There are many reasons in Starfield due to which you cannot fast travel in the game. This can be quite annoying to deal with. Fortunately, there are many ways to fix it.
In Starfield, similar to numerous other RPGs, you can access far-off destinations using a rapid transportation system, aiding your journey between planets, from planet to ship, and beyond. This feature not only conserves valuable time but also reduces your fuel consumption. Occasionally, when attempting to utilize this fast-travel mechanic in Starfield, you may encounter an on-screen message that reads “fast travel unavailable.”
This message appears for predefined reasons that act as obstacles to fast travel within the game. Should any of these conditions be met, your ability to fast travel in Starfield will be temporarily restricted.
Reasons you cannot fast travel in Starfield
Several factors can prevent you from fast traveling in the game, such as significant locations, fuel limitations, combat situations, and various other circumstances.
Mid Combat
If you attempt to fast travel while engaged in combat, the game will prohibit you from doing so. You must either conclude the battle or successfully escape, ensuring that no enemies are actively pursuing you before attempting to fast travel.
Encumbered situation
Your inventory is subject to a weight limit, and surpassing this limit hinders your freedom of movement in various map areas. If you try to fast travel while encumbered, your attempt is bound to fail. A pop-up message will notify you that your load is too heavy, preventing you from initiating fast travel.
Getting Damaged by the Environment
Sometimes, you may be standing in an environmentally challenging location like a land mine. These locations deal consistent damage to your character. They also stop you from using fast travel in Starfield since you will get damaged.
Out-of-fuel situation
Fast travel doesn’t involve magically disappearing and arriving at your destination without resources. Your ship must possess a sufficient quantity of fuel to reach the desired location. While it consumes less fuel than a conventional journey, you still need a certain amount to initiate your voyage.
Fast traveling to undiscovered locations
In Starfield, you cannot fast-travel to an area you haven’t previously visited. It’s essential to explore and uncover a location, making it visible on your map, before you can select it as a destination for fast travel. Fast traveling to an undiscovered location is not possible in Starfield.
When you are near enemies
Should enemy troops become suspicious of your presence in their territory and initiate a search for you, your ability to fast travel will become disabled in such situations. This feature maintains a sense of fairness in the game, ensuring that you cannot easily evade hostile encounters on your own.
A specific quest restricts you
Many quests in the game require you to stay in certain areas for their completion. Traveling to a far-off place immediately can halt the mission midway. So, you cannot fast travel in this situation in Starfield.
Cannot fast travel midair
Fast traveling requires you to have both your feet on the ground. So, you cannot use this mechanism if you are jumping or falling from somewhere.
Your starship is docked
The game will restrict you from fast traveling if your starship is docked with another ship or a station. Your ship needs to be in space to fast travel.
Fixing the Cannot Fast Travel Issue in Starfield
The reasons mentioned above are all temporary and can be resolved through straightforward actions.
For instances occurring mid-combat, you must either eliminate all the enemies in the area or make a tactical retreat from the battlefield first.
In the case of being encumbered, simply lighten your inventory load by discarding unnecessary items, and you’ll be ready for fast travel. If you’re restricted by environmental damage, seek refuge in a nearby safe zone and then attempt fast travel again.
When venturing to distant star systems, ensure your ship is equipped with He3 tanks. If you lack these tanks, you can travel to a neighboring system first and then proceed to your desired destination.
To enable fast travel to undiscovered places on the map, you’ll need to physically explore them first. Once you’ve done that, they will become accessible for fast travel.
If a mission is preventing you from fast traveling, either exit the mission-related area or complete the mission before attempting fast travel once more.
In the event that your ship’s docked position is hindering fast travel, undock it and then retry your fast travel attempts in Starfield.
