The short answer
“Connected but no internet” means your phone or laptop has joined the Starlink Wi-Fi, but nothing is getting through to the internet. Open the Starlink app first. If it says Online, the fault is usually that one device, its DNS settings or a VPN. If it says Offline or Restricted, look at the dish, cable, account or a Starlink outage instead.
What “connected but no internet” means
Your phone or laptop shows this message, not Starlink. It means the Wi-Fi link to the router works, but the router can’t reach the internet, or your device can’t use the connection it is given. The status in the Starlink app tells you which half has failed:
| What the app shows | What it means | Where to look |
|---|---|---|
| Online | The dish has a working satellite link | Your device: Wi-Fi, DNS, VPN |
| Restricted | The dish is connected, but the account is blocking internet access | Payment, plan or service address |
| Offline, Booting or Searching | The dish has no satellite link at the moment | Power, cable, obstructions, outage |
| Router unreachable or Disconnected | The app can’t talk to the router | Is your phone on the Starlink Wi-Fi? |
If the app itself can’t reach the router, start with our guide to fixing “router unreachable”.
Starlink has no internet connection: quick checks in order
This builds on the troubleshooting order in Starlink’s own setup guides (alerts, router light, cables, restart), with the checks our installers add on Nigerian sites.
- Read the app’s alerts. Look for an outage, obstruction or overheating alert. If Starlink reports an outage, wait: nothing you unplug will fix it.
- Check the account. A failed renewal, a paused service or a plan that was never activated gives no internet even when everything is powered and connected. If the app says Restricted, follow our guide to restoring a restricted or disabled Starlink.
- Look at the obstruction map. A tree or water tank blocking a large part of the sky can stop the dish connecting at all. See how to check and clear Starlink obstructions.
- Read the router light. On the Gen 3 router (now Router 3), flashing white means it is still trying to connect, and it turns red if there is no internet after 20 minutes. Red means no internet; violet means bypass mode. No light means no power, or a connected router that has switched its light off after a while.
- Check the cables. With the power unplugged, follow the dish cable as far as you can safely see it from the ground, a window or a balcony. Look for cuts, crushing at window frames and rat damage, and reseat the plugs you can reach so the plug face sits flush. Don’t climb onto the roof to check the dish end; leave that to an installer. Our Starlink cable guide covers replacements.
- Restart properly. Unplug the router from power (on the newer Standard 4 kit, the power supply too), plug it back in and allow about 15 minutes while the dish finds satellites again.
- Take your own router out of the picture. If a TP-Link, MikroTik or similar router sits after Starlink, connect a laptop straight to the Starlink router. If that works, your own router is the problem.
- Try a second device. If one phone has no internet and another is fine, the fault is the phone.
If only one phone or laptop has no internet
When the app says Online and other devices work, the satellite side is fine. Fix the device:
- Forget the Starlink network on the device and join it again.
- Set DNS back to automatic. A custom DNS server typed in for another network can stop websites loading.
- Turn off any VPN or firewall app, then test again.
- Restart the device.
When your own router or bypass mode is involved
Many offices run a third-party router behind Starlink. Two settings cause most “no internet” calls here:
- Bypass mode is on. Bypass turns off Starlink’s Wi-Fi and routing, so all internet goes through your own router. If that router is off or misconfigured, nothing works. Starlink’s guides say a factory reset is the only way out of bypass mode, so don’t reset the Starlink router unless you mean to undo it.
- The router’s internet (WAN) port is set wrong. It should get its address automatically from Starlink (DHCP). Fixed settings left over from an old fibre or 4G line will not work.
Our guide to using your own router with Starlink covers bypass, CGNAT and MikroTik set-ups.
Is it a Starlink outage?
If the app shows an outage alert, or other Starlink users nearby are down at the same moment, the problem is on Starlink’s side. Leave the equipment on and wait. If the internet keeps coming and going rather than staying off, see why Starlink keeps disconnecting; if it works but crawls, see why Starlink is slow. Every other app message is in our Starlink troubleshooting guide.
When to call us
Call us if the app stays Offline after a restart and a cable check, the router light stays red, or you can’t get into the account. Our Starlink support team helps customers anywhere in Nigeria and can send an installer if the cable or dish needs work. Call 0802 859 5303 or send us a WhatsApp message, any time of day.
Starlink no internet FAQs
Why does Starlink say Online but there is no internet?
Online means the dish is talking to the satellites, so the fault is between the router and your device. Check DNS, VPN apps and any third-party router.
Why won’t my new Starlink connect to the internet?
A new kit gives no internet until it is activated on a plan. After that, the first connection can take a while as the dish searches for satellites.
Will a factory reset fix it?
Sometimes, but treat it as a last step. It wipes your Wi-Fi name and password, brings back the default “STARLINK” network and switches off bypass mode.
Does Starlink stop working if a payment fails?
It can. Starlink’s standard terms say services are suspended until overdue amounts are paid. Pay or update the card, then reboot.