How to cancel internet service
Most providers make you call to cancel, and most will offer you a better price first. Set up your new service, then cancel with a date, and return the equipment.
Set up the new service first. Then call your provider, ask to cancel, and give an end date. Most current plans have no contract, so there's no cancellation fee. Return rented equipment by the deadline and keep the receipt.
How to cancel, by provider
| Provider | How to cancel |
|---|---|
| Xfinity | Call 1-800-934-6489, schedule a call at xfinity.com/cancel, or visit an Xfinity Store |
| Spectrum | Sign in at spectrum.net to see your cancellation options, then call or visit a Spectrum Store |
| AT&T | Call 800-288-2020 for home internet; AT&T's cancel page also lists its loyalty team at 800-331-0500 |
| Verizon Fios and 5G Home | My Verizon: Account settings and profile, select Disconnect, then type "disconnect" in the chat |
| T-Mobile Home Internet | Call 1-800-866-2453, or 611 from a T-Mobile phone |
| Frontier | Call 1-800-921-8101 |
| Astound | Call 800-427-8686 (24 hours a day) |
| Google Fiber (gFiber) | Cancel in your gFiber account online |
| Starlink | Cancel in your Starlink account online |
Phone numbers and steps checked against provider pages on October 12, 2026. Providers change them; the number on your bill is always current. Step-by-step guides: cancel Xfinity, cancel Spectrum, cancel AT&T, cancel Verizon, cancel T-Mobile, cancel Cox, cancel Frontier, cancel Optimum.
Before you call
- Book the new service. Schedule it to start before the old one ends. Check what reaches your address.
- Check for a contract. Most current plans are month to month. Older plans, bundles and some promotions have fees.
- Note your account number and PIN. Only the account holder can cancel.
- Move phone lines first. If you have the provider's mobile service, port your number to the new carrier before you cancel internet.
What to say
Say "cancel service" at the first prompt. When the retention agent makes an offer, decide whether a lower price would keep you. If it would, ask for the price, how long it lasts and the regular price after, in writing. If not, say you'd like to go ahead and confirm the end date. Our guide to negotiating your internet price has more.
Return the equipment
Most providers give you two to three weeks and a prepaid label or a store drop-off. Get a receipt with the tracking number. Unreturned gateways are often billed at $75 to $150 or more. If you bought your own modem, keep it; see stop renting your modem.
Check the final bill
Look for a prorated final bill, an equipment charge or a fee you didn't expect. Dispute mistakes quickly, with the confirmation number from your cancellation call.
Provider-by-provider details
Xfinity
Xfinity cancels internet, TV and home phone by phone, through a scheduled callback from its cancel page, or in an Xfinity Store. Chat will not disconnect service. Charges are prorated to the disconnect day. Return the gateway, TV boxes, remotes and cords at an Xfinity Store or The UPS Store and keep the receipt. If you have Xfinity Mobile, port those numbers to your new carrier before cancelling internet, because Xfinity Mobile requires Xfinity Internet.
Want to stay but pay less? See how to reach a person at Xfinity and the 2026 Xfinity price increase.
Spectrum
Spectrum has no online cancellation; call customer service or visit a Spectrum store. Residential plans have no contracts, so there is no early termination fee. Spectrum Mobile requires Spectrum Internet, so port or cancel mobile lines first. Return equipment at a Spectrum store or by the method Spectrum gives on the call.
AT&T
Call 800-288-2020 and say "cancel service". AT&T Fiber has no annual contract; some older DSL and U-verse plans can have a fee. Return the gateway within 21 days using the prepaid UPS label. Details: AT&T customer service.
Verizon Fios and 5G Home
Start from the manage service section of your Verizon account, or call Verizon. Fios plans sold with a price lock are month to month. If your Verizon phone lines get a discount for having home internet, the discount ends when home internet does.
T-Mobile Home Internet
Call 1-800-866-2453, or 611 from a T-Mobile phone, and say you want to cancel Home Internet; it is handled separately from phone lines. There is no annual contract. T-Mobile sends a prepaid label for the gateway. If you got a Home Internet discount on your phone plan, it ends too.
Frontier
Call 1-800-921-8101. Confirm the end date and how to return the router. See Frontier customer service.
Starlink
Starlink cancels in your account online. If you bought the kit, it is yours to keep or sell; check Starlink's terms if you got the kit free or financed. See our Starlink review.
Cancelling because you're moving
If your provider serves the new address, a transfer is often easier than cancelling and can keep your price. If it doesn't, cancel with the move-out date and schedule the new provider for move-in day. Our moving checklist covers timing.
