To activate a Starlink bought from a store or a previous owner, go to starlink.com/activate or open the Starlink app. Enter your Starlink identifier (the kit number on the box or the dish’s serial number), then your contact details, service address, plan and payment method, and place the order. A new store-bought kit gives you one hour of free internet the first time you plug it in, so you can do all this through the dish itself (Starlink Help Center). If you ordered from starlink.com, there’s nothing extra to do: service activates when you set it up, or automatically 7 days after delivery.
Bought it second-hand? The seller has to release the Starlink from their account first. Starlink won’t activate a Starlink that is still assigned to another account (Starlink Help Center). See activating a used Starlink below.
Key Takeaways
- starlink.com/activate (or the app) is only needed for kits from retailers, resellers or previous owners.
- Have your Starlink identifier ready: the kit serial (KIT…) on the shipping label, the serial on the dish, or the ID in the app.
- Your first charge comes right away. A new account activating a retail kit pays the first month immediately.
- Only authorized retailers. Starlink can’t activate hardware bought from an unauthorized seller.
- Same country only. The country on the Starlink website must match the one on your account, or the kit may not activate.
- Do You Need to Activate Your Starlink?
- How to Activate Starlink, Step by Step
- Where to Find Your Starlink Identifier
- What Activation Costs
- Activating a Used or Transferred Starlink
- Where to Buy a Starlink You Can Activate
- Why Your Starlink Won't Activate
- Reactivating Starlink After Cancelling or Standby
- Frequently Asked Questions
Do You Need to Activate Your Starlink?
| How you got your Starlink | What to do |
|---|---|
| Ordered on starlink.com | Nothing extra. Set it up and it activates, or it activates automatically 7 days after delivery. |
| Bought from a store or authorized retailer | Activate on Starlink’s activation page or in the Starlink app. |
| Bought used, or given one | The previous owner transfers it out of their account, then you activate it as a new kit. |
| Cancelled or paused your own service | Reactivate from your account: Subscriptions > Manage > Activate Plan (Starlink). |
| Adding another Starlink to your account | Activate it on your existing account; the first bill is prorated. |
How to Activate Starlink, Step by Step
Starlink recommends activating in the Starlink app. The steps are the same on the web at starlink.com/setup or starlink.com/activate (Starlink Help Center):
- Download the Starlink app, or go to starlink.com/setup and click Activate Online.
- Enter your Starlink identifier (where to find it).
- Add your contact information.
- Enter your service address: where the Starlink will be used.
- Choose a service plan.
- Add a payment method.
- Click Place Order. Service starts, and Starlink bills you every 30 days from then.
No Internet at Home Yet? Use the Free Hour
A new retail kit comes with one hour of internet access the first time it’s plugged in. Set up the dish (see our Starlink setup guide), join the STARLINK WiFi network, and activate from your phone. If the hour runs out before you finish, Starlink says to finish activating over another connection, such as mobile data (Starlink Help Center).
Check Your Address First
Residential plans can’t be activated where the area is at capacity. There, Starlink offers a Roam plan instead, and you can’t switch to Residential until capacity opens (Starlink Help Center). Check your address on starlink.com before you buy, and see our Starlink availability map for what “sold out” and “coming soon” mean.
Where to Find Your Starlink Identifier
Any of these works as the identifier (Starlink Help Center):
- Kit serial number: on the shipping label on the box, starting with KIT (for example KIT00000000).
- Serial number on the dish: on the back near the cable port (Standard 4, Standard 4 X, Performance Gen 2), at the bottom left of the kickstand (Mini), or at the bottom of the mast (Standard Actuated, Performance Gen 1).
- Starlink ID in the app: connect to the STARLINK WiFi, open the app, tap the menu (top left), scroll down and tap the “i” button. The ID looks like 01000000-00000000-00e1c9f7 (leave off any “ut” at the start).
If you get an “Invalid Device ID” error, re-enter the identifier carefully. If it still fails, contact Starlink through the Help Center.
What Activation Costs
- First month: a new account activating a retail or third-party kit is charged for the coming month straight away. Adding a Starlink to an existing account, or reactivating, costs a prorated amount for the rest of your billing cycle (Starlink Help Center).
- Activation charge: Starlink may add a one-time charge that depends on your plan or kit. It can also apply if you later change your service address or plan, and it’s refunded if you return the kit within the 30-day return window (Starlink Help Center).
- Roam activation charge: in some markets, the Standard kit has a one-time charge to enable Roam. It’s refundable within 30 days and tied to your account, so it doesn’t transfer with the kit (Starlink Help Center).
- Activation Benefit: new Mini kits bought on starlink.com in the US and Canada can come with a discount at checkout. If you don’t activate within 7 days of delivery, Starlink may charge you its value, and transferred kits don’t qualify (Starlink Help Center).
