Airport express won't join network

I use an airport express to extend my network. It is the last model in the old style - if that makes sense - (It supports 5Ghz networks) - bought about a year ago. It's been working fine but suddenly stopped connecting to my network. I suspect a hardware problem - but how can I know for sure? It's in range of my Time Capsule - I've tried resetting it - occasionally it works but then drops the connection. Any thoughts would be welcomed.

Hi Nicholas Pritchard,
Welcome to the Support Communities!
The articles below may be able to help you with this.
Click on the links to see more details and screenshots.
Wi-Fi base stations: Setting up and configuring an extended wireless network (802.11n)
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4259
Resetting an AirPort Base Station or AirPort Time Capsule FAQ
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht3728
Cheers,
- Judy

Similar Messages

Airport Express won't join network and disappears from view once configured

Hi. I am having trouble getting my brand new Airport Express to connect to my network. I would appreciate any help you can provide. Here are the details:
Computer: iMac, G5 running OS X Tiger.
Network: Cable modem hooked to a netgear wireless b/g router. The router is configured to use WEP 128 bit encryption. I have connectivity on the router throughout the house on several computers and handheld devices (iPhone, etc).
Airport Express Version: 5.3.1
My goal is to add the AE to my current network in order to stream music from iTunes to my receiver.
When I initially opened up the airtunes utility to set up the AE the setup program was able to find the AE and walk through the configuration process. I followed the steps, entered the correct network name, encryption algorithm, password, etc. When I completed setup and hit the update AE button the AE disappeared from the setup application and the device began to flash yellow. While troubleshooting I have reset the AE dozens of times over the past couple of days. I have done both the reset with power on (press reset for 10 seconds waiting for the quickflash) and the hard reset (plugging the AE in with the reset button depressed until the quickflash starts). In either case, the AE is rarely detected by the setup utility (about 1 in 10 times). When it is detected, I walk through the set up and get the same results. I have attempted configuration using both the manual configuration option and the automatic "wizard-like" method.
I have tried to configure the AE wirelessly with it plugged in next to the computer and using a direct hookup via ethernet cable. Both methods produce the same results - flashing yellow light with AE undetectable by any Airport applications.
I have also tried to load an older version of the firmware (5.3) on the AE. When I hit the update AE button after configuring the update to go from the current version to version 5.3 I get an error message stating that "an error occured while attempting to update."
Thanks in advance for any help you can provide.

Hi guys,
I think I'm having the same problem as you all, and its driving me crazzzzy!. I added an AX to my existing network with a AEX all thru gigabyte switch, including the new AX. I set the brand new AX up with all the settings, hit update, all settings were configured and its working fine (i can see it in iTunes, stream music to it, all works fine) EXCEPT when i go to AU and try to go into the manual setting of the AX it just hangs, and after about 2 min, i get an error message:
"An error occurred while reading the configuration. Please make sure your Apple wireless device is plugged in and in range of your computer or connected via Ethernet and try again. (-6722)"
I have tried resetting it hard/soft/default but not sure if it really does reset it, still keeps same password, and network settings. Tried connecting it next to my existing AEX incase the AX is trying to communicate via WIFI instead of the hard wired ethernet. I'll try hard wiring it directly to my mac as some have had success.
I have tried using OX 10.5.3, but still misbehaves as b4 with OSX.4.11. So its not my mac setup.
I'll try to find the old firmwares as some have described, that might work....????
This seems a common problem to many, I hope that Steve & the Apple engineers have got these messages and are fixing the problem as we speak.
marc

Airport Express Won't Join Network Anymore

I had my Airport Express set up in my house as a range extender for my Airport Extreme. It was working fine until I recently updated the Airport software (or firmware, I don't remember). Now the AP Express is blinking amber. I went through all the trouble shooting steps, including hard and factory reset. My Airport utulity (6.0) sees the AP Express, and it takes me through all the steps setting it up as a range extender for my basestation on my wireless network, but at the very last step it says there's an error connecting. When I connect via ethernet only it's yellow on the utility, with status saying there no valid IP address. Tried the same IP settings as my basestation, but no luck. It also says the wireless network can't be found.
Is this a software problem, or a hardware issue? I feel like I'm missing something simple. I would appreciate any help anyone can offer. Thanks!

