If you own a Subaru, “STARLINK” may mean two completely different things. It can refer to the touchscreen multimedia system in the dashboard, or to Subaru’s connected-services program for remote controls, safety assistance, vehicle reports, and alerts.
That distinction matters when you are trying to pair a phone, update the infotainment system, start the engine from your driveway, or figure out why a remote command failed. Subaru has also renamed its connected services, so older references to STARLINK Safety Plus and Security Plus can be confusing. Here is how the systems fit together, what they do, and where the common problems come from.
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What does Subaru STARLINK mean?
Subaru has used the STARLINK name for several products over the years:
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- STARLINK Safety, Security, and Concierge: The former name for Subaru’s subscription-based connected services.
- MySubaru Connected Services: The current name for those connected services on most non-EV Subaru models.
- SubaruConnect: The separate connected-services system used by Subaru EVs such as the Solterra, Trailseeker, and Uncharted.
STARLINK Multimedia is primarily a vehicle interface. MySubaru Connected Services uses a cellular telematics module in the vehicle, Subaru’s servers, and the MySubaru app or website. One does not automatically provide the functions of the other.
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Subaru’s current connected-service names
Older articles and owner manuals may use names that no longer appear on Subaru’s website. The current plan family generally depends on the vehicle’s model year:
| Vehicle model year | Current plan family |
|---|---|
| 2016–2025, when properly equipped | MySubaru Safety and Security plans |
| 2026 and newer, when properly equipped | MySubaru Companion plans |
The current plan names are MySubaru Safety, MySubaru Security, MySubaru Concierge, MySubaru Companion, and MySubaru Companion+. References to STARLINK Safety Plus, Security Plus, or Concierge are usually legacy terminology rather than entirely different services.
What MySubaru Connected Services can do
2016–2025 models
MySubaru Safety can include:
- Advanced Automatic Collision Notification
- Diagnostic Alerts
- Enhanced Roadside Assistance
- Maintenance Notifications
- Service Appointment Scheduler
- SOS Emergency Assistance
- Vehicle Condition Check
- Vehicle Health Report
- Over-the-air software updates
MySubaru Security adds eligible remote and monitoring features such as:
- Remote lock and unlock
- Remote horn and lights
- Remote vehicle locator
- Remote engine start with climate control
- Stolen Vehicle Recovery
- Stolen Vehicle Immobilizer
- Boundary, speed, and curfew alerts
- Trip logs and driving journals
- Destination to Vehicle
Subaru currently advertises a three-year free trial of MySubaru Safety and a six-month free trial of MySubaru Security with a new vehicle, subject to eligibility and enrollment requirements. A free trial is not the same as permanent access; remote features can disappear when the applicable trial or paid subscription ends.
2026 and newer models
MySubaru Companion includes Emergency Recovery Services, over-the-air updates, Vehicle Health & Care, and Remote Access.
MySubaru Companion+ adds features including:
- Remote engine start
- Remote lock and unlock
- Remote climate control
- Heated and ventilated seat control, when equipped
- Remote horn and lights
- Curfew, boundary, and speed alerts
- Valet Mode
- Trip logs and driving journals
- MySubaru Personal Assistant
Companion plans depend on a 4G network connection. Subaru advertises a five-year free Companion trial for qualifying new vehicles, while Companion+ features require the upgraded plan. Equipment and availability still vary by model and trim.
How to use the MySubaru app
For eligible non-EV Subarus, the MySubaru app is the main interface for remote services. You can also access many of the same functions through the MySubaru website. Remote controls normally appear on the account home page. They can also be found through the menu at the top of the screen.
To review or change a plan in the mobile app, open Manage Subscriptions. Having a MySubaru account and adding a vehicle VIN does not automatically activate every remote feature. The vehicle must be eligible, associated with the correct account, connected to Subaru’s network, and covered by a plan that includes the command you want to use.
Remote-start climate controls
On supported vehicles, the home page includes Quick Start and Climate Presets controls.
- Select Climate Presets next to Quick Start.
- Adjust the available temperature, fan, and defroster settings.
