How To Fix DirecTV On Demand Not Working?

I subscribe to a number of different TV providers, including DirecTV, which I mostly use for pay-per-view events such as sporting events. I was nearly through viewing everything I wanted to watch on Netflix and Amazon Prime, so I decided to check out the On-Demand entertainment available via DirecTV.

For whatever reason, I was unable to access it, despite the fact that it was included in my DirecTV package. I phoned DirecTV to double-check, and they provided me with a few recommendations on how to get it resolved. I checked online to see if there was anything I could do to repair the problem.

This tutorial is the result of combining all of the information I could find on the internet and from official sources in order to assist you in repairing your DirecTV On-Demand system if it has stopped functioning.

Resetting the receiver will resolve the issue of DirecTV On Demand not functioning. After that, verify and re-establish your internet connection. This should restore functionality to the system.

Reasons for DirecTV On Demand Not Working

If the On-Demand service is not functioning, there are a number of likely causes for this, and fortunately, they are both simple to resolve. First and foremost, while utilizing On Demand, a poor internet connection might be a problem. This is particularly true if you are viewing a program in its entirety live.

DirecTV recommended download rates of 4Mbps for Standard Definition (SD) and 20Mbps for High Definition (HD) video streams (HD). If your internet connection cannot support these speeds, you are On Demand service may be inaccessible or unavailable. However, seeing them live would be tough given the fact that they may still be downloaded to a DVR (if one is available).

According to what I’ve heard from DirecTV, the majority of calls about On-Demand difficulties are from new customers and installs. It may take up to 24 to 48 hours for the DirecTV box to load all of the VOD material and completely fill the service. As a result, if you are a first-time user, please be patient while everything loads.

There has been some criticism of the HD DVR or Genie box that DirecTV has given you as a potential failure point. If you are experiencing problems with your DirecTV receiver, you may be unable to use the DirecTV On Demand service as well.

Both receivers should be checked to see whether the network is working properly.

Check the receiver to see if there are any problems. In the relationship between you and DirecTV, the receiver is the initial point of contact. Check to see whether all of the status lights are on.

Check to see whether the receiver reacts to the remote as well. Test the TV by pressing a few buttons on the remote and seeing if there is any reaction from it. If there is none, the receiver should be restarted.

Check the connections between your television and computer.

Loose connections have always been something to be on the lookout for while diagnosing a technical problem, and this is no exception. Check all of the connections, including those that link to the power outlet and those that connect to the television.

Check to see that everything is properly linked. Purchase the greatest HDMI cable that you can afford since a decent cable will last longer than the cheaper cables that are available on the market. I would suggest that you get the Belkin Ultra HD HDMI cable. All of the ends are gold plated for durability, and the cable complies with the most current HDMI standards.

If the On-Demand service is not functioning, there are a number of likely causes for this, and fortunately, they are both simple to resolve. First and foremost, while utilizing On Demand, a poor internet connection might be a problem. This is particularly true if you are viewing a program in its entirety live.

DirecTV recommended download rates of 4Mbps for Standard Definition (SD) and 20Mbps for High Definition (HD) video streams (HD). If your internet connection is not capable of supporting these speeds, your On Demand service may be inaccessible or unavailable. However, seeing them live would be tough given the fact that they may still be downloaded to a DVR (if one is available).

According to what I’ve heard from DirecTV, the majority of calls about On-Demand difficulties are from new customers and installs. It may take up to 24 to 48 hours for the DirecTV box to load all of the VOD material and completely fill the service. As a result, if you are a first-time user, please be patient while everything loads.

There has been some criticism of the HD DVR or Genie box that DirecTV has given you as a potential failure point. If you are experiencing problems with your DirecTV receiver, you may be unable to use the DirecTV On Demand service as well.

Check the Network Status on Both Receivers

Check the receiver to see if there are any problems. In the relationship between you and DirecTV, the receiver is the initial point of contact. Check to see whether all of the status lights are on.

Check to see whether the receiver reacts to the remote as well. Test the TV by pressing a few buttons on the remote and seeing if there is any reaction from it. If there is none, the receiver should be restarted.

Check Your Cable Connections

Loose connections have always been something to be on the lookout for while diagnosing a technical problem, and this is no exception. Check all of the connections, including those that link to the power outlet and those that connect to the television.

Check to see that everything is properly linked. Purchase the greatest HDMI cable that you can afford since a decent cable will last longer than the cheaper cables that are available on the market. I would suggest that you get the Belkin Ultra HD HDMI cable. All of the ends are gold plated for durability, and the cable complies with the most recent HDMI standards.

