Starlink Critical Update: How to Install Version 2024.12.26 and What You Need to Know
By November 17, 2025, all Starlink terminals must run on software no later than December 26, 2024, otherwise the devices will lose connection to the network.
By November 17, 2025, all Starlink terminals must run on software no later than December 26, 2024, otherwise the devices will lose connection to the network.
According to the Ukrainian guide Skylinker, after November 17, 2025, the Starlink network will only accept terminals with firmware version 26.12.2024 or newer. Older builds may not connect for updates at all. This is not a hardware limitation: any revision can be updated, but it is risky to delay the deadline, especially if the terminal was idle for a long time in 2025.
The reason for the hard limit is the incompatibility of some of the new network and satellite functions with older versions of the software. Previously, terminals were usually connected at least to «pull up» the update, now there is no such guarantee. Therefore, it is critical to first check your version, and only then update.
You can check the firmware number in the official Starlink application (Software Version), in your account at starlink.com, or through the Star Debug utility.
Please note the new naming rules: since the end of 2024, versions are listed by date, so builds marked «2024.12» were sometimes released earlier than «26.12.2024.» Focus on the full issue.
Most terminals update automatically, but you can speed up the process. Connect the terminal, take it out into the open sky, wait for the app to offer to install the package, and confirm. In locations with a «cut-off» view of the sky, the download may take longer — this is normal. After rebooting, check the version number again.
If you have software from 2024.05.0 and newer, the application usually has a manual installation option. Before doing so, update the Starlink application itself to the latest version. Sometimes, after installation, the system loads additional packages, so give the terminal a few minutes to work and check again that the version has not been «rolled back».
Typical failures and quick solutions
If the update offer does not appear, restart the terminal and the application, move the antenna to a place with a wider view of the sky. There are several sets (warehouse, office, headquarters), so check each one separately: Starlink letters often indicate the identifiers of the problematic devices. If it is a new, sealed set, the production date is not indicated on the box, so it is better to turn it on and update immediately.
Separately, about the «order» of versions: due to the transition to dated releases, the numbering may seem illogical. The simplest rule is to install the update that the system offers and make sure that the result is 26.12.2024 or newer.
The correct course of action now is to check your version, update immediately, and confirm the result. This will eliminate the risk of downtime after November 17 and maintain compatibility with the new network configuration. If you have any difficulties, please contact Starlink support via your personal account.
Previously, dev.ua wrote about how Elon Musk’s SpaceX company turned off more than 2,500 Starlink terminals that were being used by cybercriminal groups.
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