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When Starlink is offline, slow, or reporting “Obstructed,” start in the Starlink app, then power-cycle the system, inspect every cable, verify the dish has a clear sky view, and isolate satellite-link problems from local Wi‑Fi problems. A new installation can take up to 30 minutes to come online. If the service still fails after these checks, submit an in-app support ticket with screenshots, speed tests, weather details, and a description of which devices are affected.
Identify the failure before changing anything
Starlink problems fall into different fault domains. “Offline” usually points to power, cabling, the router, the dish, an outage, or an installation that has not finished acquiring satellites. “Slow” can be caused by congestion, a plan data limit, obstructions, weather, or only one device’s Wi‑Fi connection. “Obstructed” specifically means something is interrupting the dish’s view of the sky.
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| What you see | Most likely areas to check first | Does it affect every device? |
|---|---|---|
| Starlink offline or no signal | App alerts, power supply, router, dish cable, outage, initial setup time | Usually yes |
| Intermittent drops | Obstructions, loose or damaged cable, snow or debris, weather, power instability | Usually yes |
| All devices are slow | Obstructions, congestion, plan priority or data limit, weather, service alerts, third-party equipment | Yes |
| Only one device is slow | That device’s Wi‑Fi band, distance, Ethernet cable, VPN, or local settings | No |
| “Obstructed” in the app | Trees, branches, roofs, poles, buildings, debris, snow, or new foliage in the sky view | Dish connection is affected; Wi‑Fi may still work locally |
Record the symptom before rebooting: the time it started, whether the issue is constant or periodic, the weather, and whether one or all devices are affected. Those details make later support much faster.
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1. Read the Starlink app first
Open the Starlink app and examine the home screen. Look for outage, obstruction, hardware, or service alerts before moving cables or buying equipment. The app is the authoritative place to see whether the dish is communicating with the network and whether Starlink has identified a known condition.
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Connect locally when the internet is down
If the app shows a cloud icon, tap the network name and choose Local. This connects your phone directly to the Starlink router so you can view local status and diagnostics even when the dish has no internet connection.
Allow a new system to finish starting
Starlink’s initial-setup guidance allows up to 30 minutes for a newly powered system to get online. Leave the system powered during that period while watching the app. If it remains offline after 30 minutes, continue with the power and cable checks below and reboot it.
2. Power-cycle the complete system
A clean power cycle clears many temporary router, dish, and software states. Do not merely toggle Wi‑Fi on your phone; remove power from the Starlink equipment itself.
- Disconnect both ends of the power cable.
- Remove power from the supply and leave the system disconnected for at least 10 seconds.
- Reconnect the power supply and both cable ends firmly.
- Watch the router light and the Starlink app while the system starts.
Interpret the router light
- Light remains on but service is still failing: the system may need a factory reset or an in-app support ticket after you complete the other checks.
- Light is off: try a different known-good outlet. A failed power supply or router is possible if the light stays off.
Do not repeatedly unplug the system in quick succession. Give it time to boot and reacquire satellites before judging the result.
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3. Inspect every physical connection
Disconnect power before examining plugs. Check the dish cable, router connections, and any Ethernet adapter or extension used in your installation.
- Look for loose plugs, partially inserted connectors, kinks, crushed sections, exposed conductors, bent pins, dirt, corrosion, or water damage.
- Inspect areas where a cable passes through a wall, under a door, around a mount, or along a sharp edge; these locations commonly create hidden damage.
- Reseat the dish cable and router connections. If your hardware provides another port, test it.
- Remove an Ethernet adapter, extension, switch, or other third-party device temporarily and test the Starlink equipment in its simplest supported configuration.
Starlink recommends its official cables and warns that third-party equipment may not be covered by its warranty. If a cable has a confirmed break, failed connector, or weather damage, replace it with a cable compatible with your exact Starlink kit and connector generation rather than assuming every Starlink cable fits every dish.
4. Check the dish’s view of the sky
Starlink requires a clear view of the sky. A dish can appear well positioned from the ground while trees, a roof edge, a pole, or a neighboring structure blocks satellites at the angles it needs.
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- Open the Starlink app.
- Choose Check for Obstructions.
- Hold the phone close to the dish’s intended height and use the same perspective the dish will have.
- Scan several possible locations, not just the current mounting point.
- Review the result and identify the direction in which objects intrude into the sky view.
The app’s obstruction map can detect most obstructions in less than a day and continues updating. Allow time for the map to become representative, especially after relocating the dish or when foliage changes.
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What counts as an obstruction
Trees and branches are common causes, but the scan can also reveal roofs, poles, buildings, construction debris, snow, and seasonal growth. New leaves can turn a previously reliable installation into an intermittent one. Short interruptions that repeat at similar times or intervals are consistent with a blocked satellite path.
5. Fix an obstruction without creating a safety problem
The simplest obstruction fix is to use the app’s scan to find a location on your property with fewer blocked sectors and relocate the dish there. If no ground-level location works, the dish may need to be raised.
Choose the least invasive remedy first
- Relocate: move the dish away from trees, rooflines, poles, or buildings while preserving a stable, level installation.
- Clear the obstruction: remove branches or debris only when you can do so safely and legally.
- Raise the dish: use a compatible Starlink mount, pole, tower, or extension cable when a higher position provides the required sky view.