- Select Save Settings & Start Engine to apply the settings and start the vehicle.
- Select Save Preset if you want to save the setup without starting the engine.
For a delayed start, select Adjust Climate & Delay Settings under Remote Engine Start, choose Engine Start, and select a delay of 5 or 10 minutes. Exact controls and engine-runtime options vary by vehicle and app version.
Location privacy settings
Location-based functions such as Remote Vehicle Locate and Boundary Alert depend on the vehicle transmitting location information. In the MySubaru app, open:
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Menu → My Profile → Vehicle Location Tracking
There you can turn Send Vehicle Location at Ignition-Off on or off. Subaru says only the primary MySubaru account holder can change this setting. Turning location tracking off can reduce or disable location-dependent services.
Checking STARLINK Multimedia software
The common path for checking the multimedia head unit’s software information is:
Settings → General → System Information
This is not a universal screen layout for every Subaru. The company has used several systems, including dual 7-inch displays, 11.6-inch Multimedia Plus systems, and 11.6-inch Multimedia Navigation systems. Model year, trim, and software version can change the names and positions of menu items.
Updating the multimedia system over the air
- Connect the vehicle to an active Wi-Fi or other supported internet connection.
- Open Settings → General → System Information.
- Use the available software-update option to check for an update.
- Keep the vehicle connected while the download and installation proceed.
- Allow the multimedia system to restart, potentially more than once.
If the download fails, check the connection, move closer to the Wi-Fi source, or try another connection such as a phone hotspot. A Subaru retailer can perform the update if the over-the-air process continues to fail. The display and menus may change after installation, so an older screenshot may not match your vehicle.
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Pairing a phone over Bluetooth
For the 2020–2022 Outback and Legacy interface, the verified process is:
- From the home screen, select Phone.
- If no phone is connected, select Yes when asked whether you want to add a device.
- If a phone is already paired, select Add Device.
- Note the Subaru device name shown on the vehicle screen.
- Open Bluetooth settings on the phone and select the Subaru device.
- Confirm that the PIN on the phone matches the PIN on the vehicle.
- Allow contact and message access when prompted.
- On the vehicle screen, select Confirm, then Download to transfer contacts.
Newer systems generally use Settings → Phone → Add Device or Add Phone, although labels differ by model and trim. If contacts or messages do not appear, open the Subaru Bluetooth entry on the phone and enable contact synchronization, message access, and notifications.
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
STARLINK Multimedia is not Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. It is the vehicle system that displays those smartphone-integration platforms.
For wired Apple CarPlay, Subaru recommends a quality USB-IF or MFi-certified cable, an up-to-date iPhone, and current versions of the relevant apps. CarPlay must also be allowed on the phone. Check:
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If the phone was paired incorrectly in the past, remove the vehicle from the iPhone:
Settings → General → CarPlay → select the vehicle → Forget This Car
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Then reconnect using a suitable cable and follow the vehicle’s pairing prompts. Wireless and wired behavior depends on the model, trim, head unit, and phone.
Vehicle Health Reports, maintenance, and recalls
Owners with active connected services can view monthly health reports. On the MySubaru website:
- Select View Details under the Vehicle Health heading.
- Select Display full report.
- Use the date-range menu in the upper-right corner to view available reports.
Reports from the previous two months should normally be available. An open recall can change what appears on the MySubaru home page: a recall banner may take priority over the usual vehicle-status information.
Adding a VIN to MySubaru also begins automatic service-history recording. Warranty claims, Subaru Added Security claims, recalls, service campaigns, and maintenance performed by participating retailers may appear. Retailer records can take approximately 30 days or longer to arrive, so the history should not be treated as a real-time or complete record of every repair.
Why remote commands fail
The security alarm was triggered
If the security alarm has activated, Subaru disables remote engine-start commands until the vehicle is manually started once. The reset procedure is:
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- Start the vehicle manually.
- Turn it off normally.
- Try Remote Engine Start again in MySubaru.
This is a security behavior, not necessarily an app malfunction. The vehicle must also have an active plan that includes remote engine start.
