Flashing amber on AirPort Express

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Level 3

933 points

Flashing amber on AirPort Express

I launched AirPort Utility 6.3.6 and its Help section said this:

Flashing amber

The base station can’t establish a connection to the network or the Internet, or is encountering a problem. Use AirPort Utility to get information about what might cause the status light to flash amber.

Well, I AM connected because I'm posting this. Clicking on the yellow alert triangle, gives me this:

What gives? According to BOTH of the above, I cannot be posting this, yet I definitely did post it!

AirPort Express 802.11n (2nd generation), OS X El Capitan (10.11.6)

Posted on Dec 18, 2017 6:30 PM

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Answer 1

munkymajik

Level 4

1,505 points

Dec 18, 2017 8:05 PM in response to romad

If you want to get the green light again you might have to reset it by holding down the small button at the back of the Airport Express with a paper clip or pen/pencil until it resets. Then use Airport utility to set it up again.

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Answer 2

romad Author

Level 3

933 points

Dec 18, 2017 7:55 PM in response to Bob Timmons

I updated the firmware last week, Bob. However, a little while ago the amber triangle in the AirPort Utility window changed to an amber dot. With that change, the notice that appeared when I clicked on it said there was another firmware update. I ran that one and after the restart, the light was back to steady green. So two firmware updates in less than a week! I'm surprised though, since Apple announced last year they were no longer doing any AirPort-related development. Maybe these were the last updates in the development pipeline.

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Answer 3

munkymajik

Level 4

1,505 points

Dec 18, 2017 7:37 PM in response to romad

Ok maybe try restarting the Airport like Bob Timmons suggested.

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Answer 4

Bob Timmons

Level 10

188,048 points

Dec 18, 2017 8:09 PM in response to romad

Or it turned out there was a bug in the update done last week, and Apple quietly released a patched update.

Nope.

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Answer 5

munkymajik

Level 4

1,505 points

Dec 18, 2017 6:34 PM in response to romad

Are you posting from a mobile device, it might be using mobile data.

What's your setup do you use wifi on the airport express? Do you have a second wifi network from your modem?

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Answer 6

munkymajik

Level 4

1,505 points

Dec 18, 2017 7:54 PM in response to romad

The update fixes the Krack vulnerability. But there was only one update. Maybe it didn't install correctly the first time.

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Answer 7

Bob Timmons

Level 10

188,048 points

Dec 18, 2017 8:01 PM in response to romad

So two firmware updates in less than a week

No, there was only one update last week for the Express. The previous update before that was a year ago. It is possible that the update that you ran did not "stick" and you needed to run it again.

The other possibility....that I already mentioned....is that El Capitan is not one of Apple's better efforts.

Apple announced they were no longer doing any AirPort-related development

No, they didn't. But, there have been several online articles from sites that are known for "rumors" and "speculation" that claim to know what Apple will or will not do. Not much point in discussing rumors, though.

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Answer 8

romad Author

Level 3

933 points

Dec 18, 2017 7:34 PM in response to munkymajik

No, Yes (AirPort is Apple's name for their WiFi products), and No.

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Answer 9

romad Author

Level 3

933 points

Dec 18, 2017 7:58 PM in response to munkymajik

Or it turned out there was a bug in the update done last week, and Apple quietly released a patched update.

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Answer 10

munkymajik

Level 4

1,505 points

Dec 18, 2017 7:59 PM in response to romad

I doubt it. I have an Airport Express as my main wifi too and updated as soon as it came out. Only one update.

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Answer 11

Bob Timmons

Level 10

188,048 points

Dec 18, 2017 6:45 PM in response to romad

Did you power off the AirPort Express

Shut down your Mac

Wait a few seconds

Power up the Mac

Power up the Airport Express?

If no help, we'll have to try to change some settings on your Mac. Lots of bugs in El Capitan, so expect to see the AirPort "disappear" again in the future.

We have also seen a number of AirPorts "disappear" after they have been updated with new firmware that became available in the last week or so. Not enough testing at Apple.

If you have not updated the firmware, that is one reason why the AirPort is flashing amber.

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