Do not climb, cut near power lines, drill into an unstable surface, or improvise a mount that cannot withstand wind. Starlink advises against proceeding with an unsafe installation and recommends professional help when the required work is hazardous. Confirm that the replacement mount and cable match your kit generation and connectors before installation.
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Run the Starlink app’s speed test and compare results on more than one device. If every device is slow, investigate the dish, service, weather, congestion, and obstructions. If one device is slow while others perform normally, the satellite link may be healthy and the problem is local.
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When only one device is slow
- Test the device close to the router, then at its normal location.
- Try the other Wi‑Fi band. 2.4 GHz travels farther and penetrates obstacles better but is slower; 5 GHz is faster near the router but has shorter range.
- Disconnect or pause a VPN and retest; VPN routing can reduce measured speed or add latency.
- Replace a suspect Ethernet cable and check the device’s network adapter or power-saving settings.
- Compare with a second phone or computer in the same location to determine whether the issue follows the device.
When every device is slow
Check the app for an outage or hardware alert, confirm that the service address and plan are correct, and review the dish’s obstruction status. Heavy weather, snow, dirt, or debris can temporarily degrade performance. Congestion can also reduce speeds at busy times. Third-party routers, switches, mesh systems, and Ethernet adapters add another possible failure point; bypass them temporarily to establish a baseline.
7. Check plan limits and congestion
Starlink’s official slow-speed guidance says that Priority-plan customers who have reached their priority-data limit may be limited to up to 1 Mbps download and 0.5 Mbps upload. These figures describe that specific plan condition, not a universal Starlink speed floor. Check the account and app for a priority-data notice before replacing hardware.
If speeds vary by time of day while the dish reports no obstruction or hardware fault, congestion is a plausible explanation. Record several speed tests at different times, using the same device and location, so support can distinguish congestion from a damaged cable or failing router.
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8. Account for snow, rain, dirt, and changing weather
Snow buildup, heavy weather, dirt, and debris on the dish can cause temporary signal degradation. Wait for conditions to improve, then inspect the dish from a safe position. Clear buildup only when you can do so without climbing or touching energized equipment. After the weather clears, repeat the app speed test and check whether the obstruction map or alerts change.
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A weather-related slowdown that disappears in clear conditions is different from a permanent obstruction or cable fault. Keep a note of the weather and the exact time service recovered; that pattern is useful evidence if the problem returns.
9. Use a controlled retest after each change
Change one variable at a time. A disciplined retest prevents you from replacing working equipment or losing the evidence needed for support.
- After a power cycle, wait for the app to show the current connection state.
- Run a speed test on the same device and in the same location used for the previous test.
- If you moved the dish, allow the obstruction map time to update and record the new alert state.
- If you bypassed a third-party router or adapter, test both the direct and original configurations.
- Keep screenshots of alerts, obstruction results, and speed-test readings.
10. Know when to reset or replace hardware
Factory reset
If the router light remains on and the power cycle, cable inspection, obstruction check, and local Wi‑Fi tests do not improve service, a factory reset may be appropriate. A reset changes local configuration, so note any network settings you need before performing it. Use the reset procedure specified for your exact Starlink router generation rather than forcing a connector or applying an undocumented method.
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Consider a replacement only after inspection confirms damage, intermittent contact, or a failed cable. Match the exact kit and connector type; a cable that fits physically may still be incompatible electrically or mechanically. Replace the cable before purchasing a mount when the app shows no obstruction and moving the cable changes the symptom.
Replacement or additional mounting hardware
Use a compatible roof, pole, or extension mount when the obstruction scan demonstrates that height or position is the limiting factor. The mount must be rated for the installation surface and local exposure, and the cable must reach without sharp bends or tension. Hardware cannot compensate for an unsafe mounting location.
11. Escalate with evidence through the Starlink app
Submit a support ticket in the Starlink app when the fault persists after the sequence above. Include information that lets support reproduce the problem:
- Screenshots of outage, obstruction, hardware, or service alerts.
- The dates and times of failures, including whether they are continuous or intermittent.
- Weather conditions and whether snow, dirt, or debris was present.
- Whether one device or every device is affected.
- Power-cycle results and router-light behavior.
- Observations about loose, bent, dirty, kinked, or weather-damaged cables.
- Speed-test results, including device, connection type, location, and time.
- Any relocation, cable replacement, factory reset, or third-party equipment bypass already attempted.
Starlink’s official guidance says to submit a support ticket through the app if the recommended speed checks do not improve performance. A complete ticket avoids repeating basic steps and helps support decide whether the cause is an outage, dish, power supply, router, cable, plan condition, or installation.
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Quick decision path
- New installation? Allow up to 30 minutes, then reboot if it remains offline.
- Any app alert? Follow the alert and save a screenshot.
- Router light off? Try another outlet and suspect the power supply or router if it stays off.
- Router light on but offline? Power-cycle, inspect cables, and connect through the app’s Local option.
- Obstructed alert or recurring drops? Run Check for Obstructions and relocate or safely raise the dish.
- Only one device slow? Test 2.4 GHz versus 5 GHz, distance, Ethernet, and VPN settings.
- All devices slow? Check outages, plan priority or data limits, congestion, weather, obstructions, and third-party hardware.
- Still failing? Open an in-app support ticket with the evidence listed above.
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