How to Stow a Starlink Dish Safely Before Moving It

What stow mode does

Stow mode parks a compatible Starlink dish in a transport position before you disconnect or move it. The exact menu name depends on the dish, router and app version, and some flat or fixed hardware does not have a motorised stow position.

Use this guide when you are moving the equipment, putting it into storage or packing it for a trip. Do not climb onto a roof or handle an outdoor dish just to follow these steps.

Before you start

• Make sure the dish is powered and visible in the Starlink app.
• Connect your phone to the Starlink Wi-Fi if possible.
• Have the original packaging or a padded, dry container ready.
• Stop work if the dish, mount, cable or power supply looks damaged.
• Identify whether you use a Starlink router or a third-party router. The stow control belongs to the Starlink equipment, not to a separate mesh system.

1. Stow the dish from the app

1. Open the Starlink app while the system is online.
2. Open the settings or equipment controls and look for Stow, Stow Dish or a similar command.
3. Confirm the action when the app asks.
4. Wait until the dish has finished moving and has settled into its parked position.

Keep hands, tools and loose cables away from the dish while it moves. Never push, twist or hold the dish to make it stow faster. If the app shows no stow control, do not assume that a power cycle or a manual adjustment is equivalent.

2. Power down before disconnecting

After the dish has stopped moving:

1. Turn off the Starlink power supply at the socket, switch or approved power control.
2. Wait for the equipment to stop before removing cables.
3. Disconnect plugs by holding the connector body, not by pulling the cable.
4. Coil cables in wide, relaxed loops and keep every connector clean and dry.

If the equipment is mounted outside or above ground level, leave the disconnection to a qualified person who can work safely. Do not trade a routine move for a fall or damaged weatherproofing.

3. Pack and store the equipment

Use the original packaging when available. Otherwise, protect the dish and router from knocks, moisture and pressure.

• Keep weight off the dish face and any exposed connector.
• Separate the dish, router, power supply and cables so they cannot rub together.
• Do not sharply bend or tightly wind the Starlink cable.
• Keep the equipment dry and out of direct heat.
• Do not power the dish while it is covered or packed.
• Keep small parts and the correct cables together with the kit.

Take a quick photo of the cable connections before packing if the installation is unfamiliar. Do not post photos that show account details, serial numbers or other private information.

4. Set it up again

1. Place the dish on a stable surface with the clearest practical view of the sky.
2. Reconnect the correct cable path and power supply.
3. Turn the system on and give it time to boot.
4. Open the Starlink app and wait for the equipment status to update.
5. If the app offers Unstow or a similar command, use it and wait for the dish to finish moving.
6. Confirm that the system is online before reconnecting important devices.

Do not manually tilt or rotate a motorised dish. For hardware that has no motorised stow or unstow control, position it according to that model's instructions instead.

If stow is missing or the dish will not move

First check that your phone is connected to the Starlink network and that the app is signed into the correct account. A third-party router or bypass mode can change how your phone reaches the app, but it does not make it safe to force the dish by hand.

If the command is still missing:

• Check whether your dish model supports a motorised stow position.
• Confirm that the dish is receiving power and that the cable path is intact.
• Do not factory-reset the router just to find a stow control.
• Do not unplug a moving dish or use the cable as a handle.
• Follow the model-specific Starlink instructions or contact support before transporting it.

If the dish is stuck partway through movement, stop handling it and record the app message, equipment status and any visible cable damage. That evidence is more useful than repeated power cycles.

Stow checklist

Before you leave the installation or close the box, confirm that:

• The dish reached a stable parked position, or your model has no stow function.
• Power was removed only after movement stopped.
• Cables and connectors are dry, undamaged and loosely coiled.
• The dish and router are protected from pressure and moisture.
• You know which cable goes to each piece of equipment.
• The system comes online after setup before you rely on it.

A careful stow takes less time than replacing a damaged dish, connector or cable.