SpaceX has started notifying customers that first-generation Starlink routers will soon stop receiving software updates. The company is offering free Router Mini replacements to affected users.
The routers in question, designated as UTR-201, shipped alongside first-generation Starlink user terminals starting in 2020. Devices came bundled with the circular dish design that defined Starlink’s early rollout. However, SpaceX transitioned to flat-dish hardware and Gen 2 routers just a year later, leaving Gen 1 equipment to serve a shrinking pool of longtime subscribers.
Now, SpaceX has confirmed that software support for Gen 1 routers will end soon. According to emails sent to customers, decision stems from “ongoing upgrades for security, performance, and reliability” across the Starlink network. Without continued updates, users face potential security vulnerabilities and compatibility issues with current services.
SpaceX is reaching out to active Gen 1 router users with a complimentary Router Mini, a $40 device released earlier this year. “As a thank you for being a longstanding customer, we are offering you a free Router Mini, a dual-band router with Wi-Fi 6,” the company wrote in customer notifications.
Reports from Facebook group indicate that SpaceX is contacting a substantial number of affected subscribers. However, there’s a catch. To qualify for the free replacement, customers must temporarily connect and power their Gen 1 router to the user terminal for approximately 24 to 48 hours. Step triggers the eligibility detection system for the upgrade offer.
“I installed it last week, and it’s been working great,” one Starlink user says. “You still need to keep the power brick connected, just run the white cable from the power brick to the Router Mini, hook up power to the router, and connect the outgoing Ethernet cable if you need it. After that, you’re good to go.”
While Gen 1 routers won’t immediately stop functioning after updates cease, SpaceX warns that users may experience “degraded performance or reduced compatibility with Starlink services” over time. More concerning is the security risk, devices without patches become increasingly vulnerable to exploits.
Router Mini brings meaningful upgrades over SpaceX’s older hardware. New device adds Wi-Fi 6 support and is clearly positioned as an add-on for smaller spaces, a notable step up from the Wi-Fi 5 found on first-generation routers. Paired with a third-party wireless router, it should offer stronger performance and more flexibility, especially in homes juggling multiple connected devices. SpaceX has already published FAQ on its support page, stressing that swapping routers is straightforward, even when the new hardware is used with first-generation dishes.
This initiative follows a similar deadline when SpaceX required certain customers to update dormant dishes or risk having them become “permanently inoperable.” Both efforts reflect the company’s push to modernize its network infrastructure, even if it means leaving older Starlink equipment behind.
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