Activate Online
After you complete the receiver setup, DIRECTV allows you to activate the receiver online. To do this, open an Internet browser and navigate to the DIRECTV website. Click “My Account” in the upper-right corner of the window. Click on the “My Equipment” tab. Click the “Update” button next to your receiver’s name. The receiver’s name is usually DVR or Standard. Type the access code number and model number of the receiver. Enter the receiver ID. To find out your receiver’s ID, open the access card door panel and look for a sticker inside. The receiver ID is written on the sticker.

Call DIRECTV
If you cannot access the Internet or the DIRECTV website, DIRECTV customer service will activate your receiver over the phone. Call customer service at 1-800-531-5000. DIRECTV offers general support from 8 a.m. to 1 a.m. (EST), seven days a week. They offer technical support 24 hours a day, seven days a week. When you call, have your receiver ID, model number, and access card number ready.

Activate a Used Receiver
DIRECTV lets you activate a used receiver in certain circumstances. If the receiver has no receiver ID, you cannot activate it. A receiver without an ID is too old to work with the current DIRECTV service. The receiver must have been owned, not leased. It must also not be active on a different DIRECTV account. If you think that your receiver meets these conditions, call DIRECTV customer service. To activate the receiver, you need to order a new access card for $20. After installing the receiver and new access card, call DIRECTV again for activation. Let customer service know that you have a used receiver.