Router Mini is Starlink’s small standalone Wi-Fi 6 router. It’s not the Starlink Mini dish. It comes with V5 and Standard 4 kits, can add mesh coverage to most Starlink systems, and is the free replacement Starlink has offered Gen 1 router owners. For every Starlink router in one place, see our Starlink router guide.
Last checked: October 10, 2026.
Router Mini or Starlink Mini?
The names are easy to confuse:
- Starlink Mini is a compact dish with a router built in.
- Router Mini is a separate router. It does not connect to satellites by itself.
What it is and which kits use it
According to Starlink’s V5 specification sheet, Router Mini is a dual-band Wi-Fi 6 router with two 1 Gbps Ethernet ports (one LAN, one WAN; Starlink Router Mini installation guide). Starlink rates its coverage at up to about 2,200 sq ft and says it supports up to 235 devices. It’s included with V5 and Standard 4 kits. Starlink also sells it on its own (Starlink shop); check the current price on Starlink’s US shop.
It can mesh with the Gen 2 router, Router 3, other Router Minis and the Starlink Mini, but not with the Gen 1 router or third-party mesh systems (Router Mini install guide). The guide says to use the 15 m Mini Starlink cable when wiring it to a Starlink Mini, and a Cat5e-or-better cable when wiring it to another Starlink router.
Gen 1 router owners: end of updates and the free swap
In late 2025 Starlink began emailing owners of the Gen 1 router (UTR-201), the one that came with the original round dish. The emails said the router would stop getting software updates and offered a free Router Mini as a replacement (TechSpot; PCMag Australia; ZDNet). The Gen 1 router keeps working, but it won’t get security fixes.
No email? The Mobile Internet Resource Center says Starlink has to see the Gen 1 router online. Its advice is to connect the router to the dish, power it on and let it get online so the offer can be triggered (MIRC). We couldn’t confirm whether the offer is still open as of October 10, 2026. Check your Starlink account or contact support.
Router Mini or your own router?
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| If you want… | Router Mini | Your own router |
|---|---|---|
| Simple setup managed in the Starlink app | Yes | No; managed separately |
| Mesh with other Starlink routers | Yes (not Gen 1) | Only within its own mesh system |
| Advanced settings, VPN or parental controls beyond the app | Limited | Usually more options |
| Using an existing home network | Possible alongside it | Often easier, usually with Starlink’s bypass mode |
Using your own router with bypass mode turns off Starlink’s Wi-Fi, and undoing it requires a factory reset. See the router reset guide. Gen 2 router owners who want wired ports will also need the Ethernet Adapter.
A Wi-Fi 7 router is coming
The FCC authorized a new Starlink router, model UTR-261, on August 13, 2026 (FCC ID). PCMag and Notebookcheck reported that the filing points to Wi-Fi 7 and to it being a successor to the Router Mini (PCMag; Notebookcheck). Starlink has since published support documents calling it “Router 4”; as of PCMag’s September report it wasn’t on general sale (PCMag UK). If you only need extra coverage now, Router Mini is the current option. Compare kits in our kit comparison buying guide.