Download and use Airport Utility 5.6
This was release the same day as 6.0 but 6.0 is quirky and exhibits strange behavior at times.
http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1482?viewlocale=en_US&locale=en_US
Do a Factory reset again and set it up using 5.6

Airport Express Won't Extend Network

I have an AirPort Extreme and I am trying to use my AirPort Express to extend its network. For quite a while, it was working fine. Then, due to some interference issues, I had to change the channels on my AirPort Extreme. Since then, the AirPort Express flashes Amber. I have tried restoring it to its default settings from AirPort Utility, as well as the reset button while plugging it in. My computer detects it, renames it, and automatically chooses to extend the network from the Extreme, but when setup is finished, it just flashes Amber. What can I do?

Ii suggest that you run a few quick tests to try to begin to troubleshoot the issue.
Move the AirPort Express to the same room as the AirPort Extreme to reset and reconfigure the device again.
Do you get a green light that way?
If yes, then unplug and move the Express to a location that is no more than half the distance between the AirPort Extreme and the general are that needs more wireless coverage and test to see if the Express will work reliably at that location.
However, if you cannot get the AirPort Express to work when you configure it in the same room as the Airport Extreme.....and you have reset the AirPort Express several times, then it is time to start thinking about the possibilty that the Express is defective.
Please post back on your results, as it still may be necessary to use a good utility like WiFi Explorer to help analzye your wireless network connection quality and take a look at other sources that may be introducing wireless interference that is affecting your network.

Airport Express won't join my existing wireless network...

I have Broadband in my house. I have a wireless modem also. I have spent hours trying to have Airport Express join the network so I can use the music streaming feature, but I have so far not been successful. I have seen a lot of references to it being very easy and straightforward to set up with it doing most of the work itself. As in, plug in AE to a power socket, open Airport Utility and follow the instructions... It doesn't appear to be that simple, not by a long shot. Can anyone outline how this can be done in simple steps? All of the online steps I have tried do not work, with many of them referencing aspects of the Airport Utility GUI that don't seem to exist...
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
For the record, I DO NOT want to replace my existing wireless router, i just want AE to join the network...
Thanks...
Ronan

I have the same problem - the AE wont join my Draytek 2600 wireless network. I can stream music wired, but it refuses to join the wireless network. I have tried WEP, WPA, WPA 2 etc. Always get amber flashing light. Ive spent about 5 hours solid on it so far, and I'm a networking expert.
No other device on the planet has problems connecting to my wireless. currently I have:
1) Belkin wireless Skype phon (no problems)
2) SOHO wireless IP camera (no problems)
3) Intel Macbook pro (no problems)
4) G4 Macbook (no problems)
5) Dell D600 XP notebook (no problems)
Try to connect the AE? No chance. Its just broken.
I have tried every conceiveable manual setting on the device also.
If I manually set the ip (outside the DHCP range, but within the subnet), subnet, DNS sever, domain etc, I get a GREEN light, but nothing can communicate with it. The utility cant see it, and itunes cant see it.
The real problem is there is no way to know if the problem is with DHCP or the wireless. Does green light mean it has a wireless connection, or it has a valid IP?
Interestingly, if I start it with a wired connection, get a green light, then stream music to it, then pull out the wire, the green light stays, and music players for about another minute (presumably wirelessly, but who knows?) before the music stops and the device (replete with green light), becomes dead to the network.
APPLE desperately needs to sort this out. Its junk.

Airport Express no longer joins network

Greetings, I have a cable modem internet connection; I use an older Airport Extreme (802.11n, without Time Capsule) to make a local wifi network with WPA2 Personal security, and an older Airport Express (802.11 b/g, firmware 6.3) to connect a laser printer in a different room.
All was working well until two days ago when access to the internet disappeared. I reset the modem, confirmed that the cable connection was working by plugging a laptop directly into the modem by ethernet, determining that the problem was the Airport Extreme. I discovered the 7.5.2 firmware update which I uploaded, and all seemed well.
However, the 27" iMac upstairs only connected to Airport intermittently; it appeared to have been duplicated in name, as well as only recognized the Airport Express. I've since been able to correct that problem, however, now the Airport Express no longer connects to the Airport Extreme network.
I've tried soft resets (unplugging then plugging back in) and hard resets (pressing the reset button with a paperclip until the amber light flashes, then reconfiguring the device). I've tried setting the Airport Express both just to join the network (printer sharing) as well as extend the network; I also reverted the Airport Extreme's firmware to 7.4.2 which works perfectly well. However, now after each successive attempt to reconfigure the Airport Express to join the network, Airport Utility says that the Airport Express has been successfully updated and will restart, which it never does - it simply flashes an amber light, and Airport Utility eventually times out and says that it was unable to find the Airport Express after restarting, noting that the settings have been successfully updated, but that there is a problem re-joining the wireless network/finding the device. Notably, the Airport Express no longer appears in the left hand list of wireless devices in Airport Utility.
Help!!

