Start your internet move about two to four weeks before moving day. Check which providers serve your new address, schedule installation, and plan how to handle your old service. This checklist covers each step in order, so you can have working internet soon after you move in instead of waiting days for an appointment.
Before you move
- Check availability at the new address. Providers and speeds differ from street to street, even within the same city. Start with internet providers near me, or look up your new city on our list of all city pages.
- Choose a speed. Use our guide to how much internet speed you need to pick a plan that fits your household. Think about who will live in the new home and how many devices they will use.
- Compare connection types. See fiber, cable and 5G home internet options for the new home. If you are new to fiber, our guide to what fiber internet is explains the difference.
- Ask the right questions. Ask about the price after the promotion ends, installation fees, equipment fees and contract length. Ask whether the building already has wiring, and whether a technician visit is required.
- Book installation early. Installation slots can fill up, especially at the start and end of the month. Ask for a date as close to your move-in day as possible, and ask what happens if the date changes.
Handling your current service
- Ask your current provider whether they serve the new address and whether you can transfer service.
- Check for early termination fees before you cancel.
- Schedule the end of your old service for after you have working internet at the new place.
- Ask about returning rented equipment and how to avoid unreturned equipment charges.
- Take a photo of the equipment and its serial number when you pack it, and keep any return receipt.
Renting or buying: questions to ask
If you rent, ask your landlord or property manager whether a provider is already set up in the building, whether you are allowed to drill or run cable, and whether any provider has an exclusive agreement with the property. If you buy, ask the seller which provider served the home and whether there is existing wiring. In both cases, check the address with each provider rather than relying on what the previous resident had.
Your timeline
- Four weeks before: check availability, compare plans and choose a speed.
- Two to three weeks before: place the order and book installation for move-in day or shortly after.
- One week before: confirm the installation window and tell your current provider your cancellation date.
- Moving day: keep the modem and router together and easy to find.
- Within a week after: test the connection, update your address and return old equipment.
Packing and setting up your equipment
Label the cables for your modem and router before you unplug them, and pack the power adapters in the same box. At the new home, place the router in a central, open spot instead of inside a cabinet or behind a television. Wait a few minutes after power-up before testing, because some equipment needs time to connect. If you rent equipment from your old provider, keep the return instructions with the box so nothing is left behind.
On moving day
- Keep your modem and router in a box you can find easily.
- Be available during the installation window or have an adult authorized to be.
- Confirm which room the technician should use for the main connection point.
- Take note of where wall outlets and cable or fiber jacks are before furniture goes in.
After you move in
- Run a speed test by cable, then over Wi-Fi in the rooms you use most.
- Compare the results with the speed your plan lists.
- Move your router to a central spot if the signal is weak in some rooms.
- Update your address on your account and your billing details.
- Return any old equipment and keep the receipt.
- Review your first bill and compare it with what you were quoted. If you want to trim it, see our guide to lowering your internet bill.
If the new address has limited options
Some addresses have only one wired provider or none. Compare 5G home internet and other available options, and ask neighbors what works well. If you plan a TV bundle, read our guide to TV and internet bundles before you order, or see our overview of TV and internet providers. Satellite and streaming TV, such as DIRECTV satellite, can be options where cable TV is limited.
Plans, prices and availability vary by address and change often. See how we review providers and how we make money.
Frequently asked questions
When should I order internet for a new home?
Two to four weeks before you move is a safe window. If your address needs a technician visit, book earlier.
Can I take my internet with me?
Only if your provider serves the new address. Ask before you cancel, and check whether a move changes your plan price or contract.
Do I need to be home for installation?
Usually an adult needs to be present for a technician visit. Self-install kits may not need a visit, depending on the provider and connection type.
Should I cancel my old internet before or after I move?
Cancel after your new service works, unless early termination fees or billing dates make another order sensible. Confirm the final bill date with your provider.
What if my move date changes?
Contact the provider as soon as you know and ask to reschedule the installation. Ask whether any fee applies for changing the date.
Do I need new equipment at the new home?
Sometimes. Equipment that works with one connection type may not work with another, so ask your new provider what to use before you pack the old modem or router.
