Airport Express Unexpected Error

What worked for me was setting up my Airport Express units AND the Time Capsule from my iPhone. Airport Utility kept giving me the "Unexpected Error" message. Why it did not work from my desktop is a mystery to me.

Hi everyone, sorry to jump in on this thread but I'm going mad.

I have an Airport Express (i bought it about a year ago, it's the square-with-round-corners, single light, one). In my old flat it worked fine, then we moved flats (& countries). When the internet was first installed and the modem had its default settings I set it up and it worked, then we changed the network name & password to something more reasonable and now it won't work. I get the UNEXPECTED ERROR every time. it's now 2 weeks later and I'm trying again. I spent a couple of hours with it, resetting, changing settings as per ideas I've seen on various forums and this morning It told me that setup was complete. But it STILL doesn;t actually work. Orange blinking light. every time, it gets to "waiting for {airport express}", then goes to UNEXPECTED ERROR

I'm with a 2009 Macbook pro, os 10.9.4. I'm using the airport express to play music only, so I'm trying to connect it to the house wifi.

I've done every kind of reset, connected with an ethernet cable etc etc etc.

I even tried creating a new network to see if the airport express had some hardware problem and it worked.

I guess it's something to do with the modem, but have no idea about these things.

Any ideas? Thanks in advance

Paulie

Hi All,

I have an extreme and and old airport express. All was fine, but needed to add another express. The new express was seen, but I kept getting the "An unexpected error occurred." message.

I put my extreme back to the factory settings and had a time getting that back online, but eventually did.

The express' were not seen at all so I tried the wired method, and that worked, but not when I disconnected the Ethernet cable, they were not seen, and never came back online.

I did set my tcp/ip to Link-local only - still not working.

I've reset both express units several times and still nothing!

I know Apple products are usually easy, and I'm over thinking this, but it's just not working for me. Any other suggestions?

thanks.

I've been pulling my hair out trying to get this working too.

I was able to get it all working if connecting via Ethernet cable.

But could never get it working if connecting over Wi-Fi.

Finally was able to find the issue (in my case) was because I had set the Wifi name to be hidden.

Made the Wifi network unhidden, went through the process again and all worked fine.

This is set in the Wireless Options settings on the Wireless tab (when Editing your main device within the Airport Utility). Look for the setting marked 'Create hidden network' make sure it is unchecked for the setup process. You can reenable it once it is all working.

Hope this helps.

I had the same problem as well, trying to locate and join the AE to my network and same error message after updating to Yosemite. Following the instructions to set up the AE from the iPad worked first try. I did have another AE connected to the network but was unaffected.

Have same problem with AE gen 2 model. Worked one day and then not the next. Tried all suggestions on this post. Only difference is my config is all wireless, i.e. MacMini and MaBook Air connected via wifi to AExtreme router. When I reset AExpress, I can then see it on my iPad but not on my Mini. doesn't this indicate the wifi circuitry in the Express is Ok? After the setup sequence on the iPad , it then indicates "unexpected error. Any other suggestions or is it I have a defective unit?

Have same problem with AE gen 2 model which was setup to extend network for purpose of connecting to powered speakers. Worked one day and then not the next. Tried all your suggestions. Only difference is my config is all wireless, i.e. MacMini and MaBook Air connected via wifi to AExtreme router. When I reset AExpress, I can then see it on my iPad - doesn't this indicate the wifi circuitry in the Express is Ok? After the setup sequence on the iPad , it then indicates "unexpected error. Any other suggestions or is it I have a defective unit?

I am getting the "unexpected error" from the airport utility on my macbook pro. I have had the macbook and airport extreme? (the tall one) since Jan 2014. It all worked fine out of the box until about 2 weeks ago when my macbook Time Machine suddenly stopped backing up to the airport.

I have tried the factory reset and then reconnecting. It says :-

"Joining airport time capsule"

then a few minutes later:-

"An unexpected error occurred try again."

I have tried again about a dozen times!

I was able to connect wirelessly using airport utility "File..Configure Other" option prior to doing the factory reset, so my macbook was able to connect but wouldn't do so via time machine.

I don't have an ethernet port on my macbook so don't have the option of setting via a wire.

Where do I go from here?

Same problem here trying to configure an AE from my iMac with Yosemite and tried all the suggestions.

Then I tried to disconnect the ethernet cable from my iMac with the AE connected to my wireless hub with a cable and lo and behold, it worked!!

This is what helped me. Reboot your mac. Take express from the power outlet. No network cable needed! Hold reset button down with pen and insert the express in the power outlet with the reset button still inserted.

The expres wil flash a green light. Then it will glow solid orange. Keep the pen down after a while it will start t blink rapidly. Now release the reset button.

Wait a while (couple of minutes) and your express should be visible on the left top corner of airport utility on you mac

Follow the steps. If the Unexpected message reappears, start with resetting the express again and start over. It will kick in when it wants to kick in. With me it took more than 7 times. Don't forget to reboot your mac.

I followed this procedure with a 2nd line specialist of apple on the phone. Imagine I tried it all weekend with no luck and when I called apple suddenly it worked!

Good Luck!

I have an Airport Express A1392, and was having the same problem trying to connect it to my existing Airport Extreme wireless network. I am running OS X 10.9.5, and have Airport Utility 6.3.2. Temporarily connecting the Airport Express to my iMac with an ethernet cable solved the problem.

Thank you!

Bob,

I am trying to setup my Airport Express MC414LL/A by adding it to my existing home wifi; I am setting it up from my IPhone. I can see the Aiport base from the IPhone wifi settings and the phone allows me to select other options and then select "add to existing network", the tool is using the wifi password from the key chain.

However, once I click into the last steps and the base tries to handshake with the wifi it gives a message " an unexpected error occurred. Try again".

Troubleshoots I have done:

1. Hard reset the airport Multiple times

2. Hard reset the wifi base multiple times

3. Requested and installed a new wifi base from verizon

4. Took the airport to the apple store and they tested and successfully connected to the store wifi.

Any ideas?

Thanks,

audiopink, I had the exact same experience as you. Went through the procedures suggested in this forum, switched TCP/IP to "link local only". What did it for me was your advice on disconnecting all ethernet cables, then Airport Utility recognized my new out-of-the-box Airport Express and set-up was easy. Thank you.

Hi Bob

I have been following all the posts with the same problem. when I link my airport extreme boxes using my iPad it works first time on wifi. I have run ethernet to my extended room and always get the unexpected error messages on my iMac. i changed the settings to link local only, what else could cause the error ? airport utility see's the extending airport extreme but I can't connect to it via ethernet

chris

Hi there, I have followed the instructions and it still doesn't work. I have a Bell Home Hub 2000 router upstairs at the front of the house.

New Apple TV main level at the back of the house and the basement Wifi is just terrible.

When I reset the my Apple Express and use the Utility to add it to the network there are no issues. When I select edit and then wireless in the utility, my options in "Network Mode" are create a network, Join a network (which I have already successfully done) or extend a network, which is what I'm attempting to do.

So I select extend and when I update it appears to be updating but then I get this error message."An error occurred while updating the configuration'.

I press OK and the Express is no longer connected to the network.

1. Can you extend the router that is not an Apple router?

2. Is there a firmware update required for the Express?

3. Help?