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User profile for user: risingstar
risingstar Author
User level: Level 1
9 points

Airplay suddenly cuts out after 1 second on AirPort Express

I have been using two AirPort Expresses as Airplay 2 audio receivers in my house for years now, and it has worked perfectly until now. Suddenly, the Airport Expresses are not working. Specifically, they show up as speakers for my iPhone, AppleTV, and MacBook. When I select them to receive audio, they play the audio for just about 1 second and then suddenly cut out. The phone, TV, and MacBook will show the speakers as still connected and receiving audio, but no sound.


My guess is that it has something to do wither change to my mesh WiFi system, but I cannot pinpoint the cause or find a fix.


A few other notes:


  • The only thing that has changed recently is that I switched mesh wifi systems, upgrading to a TP-Link Deco Mesh AC1900 WiFi System (Deco S4). Everything else is working fine with this new system, and I even had a few weeks of the Airport Expresses working fine.
  • Both Airport Expresses are suddenly not working in the exact same way even though they show very strong connections to WiFi and are located very close to a mesh WiFi unit (10-15 feet).
  • I am able to stream Airplay just fine in other ways, such as to my AppleTvs or to three HomePod Minis in my house.
  • The most confusing thing is that it’s not that the Airport Expresses aren’t working at all — they are connected to my network, show up as speakers all the time, and always receive and play sound for 1 second before cutting out. I haven’t encountered this in all the years I’ve had Airport Expresses.


Any help is super appreciated!


AirPort

Posted on Aug 10, 2024 6:39 AM

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2 replies
User profile for user: risingstar
risingstar Author
User level: Level 1
9 points

Aug 13, 2024 12:59 PM in response to risingstar

I'll answer my own question: After trying MANY other things, such as static IPs, setting internet options to link local, etc., the only thing that worked was downgrading the firmware on my two Airport Express AC1392s from 7.8.1 to 7.6.9. There are good instructions here: AirPort Express 2nd gen Airplay problems - Apple Community


Most of the information in support forums had led me in other directions. However, I noticed some weird things that tipped me off.


An even older 1st Gen Airport Express on my network that I primarily use for printing only was working totally fine with Airplay when I plugged a speaker in. Then I noticed that the AC1392 would play music just fine but ONLY if the 1st Gen Airport Express was simultaneously chosen as a speaker. So I downgraded the firmware and voila. Documenting here for anyone who has a similar issue.


Here are things I tried that did NOT work:


  1. Hard-wiring Airport Express via ethernet cable to a mesh unit: Airplay worked this way, but my internet stopped working. For some reason Deco seemed to think I was receiving internet from the Airport Express.
  2. Switching the Deco from router mode to access point mode: Similar to above.
  3. Setting static IPs and link local.
  4. Giving the Airport Expresses fixed IP addresses, binding them to the main router or to 2.4GhZ, etc.
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Airplay suddenly cuts out after 1 second on AirPort Express

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