How to Transfer Starlink to a New Owner: A Safe Handoff Checklist

Selling or giving away a purchased Starlink kit is more than handing over the dish and router. The previous owner must remove the hardware from the old account, and the new owner must activate it on a separate account.

This checklist is designed to prevent the most common handoff problems: a kit that is still tied to the seller, an unpaid balance, a rented terminal being sold, missing accessories, or a buyer who cannot activate the service.

Before you agree to the handoff

Confirm these points while the kit is still in the seller's possession:

1. The kit is owned, not rented. Starlink's transfer guidance does not allow a rental service line to be transferred to another person or location. A rented kit normally has to be returned under the rental terms.
2. The seller's account is in good standing. Resolve any outstanding balance before starting. A past-due account can block the transfer.
3. The buyer's service location is eligible. Check the address on Starlink's availability map and confirm that the intended plan is offered there. Availability and plan rules can vary by country and location.
4. The kit is old enough to transfer. Starlink currently lists timing restrictions based on the purchase date and activation date. Check the live transfer flow because the exact eligibility rule can change.
5. The kit is not already in a return process. If a return has been started, Starlink says a transfer may be unavailable after the carrier scans the return label.
6. Both sides know what is included. List the terminal, router, power supply, Starlink cables, mounts, adapters and any third-party accessories. Photograph the kit and serial or identifier labels before it changes hands.

Do not share the seller's Starlink password or leave the buyer using the seller's account. The buyer needs their own account, payment method and service details.

Seller: transfer the kit from your account

Complete the account transfer before shipping or handing over the equipment:

1. Sign in at starlink.com.
2. Open Subscriptions and select the subscription connected to the kit.
3. In the Service Plan box, choose Manage, then choose Cancel Service. This starts the service cancellation step required by Starlink's transfer flow; it is not the same as simply changing the account email.
4. Under Devices, find the Starlink terminal and choose Transfer.
5. Read the conditions and confirm. The transfer permanently removes the kit from the seller's account.
6. If offered, enter the buyer's email address so Starlink can send an activation link. If the buyer is not ready, finish the transfer and give them the Starlink identifier instead.
7. After the transfer is confirmed, factory-reset the router using the instructions for that hardware. Do not hand over a router that still contains the seller's Wi-Fi name, password or network settings.
8. Give the buyer every item listed in the handoff inventory, plus the Starlink identifier if an activation email was not sent.

The Starlink identifier is the terminal's unique ID. In the Starlink app it can be found by connecting to the Starlink Wi-Fi, opening Advanced, and looking under the Starlink section. Share the identifier, but never share the seller's login credentials.

Buyer: activate the transferred kit

The buyer should use a separate Starlink account:

1. Open the transfer email, if the seller sent one, or go to starlink.com/activate.
2. Enter the transferred kit's Starlink identifier when the activation flow asks for it.
3. Create or use the buyer's own Starlink account and add the buyer's payment details. Do not accept an invitation to keep using the seller's account.
4. Connect the terminal, router, power supply and cables exactly as labelled. Keep the dish outside with a clear view of the sky and protect all connections from water.
5. Confirm the service address, plan, billing date and equipment shown in the new account.
6. Wait for the app to recognise the terminal, then run a short test: connect a phone or laptop, open a few sites, check the app for alerts, and run a speed test at a sensible time.
7. If the kit is being installed at a different address, check the obstruction view again. A successful account transfer does not guarantee that the new location will have the same performance.

If activation fails, stop before repeatedly resetting the equipment. Check that the seller completed the transfer, the identifier was copied correctly, the new address is eligible, and the kit is not a rental or still tied to an unpaid account. Then contact Starlink Support with the identifier and proof of purchase if available.

Handoff mistakes to avoid

• Changing only the email address. That does not complete a hardware transfer.
• Selling a rental kit. Rental equipment follows different return and service rules.
• Resetting before the account transfer. Transfer the device first, then clear the router.
• Shipping without the identifier. The buyer may need it to activate the hardware.
• Assuming the home sale transfers service automatically. A property sale and a Starlink account transfer are separate actions.
• Promising a particular plan or price. Plans, availability, fees and activation rules are location-dependent and can change.
• Throwing away receipts or photos. Keep proof of purchase and handoff records until the buyer has activated the kit.

Final two-person checklist

Seller: account balance clear; transfer completed; activation email sent or identifier shared; router reset; all equipment packed; seller credentials removed.

Buyer: service address checked; transfer accepted; separate account created; payment method added; equipment received; terminal recognised; Wi-Fi and service tested.

For the latest eligibility rules, use Starlink's hardware ownership transfer guidance and activation page immediately before completing the handoff.