Why Is My Starlink So Slow? (7 Causes and How to Fix Each One)

Setup & PowerUpdated October 28, 2026 · 8 min read

Is your Starlink actually slow, or is this normal?

Satellite internet moves around more than a wired line. Your dish is constantly tracking satellites that are moving fast across the sky, and your traffic goes through ground stations before it reaches the internet. Some variation is normal.

As of October 2026, typical US Starlink results look like this:

Measure	Typical range	Notes
Download	~65-130+ Mbps	Ookla median 128 Mbps (Q1 2026)
Upload	~10-15+ Mbps	Higher in some states
Latency	~25-55 ms	Spikes during handoffs

Your plan also caps what you can get. As of October 2026, Starlink’s US residential plans are Residential 100 Mbps ($55/mo), Residential 200 Mbps ($85/mo) and Residential Max ($130/mo, no speed cap).

Quick self-check: run a speed test (for example on Speedtest.net) in the morning, the afternoon and between 7 and 10 PM. Compare the results to your plan. If mornings are healthy and only evenings drop, the cause is congestion, not a fault. If speeds are well below your plan all day, keep reading.

What are the 7 reasons Starlink is slow, and how do you fix each?

1. Peak-hour network congestion

Evenings, roughly 6 to 11 PM, are when the most people share each area’s capacity. Downloads slow and latency rises, especially in high-demand areas. This is the most common reason a fast connection suddenly feels slow.

Fix: schedule big downloads (backups, game updates, video exports) for early morning.

2. Obstructions blocking the dish

Starlink needs a wide, clear view of the sky. Small obstructions matter more than people expect: DishyTech’s guidance is that 1-5% obstruction brings occasional short dropouts that hurt video calls and gaming, 6-10% causes more frequent ones, and over 10% makes service spotty.

Fix: open the Starlink app and check the Obstructions map (it takes a few hours to fill in). Trim branches or move the dish. Even a few feet of extra height can clear a tree line.

3. Bad weather (rain fade and snow)

Heavy rain and wet snow can weaken the signal, causing slowdowns or brief dropouts. The effect varies with the storm, so there’s no reliable single percentage. Snow sitting on or piled around the dish is the bigger risk.

Fix: leave Snow melt on Automatic in the app during winter, and keep snow from piling up around the dish. Storm slowdowns pass on their own. See does Starlink work in snow.

4. Wi-Fi problems, not dish problems

Distance from the router, thick walls and lots of connected devices often slow you down before the dish does.

Fix: plug a laptop into the router with Ethernet and run a test. If wired is fast and Wi-Fi is slow, move the router somewhere central and open, add a mesh router, or cut down the devices that are streaming at once. Our guide on Starlink Wi-Fi range has details.

5. Data deprioritization

When a cell is busy, Starlink serves higher-priority traffic first. Residential Max sits at the top of the residential tiers; the 100 Mbps and 200 Mbps plans are deprioritized behind it. Business Priority plans are served ahead of residential traffic. This matters most for freelancers and small businesses who depend on calls and uploads during busy hours.

Fix: check your plan in the app. If you consistently slow down at peak times, consider Residential Max or a business Priority plan. They reduce the slowdown but don’t guarantee a fixed speed.

6. Satellite handoffs

Your dish switches satellites on a fixed schedule. Research presented at CoNEXT 2023 found Starlink reassigns connections about every 15 seconds, near the 12, 27, 42 and 57-second marks of each minute. That can cause short latency spikes in calls or games even when speed tests look fine.

Fix: you can’t remove it. A brief stutter roughly every 15 seconds is normal. A wired connection keeps everything else as stable as possible.

7. Outdated firmware or faulty hardware

Firmware glitches or a failing router or cable can cap your speed.

Fix: check the app for a pending software update. Power-cycle the router and dish (unplug for about 30 seconds). If speeds stay low after you’ve ruled everything else out, ask Starlink support for a hardware check.

How do you diagnose the exact cause, step by step?

1. Check obstructions in the app. It’s the most fixable cause.
2. Run a wired speed test directly into the router.
3. Test at different times of day to spot congestion.
4. Check the weather if the slowdown is sudden.
5. Review your plan for deprioritization.
6. Restart the dish and router to rule out a firmware glitch.

How do you fix a slow Starlink connection? (Action checklist)

• Raise or move the dish so it has a fully clear view of the sky.
• Put the router in a central, open spot, not behind furniture or in a closet.
• Add a mesh router for large homes or offices.
• Schedule large downloads and updates for early morning.
• Move to Residential Max or a Priority plan if peak-hour slowdowns hurt your work.
• Keep firmware updated and restart your equipment now and then.

When should you upgrade your plan or contact support?

Contact Starlink support when you’ve ruled out obstructions, weather and Wi-Fi and your off-peak speeds are still far below your plan. Bring your obstruction map and speed test log.

Upgrade your plan when the connection is healthy off-peak but evening deprioritization gets in the way of work. Freelancers and small businesses on Residential 100 or 200 Mbps are the most likely to benefit.

And be honest about the location: if you can’t get a clear view of the sky, no plan will fix that. A wired service may be the better choice there.

Frequently asked questions

What is a normal Starlink download speed?

In the US, typical Starlink medians are roughly 65-130+ Mbps download, about 10-15+ Mbps upload and 25-55 ms latency. Ookla put the national median at 128 Mbps in Q1 2026. Your plan’s speed tier and local congestion change what you’ll see.

Why is my Starlink slower at night?

More people are online in the evening, so each user’s share of the local cell shrinks. Download speeds and latency often dip, especially in busy areas and on deprioritized plans.

Does rain or snow really affect Starlink speed?

Yes, heavy rain and wet snow can cause slowdowns or brief dropouts. How much varies with the storm, so there’s no single percentage. Speed returns once the weather passes. Snow piled on or around the dish is the bigger risk.

What is Starlink deprioritization?

When a cell is busy, Starlink serves higher-priority traffic first. Residential Max has the highest residential priority; the 100 and 200 Mbps plans are deprioritized behind it, and business Priority plans sit ahead of residential traffic.

Is it my Wi-Fi or my Starlink dish that's slow?

Plug a laptop into the router with Ethernet and run a speed test, then repeat on Wi-Fi in the same room and in the slow room. Fast wired but slow Wi-Fi points to the router setup, not the dish.

More guides

Sources

• How Much Does Starlink Cost? (KeepTrack)
• Starlink Speeds Hit 130 Mbps (5Gstore, citing Ookla)
• Starlink revamps Residential plan lineup (RV Mobile Internet)
• Starlink Obstructions, How Much Is Too Much? (DishyTech)
• Observing Starlink's 15-second handover (Classmethod)
• Starlink weather performance (SatSpeedCheck)

Prices and plan details were checked in October 2026 and change often. Confirm current Starlink pricing at checkout. Starlink™ is a trademark of SpaceX; Borrow Starlink is an independent rental company.