How to Fix the “Router Unreachable” Error

The “Router unreachable” message shows up in the Starlink app when your dish is connected to the internet, but can’t communicate with the Starlink router. You won’t be able to connect to your Wifi network, which means no internet access. This troubleshooting guide contains a few quick fixes to try out.

"Router unreachable" message in the Starlink app

In my experience helping out Starlink customers over the years, the router unreachable error is usually just a software issue. In some cases, a replacement router is needed. But before you contact Starlink support, try these solutions first.

Troubleshooting Steps

If you can’t connect to your Starlink Wifi, and you have the “Router unreachable” message like in the photo above, follow these troubleshooting steps to fix it.

  1. Check the Wifi settings on your phone

    Sometimes the network settings on your phone can cause the unreachable message to pop up. If your phone is blocking the Starlink app from accessing the Wifi network, it will prevent you from seeing the router.

    To check, open up your phone settings. Scroll down and find the Starlink app settings. Make sure Local Network is enabled.Enable local network access to allow Starlink to view the router

  2. Reboot your Starlink system

    The next thing you should do is reboot your Starlink by unplugging the router power cord. Wait a few seconds, then plug it back in.

    Wait about 15 minutes to give your system a chance to boot back up. After waiting, check to see if you can connect to your Starlink Wifi network. Check the app dashboard to see if the error message has cleared. If not, move on to the next solution.Unplugging the AC power cord

  3. Perform a router factory reset

    If the system reboot didn’t work, try a factory reset. This will clear all the Wifi settings and restore the Starlink router back to the default settings. To perform a factory reset, use a paperclip to press the reset button on the back of the Starlink router.

    If your Starlink router doesn’t have a factory reset button, power cycle the router 6 times in a row to reset it. Refer to my How to Factory Reset the Starlink Router guide if you need additional help with this step.

    Give the router about 5 minutes to boot back up. You should see a new Wifi network named STARLINK. Connect to it and check to see if the error message is gone.Starlink Gen 3 router factory reset button

Router Replacement

If none of my solutions worked, you might have a bad router. I recommend creating a support ticket with Starlink to see about getting a free replacement sent out. If you aren’t sure how to create a ticket, see my tutorial on How to Contact Starlink Support.

Do you have any Starlink mesh routers in your system? You can use a Starlink mesh router as a replacement router in a pinch. You just need to do a factory reset on the mesh node (see step 3 above) and then replace your main router with it. If it works you know you have a bad router.

Viewing the Router Status Remotely

You will always see the router unreachable message when you are remotely viewing your Starlink system via the app. If you are away from home, using cellular data on your phone to look at the Starlink app, it’s normal to see the message.

To properly troubleshoot router issues you have to be connected to your Starlink Wifi, you can’t be away from home. You’ll see a cloud icon next to your Starlink’s name in the app anytime you are remotely connected.

Summary

Most of the time the Starlink “Router unreachable” error message can be fixed with a system reboot or a router factory reset. In some rare cases, you’ll need a new router. I hope my guide helped you troubleshoot your issue. Feel free to leave any questions or feedback in the comments below.

Be sure to download my Starlink Troubleshooting Guide for more technical help with your Starlink.

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4 Comments

  1. Hi there,

    I’m hoping someone with experience can help me out. For the past few weeks, I’ve been dealing with an intermittent “Router Unreachable” issue with my Gen2 setup. The app keeps showing this message, and it comes and goes repeatedly. Since I can’t share a GIF or MOV screenshot files here, I’ll describe what I see: the dish graphic continuously moves left and right, with the router disappearing and reappearing every 1 to 5 seconds.

    I’ve tried everything I can think of to fix this (including contacting Starlink Support), except for a full factory reset. The main reason I’m hesitant to reset it is that I have 45 connected devices, and setting them all up again would be quite a task.

    Additionally, I’m unable to perform an advanced speed test (in the app) as the router becomes unreachable as soon as the test is initiated. However, there doesn’t seem to be any degradation of service or connectivity with any of my devices including my iPhone where the app is resident. I’m still getting rocket-fast DL speeds on any device connected to my Wi-Fi. Of note, I do have my Wi-Fi radio split to alleviate any issues connecting my 2.4gHz smart devices.

    Any advice or solutions would be greatly appreciated! Thanks so much!

    1. On your iPhone, go to Settings > Starlink. Is Local Network enabled? I would try that. If you aren’t having connection issues with any of your devices, it might be that, or just some kind of glitch/bug. A factory reset would be my next step, but I understand not wanting to reconnect devices.

  2. Hi there,

    I’m hoping someone with experience can help me out. For the past few weeks, I’ve been dealing with an intermittent “Router Unreachable” issue with my Gen2 setup. The app keeps showing this message, and it comes and goes repeatedly. Since I can’t share a GIF or MOV screenshot files here, I’ll describe what I see: the dish graphic continuously moves left and right, with the router disappearing and reappearing every 1 to 5 seconds.

    I’ve tried everything I can think of to fix this (including contacting Starlink Support), except for a full factory reset. The main reason I’m hesitant to reset it is that I have 45 connected devices, and setting them all up again would be quite a task.

    Additionally, I’m unable to perform an advanced speed test (in the app) as the router becomes unreachable as soon as the test is initiated. However, there doesn’t seem to be any degradation of service or connectivity with any of my devices including my iPhone where the app is resident. I’m still getting rocket-fast DL speeds on any device connected to my Wi-Fi. Of note, I do have my Wi-Fi radio split to alleviate any issues connecting my 2.4gHz smart devices.

    Any advice or solutions would be greatly appreciated! Thanks so much!

    1. On your iPhone, go to Settings > Starlink. Is Local Network enabled? I would try that. If you aren’t having connection issues with any of your devices, it might be that, or just some kind of glitch/bug. A factory reset would be my next step, but I understand not wanting to reconnect devices.