Hi pslebow,
You make it sound like there was no change, then suddenly the Airport Express 802.11g lost connection to the wireless network and you can't get it back.
What network security is your wireless network using?
From the specification sheet, "…When joining an existing wireless network, AirPort Express only supports WPA-Personal."
AirPort Express - Technical Specifications
Please make sure your router security is set to match.
iOS and OS X: Recommended settings for Wi-Fi routers and access points - Apple Support
If you have older Wi-Fi devices on your network that don't support WPA2 Personal (AES), a good second choice is WPA/WPA2 Mode (often referred to as WPA Mixed Mode). This mode will allow newer devices to use the stronger WPA2 AES encryption, while still allowing older devices to connect with older WPA TKIP-level encryption. If your Wi-Fi router doesn't support WPA/WPA2 Mode, WPA Personal (TKIP) mode is the next best choice.
Best,
Nubz

Airport express won't extend network via ethernet but shows GREEN (HELP!!)

I have the following routers setup up the same network and are working.
10.0.1.1 Airport Extreme (connected to hardline from IP)
10.0.1.2 Time Capsule 1 (extending network and providing internet connection to computer via ethernet)
10.0.1.3 Time Capsule 2 (extending network and providing internet connection to Xbox1)
10.0.1.4 Airport Express 1 (extending network and providing internet connection to Xbox2)
Not working correctly
10.0.1.43 Airport Express 2 (wanting to set this router up to extend network to plug into desktop)
The router seems to join the network fine and will show GREEN but doesn't show a similar IP address as the rest of the routers. It also doesn't provide any internet connection via ethernet to any computer, the network pref page says that it shows RED and that nothing is connected to the computer for internet but airport shows GREEN.
Reset the router multiple times, tried every which way of setting it up and no go. I also tried assigning it a IP and not using DHCP and gave it a 10.0.1.5 and still the same outcome.
Right now just at complete loss as to what to try next.

Sorry, the older version of the Express does not have the option to "extend a wireless network", which is the setting on the new Express that provides more wireless coverage and also enables the Ethernet port.
What you want to do can be done with a different setting..."participate in a WDS network" on both the Time Capsule and Express, but I am not recommending that you do this because WDS operates only in "g" wireless mode. Your Time Capsule would lose most of its performance in this setting and the network would slow down tremendously...defintely not what you want for gaming.
You'll have the best performance if you connect the PS3 directly to one of the Ethernet ports on the Time Capsule using an Ethernet cable. If it is not possible to run the cable, the next best performance option would be to use a pair of Ethernet powerline adapters to send the Ethernet signal over the existing AC wiring in your home.

Airport Express refuses to join network.

I have an existing wireless network consisting of a D-Link DGL-4500 router running a mixed 802.11g and 802.11n network. Everything has been working fine for ages. I just bought an Airport Express in order to stream iTunes to my receiver. I plug in the Airport, and get a blinking amber light. I fire up the Airport Utility app on my iPhone, and right away it sees the Airport. I configure the Airport for my network, and . . . nothing. Blinking amber light. The Airport Utility now cannot find the Airport, and eventually gives up with an error. I check the logs on the router, and I see no evidence that the Airport has tried to connect to the router (I can't find the MAC anywhere in the logs).
I also tried to configure the Airport using the Airport Utility on my PC (Widnows 7, 64-bit). I did a factory reset on the Airport. Thereafter, the Utility will not see the Airport. I connect the PC directly to the default wireless network created by the Airport, but the Utility still will not see the Airport. I have to choose "Configure other" from the drop-down and enter the default IP and password for the Airport. Once I have done so, I can edit the configuration settings, but after entering the correct information, the Airport resets itself, and . . . nothing. Again, just a blinking amber light. The Airport Utility cannot find the Airport, and eventually gives up with an error. I check the logs on the router, and I see no evidence that the Airport has tried to connect to the router (I can't find the MAC anywhere in the logs).
Is my Airport broken?

