Portuguese 
English 
Spanish 
5 min of reading 
0 comments 
SpaceX Warns Users: Old Starlink Antennas Will Stop Working On November 17, 2025 If Not Updated To The New Software Version.
SpaceX, the aerospace company founded by Elon Musk, has issued a global alert for users of the Starlink satellite internet service: antennas with outdated firmwares must be updated by November 17, 2025, or they risk losing access to the network entirely. The notification, sent via email and displayed in customers’ control panels, was confirmed by the company on its official support page and reported by outlets such as O Antagonista and Mobile Internet Resource Center.
According to SpaceX, the measure is necessary to ensure service stability and antenna compatibility with the latest versions of the Starlink network, which currently has more than 6,000 active satellites in low Earth orbit. The update is mandatory for kits using software versions prior to 2024.05.0, found in first and second-generation equipment.
In a statement, the company was straightforward: “Devices that are not updated before November 17, 2025 will cease to connect to the Starlink network and will become inoperable.”
-
How the terraforming of Mars can transform the planet: artificial aerosols can increase the temperature by up to 35°C in 15 years, creating conditions for liquid water.
-
Scientists drilled nearly 8,000 meters into the ocean floor above the fault that caused the 2011 tsunami in Japan and discovered that a layer of clay 130 million years old was responsible for making the wave much worse than any model had predicted.
-
Thousands of years after causing the largest eruption of the Holocene, one of the world’s largest supervolcanoes is rebuilding itself beneath the sea south of Japan, receiving new magma and alarming scientists with its transformation.
-
China has activated a magnet 700,000 times more powerful than the Earth’s magnetic field that operates for over 200 consecutive hours while consuming little energy, and now the world wants to know what Beijing plans to do with this technology in 2026.
Which Starlink Antennas Will Be Affected By The Mandatory Update?
Starlink currently utilizes three main generations of antennas — known as Dish V1, V2, and V3, with the older versions, especially those produced between 2021 and 2022, being the most impacted.
These models were manufactured before the introduction of the new communication protocol for the constellation, which improves latency and automatic network management.
According to the company’s announcement, kits that have not connected to the network in the last 12 months — due to being powered off or stored — are also at risk. When reactivated, they need to be left on for a few hours to download and install the new firmware automatically.
Models with versions lower than 2024.05.0 (verifiable in the “Starlink” app) should be updated as soon as possible to avoid permanent blocking.
SpaceX explains that the new versions include security fixes, performance improvements, and traffic optimizations to support the network’s expansion, which has already surpassed 3 million users in 100 countries, including Brazil, where the service has been rapidly growing in rural and remote areas.
Why Is The Update Necessary?
The Starlink system relies on constant synchronization between ground terminals and low-orbit satellites. Each antenna communicates with dozens of satellites within seconds, and small software differences can cause data traffic instabilities.
According to SpaceX engineers, the update will standardize communication between generations of antennas and ensure compatibility with the new satellites of the Starlink V2 Mini constellation, launched starting in 2024.
These new satellites are capable of transmitting data in Ku and Ka bands, with capacity up to four times greater than the previous generation. To function correctly, however, the ground antennas need to be updated with the latest link protocol, which can only be obtained through firmware updates.
SpaceX emphasizes that the process is automatic and free, requiring only that the terminal remains powered on and connected to the internet. During the update, the equipment may restart and be temporarily offline, but the procedure typically takes less than 30 minutes.
What Can Happen To Those Who Do Not Update Their Starlink Antenna By The 17th?
Customers who do not perform the procedure by the established deadline of November 17, 2025 risk having their terminal permanently blocked. Starlink explains that, after this date, servers will stop accepting connections from antennas with outdated firmware, rendering the equipment incapable of registering with the network.
In practice, this means that the terminal will stop functioning, and it will not be possible to reconnect it without direct technical intervention, something that may be unfeasible for users in remote areas.
In a note, the company highlighted that there are no plans to extend the deadline: “It is essential that all customers perform the update before the deadline to avoid loss of connectivity.”
Expansion And Global Impact
The mandatory update coincides with the global expansion phase of Starlink, which already offers residential, maritime, aerial, and business internet services. Since early 2024, the company has been modernizing its infrastructure to reduce average latency to less than 25 milliseconds, a figure comparable to fiber optics.
In Brazil, Anatel confirmed that SpaceX has authorization to operate the network until 2030, focusing on rural areas and regions without access to traditional broadband. Agency data indicates that the country already has over 90,000 active Starlink terminals, particularly in the Amazon, Pará, Rondônia, and the interior of São Paulo.
Telecommunications experts emphasize that while the requirement may seem strict, it is common in systems based on satellite constellations. Each update is essential to maintain orbital synchronization and prevent large-scale communication failures.
How To Check If Your Antenna Needs The Update
Users can confirm the firmware version directly in the Starlink app, by accessing the menu “Settings > Advanced > Software Version”.
If the displayed number is less than 2024.05.0, the antenna requires immediate update. In this case, simply leave the equipment powered on and connected to electricity and the internet for a few hours for the download and installation to occur automatically.
The company recommends performing the procedure by the end of October, to avoid server overload and failures during the mass update process scheduled for November.
What To Expect After The Update Deadline For The Antennas
Starting November 18, 2025, only antennas with updated software will continue to receive a signal. The progressive shutdown of the old versions is part of SpaceX’s plan to consolidate the second generation of the Starlink network and prepare the way for the upcoming Starlink Direct-to-Cell, which will allow direct access to internet via smartphone, without intermediary antennas.
For Elon Musk, the update is a natural step in the evolution of the system. According to the billionaire, the goal is to make Starlink “the most reliable and resilient global network in the world,” especially in places where terrestrial infrastructure is limited or nonexistent.
The decision by SpaceX reinforces the dynamic nature of the Starlink network, which is growing in speed and capacity but requires constant updates from users.
With the final deadline set for November 17, 2025, millions of antennas worldwide will need to adapt to remain connected to the largest satellite internet system ever built.
Those who wait may quite literally see the sky disconnect.
-
-
3 pessoas reagiram a isso.