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User profile for user: markandrandy
markandrandy Author
User level: Level 1
13 points

Airport 6.3.1 - Unexpected error connecting to Airport Express

I have an Airport Extreme (A1408) base station. I am trying to add an Airport Express (A1392) to my network using Airport Utility 6.3.1 (631.4) with Mac OS/X 10.8.4 (12E 55) running on an iMac. The Airport Utility can find the Express, but returns "An unexpected error occurred. Try again." I have reset the Express using the pinhole without success. I also tried connecting another Airport Extreme (A1408) to the same network with the same result: it can find the device, but returns an unexpected error.


Based on others' posts, I have tried changing the Network setting for IPv6 to "Link-local only". This also did not resolve the problem. Any suggestions are welcome.

iMac, Mac OS X (10.5.5)

Posted on Aug 17, 2013 9:45 AM

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User profile for user: Bob Timmons
Bob Timmons
Community+ 2024
User level: Level 10
168,596 points

Posted on Aug 17, 2013 10:42 AM

Perform a full Factory Default Reset on the Express as follows:


Power off the AirPort Express for a few minutes

Hold in the reset button first, and keep holding it in for an additional 9-10 seconds while you simultaneously plug the Express back into power

After the hold period, release the reset button and allow a full minute for the AriPort Express to restart


Shut down your Mac for a few minutes and then restart


Try again


If you are still having problems, temporarily connect an Ethernet cable from your Mac to the LAN port on the AirPort Express to see if AirPort Utility can communicate with and configure the Expres that way.

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User profile for user: Bob Timmons
Bob Timmons
Community+ 2024
User level: Level 10
168,596 points

Aug 17, 2013 10:42 AM in response to markandrandy

Perform a full Factory Default Reset on the Express as follows:


Power off the AirPort Express for a few minutes

Hold in the reset button first, and keep holding it in for an additional 9-10 seconds while you simultaneously plug the Express back into power

After the hold period, release the reset button and allow a full minute for the AriPort Express to restart


Shut down your Mac for a few minutes and then restart


Try again


If you are still having problems, temporarily connect an Ethernet cable from your Mac to the LAN port on the AirPort Express to see if AirPort Utility can communicate with and configure the Expres that way.

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User profile for user: markandrandy
markandrandy Author
User level: Level 1
13 points

Aug 17, 2013 2:18 PM in response to Bob Timmons

I really appreciate your quick response!


The factory default reset didn't work. What did was connecting an ethernet cable. Here's what I did (for anyone else having a similar issue):


  1. Connected the Airport Express via ethernet cable to the Airport Extreme base station.
  2. Airport Utility found the Airport Express and set it up on the ethernet (wired) network. Airport Utility then showed a solid line between the Extreme and the Express to show they were connected.
  3. I then edited the properties of the Airport Express as follows:
    On the "Wireless" tab, change "Network Mode" from "Create a wireless network" to "Extend a wireless network".
  4. After the Airport Express rebooted, I detached the ethernet cable.
  5. I then unplugged the Airport Express and plugged it back in the room where I actually wanted it to serve as a wireless extender.
  6. I waited a good 2-3 minutes, checked the status of the connection in Airport Utility in Wi-Fi mode, and voila! It worked. The solid line now shows as a dotted line between the Extreme and Express to show they are connected wirelessly.
  7. I tried connecting a peripheral (in this case, my ethernet-enabled TV) via ethernet cable to the Airport Express extender and it was fully functional.


Thanks again for your help.

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User profile for user: chris_lara
chris_lara
User level: Level 1
4 points

Dec 27, 2014 11:13 AM in response to markandrandy

Thanks markandrandy! I followed steps 1 and 2 then my iMac indicated that I had extended my wireless network. I'm running OS X Yosemite Version 10.10.1 and bought an Airport Express to extend my AirPort Time Capsule wireless network to my wife's Windows 8 PC. I then jumped to step 5 and now I have excellent connectivity throughout my two-story home. Definitely NOT an intuitive setup...thanks so much for the post. 🙂

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User profile for user: one-hoop
one-hoop
User level: Level 1
8 points

Nov 8, 2015 11:55 AM in response to markandrandy

This is still a problem with Airport Utility 6.3.5


Using the ethernet cable allowed me to get past the "unexpected error" but it indicated that it was going to set it up to extend the network. However, when after it was "set up" and I clicked the edit button it was still set up for a wired connection. @Caz Coach, you may need to complete the setup manually while still connected. If you didn't change it to connect wirelessly then it wouldn't work in the other room.


This should be really embarrassing for Apple. I don't know why we were forced into using Airport Utility 6. Why shouldn't a computer be more powerful than an iOSdevice?

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Airport 6.3.1 - Unexpected error connecting to Airport Express

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