Bob:
Thanks for the reply. My understanding is that the iPhone Airport Utility app passes on the network settings to the Airport. Since the iPhone connects successfully to the router and can access the internet (and therefore presumably "knows" the network), I would think that it is providing the proper information to the Airport.
However, when using the Airport Utility on my PC, I have double (triple) checked that I am entering the correct settings. I've lost count of the number of tries. The D-Link is using WPA2-Personal security.
What makes me wonder if the AIrport is faulty is this: I did a factory reset on the Airport. When it restarts, it thinks it is a base station. I configure my PC to "join" the Airport network. However, the Airport Utility still cannot see the Airport, even when connected directly to it.
I did try to connect to the Airport from my Windows XP netbook using an ethernet cable. The Airport Utility saw the Airport, and allowed me to configure it, but when the Airport restarted, it disappeared. The Utility could not thereafter find the Airport, and it did not appear in the router logs.

AirPort Express won't extend network range

I spent 5 hours on the phone with three different apple reps changing every possible setting on the airport express that i wanted to use to extend the range of my existing network and even though AirPort utility said everything was set up right, the AX was only connected as a client. It was on the network, but not broadcasting ANY signal. This was at an office building with an AirPort Extreme as the base station. Both devices are brand new. 802.11n. I then took it home to see if it would extend the range of my home network which is set up using an AirPort Express as the base station. After trying every possible set up option there i was left with the same result. No broadcasting from the remote Express. It broadcasts when it's a base station, but not as a remote extender. What's the problem?!

I am going nuts too trying to configure my Airport Express to extend the range of my Airport Extreme. Nothing seems to work and I've been at this off and on for months. The Extreme works fine (it's an "n") but the Express (I think a "g") won't cooperate. And Apple has no current definitive step-by-step instructions that help at all. Does anyone out there have a solution? Shouldn't this just be plug-and-play with a few tweaks to the settings?

Airport Express Won't Join Actiontec Router LAN

The devices are a new Actiontec MI424WR router and a five year old Airport Express.
I've had no trouble getting other devices (802.11g and 802.11n) to join the router's LAN, and I have no trouble configuring the Express via Airport Utility. The Express worked perfectly with my old router, and the Express is able to create its own LAN (802.11g, WPA2), which my Mac can join. All software and firmware is up to date.
Any suggestions on getting the Express to connect with the router?

When you mentioned LAN and configuring the AirPort Express to create its own wireless network, I was thinking that you were talking about connecting the Express to one of the Ethernet or LAN ports on the Actiontec router.
It sounds like you really mean WLAN (Wireless local area network), correct?
See if the Actiontec router has a setting like WPA-PSK-TKIP and then try WPA/WPA2 Personal on the Express.

Airport Express won't join via ethernet, only wirelessly

I have a Time Capsule, two AEs wired and another AE operating wirelessly in my home network. Problem is I can't get the wired ones to join as wired ones. They'll only connect to the network wirelessly. So I can have a network completely wireless but I'd prefer the speed of the two AEs wired. I've been through many attempts, set-ups and versions with the AEs trying to resolve this. A potential big wrinkle is that the router is connected to two different switches that handle the various ethernet cables serving many rooms in the house so I'm thinking that may be the problem. Is that likely or am I missing something?

Well, the way to do this would be to go ahead and setup both AirPort Express devices one at a time near the Time Capsule...and connect them directly to the Time Capsule using Ethernet.
Get them working correctly that way first.
Then, move them to the backside of the Ethernet backbone for the network. If the Express devices don't work there....then you have an Ethernet switch problem, an Ethernet cabling problem, or possibly both. Tedious troubleshooting will be required.
In situations like you describe, 90% of the time the issue boils down to an improperly installed Ethernet plug, a broken wire somewhere, or a bad port on a switch. That is not to say that this is the issue, but it is the area to place your bets.
We did not get any details about what generation model the Express devices might be, or what type of operating system you are using on the Mac or PC to configure the Express devices. We'll need basic information like that if you desire additional help.

