of the United States as part of the 2023 Customer Satisfaction Survey. We did not collect names or other personal info.
AT&T reliability data
AT&T owns networks nationwide, and it uses many different types of internet tech. Some networks are based on old-fashioned landlines, while others use high-tech fiber-optic cables from end to end. Other networks owned by AT&T use cell towers with a mix of 3G, 4G, and 5G connectivity.
What does that mean for you? To put it simply, the reliability of your AT&T internet depends on where you live. Heavily populated areas are more likely to have AT&T Fiber, while rural areas are more likely to have access to AT&T Air or DSL.
Fiber is the fastest and most reliable internet technology type AT&T offers, and its DSL is close behind when it comes to reliability. However, DSL is by far the slowest connection type, and it gets slower and slower the farther you are from your neighborhood hub. AT&T Air can be pretty fast, but it slows down if the network is congested. Even worse, AT&T Air service is deprioritized compared to AT&T wireless, which uses the same connection technology, so you could be getting decent speeds on your phone but have lethargic 5G at home.
If you’re not sure whether you’re experiencing an outage or slowdown on your AT&T connection, check your speed by clicking below.
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How AT&T internet compares
AT&T offers internet in California, Texas, and states throughout the South and Midwest. We crunched the numbers to find its biggest direct competitors across the country. Then, we made some friendly calls on which internet provider we’d favor in a broadband battle. Let’s get into it:
AT&T vs. T-Mobile 5G
T-Mobile home internet is closely matched against AT&T Air, but T-Mobile’s offering is a lot easier to get. That’s because T-Mobile 5G is available nationwide. AT&T Air is available only in areas where AT&T once had widespread DSL coverage, and it has the downside of extra fees if you exceed your monthly data allowance or 350GB. For most people, T-Mobile 5G is the right choice.
AT&T vs. Spectrum Internet
The choice between AT&T and Spectrum Internet depends on which connection types are available in your neighborhood. If you can get AT&T Fiber, we think you’ll be happy with it long-term. Lucky for you, both AT&T Fiber and Spectrum Internet are free of data caps.
If you can get only AT&T Air where you live, Spectrum’s cable internet might be the better choice. Just watch out for second-year price hikes, fees for equipment rental, and a mysterious monthly WiFi access fee on your monthly bill.
AT&T vs. Frontier
AT&T and Frontier Communications are two of a kind. Both are veteran providers, and both have a mix of DSL and fiber internet. AT&T has higher customer satisfaction scores, but Frontier has cheaper fiber internet plans. Unlike AT&T, Frontier is still selling DSL. If your choice is between Frontier DSL and AT&T Air though, we recommend AT&T Air.
AT&T vs. Verizon 5G
If Frontier and AT&T are corporate siblings, AT&T and Verizon are identical twins. Both AT&T and Verizon have mobile phone service, fixed wireless home internet (4G or 5G), DSL service, and fiber. If you can get fiber internet from either provider, go for it! If you’re stuck choosing between Verizon and AT&T for fixed wireless, go with your mobile phone provider. If you have neither, we recommend T-Mobile because it outperformed AT&T in our live testing.
AT&T vs. Xfinity
It’s a close call between Xfinity cable internet and AT&T fiber internet. If you can choose between the two and you’re not a heavy internet user, go with Xfinity because it offers cheaper plans. Just watch your data budget: If you use too much in any given month, you’ll get a warning. If you go over again the next month, you’ll be charged.
If you’re a serious gamer or content creator, or if you have a big household with multiple 4K TVs, AT&T fiber is the better choice. If you can get Xfinity cable but only AT&T Air, on the other hand, go with Xfinity.
AT&T ranks fourth for reliability nationwide
We ranked all the top national providers for reliability based on a mix of customer-reported data, speed-test data, and tech type in our 2024 annual review. AT&T came in fourth, behind Google Fiber, Ziply Fiber, and Verizon.
| Provider | Reliability rating | Order online |
|---|---|---|
| 8.7 | |
| | 8.4 | |
| 8.1 | View Plans for Xfinity |
| 7.7 | |
| 7.5 | View Plans |
| 5.9 |
Rating based on our 2024 Internet Provider Review. Providers were ranked on a scale from 0-10.
See disclaimers.
AT&T FAQs
How can I report an AT&T internet outage?
How do I know if AT&T is down in my area?
How long do AT&T internet outages last?
Disclaimers
AT&T
*Price after $5/mo Autopay & Paperless bill discount (w/in 2 bills). Plus taxes & fees. Monthly State Cost Recovery Charge in TX, OH, NV applies. Ltd. availability/areas.
T-Mobile
†w/ Auto Pay. Regulatory fees included in monthly price for qualified accounts. See full terms.
Spectrum
‡ For 12 months when bundled. Limited time offer; subject to change; valid to qualified residential customers who have not subscribed to any services within the previous 30 days and who have no outstanding obligation to Charter. Spectrum Internet® Gig promotion price is $89.99/mo; standard rates apply after yr. 1. Taxes, fees and surcharges extra and subject to change during and after the promotional period; installation/network activation, equipment and additional services are extra.
Frontier
§w/ Auto Pay & Paperless Bill. Max wired speed 500/500 Mbps. Wi-Fi, actual & average speeds vary. One-time charges apply.
Verizon
||w/ Auto Pay and select 5G mobile plans. Available in select areas. Consumer data usage is subject to the usage restrictions set forth in Verizon’s terms of service; visit: https://www.verizon.com/support/customer-agreement/ for more information about 5G Home and LTE Home Internet or https://www.verizon.com/about/terms-conditions/verizon-customer-agreement for Fios internet.
Xfinity
#No term contract. Taxes and equipment not included. (xFi getaway required). Included up to $10 mo. auto pay & paperless discount. Package not available in all cities.Pricing for some packages are for the first 12 months. Some packages require a 1- or 2-year contract.
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Author - Chili Palmer
Chili Palmer covers breaking news, satellite internet, mobile connectivity, and streaming services for HighSpeedInternet.com. Previously writing under the name Rebecca Palmer, Chili is passionate about providing accurate and accessible information any time you're trying to connect … whether you already speak geek or just got your first smartphone.
Editor - Jessica Brooksby
Jessica loves bringing her passion for the written word and her love of tech into one space at HighSpeedInternet.com. She works with the team’s writers to revise strong, user-focused content so every reader can find the tech that works for them. Jessica has a bachelor’s degree in English from Utah Valley University and seven years of creative and editorial experience. Outside of work, she spends her time gaming, reading, painting, and buying an excessive amount of Legend of Zelda merchandise.
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