The short answer
In Nigeria, power is the first thing to check when Starlink keeps disconnecting. A NEPA cut or a slow inverter or generator changeover restarts the dish, and it then needs several minutes to find satellites again. After power, the usual causes are obstructions, a loose or damaged cable, heat, software updates and Starlink network outages. The app’s alerts and statistics show which one you have.
What each app status means
The app shows a status each time the connection drops. The common ones:
| Status | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Disconnected | The app on your phone can’t reach the router: often the phone isn’t on the Starlink Wi-Fi, you are signed out, or the wrong Starlink is selected | Rejoin the Starlink Wi-Fi and pick the right Starlink in the app |
| Offline: Unplugged or Rebooting | The link between dish and router is broken. Normal for a short while after an update or outage | If it lasts, reseat and inspect the cable, then restart |
| Offline: Booting, then Searching | The dish has restarted and is looking for satellites, which can take 5 to 20 minutes | Wait. If it still says Booting after 20 minutes, unplug and replug |
| No Signal Received | Appears with Booting and Searching while the connection is being restored | If it stays, check obstructions, outage alerts and the cable |
| “Optimizing connection” | Starlink hasn’t published a definition we could confirm | If it clears in a few minutes, leave it; if it keeps returning, work through the causes below |
Our Starlink troubleshooting guide covers the other messages. If the dish stays connected but pages won’t load, see Starlink connected but no internet.
Why Starlink keeps disconnecting: the main causes
Power cuts and inverter changeover
The dish and router need steady power. When NEPA goes and the inverter or generator takes over, even a short gap can restart the system, and each restart costs minutes while the dish boots and searches. If your drops line up with power changes, put a small UPS (a battery unit that switches over without a break) between the inverter and the Starlink power supply to bridge the gap. Check that the UPS accepts your inverter’s output, because some UPS units reject the output of cheaper modified-sine-wave inverters, and have an electrician wire anything beyond a plug-in unit. Size it comfortably above Starlink’s draw: Starlink lists average use of 75 to 100 W for the Standard and 25 to 40 W for the Mini, and peaks run higher than the average. Our guide to running Starlink without NEPA covers inverters, solar and batteries.
Obstructions
Starlink says objects such as a tree branch, pole or roof “will cause service interruptions”. Because the satellites move across the sky, a blocked patch causes short, repeated drops each time a satellite passes behind it, rather than one long outage. The app shows a “Starlink Obstructed” alert. See how to read the obstruction map and clear trees and tanks.
Loose or damaged cable
A half-seated plug, a cable kinked in a window frame, rat bites or years of sun can send the dish into “Unplugged or Rebooting” again and again. Push each plug in until its face sits flush; the Standard cable has no release tab, so pull it straight out firmly when you remove it. The app may also warn of a poor cable connection. Lengths and replacements are in our Starlink cable guide.
Heat
Starlink rates the Standard and Mini to work up to 50°C. On a hot roof, and especially with a Mini in full sun, heat can bring “Starlink Overheated” or “Thermal Throttling” alerts. On the Standard 4 kit the power supply light turns red when it is too hot. Keep the power supply in shade with air around it, and the router indoors.
Software updates and outages
After a software update, a short “Unplugged or Rebooting” spell is normal. Problems on Starlink’s side show as a “Service Outage” alert; there is nothing to fix at your end, so wait it out.
How to read the app’s outage statistics
The app’s Statistics page shows uptime, latency, throughput and power draw, and recent drops appear as alerts (where the outage history sits varies between app versions). Read the pattern, not one drop:
- Many short drops through the day: most likely an obstruction.
- Drops of several minutes that match power cuts or changeovers: power or the inverter.
- Repeated “Unplugged or Rebooting” with steady power: the cable or a connector.
- Drops on hot afternoons with heat alerts: heat.
- Everyone nearby down at once, with a Service Outage alert: Starlink’s network.
If the connection stays up but is just slow, see why Starlink is slow instead.
Step-by-step fix
- Note when the drops happen and what the app says each time.
- Check the app for outage, obstruction and overheating alerts.
- Compare the drop times with power cuts and changeovers.
- With the power unplugged, reseat the dish cable at the router or power supply and inspect as much of it as you can see safely. Leave the dish end on the roof to an installer.
- Restart: unplug the router (on Standard 4, the power supply too), plug back in and allow about 15 minutes.
- Run the obstruction tool in the app and deal with anything it flags.
- If it still drops, factory reset the router as a last step. This wipes your Wi-Fi name and password, and switches off bypass mode if you use your own router.
When to get the dish checked
Get it checked if “Unplugged or Rebooting” keeps coming back after you have reseated the cable, the cable is visibly damaged, the dish or pole has moved, or a UPS hasn’t stopped power-related drops. Faulty Starlink equipment is covered by Starlink’s one-year limited manufacturer warranty, and we advise on the next steps if a claim is needed. Our Starlink support service sends installers anywhere in Nigeria. Call 0802 859 5303 or WhatsApp us, 24 hours a day.
Starlink disconnecting FAQs
Why does my Starlink keep rebooting?
Usually unsteady power from an inverter or generator, a damaged cable, or an overheating power supply. Note the times it restarts and compare them with your power cuts and changeovers.
How long does Starlink take to reconnect after a power cut?
The dish has to boot and search for satellites, which can take 5 to 20 minutes. A UPS avoids the restart altogether.
Why does Starlink say “Disconnected”?
The app can’t reach your router, usually because your phone is on mobile data or another Wi-Fi network. Rejoin the Starlink Wi-Fi.
Can trees make Starlink drop out?
Yes. Branches that block part of the dish’s view cause short, repeated drops, and they get worse as the tree grows.