When trying to setup my Airport Express, my Airport Utility recognizes it; however when I go to set it up it gives me an "Unexpected Error, Try Again" response. I have on numerous occasions reset it to factory default settings by holding down the reset pin and plugging it into power. Any ideas how to get around the error message?
iMac 2.4 GHz Core 2 Duo, Mac OS X (10.6.4)
Temporarily, connect an Ethernet cable from your Mac to the WAN "O" port on the AirPort Express for the setup.
This assumes that you are trying to configure the Express to wirelessly join or extend an existing network. Things are different if you are connecting the Express to an modem.
Post back to tell us what model of Express you have in that case, and what operating system you are using. It sounds like you are no longer using OS X (10.6.x) as you indicate in your profile.
Once you have the Express configured and the settings have been updated, you can disconnect the Ethernet cable.
Temporarily, connect an Ethernet cable from your Mac to the WAN "O" port on the AirPort Express for the setup.
This assumes that you are trying to configure the Express to wirelessly join or extend an existing network. Things are different if you are connecting the Express to an modem.
Post back to tell us what model of Express you have in that case, and what operating system you are using. It sounds like you are no longer using OS X (10.6.x) as you indicate in your profile.
Once you have the Express configured and the settings have been updated, you can disconnect the Ethernet cable.
Hi, hope you must have found the solution to the airport express unexpected error message...but for the information of others I thought of sharing a very easy solution to the issue, which I happen to discover lately.....hope it helps.....
I started facing the error issue after changing the router...after trying a lot of things what I found was that by reducing the security level of the router from WPA(AES) to WPA(TKIP) the airport express connected immediately, now for those who are not able to understand this is the router page, you can ask your service provider to guide you, usually by default the username of the router is ADMIN & password is PASSWORD, if not changed by the service provider, this is the same where you keep your wifi router security key for connecting to your wifi connection, just reduce the level of security and you should be able to connect...uploading my router page screenshot for reference, hope it helps...don't forget to leave comments/feedback if it was helpful.
What worked for me to configure an Airport Express as a wireless network extension
After these steps, it works as advertised
Problem seems to be the dual network interface on the iMac (ethernet and wireless jointly working). I haven't tried it without the ipv6 change.
Sorry, but I do not understand what you are trying to do.
Forget about the AirPort Express for now.
Does your network look like this?
Internet > Modem > AirPort Extreme > Ethernet Switch > iMac.....and all the devices are connected together with an Ethernet cable?
If not, what does it look like?
Power up the AirPort Express for a few minutes
Hold in the reset button on the Express firmly for 10 seconds and then release
Allow a full minute for the Express to restart to a slow blinking amber light
Connect the Ethernet cable from the switch to the AirPort Express. Here, I assume that you have tested the Ethernet cable connection to verify that it is working correctly.
On the iMac.....open Macintosh HD > Applications > Utilities > AirPort Utility
Click on Other WiFi Devices
Click on AirPort Express xxxxxx
AirPort Utility will take a minute, then suggest that the Express be configured to extend the AirPort Extreme network
Enter a name for the AirPort Express and click Next
Now watch carefully to confirm that the message will change to indicate that the Express is being configured to extend the AirPort Extreme network using Ethernet. (and not using a wireless connection)
When you see the Setup Complete message, click Done. That's it.
Close AirPort Utility and you are all set.
Could be problems, then.
Try the setup on an iPad.
On the iPad home screen......
Tap settings
Tap WiFi
Under the heading of Setup a new AirPort Base Station....
Tap on AirPort Express
Follow the prompts
If still no luck, I suspect a defective Express, as I'm testing with an A1264 here and the setup works perfectly with an iMac or iPad
That dreaded error happened. After reset. After setting the ipv6. Nothing worked.
I have Yosemite and after reading about a possible bug, I followed the steps and finally got it working.
When you have a chance,check the settings on the iMac:
http://support.apple.com/kb/TS4597
This applies to Mavericks (10.9.x) as well.
Please report on your findings with the iMac.
Bob,
You've bee a big help. I am running 10.9.1. Also, I am trying to extend my Express using an ethernet connection. Your advice helped me get recoginition of the Express under WiFi from my Extreme. I now connected an ethernet connection from my Extreme and things are a little messy. My Express is now going thru an initial setup. What values do I use in the Airport Utility? Thanks for your help.
Also, Bob, my Airport Express model is A1264. I am at a standstill since I don't want my Express to be in WiFi extension since it reduces my internet speed. Your suggestion worked for WiFi extension; however, when I connected an ethernet cable from my Extreme, it goofed things up. I guess I need to know how to hook up my Express by ethernet to my Extreme while using Airport Utility on my ethernet connected iMac. Your help would be appreciated.
Bob,
I still need your help. My Express is Model A1264. I am running OS 10.9.1 on my iMac. The iMac is hooked up to ethernet to my Airport Extreme. How do I hook up my Express via ethernet to my Extreme and avoid the Unexpected Error, Try Again message? I have an ethernet connection to my Express. I wish to extend my Express to where I have my iOS devices since they are only receiving a weak wifi signal from my Extreme. Your help would be much appreciated.
My Extreme is a Model A1143. Pretty old but still working well.
I performed the steps that you outlined above by removing my iMac ethernet connection, resetting the Extreme, plugging it into my iMac via an ethernet cable, having iMac's wifi turned on, setting up automatically my Extreme to extend the wifi; however, it was using my weak wifi signal and it showed up in Airport Utility with a dotted line. What I want to do is turn that line into a solid line. I have an ethernet switch at my iMac which ties into my Express. I hope I am making sense to you. Thanks a lot for your time. By the way, my son works for Apple designing chips in Austin. He can't tell me a thing because he would have to shoot me.
Bob, you are right again. I had to reset Local Only from the Configure lPv6 menu. I booted Airport Utility and my Express is shown with a solid line to my Extreme. I also have a very strong signal for my iOS devices. Again, thanks for your efforts.
Just to share my experience, after spending 2 evenings on this issue. Was trying to connect airport as client to my wireless modem/router. Followed all the procedures as per Apple's instructions and patient advice on this helpful forum. Was getting all sorts of "unexpected errors" that other users have also experienced.
The trick for me was to try the procedure described (and after resetting the express to factory settings) but without any ethernet cables wired to any of the devices (modem/router, macbook, or airport). Just everything wirelessly form beginning to end. Worked like a breeze and within 1 minute was streaming audio to my speakers.
If anyone has comments on this I'd be curious to hear 🙂
I did change the IPV6 to "local only" before doing all this.
Bob Timmons you are a genius, thank you. Went through all the above steps (changed TCP/IP to local link, connected with ethernet) and still had problems. however, when I tried to set up the airport extreme through the iPad, it worked like a charm. Not sure why my iMac (2009 3.06 Ghz) wouldn't connect with the device, but the iPad did,
Thanks again!!!
Airport Express Unexpected Error