Cancelling after a death or for someone else
Providers usually need the account holder, or someone authorized on the account, to cancel. For a deceased account holder, providers generally ask for a copy of the death certificate and the executor's or family member's contact details. Call and ask for the bereavement or estate team, and ask that final charges after the date of death be waived.
Common cancellation mistakes
- Cancelling before the new service is installed, and being offline for days.
- Losing a phone number by cancelling bundled mobile lines before porting them.
- Leaving AutoPay on after the final bill.
- Returning equipment without a tracked receipt.
- Not getting a cancellation confirmation number.
Cancellation timeline
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| 2 to 3 weeks before | Compare providers and book the new installation |
| 1 week before | Port any mobile lines; back up provider email |
| Cancellation call | Get an end date and a confirmation number |
| After service ends | Return equipment with a tracked receipt; turn off AutoPay |
| Next bill | Check the final bill and dispute errors |
If support can't fix it
- Ask for a supervisor or the provider's escalation team, and note the ticket number.
- Put the problem in writing through the account messages or a letter, with dates and ticket numbers.
- File a free complaint with the FCC at fcc.gov/complaints. Providers must respond, usually within 30 days.
- Contact your state utility commission or attorney general's consumer office for billing disputes.
Keep every confirmation number, the names of agents you speak with, and screenshots of your bill.
Providers you can cancel online
Most cable and fiber companies require a call or a store visit. A few let you finish online:
- Verizon: start in My Verizon (Account settings and profile, then Disconnect) and finish in chat.
- Google Fiber and Starlink: cancel in your online account.
- AT&T Internet Air: accounts in Illinois and Massachusetts ordered online can cancel at att.com/myatt.
- Prepaid plans such as Xfinity NOW Internet: turn off auto-refill and let the service lapse, or follow the prepaid cancel steps in your account.
Other providers
Astound (RCN, Grande, Wave)
Call 800-427-8686. Astound lists phone support 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Google Fiber
Cancel from your gFiber account online. Return the equipment as instructed in the cancellation confirmation.
Prepaid and 5G providers
Visible, Total Wireless Home Internet and similar prepaid plans end when you stop paying. Turn off AutoPay, and return any leased gateway if the provider asks. See 5G home internet options.
Equipment return windows
Return windows usually run 14 to 21 days from your disconnect date. AT&T allows 21 days and sends a prepaid UPS label. Xfinity accepts returns at Xfinity Stores and The UPS Store. Spectrum accepts returns at Spectrum Stores or by mail. Always keep a tracked receipt, and photograph the equipment and serial numbers before you send it.
Questions
Can I cancel my internet online?
Rarely. Xfinity, Spectrum, AT&T and T-Mobile Home Internet cancel by phone or in a store. Verizon lets you start online.
Is there a fee to cancel internet?
Not on most current month-to-month plans. Older contracts and some bundles charge an early termination fee.
Do I get a refund when I cancel mid-month?
Many providers prorate the last bill. Ask on the call.
What happens if I don't return my modem?
You are usually charged for it, often $75 to $150 or more. Return it with a tracked receipt.
How long does it take to cancel internet?
Usually 10 to 20 minutes on the phone, longer if you hear retention offers. Service typically ends on the date you choose or at the end of the bill period.
Will cancelling hurt my credit?
No, as long as you pay the final bill and return equipment. Unpaid balances and equipment charges can go to collections.
Can I keep my provider email address?
Some providers close email when internet ends; others keep it with a fee or for a limited time. Move important accounts to another address before you cancel.
Can you cancel an internet plan anytime?
Yes on most current plans, which are month to month. If you signed a contract or a term agreement, cancelling early can trigger an early termination fee; check your agreement or the bill.
How do I cancel AT&T internet without calling?
Most AT&T home internet accounts must cancel by phone at 800-288-2020. Some AT&T Internet Air accounts in Illinois and Massachusetts ordered online can cancel at att.com/myatt.
How do I cancel Verizon Fios online?
Sign in to My Verizon, go to Account settings and profile, select Disconnect, and type "disconnect" in the chat to reach a representative.
Is Xfinity customer service available 24 hours?
Xfinity's phone line, 1-800-934-6489, handles cancellations; you can also schedule a call at xfinity.com/cancel at a time that suits you. Store hours vary by location.
How far ahead should I plan a switch?
Two to six weeks is safest, especially when moving. Book the new installation first, then pick the old service's end date.
Jean founded ShopHighSpeed after trying to find one straight answer about business internet in his own town. He has been a Comcast and Verizon Fios customer, and ranks providers on what they actually deliver, not on what they advertise.