Image: Starlink
Starlink customers who have inactive or paused service and haven’t plugged in their hardware for a while are being urged to update their dishes before November 17 — or risk them becoming permanently unusable.
SpaceX is sending out emails to affected users warning of a “critical update” that must be downloaded to maintain functionality. “It is critical you perform this software update before November 17, or your Starlink will no longer function,” the message reads. The company explains that the update is part of “ongoing improvements for security, performance and reliability.”
Customers are being instructed to “place your Starlink outside and plug it in” to receive the update. SpaceX notes that users don’t need a perfectly clear view of the sky for the process to complete and that the update will automatically download and install, typically within 15–30 minutes.
According to SpaceX, this update applies even to deactivated hardware. “You do not need an active service line to complete this update, and you will not be charged at any point during this update,” the company explains. The company warns that terminals left offline past November 17 “will no longer function” until the update is applied — which you’ll potentially have to send your dish in for.
Image: /u/Adli99 on Reddit
The move likely stems from a major backend change to Starlink’s network infrastructure. The cutoff date suggests this is a critical firmware update required to maintain compatibility with SpaceX’s expanding satellite constellation. Users who leave their dishes unplugged for extended periods risk the firmware falling so far behind that it can no longer communicate with the satellites, effectively “bricking” the device.
This rapid iteration cycle — along with over-the-air software updates — has helped Starlink dramatically improve its performance over time. Earlier this week, SpaceX announced that median peak-hour download speeds across the Starlink network have improved by more than 50% in 2025 alone, with typical speeds now around 200 Mbps and peaks exceeding 400 Mbps under ideal conditions.
The timing also coincides with Starlink’s fifth anniversary, with the company recently spotlighting the first customers who joined the service back in 2020.
SpaceX says only customers who received the email or an in-app notification need to take action. Those unable to access their hardware before the deadline should contact Starlink support.
