Airport express "Invalid Password" with open network?

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Airport express "Invalid Password" with open network?

I'm using my Airport express to make a wireless network on an existing wired network. Now whenever I try to join the network, I get either "could not connect to network" or the more common "invalid password" when trying to join. I even configured the express to create the network with no security, but when I try and join it still is asking me for a password. Tried soft resets (unplug for 10 sec) and hard resets, even reverted to factory settings. Still same issue.

Background: This express was working OK in creating a a wireless network last week. It would need restarting every day or so be be used. I noticed it was scheduled for a firmware update, so I ran the update to get the latest firmware (7.5.2 I think). Since it updated the firmware it hasn't once been able to create a useable network. Initially kept the network settings the same (closed, WPA/WPA2, same password) but none of the devices that worked on it before were able to recognize it, and kept saying "Invalid Password". Since then, I've tried changing the network name, going from closed to open, and disabling the security (just trying to get it to work). With each change I performed a soft reset. Tried each different transmission type by option-clicking the radio menu and saw the same error (except a higher amount of "invalid network" errors with certain devices).

Any ideas how to get it back working?

Airport Express-OTHER, Mac OS X (10.6.7)

Posted on May 11, 2011 8:40 AM

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Answer 1

Tesserax

Level 10

148,453 points

May 11, 2011 9:02 AM in response to fauxgt4

It sounds like you may have either corrupted Preferred Network settings or passwords stored in the Keychain.

Please try the following:

Delete Preferred Network(s)

System Preferences > Network > Select AirPort > Advanced > AirPort tab
Under Preferred Network, use the minus button to delete the network(s) you regularly use from the list

Delete AirPort Keychain Entries (Note: only applies if you connect to AirPort/Time Capsule routers)

Launch the "Keychain Access" application located in /Applications/Utilities
Click on the "Kind" filter at the top, and look for any "AirPort network password" entries...and delete them.
Restart, or log out then back in.

Add Preferred Network(s)

System Preferences > Network > Select AirPort > Advanced > AirPort tab
Under Preferred Network, click on the plus button to add any preferred network(s).
Restart or log out then back in.

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Answer 2

fauxgt4 Author

Level 1

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May 11, 2011 9:26 AM in response to Tesserax

Thanks for the reply, but just tried all of that (twice, just to be sure) and it didn't seem to do anything. Still getting the "Invalid password" error, even though its currently an unsecured network.

Just to make sure its not my devices, I just borrowed a collegue's iPad which has never tried to log into my network. Get the same "invalid password" error when I tried with it.

Any other ides?

Thanks so much.

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Answer 3

Jun 1, 2011 8:29 PM in response to fauxgt4

I've been having the same problem since around the same time of your original post. Has this been resolved? If so what did you do to resolve it?

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Answer 4

Jun 1, 2011 8:36 PM in response to Tesserax

Thanks for posting this Tesserax; I'll give it a shot. Could you think of anything else to try if this doesn't work as it appears fauxgt4 is still having an issue?

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Answer 5

Tesserax

Level 10

148,453 points

Jun 6, 2011 9:16 AM in response to fauxgt4

Since other network clients are having trouble connecting, I would concentrate on the AX as the culprit. It is always possible that something may go amiss when updating firmware. You could downgrade to an earlier version via the AirPort Utility and I would recommend it at this point.

If restoring the earlier firmware version stabilizes the situation, you can decide, whether or not, it will be worth trying to upgrade again.

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Answer 6

Jun 7, 2011 12:23 AM in response to Tesserax

Thanks! downgrading the firmware corrected the situation; all devices are connected and operating correctly.

Thanks Again!

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Answer 7

Mar 17, 2013 8:52 AM in response to fauxgt4

This is a bug with the Airport Utility version 6.x

Download and install Airport Utility 5.6.1 http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1536
Use it to set the Wifi password for your airport express
Reconnect

Keep in mind that you will need both versions installed if you want to take full advantage of your airport express. Airport Utility allows you to configure back to my mac with your iCloud credentials and 5.6.1 does not.

Voilà! This worked for me! It is clearly a misconfiguration of the base station since you have the same error using different devices. (i just sent a bug report to Apple for this)

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Answer 8

opcg

Level 1

14 points

Aug 10, 2014 9:10 AM in response to Gobulebarbu

Hi there!

Reading the previous messages and Gobulebarbu's one, I see that my situations fits in that post. Then, here's a summary of the problem:

Scenario: I have an existing Wifi network at my apart (shared with other people) provided by a DSL router and I plugged my Airport Express into the router to settle a private network for me, besides streaming music. I'm using the Airport Utility version 6.3.2 and trying to configure the network for my devices, namely, a Macbook Pro Retina, a Macbook Aluminum Late 2008, and an iPad Mini. All of them working under the latest OS's (Mavericks/iOS 7).

Problem: after configuring my Wi-fi, which I can name "standard", doing the operations on the Mac Retina, I could access the internet easily. Then, I enabled the "guest" network. Also working sweetly. In turn, I tried to connect to "standard" through the Mac 2008 and iPads obtaining error of "invalid password". Weirdly, however, the "guest" network works fine on all devices.

Attempts: resetting the AE, clean keychain's passwords, delete and restore networks, checking for router channel conflicts, etc.

About last answer: In fact, I could suppose that Gobulebarbu's answer about downgrading is viable for me, but, this same setup works greatly at my work! There, I have the same versions of Express, Utility and I can not only connect the Macs/iPads nicely, but also stream musics!

Conclusion: not solved... What bothers is that the non-Apple network is brightly OK. 😕

If somebody has another idea, I give my thanks.

Bests,

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