Airport Express won't extend network over LAN when plugged into a switch

I have several airport expresses (newest model) and an airport extreme.
Every room in my house is wired for ethernet. Those terminate in a closet and plug into a single switch. That switch then has a single cable that plugs into the airport extreme.
In different areas of the house, I've placed a few expresses to extended the wireless network. After several attempts, the express "hotspots" would only extend the extreme via wifi (offering no real advantage) even though they were plugged into the wall via ethernet.
For grins and giggles, I tried connecting the port directly into the airport extreme (bypassing the switch) and it started to send the traffic over the wired LAN.
Question is - why? I'd much rather everything go through the switch as the extreme has a limited amount of ports and I'd rather use for other things. Anyone had this experience before?
Thanks!

Sorry, the older version of the Express does not have the option to "extend a wireless network", which is the setting on the new Express that provides more wireless coverage and also enables the Ethernet port.
What you want to do can be done with a different setting..."participate in a WDS network" on both the Time Capsule and Express, but I am not recommending that you do this because WDS operates only in "g" wireless mode. Your Time Capsule would lose most of its performance in this setting and the network would slow down tremendously...defintely not what you want for gaming.
You'll have the best performance if you connect the PS3 directly to one of the Ethernet ports on the Time Capsule using an Ethernet cable. If it is not possible to run the cable, the next best performance option would be to use a pair of Ethernet powerline adapters to send the Ethernet signal over the existing AC wiring in your home.

Airport Express won't Bridge Network

I am trying to use the airport express as a remote bridge, 1) connecting to my verizon Fios wireless router wirelessly then 2) through the ethernet port on the express. To distribute internet access.
I have entered the Mac Address of the wireless component on the router into the Express Airport Admin Utility under "WDS Main:" The wireless Mode is setup to "Participate in a WDS network". I have disabled any wireless security features to rule that out.
I continue to get a blinking yellow light and no internet connection on the Express Ethernet port.

Unfortunately, most non-AirPort routers are not compatible with Apple's implementation of Wireless Distribution System (WDS)...so it very unlikely that your Verizon wireless router can be extended wirelessly with the AirPort Express Base Station (AX).

With my Airport Express, I can join the network but not extend it.

I just bought a new Airport Express to extend the network I have setup with my Airport Extreme. At first, it seemed the Express was unable to get a correct IP address, I think because I had my DHCP server running from the cable modem, and the Extreme was just acting as a bridge. I switched the Extreme to run a DHCP server and now the Express correctly receives an IP address. However, it still tells me that it cannot extend the network, but gives no details why. It just tells me to make sure I have the correct password and to be sure I am in range.
Clearly I am in range and have the correct password, because when I switch to "join network", all works fine. Though when I do switch, I still get an amber blinking light and Airport Utility still thinks the Express is in Extend mode. When I unplug and replug the Express, then it comes up with a green light and Airport Utility shows it in Join mode and all works fine.
I am thinking there might be something wrong with my Express and am considering exchanging it. Just wondering if anyone has any ideas as to why this may be happening?
Thanks.

However, it still tells me that it cannot extend the network, but gives no details why.
Suggest that you check your AirPort Extreme to make sure that you have enabled the wireless network to be extended.
Open AirPort Utility, select the AirPort Extreme, and click Manual Setup
Click the Wireless tab below the row of icons
Just under the setting for Wireless Network name......make sure that there is a check mark next to "Allow this network to be exended".
Update to save changes
Now, try the configuration with the AirPort Express set to "Extend a wireless network"

Airport Express won't extend Airport Extreme Network

I use an Airport Extreme (AE) to connect to the internet. I use an Airport Express (AX) to extend the network via a WDS network. Until recently all was fine.
Last week I updated the firmware for my AE. Since then my AX has not been acting as a WDS extension. I have tried several times tonight to make the AE and AX talk to each other in this fashion. I have reset the AX to factory defaults and reset the AE as well. So far, nothing works.
Thought the AX might have failed. However, the AX will connect to the AE network just fine. It just won't extend the network.
Any ideas will be most appreciated.
Thanks.

I have an Airport Extreme Base Station. I just bought an Airport Express to extend my network and connect a wired device in my living room to my network via the Ethernet port. The Airport Express obtains an IP address from the Airport Extreme but I can't seem to get out to the Internet ...at least via the Ethernet port. When I installed the Airport Express, I updated it to 7.3.1.
This sounds like a similar problem to the original post.

Airport express won't join network

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