- Busy areas: a one-time demand surcharge may apply; see our congestion charge guide.
For plan prices, see how much Starlink costs.
Activating a Used or Transferred Starlink
A used Starlink can be activated only after the seller removes it from their account. Starlink’s transfer rules (Starlink Help Center):
- Timing: a Starlink can’t be transferred until 120 days after purchase or 90 days after activation, whichever comes first.
- No unpaid balance: transfers are blocked if the seller’s account has an outstanding balance.
- No rentals: a rental service line can’t be transferred.
- Warranty: it runs from the original purchase date, not the date you bought it.
What the Seller Has to Do
- Log in at starlink.com, open Subscriptions, and cancel the service on that Starlink.
- Under Devices, click Transfer next to the Starlink and confirm. This removes it from their account for good.
- Optionally enter your email so Starlink sends you an activation link.
- Factory reset the router.
- Hand over everything in the kit, plus the Starlink identifier.
Then you activate it as a new kit at starlink.com/activate. Before you pay a private seller, ask them to complete the transfer, check your address is available, and look the kit over for damage.
Where to Buy a Starlink You Can Activate
Starlink says hardware from unauthorized retailers can’t be activated, and using it may lead to suspension. It also says to buy only through each retailer’s official Starlink shop (Starlink Help Center). Its list of authorized US retailers (September 2026):
Amazon, Bass Pro Shops, Best Buy, Boost Mobile, Cabela’s, Cost U Less, Home Depot, Microcom, Nebraska Furniture Mart, PC Richards, Sam’s Club, Thor Industries, Tractor Supply, Walmart, West Marine and Winegard.
On marketplaces such as Amazon, check that the seller is Starlink’s official store rather than a third-party seller. In Canada, Starlink’s list includes Best Buy, Costco, Home Depot, London Drugs, Microcom, Northwest Company, Visions Electronics and Walmart.
Why Your Starlink Won’t Activate
| Problem | What to do |
|---|---|
| “Invalid Device ID” | Re-enter the identifier; try the kit serial or the ID from the app instead. |
| Starlink is assigned to another account | The previous owner must transfer it first (see above). |
| Country mismatch | Make sure the country selector on starlink.com matches the country you register the account in. |
| Plan not offered | Check the country selector. In a capacity-limited area, only Roam may be available. |
| Using it in another country | Not supported: a Starlink can’t be activated for use outside the country your account was set up in. |
| Business account | Residential and Roam plans can’t be activated on an existing Business account. |
| Free hour ran out | Finish activation using another internet connection. |
| Bought from an unauthorized seller | Starlink can’t activate it. Contact the seller about a refund. |
Source: Starlink Help Center; identifier; retailers. If the dish itself won’t connect after activation, see Starlink disconnected and Starlink router unreachable.
Reactivating Starlink After Cancelling or Standby
- Log in at starlink.com and select Subscriptions.
- Select Manage, then Activate Plan.
- Pick your previous plan or a new one, and press Continue.
Reactivating Residential depends on capacity in your area. Starlink’s Help Center says there are currently no sold-out regions in the US, so US customers can resume Residential without delay. Elsewhere, if there’s no capacity, you can reactivate on Roam or a Priority plan instead (Starlink Help Center). For pausing rather than cancelling, see can you pause Starlink.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to activate a Starlink bought on starlink.com?
No. Service activates when you set it up, or automatically 7 days after delivery. Your first bill comes at activation or 7 days after delivery, whichever is first.
What is starlink.com/activate?
Starlink’s page for activating a kit that didn’t come from starlink.com, such as one bought from a retailer or a previous owner. The Starlink app does the same thing.
Can I activate Starlink without internet?
Yes, with a new retail kit. You get one hour of internet the first time you plug it in, which is enough to activate from your phone over the STARLINK WiFi.
How long does Starlink activation take?
Placing the order takes a few minutes. The dish itself can take a few minutes, and up to 30 minutes on first setup, to connect (setup guide).
Is there a Starlink activation fee?
Sometimes. Starlink may add a one-time activation charge depending on the plan and kit, refundable within the 30-day return window. New accounts also pay the first month at activation.
Can I activate a used Starlink?
Yes, once the previous owner has transferred it out of their account. Starlink won’t activate a Starlink that is still assigned to another account.
Can I activate a Starlink Mini the same way?
Yes. The steps are the same. The Mini’s serial number is at the bottom left of the kickstand.
Can I activate my Starlink in another country?
Not on your existing account. Starlink doesn’t support activating a Starlink for use in a different country from the one your account was set up in. To move for good, you set up a new account in the new country (Starlink Help Center).
Checked September 25, 2026, against the Starlink Help Center (US). Starlink changes its activation steps and fees from time to time; the activation page shows the current terms. Not affiliated with SpaceX or Starlink.
