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Do you have a Starlink dish sitting in storage? Better fish it out unless you want to lose access to it, as some Starlink dishes are at risk of being bricked.
The issue affects Starlink dishes that have been dormant for at least 21 months. In an updated support page, SpaceX indicates that if a Starlink dish is running software older than version 2024.05.0, then the hardware could become “permanently inoperable” on Nov. 17.
It appears that SpaceX released version 2024.05.0 of the Starlink app in February 2024, according to third-party app store APKMirror. SpaceX’s support page also notes it used to name software versions based on week numbers prior to Sept. 27, 2024.
(Credit: Starlink.com)
If you’ve had a Starlink dish stored away for nearly two years, consider taking it out, plugging it back in, and downloading the software update, which doesn’t require an active subscription. Otherwise, the hardware will become useless due to an upcoming upgrade that the company is making to enhance security, performance, and reliability, according to an email SpaceX is sending to Starlink resellers.
The issue also affects inactive dishes with software versions 2024.05.0 and 2024.12.26. These dishes will still work after Nov. 17, but they won’t be able to receive satellite internet access through Starlink until their software has been updated.
The updated support page further notes that version 2024.05.0 “is the key cutoff for sideloading capability.” It’s why dishes running 2024.05.0 to 2024.12.26 can still install the latest Starlink updates without them becoming bricked after the Nov. 17 deadline.
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The problem won’t affect most users, as an active Starlink dish will automatically download and install new software updates as they become available. SpaceX has been emailing affected users, urging them to update now.
Still, some complain they won’t be able to physically retrieve their stored dishes in time. “I bought my kit on 2024.07.31 and it’s been in storage across the country while I’ve been moving. I have no way to access it before the November deadline,” wrote one user on Reddit.
SpaceX didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment about what those users should do. To check which version a dish is running, go to the Starlink app, tap the “Advanced” button, and then look in the “App” section for the version number.
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About Our Expert
Michael Kan
Senior Reporter
Experience
I’ve been a journalist for over 15 years. I got my start as a schools and cities reporter in Kansas City and joined PCMag in 2017, where I cover satellite internet services, cybersecurity, PC hardware, and more. I’m currently based in San Francisco, but previously spent over five years in China, covering the country’s technology sector.
Since 2020, I’ve covered the launch and explosive growth of SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet service, writing 600+ stories on availability and feature launches, but also the regulatory battles over the expansion of satellite constellations, fights with rival providers like AST SpaceMobile and Amazon, and the effort to expand into satellite-based mobile service. I’ve combed through FCC filings for the latest news and driven to remote corners of California to test Starlink’s cellular service.
I also cover cyber threats, from ransomware gangs to the emergence of AI-based malware. Earlier this year, the FTC forced Avast to pay consumers $16.5 million for secretly harvesting and selling their personal information to third-party clients, as revealed in my joint investigation with Motherboard.
I also cover the PC graphics card market. Pandemic-era shortages led me to camp out in front of a Best Buy to get an RTX 3000. I’m now following how President Trump’s tariffs will affect the industry. I’m always eager to learn more, so please jump in the comments with feedback and send me tips.
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