Update DirecTV Firmware

DirecTV receiver software upgrades have been released to address issues in the software that the receiver is running on. If you were unable to access the On-Demand service because of defective receiver software, an update might assist you in resolving the issue. To update your receivers, just follow the instructions outlined below.

To upgrade your non-Genie and older Genie receivers, follow these steps.

• Restart the receiver if it has stopped working.
• When you see the first blue screen, use the remote to input the following sequence of numbers: “0 2 4 6 8” without the quotations.
• Upon successful code entry, the screen will display the message “Receiver is scanning for new updates.” If the standard DirecTV splash screen appears, this indicates that the code was entered improperly.

In order to keep your Genie 2 up to date

• To activate the receiver, press the red button on the side of the device.
• The Status LED on the front of the device will turn white as soon as the device is restarted. When this occurs, push and hold the client button until the white light flashes twice in succession.
• The download process has now begun. Check for flashing lights to check whether the procedure is still in progress.
• After the update has been successfully installed, the receiver will restart.

Clear the Cache of Your Cable Box

If there are any corrupt files on the receiver that were interfering with its ability to work properly, clearing the cache may help to eliminate them. As DirecTV refers to it, cleaning the cache or “refreshing” the receiver is a simple process that anybody can do.

To reactivate your DirecTV receiver, do the following steps:

• Go to your myAT&T account summary page and click on My DirecTV to get started.
• Package Management may be found by selecting it from the menu.
• Select Refresh Receiver from the Manage Receivers drop-down list.
• During the refresh process, the service will be unavailable.

Check your On Demand service once again to ensure that it is functioning properly.

Reboot Your Router

Restarting your router might resolve difficulties that have arisen as a result of a configuration modification that you have made or that has been made in error. As a result, resetting your router may be a smart option if you’re experiencing poor internet connectivity to your DirecTV box.

Reboot Both Receivers

In the same way that we rebooted our router, we came up with the concept of restarting our receiver as well. As a result, a reboot may undo any settings changes that may have been the source of the problem.

For your receiver to be rebooted, follow these steps:

• The red button on the receiver may be found by following the instructions below. You may also open the spring-loaded door on the front of earlier versions that don’t have a red button on the exterior. There’s a red button in the middle of the compartment.
• In order to initiate the restart procedure, press the red button.
• All lights should come back on when the receiver has been powered on.

Please check to see whether you are able to access On-Demand right now.

Reboot the TV

It’s possible that your On Demand service is not appearing on your television. Restarting your television is the most effective method of resolving any difficulties that may have arisen. A reboot undoes practically all of the modifications that were made but were not saved before.

Because of these configuration modifications, the problem will be corrected if On-Demand isn’t functioning for you.

Reset Network Connection on Both Receivers

Resetting the network connection might help to restore the connection between the receiver and the DirecTV servers once they have been disconnected. Connecting to a more efficient server will enable you to see your On-Demand material without encountering any difficulties. For your receiver’s network connection to be reset, please follow the instructions outlined below.

Non-Genie receivers will be able to use the following features:

• On the remote, press the Menu button.
• Then, choose Options from the drop-down menu.
• Navigate to Network Setup and choose Reset Network Settings from the drop-down menus.
• Reset the system by selecting it, and clicking confirm. Continue to wait for the procedure to be finished.

Receivers of the Genie

• The Menu key should be pressed.
• Navigate to the Preferences menu item.
• Set up your internet connection by going to Set Up Your Internet Connection > The network configurations should be restored.
• Accept the reset and sit back and wait for the procedure to be completed.

Power Loss

Accessing the DirecTV On Demand service immediately after a power loss may result in difficulties. It is possible that a power outage may result in some data loss from the DVR and that attempting to retrieve that lost data will result in the On Demand content not functioning properly.

In this case, waiting is the most prudent course of action since it will take a significant period of time before the receiver can retrieve all of the lost material.

Contact Support

Fortunately, DirecTV has a great customer service staff that can assist you with most difficulties over the phone. If they determine that a technician is required to come out and repair the problem, they will arrange for it to happen.

In order to resolve your problem, you need to contact DirecTV directly. Inform them of your efforts to resolve the issue, which has been unsuccessful. Your On-Demand service will be up and running again before you even realize it, thanks to their expertise.

Is Your DirecTV On Demand Working Again?

It is possible that following this troubleshooting method to the letter can assist you in getting your On Demand service back up and running, and even if it does not, DirecTV has a team of experts available to assist you with your problem.

Because the Fios On Demand service was not operating, I wanted to see how DirecTV’s On Demand service performed. While I was trying to figure out how to repair it, I wanted to watch on-demand that wasn’t Netflix or Prime.

Because of certain personal commitments, I had at the time, I never got to see how fantastic DirecTV On Demand was after I corrected it. I regret not having done so.

Frequently Asked Questions