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To activate AT&T Internet, sign in to AT&T Smart Home Manager with your AT&T ID and follow the setup prompts for the equipment you received. Fiber setup uses an ONT and Wi-Fi gateway; Internet Air uses an All‑Fi Hub and an in-app signal check. The steps are different, so use the matching guide below rather than assuming every AT&T installation has the same hardware.
What you need before you start
- Your AT&T ID and password. AT&T says customers who do not yet have an ID can create one in Smart Home Manager, and internet access is unavailable until the ID is set up.
- The equipment and instructions supplied for your service. AT&T’s app guides customers through unpacking, connecting to its network, and activating service; its screens and equipment can vary.
- AT&T Smart Home Manager installed or open on a phone or other device. The setup article, last updated February 25, 2026, also says the app can help connect devices and check Wi-Fi coverage. AT&T: Set Up Your Internet
How do I activate AT&T Fiber?
Fiber’s cited self-install guide describes a particular ONT-to-gateway setup. Follow the instructions included with your actual equipment if the model or cabling differs. Do not open equipment or handle fiber connectors based on a model-specific guide.
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- Connect the ONT to the Wi-Fi gateway with the supplied yellow Ethernet cable, as shown in the guide.
- Power on the ONT. In this guide, its POWER and PON lights should become solid green.
- Power on the gateway and wait 10–15 minutes for its Broadband and Service lights to become solid green. This is the wait specified by that guide, not a guarantee that every model takes the same time.
- Connect a phone, computer, or other device to the Wi-Fi name (SSID) and 12-character Wi-Fi key printed on the gateway.
- If you already completed online registration, the guide says service activates automatically within a few minutes. If not, open a browser to start registration. You will need your AT&T Access ID and password, or your account number and four-digit passcode.
AT&T Fiber gateway self-installation guide (PDF)
How do I set up an AT&T Internet Air All‑Fi Hub?
- Download and open Smart Home Manager. If your service is already registered, sign in. Otherwise, choose equipment setup and scan the QR code on the base of the All‑Fi Hub.
- Follow the app prompts to finish activation.
- Plug in the hub where you plan to use it. In the app, test signal strength at that location and reposition the hub if the app indicates a better signal may be available elsewhere. AT&T’s guide describes green as great, yellow as good, and red as a prompt to reposition.
- Connect your devices using the Wi-Fi name and password shown in the app.
If setup stalls, the guide lists AT&T support at att.com/support and 800.288.2020. AT&T Internet Air Self-Install Guide (PDF)
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How do I connect devices to AT&T Wi-Fi?
After activation, select the network name printed on your Fiber gateway or shown in the Internet Air app, then enter its corresponding Wi-Fi password. Smart Home Manager can assist with connecting devices and checking coverage. You can complete the initial connection using the supplied credentials; changing the network name or password is not required for activation.
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What if AT&T Internet will not activate?
- Check the gateway or hub status lights and compare them with the instructions for your equipment. For Internet Air, also check for wireless outages.
- Check AT&T’s internet connection help and outage guidance before concluding that equipment needs replacement.
- If a restart is appropriate, use AT&T’s sequence: unplug power, remove an internal battery backup if applicable, wait 20 seconds, restore the battery, reconnect power, and wait for Broadband to become solid green. AT&T says this can take up to 10 minutes. Compatible gateways may also be restarted through Smart Home Manager. Restart your AT&T Wi-Fi gateway or modem
- For DSL service, AT&T’s support instructions also call for disconnecting and reconnecting the phone cord as directed.
- If activation still fails, contact AT&T support with your account details available. Avoid repeatedly restarting the equipment or factory-resetting it as a first activation step; the cited guidance supports status checks, outage checks, and a normal restart.
If you are replacing a gateway
Replacement is a different situation from activating new service. Keep your account sign-in information handy and reconnect existing devices one at a time. AT&T warns that internet and voice service are unavailable during replacement; do not unplug the green data cable or power during startup. Wait until Service and Broadband lights are solid green. These instructions apply to customers who have received a replacement unit, not a reason for a new customer to buy a gateway. AT&T: How to Install Your Replacement Gateway
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Do you need to buy anything to activate?
AT&T describes a guided self-install that needs no tools and supplies the service equipment. Do not buy a generic gateway or router as an activation requirement. In the particular Fiber guide above, an Ethernet cable connects the ONT and gateway; the supplied yellow cable is part of the setup materials, so an extra cable is only relevant if you need a replacement or spare.
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