Opt out of Starlink coverage on iPhone?

There are two separate satellite-related communications paths associated with Apple,kPhone, given the recent announcement.

There is the original out-of-coverage satellite access provided by Apple, and that coverage involves Globalstar.

There is now the recently-announced direct-to-satellite cellular, and that depends on the chosen cellular carrier and cellular plan. That includes the T-Mobile coverage (currently in beta) involving Starlink.

If you don’t want any dealing with SpaceX Starlink, then you’ll want to discuss that with T-Mobile if they’re your carrier, if (when?) the T-Mobile direct-to-satellite beta concludes with general coverage availability. Or discuss that preference with whatever other terrestrial carriers might eventually add Starlink coverage, or with whatever carriers might align with Kuiper*.

The recent announcement around Apple was the addition of Apple iPhone to the T-Mobile beta, as that beta was previously only available to Android devices.

*if and when the Kuiper constellation comes online, and if and when Kuiper then adds direct-to-satellite coverage.

Pbash wrote:

In order to use Starlink, you first have to download the Starlink app. Then you have to create an account and pay a monthly subscription fee. Apple has just made their products compatible to the Starlink system.

Okay, so there are three systems. The Apple service is based on Globalstar, the iOS 18.3 compatibility with the T-Mobile Direct-to-Satellite / Direct-to-Cell beta, and Starlink’s own satellite ISP system with its antenna, satellite transceiver, and Wi-Fi.

The announcement around iOS 18.3 adds compatibility with the Direct-to-Satellite / Direct-to-Cell system as part of the T-Mobile beta. The T-Mobile beta previously supported only Android. This addition effectively allows the use of low-orbiting satellites for cellular communications when out of terrestrial cellular coverage.

This iOS 18.3 compatibility is not related to the Starlink ISP, nor to the existing Globalstar communications provided by Apple.

If y’all don’t want to use Starlink, don’t join the T-Mobile beta, and don’t acquire a cellular plan (at T-Mobile) that includes Direct-to-Satellite / Direct-to-Cell access. And don’t use Starlink as an ISP.

You’re not in it. It’s not opt out, you have to opt in and you have to have T-Mobile as your carrier to even be able to opt out. Starlink is exclusively with T-Mobile. AT&T and Verizon are using other satellites services and not Starlink.

Your iPhone 14 or higher will default to Globalstar for emergency services only. T-Mobile confirmed all iPhones still default to Globalstar and not Starlink, especially the 14 and 15.

Starlink is a beta for T-Mobile only, you have to opt-in to get it. I talked with support and they said if you don’t finish the sign up process for it, you don’t have access to it. It’s aimed only at places that don’t have cellular services for now and not people who have consistent services.

I’d recommend not changing any plans within T-Mobile. Whenever Starlink rolls out of beta, it will be part of a plan. So, if you have Magenta, Go5G or any other older plans, you should be free of Starlink; unless you signed up for the beta.

Apple uses GlobalStar to provide SOS Satellite service. Apple is approximately a 20% owner having invested over $500 M. 

AT&T is partnered with AST SpaceGlobal for their service and they’ve invested $100’s of millions also. 

Verizon owns Inmarsat and has partnered with Skylo for cellular and emergency services. 

Starlink exclusively uses the 5G N51 band for cellular communications. Only T-Mobile can offer that band in the US. 

All iOS 18.3 did was add provisions for T-Mobile customers to opt into the beta testing of Starlink. The iOS update does not opt you in.

If you’re a T-Mobile subscriber please contact T-Mobile’s support team for additional information and assistance. 

I doubt AT&T or Verizon will partner with Starlink. Why would they?

Kkb062 wrote:

Not true. My son did the update on Friday on his iPhone and had a lot of trouble being able to call or text without WiFi. A few hours later when he texted me it showed “iMessage-Satellite”. We have at&t

Yes, and that would be the Apple-offered Globalstar access that becomes available when cellular coverage is lacking.

The Apple Globalstar coverage is unrelated to the cellular carrier, and unrelated to SpaceX Starlink.

Here are details of the Apple Globalstar feature:

Connect to a satellite with your iPhone - Apple Support

And here is a discussion of the T-Mobile Starlink beta that users of both T-Mobile and iOS 18.3 can choose to join:

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-01-29/apple-and-spacex-link-up-to-support-starlink-satellite-network-on-iphones

You’re assuming facts that aren’t in evidence. The update installs software/firmware that permits a select group of cellular service providers to provision a device to use Starlink.

If you don’t currently subscribe to that carrier you have nothing to worry about. Starlink has partnered with a small group of select cellular carriers worldwide. Here’s the list,

T-Mobile — USA

KDDI — Japan

OPTUS — Australia

One BZ — New Zealand

Salt — Switzerland

Entel — Chili and Peru

Rodgers — Canada

Now what country are you in and who’s your carrier? If it’s not one of the above then what is your point?

Nothing is affecting you or your iPhone. The vast majority of the major carriers have already partnered with other satellite services.

