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TROUBLESHOOTING

Fix your Starlink fast.

Common issues, step-by-step fixes, and settings guides. No fluff.

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STARLINK_NOT_WORKING

Dish offline, no signal, or internet dropped entirely.

[ READ FIX → ]
▶
SLOW_OR_HIGH_LATENCY

Speeds lower than expected or latency over 100ms.

[ READ FIX → ]
↺
ROUTER_RESET_&_CONFIG

Factory reset, bypass mode, mesh setup, port forwarding.

[ READ FIX → ]
◎
OBSTRUCTION_ISSUES

Trees, rooflines, or mount angle causing signal loss.

[ READ FIX → ]
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APP_&_ACCOUNT_ISSUES

Can't log in, app errors, or billing problems.

[ READ FIX → ]
⊞
HARDWARE_&_CABLE

Damaged cable, loose connectors, or dish alignment.

[ READ FIX → ]

STARLINK_NOT_WORKING

Dish offline, no signal, or internet dropped entirely.

  1. 01
    Check the Starlink app for outages. Open the Starlink app and tap the dish icon. If it shows "Searching" or "Offline," there may be a local outage — tap "View outage map" to confirm.
  2. 02
    Power cycle the dish. Unplug the Starlink power brick from the wall, wait 30 seconds, then plug back in. Allow 3–5 minutes for the dish to boot, motor to align, and internet to reconnect.
  3. 03
    Stow and redeploy the dish. In the Starlink app, tap the dish icon → select "Stow." Once the dish folds flat, tap "Unstow" to force a fresh motor alignment sequence.
  4. 04
    Inspect the cable and connectors. Walk the full cable run from the dish to the router. Look for sharp bends, pinches, or damage to the weatherproof boot at the dish end. A failing cable is a top cause of dropouts.
  5. 05
    Check for physical obstructions. Run an obstruction scan in the Starlink app (dish icon → "Check for obstructions"). New tree growth, seasonal foliage, or a shifted mount can block signal without being obvious from the ground.
  6. 06
    Factory reset the router. Hold the reset button on the back of the Starlink router for 10 seconds. This clears all custom settings. Reconfigure your Wi-Fi name and password via the app after reset.
>Still having issues? Visit Starlink's official support page for account-specific diagnostics.OPEN STARLINK SUPPORT →

SLOW_OR_HIGH_LATENCY

Speeds lower than expected or latency over 100ms.

  1. 01
    Run a speed test from the Starlink app. Open the app → tap "Speed Test." This tests directly from the dish, bypassing your router and home network, to identify whether the bottleneck is your Starlink connection or your local setup.
  2. 02
    Check your obstruction score. In the app, tap the dish icon → "Obstruction history." Even 2–3% obstruction in the last 12 hours will cause speed drops and latency spikes. Eliminate obstructions or raise the mount.
  3. 03
    Test on 5 GHz, not 2.4 GHz. Connect your device to the "_5G" band of your Starlink Wi-Fi network. The 2.4 GHz band has lower throughput and higher latency. Always use 5 GHz for speed-sensitive tasks.
  4. 04
    Use bypass mode with a third-party router. Starlink's built-in router can be a bottleneck in larger homes. Enable bypass mode in the app (Settings → Network → Bypass mode) and connect a Wi-Fi 6 router for better performance.
  5. 05
    Check peak congestion hours. Starlink speeds are typically lowest between 7–10 PM local time. If speeds only drop during evenings, congestion on your local cell is the cause — this typically improves as Starlink launches more satellites.
>Still having issues? Visit Starlink's official support page.OPEN STARLINK SUPPORT →

ROUTER_RESET_&_CONFIG

Factory reset, bypass mode, mesh setup, and port forwarding.

  1. 01
    Factory reset the Starlink router. Hold the reset button on the back of the router for 10 seconds until the LED blinks. All custom settings (Wi-Fi name, password, static IPs) will be erased. Reconfigure using the Starlink app after reset.
  2. 02
    Enable bypass mode for a third-party router. In the Starlink app, go to Settings → Network → Bypass mode → Enable. Connect your own router's WAN port to the Starlink ethernet port. The Starlink router then acts as a passthrough only.
  3. 03
    Set up a Starlink mesh node. In the Starlink app, tap "Add a Starlink" → follow the pairing instructions. Mesh nodes must be the same generation as your primary router (Gen 2 with Gen 2, Gen 3 with Gen 3).
  4. 04
    Port forwarding is not available on the standard Starlink router. Starlink uses CGNAT (carrier-grade NAT) by default, which blocks inbound connections. To enable port forwarding, you need to upgrade to a Static IP address in the Starlink app under Settings → Account → Add-ons.
  5. 05
    Set a custom DNS server. In the Starlink app, go to Settings → Network → DNS. Enter your preferred DNS (e.g., 1.1.1.1 for Cloudflare or 8.8.8.8 for Google) to improve resolution speeds and reduce latency on some connections.
>Still having issues? Visit Starlink's official support page.OPEN STARLINK SUPPORT →

OBSTRUCTION_ISSUES

Trees, rooflines, or mount angle causing signal loss.

