Firmware Update Queued for Installation
The STARLINK-SOFTWARE_UPDATE_REQUIRED (Starlink) EV fault code means: Firmware Update Queued for Installation. This is a minor severity code.
- Keep driving?
- Yes, but fix soon
- DIY difficulty
- easy
- Estimated cost
- $0 for the update itself. If a technician is needed to troubleshoot a stuck update or connection issue preventing install, expect $50-$150 for a remote support session through a third-party Starlink-familiar tech.
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Common Symptoms
- Starlink mobile app (iOS / Android) shows a SOFTWARE_UPDATE_REQUIRED status or a banner saying an update is pending
- Internet service briefly drops for 30 seconds to a few minutes, usually between 1 and 4 AM local time, while the update installs
- The Statistics tab in the Starlink mobile app (iOS / Android) may show a short spike in outage time the morning after the update
- Dishy may reboot on its own overnight and come back online without any action from you
- The Starlink router or Mesh node may also restart briefly as part of the update sequence
- Some users see a 'Booting' status in the app for 2 to 5 minutes right after the update applies
- Everything returns to normal on its own. No hardware fault light, no permanent outage.
Probable Causes (Ranked by Likelihood)
- Starlink has pushed a scheduled firmware release to your dish, router, or Mesh node and the update has been queued but not yet installed Very Likely
- A previous overnight update attempt was interrupted by a power outage or deliberate power cycle before it could complete, causing the system to re-queue the update Likely
- The dish was actively transferring data during the normal 1-4 AM install window and deferred the update to the next available idle period Possible
- A partial update installed on the dish but the router or Mesh node has not yet received its matching firmware, so the system is holding until all components can update together Possible
- A manual reboot or power cycle was performed shortly before the overnight window and the system needs additional uptime before it will attempt the install Less Likely
Step-by-Step Diagnostic Procedure
Open the Starlink mobile app (iOS / Android) and go to the Diagnostics screen. Confirm the status reads SOFTWARE_UPDATE_REQUIRED. If you also see AntennaUnreachable or Disconnected alongside it, resolve those faults first because the update cannot install if the dish is offline.
Check the Statistics tab in the Starlink mobile app (iOS / Android) and look at uptime. Updates typically require the dish to have been online and idle for at least 15 to 20 minutes. If you recently rebooted, just wait.
Do not power-cycle the dish, router, or any Starlink Mesh node between 1 and 4 AM local time. Interrupting the install is the most common reason the update re-queues and the status persists for multiple days.
If the status has shown for more than 3 days and still has not cleared on its own, log in to the browser-based admin at 192.168.100.1 and confirm the router is NOT set to a custom DNS or Bypass mode configuration that could be blocking Starlink's update servers. Restore default settings temporarily if so.
Inspect all coax and power connections at the dish and the router. A loose connection that causes intermittent drops overnight will abort the update mid-install. Reseat any connectors that feel loose.
If you use a UPS or generator for power and it shuts off at night, make sure the dish will have uninterrupted power through at least 4 AM. The update needs roughly 10 to 15 minutes of steady power to complete.
After a successful update, open the Starlink mobile app (iOS / Android) and go to the Diagnostics screen to confirm the SOFTWARE_UPDATE_REQUIRED status is gone. The Statistics tab will show a brief outage entry from the install reboot, which is normal.
If the status persists beyond 5 to 7 days with no sign of install attempts (no brief overnight outage in your Statistics tab), contact Starlink support through the app. A stuck update may require a server-side push from Starlink.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does SOFTWARE_UPDATE_REQUIRED mean on my Starlink?
It means Starlink has a new firmware version ready for your dish, router, or Mesh node and is waiting for the right moment to install it. The system picks a quiet window, usually between 1 and 4 AM local time, so the brief reboot during install bothers as few people as possible. You do not need to do anything. It clears on its own after the update finishes.
Will my internet go down when the update installs?
Yes, but only briefly. Most installs cause an outage of 30 seconds to about 3 minutes while the dish and router reboot. For most users that happens overnight when nobody is streaming or working, so it goes unnoticed. If you run a business or have overnight equipment that depends on connectivity, plan for that short gap.
Do I need to do anything to make the update happen?
No action is required from you. Just make sure the dish and router stay powered overnight, especially between 1 and 4 AM local time. Do not unplug or reboot your equipment during that window or it may delay the update by another day.
The status has been showing for several days and it still has not updated. Is something wrong?
Possibly. The most common culprits are nightly power interruptions that abort the install, a loose cable causing intermittent drops, or a router set to Bypass mode or a custom DNS that blocks Starlink's update servers. Check the Diagnostics screen in the Starlink mobile app (iOS / Android) for any other active faults, make sure the dish has clean power overnight, and reseat all connectors. If the status persists beyond 5 to 7 days, contact Starlink support through the app.