On the odd chance you are subscribing to one of the above, switch carriers and move on with your life.

h0pefulness wrote:

I will also leave iPhone if no way to opt out. My entire tech universe is Apple, have been w iPhone since the 1st. Is opt out available?

Curious what you learned about this when you read past the first post? Did you by chance learn, you have to be a T-Mobile customer and you have OPT-IN to the Beta test of this? So there's no opt out for something you don't have, which can't be on your phone. And if you are a T-Mobile customer, you still don't have Starlink unless you opted in. Plus, you can leave T-Mobile and go to another carrier who isn't partnered with Starlink. You might have also learned that Apple isn't partnered with Starlink. They only provided a path for T-Mobile to let THEIR customers and their customer ONLY the ability to test the Starlink Beta connection. Did you learn Android has had this on their platform for some time, so that means you won't be buying a Samsung or Google phone. So maybe you'll buy a cheap flip phone or no phone at all.

[Edited by Moderator]

https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/no-apple-didnt-partner-with-spacex-to-put-starlink-on-iphones/

Y’all need to read this.

In short: The iOS update was done at T-Mobile’s behest for the carrier’s choice of satellite network, and it’s only available with T-Mobile provider phones. Apple uses a different satellite network entirely for their emergency satellite phone service, as do most of the other non GSM carriers.

It was not a secret collaboration with Musk; it was Apple adding a feature for a significant carrier for their phones.

If you have an issue with Starlink, it’s not Apple you need to take it up with, it’s T-Mobile. If you’re on their network and your phone isn’t network locked, get off of it and go to another carrier. Most modern iPhones are multi network eSIM compatible and you can switch easily.

[Edited by Moderator]

DivineJ wrote:

I’ve been an Apple customer since iPods were first released and I will cancel everything if this happens. Absolutely horrible business decision. Read the room Apple.

It sounds like you posted before you read any of the information provided. Read the room actually applies more than you thought it did. After reading the room, I suspect you have a completely different view on the subject matter and now know it is not a business decision that Apple made. Apparently you do have an issue with the T-Mobile business decision to use the Starlink network, so how you proceed with them is up to you and there are many options:

• Complain to T-Mobile
• Change service providers
• Do not choose a T-Mobile plan that will include the StarLink network, such as the Go5G Next plan.
• Do not choose the optional $15 charge per month to include service to the StartLink network
• Do not sign up for the beta program that T-Mobile currently offers for StarLink service.

scritchlow1 wrote:

Well that was rude!!!! Please let me know how I can opt out of starlink.

You don't need to opt out. That was the whole point of reading here before posting where your question would have been answered multiple times and you would be more informed about the topic. Users who are T-Mobile customers have to actually opt in if they want to use it and after the beta period is over they can choose a top tier cell plan or pay an additional $15 a month if they want that service.

There is nothing you need to do and opting out does not make any sense for a service you would not have in the first place.

This is a complicated issue. While Apple is touting new satellite services, there are many other satellites besides Starlink. Apple has not announced any integrations with Starlink. But that doesn't mean that Apple devices won't work with Starlink now or in the future.

Apple's published documentation for Connecting to a satellite with your iPhone does not mention Starlink, but it does specifically say that Apple's satellite services are provided by "third-party network providers". So that could obviously include Starlink.

Furthermore, that same documentation specifically says that, "During certain disaster situations, your carrier may provide cellular connectivity to iPhone models using their satellite capability even if you have turned them off for everyday use and “SAT” doesn’t appear in the status bar." So you may be connected via Starlink and never know about it.

I understand that some people may not want to have any association with Starlink because of recent political events or because of Starlink's status as a military asset. If you have concerns, please send feedback to Apple. I also encourage you to send feedback to your cellular data provider as well. This kind of feedback could give Apple and other companies incentive to choose other providers for satellite services.

No one has to opt out. iPhones are out. You have to opt in for it to work and it is only available on T-Mobile network in US.

Starlink has partnered with a small group of select cellular carriers worldwide. Here’s the list, 

T-Mobile — USA

KDDI — Japan

OPTUS — Australia 

One BZ — New Zealand 

Salt — Switzerland 

Entel — Chile and Peru

Rodgers — Canada

It’s strictly through T-Mobile and you have to physically fill out a form to use it. Unless you have T-Mobile and opt-in to the beta, you don’t have it. T-Mobile will likely charge for it, so you’d have to change your plan when it comes out of beta. AT&T has their own service. Not sure who Verizon uses. Apple defaults to Globalstar for all iPhones.

You need to have T-Mobile as a service first. Starlink has only teamed up with T-Mobile for the moment.

All iPhones default to Globalstar if your carrier doesn’t have a service. Apple has 20% ownership in Globalstar, so all iPhones since the iPhone 14 for satellite phone services have them baked into it. Starlink is not supported by Apple directly, they added the ability for the iPhone to use it onT-Mobile’s service.