The short answer
“Restricted” means your dish is connected to Starlink, but your account is blocking internet access. The usual reasons are no active subscription, a paused service, a Residential dish used away from its registered address, or a data limit reached. An unpaid bill also stops service until it is paid. The Starlink app and website still work, so you can fix the account, then reboot.
What “Restricted” means on Starlink
Restricted is an account status, not a hardware fault. The dish still reaches the satellites, but Starlink lets it reach only its own website and app, so you can sign in and put things right. Rebooting on its own won’t clear it, and nor will buying a new router. “Disabled” messages are related but usually mean the plan or location isn’t allowed (see below).
Why is my Starlink saying Restricted? Causes and fixes
| Cause | What is going on | How to restore service |
|---|---|---|
| No active subscription | The plan was never activated, was cancelled, or the kit was transferred away | Activate or resubscribe in your Starlink account, then reboot |
| Unpaid bill | A monthly charge failed; service is suspended until the overdue balance is paid (see below) | Pay the balance or update the card |
| Service paused | A pause is still active on the plan | Resume it under Manage Subscription; it can take up to 15 minutes to clear |
| Unexpected Location | The dish is away from its Residential service address, or past a Roam plan’s travel limit | Go back, update the address, or change plan |
| Data limit reached | A plan with a data cap has used its allowance | Add data or change plan |
Unpaid bills
Starlink bills monthly, in advance, to the saved payment method. Starlink’s standard terms say that if you don’t pay on time, “your Services will be suspended until the overdue amounts are paid”. We couldn’t confirm which app status a suspended Nigerian account shows, or how soon suspension starts, so pay or update the card as soon as a payment fails, then reboot the router.
Away from your service address
Most new customers in Nigeria are on a Priority plan such as our small business plan, because Residential is not open to new customers in most locations, including Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt. Starlink’s standard terms let Local Priority plans be used anywhere on land in the country of service (use on the move still needs in-motion approval).
Residential is stricter. Starlink’s standard terms say Residential customers are only authorised to use the service at the address on their order. Take a Residential dish to the village, a site or another state and the app can show “Unexpected Location”. Roam plans travel, but Starlink’s standard terms limit Roam use outside your home country to 60 consecutive days. If you have moved for good, see our guide to changing your Starlink service address. A Residential account that moves address or is cancelled may not get Residential back. We check what is available at your address first.
Data limits
Our small business plan has unlimited data: on the Nigerian accounts we sell and manage, once a Priority plan’s priority data is used up, the service carries on with unlimited standard data at lower network priority. Residential plans in Nigeria are reported as unlimited too, so this mostly affects capped plans. Our guide to Starlink data and fair use explains which plans have limits.
Paying for Starlink from Nigeria when your card fails
Starlink bills Nigerian accounts in naira, but local Visa and Mastercard cards often fail because banks limit international online spending. Ask your bank to raise the limit, try another card, or hand renewals to us: with our Starlink subscription and renewal service, you pay us by bank transfer and we keep the plan running. Our guide to paying for, renewing and pausing Starlink in Nigeria compares the options.
“Service disabled” and “User disabled”
“Service disabled” usually means your current plan doesn’t allow use where the dish is. Where Starlink isn’t authorised to operate, this generally can’t be got around. Starlink’s standard terms also allow it to suspend an account without notice for breaking its terms or Acceptable Use Policy.
Starlink hasn’t published a definition of “User disabled” that we could check. Two likely explanations, neither confirmed by Starlink: you are signed in with a different account from the one that owns the kit, or the kit has been removed or transferred from the account. Accounts have also been disabled by mistake: in November 2023, Starlink’s automated fraud checks flagged some genuine customers, who got back in through the phone-number option on the account-recovery page. If identity checks are holding your account up, see our Starlink account verification guide.
“Starlink is not on this account”
This comes down to which account owns the kit. If the app says “This router doesn’t appear to be associated with your Starlink”, sign out, sign in with the account that activated the kit, and reboot. Check which email was used at activation: it may not be the one on your phone.
With a used kit, the seller has to cancel their service and transfer the kit to you; until then it stays on their account and you can’t activate it. Our guide to buying a used Starlink and transferring the kit explains the steps.
When to get help
If you have paid, your plan allows use where the dish is, and the app still says Restricted, our Starlink support service can go through the account with you and help you raise it with Starlink. Call 0802 859 5303 or WhatsApp us, 24 hours a day. For other app messages, see our Starlink troubleshooting guide.
Starlink restricted and disabled FAQs
Why is my Starlink still restricted after I paid?
Give it a few minutes, then reboot the router. If it still says Restricted, check that the account shows an active plan and no balance due.
Can I use my Residential Starlink in another state?
Not without updating the service address first: Residential service is tied to the address on your order, and you may have to switch plans if Residential is not offered there. Priority plans, which most new customers have, can be used anywhere on land in the country under Starlink’s standard terms.
Does Restricted mean my dish is faulty?
No. The dish is still talking to the satellites; it is the account that is limiting it.
Can I fix a restricted Starlink myself?
Usually, yes. Sign in to your Starlink account, deal with the payment, plan or address issue, then reboot.