Remote controls are missing
Check these possibilities:
- The vehicle is not equipped for the requested feature.
- The free trial or paid subscription expired.
- The VIN is connected to another MySubaru account.
- The app is showing a different vehicle.
- The vehicle has no usable cellular connection.
- The service is still being provisioned after enrollment.
Remote start, remote locking, vehicle locating, and similar functions are not included merely because you created an account.
Vehicle status is stale
Connected-service data is not a continuous live feed on every Subaru. The vehicle must have the proper telematics hardware, an active subscription, and a usable network connection. Diagnostic, location, status, and command information can therefore be delayed or unavailable.
What the 3G shutdown changed
The U.S. 3G retirement affected certain Subaru telematics systems, particularly some active-service vehicles from the 2016–2018 model-year range. Affected features included Automatic Collision Notification, SOS Emergency Assistance, Stolen Vehicle Recovery, and remote locking or unlocking.
Subaru’s retailer-update deadline was in February 2022. Vehicles that were not updated lost the affected connected services, and Subaru said subscriptions would be canceled with a prorated refund where applicable.
The shutdown did not disable the car as a vehicle. It affected connected-service functions on certain properly equipped vehicles with active subscriptions. It is inaccurate to say that every 2016–2018 Subaru lost STARLINK or became undriveable.
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For an enabled vehicle with an active MySubaru Connected Services subscription, Subaru’s privacy notice says the company may receive information such as:
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- Precise vehicle location
- Vehicle diagnostics
- Odometer and maintenance information
- Tire-pressure, fuel, and battery data
- Vehicle status, including doors, windows, and seatbelts
Some data-collection settings can be changed through Privacy Portal in the MySubaru app or on the MySubaru website. Disabling location tracking may reduce location-based functionality.
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Which app should Subaru owners use?
| Vehicle | App | Primary purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Most eligible gasoline and hybrid Subaru models | MySubaru | Connected services, remote commands, vehicle health, service, and alerts |
| Subaru EVs, including Solterra, Trailseeker, and Uncharted | SubaruConnect | EV connected services |
| Any equipped Subaru | STARLINK Multimedia screen | Audio, Bluetooth, smartphone integration, and available navigation |
Using the wrong app is a common source of confusion. A MySubaru account does not turn the dashboard system into a remote-control service, and SubaruConnect is not the general replacement for MySubaru on non-EV models.
FAQ
Is Subaru STARLINK the same as MySubaru?
No. STARLINK Multimedia is the dashboard infotainment system. MySubaru Connected Services is the subscription-based cellular service used for functions such as remote start, vehicle health reports, alerts, roadside assistance, and vehicle locating.
Can every Subaru with STARLINK be started from a phone?
No. Remote start requires compatible telematics hardware, an eligible model and trim, an active plan that includes remote engine start, and a usable cellular connection. A MySubaru account by itself is not enough.
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What app does Subaru use for remote start?
Most eligible non-EV Subaru models use the MySubaru app. Subaru EVs, including the Solterra, Trailseeker, and Uncharted, use the SubaruConnect app.
Where can I check the STARLINK Multimedia software version?
On common Subaru touchscreen systems, open Settings → General → System Information. Menu names vary across model years, trims, multimedia generations, and software versions.
Did the 3G shutdown make older Subarus undriveable?
No. It affected certain connected-service functions on some properly equipped 2016–2018 vehicles, including SOS assistance, collision notification, stolen-vehicle recovery, and remote locking. It did not disable ordinary vehicle operation.
The Bottom Line
Before troubleshooting “STARLINK,” identify which Subaru system you are dealing with. Phone pairing, CarPlay, software updates, and navigation belong to STARLINK Multimedia. Remote start, vehicle reports, alerts, roadside assistance, and location features belong to MySubaru Connected Services—or SubaruConnect for Subaru EVs.
For remote features, verify the vehicle’s eligibility, the correct app and VIN, the active subscription, the privacy settings, and the cellular connection. For touchscreen problems, start with Settings → General → System Information, then check the phone connection and available software updates. That separation resolves much of the confusion caused by Subaru’s overlapping product names.
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