  1. 01
    Run a full obstruction scan. Open the Starlink app → tap the dish icon → "Check for obstructions." Hold your phone where the dish is currently mounted and slowly rotate 360° for 2 minutes. The app builds a heatmap of blocked sky.
  2. 02
    Identify the direction of obstruction. The heatmap shows orange/red zones where signal is blocked. For most Northern Hemisphere users, obstructions to the north are less critical — obstructions to the south and directly overhead cause the most outage time.
  3. 03
    Raise the dish height. Every 1 foot of height adds approximately 10–15 feet of horizontal clearance from ground obstructions. A roof mount, chimney mount, or J-pole extension is the fastest way to clear trees and fence lines.
  4. 04
    Reposition horizontally. If raising is not an option, move the dish laterally — even 6–10 feet in the right direction can shift an obstruction out of the dish's field of view. Re-run the obstruction scan after each repositioning.
  5. 05
    Check for seasonal changes. Tree foliage that did not exist in winter can create obstructions in summer. Re-run obstruction scans in spring and fall to catch new blockages before they cause significant downtime.
>Still having issues? Visit Starlink's official support page.OPEN STARLINK SUPPORT →

APP_&_ACCOUNT_ISSUES

Can't log in, app errors, or billing problems.

  1. 01
    Force close and reopen the Starlink app. On iOS, swipe up and flick the app card away. On Android, go to Settings → Apps → Starlink → Force Stop. Then reopen the app. Most session and display errors resolve this way.
  2. 02
    Update the app to the latest version. Go to the App Store or Google Play and check for updates. Starlink pushes frequent firmware and app updates — running an old version causes login failures and missing UI features.
  3. 03
    Reset your password. On the login screen, tap "Forgot password" and enter your account email. Check your spam folder — Starlink password reset emails are sometimes flagged. Use a different email client if the reset link does not arrive within 5 minutes.
  4. 04
    Check for a billing hold. Log in at account.starlink.com → Billing → Payment methods. A failed payment will put your account in a restricted state, disabling the app. Update your card details and retry the charge.
  5. 05
    Clear app cache (Android only). Go to Settings → Apps → Starlink → Storage → Clear Cache. This resolves corrupted session data without logging you out. If issues persist after clearing cache, use "Clear Data" to fully reset the app.
>Still having issues? Visit Starlink's official support page.OPEN STARLINK SUPPORT →

HARDWARE_&_CABLE

Damaged cable, loose connectors, or dish alignment.

  1. 01
    Inspect the full cable run for damage. Walk every foot of the Starlink cable from the dish to the router. Look for sharp bends over edges (roof flashing, gutters), animal chew marks, UV cracking near the dish end, and pinching under mounting clips.
  2. 02
    Check the dish connector boot. At the base of the dish, inspect the rubber weatherproof boot. It should be fully seated with no gaps. Press it firmly into position. A loose boot allows moisture intrusion, which causes intermittent signal loss.
  3. 03
    Verify dish motor operation. In the Starlink app, tap the dish icon → "Stow." Watch the dish physically fold down. If it moves slowly, makes grinding sounds, or does not reach the full stow position, the motor or pivot mechanism may be failing — contact Starlink support for a warranty replacement.
  4. 04
    Check the Ethernet adapter connection. If using bypass mode with a third-party router, ensure the Ethernet adapter (sold separately) is fully clicked into the dish base port. A partially inserted adapter causes intermittent drops that are difficult to diagnose.
  5. 05
    Replace a damaged cable. Starlink replacement cables are available at shop.starlink.com. The standard cable length is 75 ft (23m). Do not splice or repair a damaged Starlink cable — the proprietary connector requires an official replacement.
>Still having issues? Visit Starlink's official support page.OPEN STARLINK SUPPORT →

RECOMMENDED_GEAR

The right gear prevents most issues.

A proper mount, quality cable, and a weather-rated enclosure eliminate the most common Starlink problems before they start.

ROOF_MOUNT_KIT

Eliminates obstruction issues from ground placement. Provides stable, elevated positioning for maximum sky view.

SHOP ON AMAZON →Amazon Associate Disclosure
CABLE_CLIPS_&_CONDUIT

Protects the Starlink cable from UV damage and wildlife. Proper routing prevents the #1 cause of hardware failure.

SHOP ON AMAZON →Amazon Associate Disclosure
ETHERNET_ADAPTER

Required for wired connections — not included with dish. Essential for bypass mode and third-party router setups.

SHOP ON AMAZON →Amazon Associate Disclosure