Starlink: can you use your own modem?
Yes — Starlink allows customer-owned equipment, but publishes technical requirements rather than a list of approved devices. There is no modem to buy: Starlink supplies the terminating equipment and you choose the router behind it. Match every requirement below before you buy — a device that misses one will not activate.
- Connection
- satellite (low Earth orbit) — the purchased Starlink kit includes the dish and a Starlink router; a customer-owned router is added behind them in bypass mode
- Verified
- 2026-08-25
- Your modemyou buy it, or you rent it
- Your ISP's networkthey decide what connects
- The internetthe part you actually want
How do I find a router that works with Starlink?
Starlink publishes requirements rather than naming specific devices, so match anything you shortlist against the requirements on this page, then confirm the exact model with Starlink before ordering.
Can I use my own modem with Starlink?
Yes. Starlink permits customer-owned equipment that meets its published requirements. In their words: yes for the ROUTER, with conditions. Starlink supports third-party routers: you connect your router to the Starlink router and enable bypass mode in the Starlink app so your router becomes the main router. The dish and Starlink router are part of the purchased kit — you add your router behind them rather than replacing them. There is no modem to buy.
Do I need the Starlink Ethernet Adapter?
It depends on your kit. Newer Standard and Gen 3 kits include Ethernet on the power supply, so no adapter is needed. Gen 2 requires the Starlink Ethernet Adapter, which Starlink sells in the Starlink shop.
How do I undo bypass mode on Starlink?
A factory reset. Starlink's own Gen 3 Router Setup Guide states plainly: "Factory reset required to exit bypass mode." There is no simple toggle back, so enable it deliberately.
Will the Starlink app still work with my own router?
Partly. Starlink states it cannot guarantee performance or compatibility with third-party networking equipment, and that some Starlink app features may not work as expected once your own router handles the network.
Can I replace the Starlink dish or router entirely?
No. The dish and router come as part of the purchased kit. Your own router is added behind Starlink's hardware in bypass mode — it does not replace it.
How do I activate my own equipment on Starlink?
(1) Set up Starlink and confirm it is online before adding your own router. (2) Connect your router to the Starlink router — Standard and Gen 3 kits use the provided Ethernet cable or the Ethernet port built into the power supply; Gen 2 requires the Starlink Ethernet Adapter. (3) In the Starlink app, enable bypass mode under Settings so your router becomes the main router.
What should I watch out for with Starlink?
Bypass mode is one-way without a reset — Starlink's own Gen 3 Router Setup Guide states "Factory reset required to exit bypass mode." Starlink also states it cannot guarantee performance or compatibility with third-party networking equipment, and that some features of the Starlink app may not work as expected once a third-party router is in place. Because Starlink is satellite, there is no DOCSIS cable modem involved at any point.
Two boxes
- Modemtalks to the ISP line
- Routermakes the Wi-Fi
One box — a “gateway”
- Modem + routerone unit does both jobs
Where does this information come from?
Every statement on this page is quoted from Starlink's own published pages:
- https://starlink.com/public-files/Gen3RouterSetupGuideStandardGen2.pdf
- https://starlink.com/support/article/0b372c01-c692-8920-8396-ffb7f429aab1
- https://starlink.com/support/article/a0fe8d51-32f7-d2b9-d74a-801e31ad9f6a
Other providers to compare
Providers that publish equipment requirements:CenturyLinkaltafiberConsolidated CommunicationsFrontierGoogle Fiber