When the Starlink motor stuck notification pops up on your app, it can be a big worry because it’s not a common problem.
The issue can emerge during installation.
However, some people have reported their Starlink working all along but just woke up one day and encountered this problem.
If that is you, we got you covered. We will show you what can cause this issue and how you can effectively troubleshoot it.
Table of Contents
Why Do My Starlink Motor Stuck?
We suspect several factors can interfere with your Starlink motor operation. However, the most common one is obstruction.
When objects such as trees, buildings, or hills stand in the way of your Starlink antenna, it interferes with Starlink signal reception, and this can cause the motor to fail.
This message can also appear when your Starlink is tilted too far. Or when the dish is not vertical enough.
How to fix Starlink Motor Stuck Error
If your Starlink app shows the motor stuck error, but the system still works normally, you can just ignore the message.
However, if the notification appears and you have connection issues, try the following tips:
Stow your Starlink
Stowing your Starlink should be the first solution to consider when you see that motor stuck message.
Stowing is simply moving the dish back to its default orientation.
You can easily stow your Starlink using the app. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to stow your Starlink.
- Download the Starlink app and launch it if you don’t have it.
- Open the app on your device.
- Tap “Setting” and scroll down to the “Stow Starlink” option. Then slide the toggle to the right.
Sliding the toggle will simply stow the dish if you are locally connected to Starlink.
If you are troubleshooting it remotely, you will be prompted to confirm your action. Confirm by clicking “Ok,” and it will stow.
Remember, you will not be able to access the internet when stowing Starlink.
To get the service, you will have to unstow it, which is only possible if connected locally.
You cannot unstow and restore your Starlink service if you stowed it remotely.
To unstow the dish, you should follow the same steps you used when stowing it.
On the third step, where you see the “Stow” section, you will see “Unstow” instead.
Also, note that you can stow the dish without using the Starlink app. You can try these steps:
- Make sure you plug the dish into the power and turn it on. Then remove it from the mounting base.
- Turn the dish face down and place it on a flat surface.
- The dish will tilt into a stow position automatically after a minute.
- Unplug the dish immediately so that it remains stowed.
Reboot Your Starlink Router
Rebooting your Stralink router stops all the processes, wipes its memory, refreshes its caches, and restarts its firmware to improve its performance.
This can help eliminate the “Starlink Motor Stuck” error as well.
Fortunately, there are various methods you can use to reboot your router, and they are very simple.
Unplug and Plug
- Unplug the router power cord and let it rest for 30 minutes.
- Plug back the power cord.
- Once the router turns on, wait for it to connect to the internet and see if it eliminates the error.
Stow and Unplug Method
Stowing is also a way of rebooting a router, and you can do it in these simple steps:
- Stow the router and unplug it from the wall.
- Let it rest unplugged for 20 minutes.
- Plug back the power cord of the router, and that is all.
Rebooting Starlink Router Using Starlink App
You can also reboot the router using the official Starlink app as follows:
- Open the app if you already downloaded it.
- From the menu, select “Settings” then click on “Advance”.
- Initiate reboot by pressing “Reboot Starlink.” This will restart your Starlink dish after some time.
That said, restarting your Starlink can troubleshoot lots of problems and a stuck motor could be one of them.
Modern WiFi router on a white background
Disable the Starlink Antenna Motor
If the above-mentioned tips don’t work for you, you can consider disabling the antenna motor. Disabling the Starlink antenna motor will enable you to manually point it wherever you want.
To access the antenna motor, you will have to cut a small hole in the Starlink dish which can be hard.
However, if you are a DIY enthusiast, here is how to disable the Starlink antenna:
Reboot the dish
The first thing is to reboot the Starlink dish and give it time to point up.
You want it to point straight up so that you can easily make a hole.
Unplug and take it off from the mount to the workbench.
Cut Access Hole
Put it upside down on the bench and locate where the access hole is.
We could locate ours around 5 inches from the bottom (the side with indentation) and 5 inches from the side.
Drill the hole using a spade bit or drill bit or hole-cutting attachment.
This operation requires extreme care. The plastic isn’t too thick, so don’t drill too deep, or you may damage your dish.
Unplug Motor Connector
Once you drill the hole, you should be able to see the motor, unless it is not drilled in the right place.
The motor connector has four wires. Use a tweezer to unplug the wires and leave them unplugged.
Or wire up a switch so that you will be able to turn it off and on whenever you want.
Seal the Hole
You can find something like a rubber grommet from your local hardware to seal the hole.
You can use the same spade bit you use to drill the hole to fill it. Then apply a sealant so that water won’t be able to get into the dish.
Manually Aim the Dish
Once the motor is in disabled mode, you can manually aim your dish.
The goal is to make the dish face where it can have a clear view of the sky.
The app can be handy here as it will help you detect where there is no obstruction.
Final Thought
Dealing with Starlink motors stuck notifications mostly revolve around repositioning your dish.
Rebooking is also a great option as it can correct lots of Starlink errors. If any of our suggested tips don’t work for you, contact the Starlink support team.
