ESP32-S3-Zero doesn't connect to WiFi network

breti · March 15, 2025, 8:58pm

Hi,

I have tried to get my first ESP32-S3-Zero up and running, but it cannot connect to my wifi network.

I have tried:

with arduino and esp-idf framework
with FRITZ!Box 7590 and with Samsung S22+ AP
with power supply via USB as well as via 3V3 and via 5V with a lab power supply

Simple configuration:

esphome:
  name: esp32-s3-zero
  friendly_name: ESP32-S3-Zero

esp32:
  board: esp32-s3-devkitc-1
  framework:
    type: esp-idf
#    type: arduino

# Enable logging
logger:

# Enable Home Assistant API
api:
  encryption:
    key: "Hu1FcIu/8nKv+jhan8dSaC8oZvgwHXg6Or/xE4QLBIo="

ota:
  - platform: esphome
    password: "b8a3bba7d7ab2cb5682c1b673ec272a2"

wifi:
  ssid: xxx
  password: xxx

  # Enable fallback hotspot (captive portal) in case wifi connection fails
  ap:
    ssid: "Esp32-S3-Zero Fallback Hotspot"
    password: "QGUX1IiQALvL"

captive_portal:

I have also tried this configuration: S3 Media Player - #2 by Arh

Now I’m running out of ideas. What else can I try?

With arduino framework, to FRITZ!Box wifi:

[21:14:47][I][logger:171]: Log initialized
[21:14:47][C][safe_mode:079]: There have been 3 suspected unsuccessful boot attempts
[21:14:47][D][esp32.preferences:114]: Saving 1 preferences to flash...
[21:14:47][D][esp32.preferences:143]: Saving 1 prefere[D][wifi:497]: Found networks:
[21:14:47][I][wifi:541]: - 'Bretschneider' (E0:28:6D:7D:21:82) [redacted]▂▄▆█
[21:14:47][D][wifi:542]:     Channel: 6
[21:14:47][D][wifi:543]:     RSSI: -82 dB
[21:14:47][I][wifi:313]: WiFi Connecting to 'Bretschneider'...
[21:14:49]ESP-ROM:esp32s3-20210327
[21:14:49]Build:Mar 27 2021
[21:14:49]rst:0x8 (TG1WDT_SYS_RST),boot:0x8 (SPI_FAST_FLASH_BOOT)
[21:14:49]Saved PC:0x403743c0
[21:14:49]SPIWP:0xee
[21:14:49]mode:DIO, clock div:1
[21:14:49]load:0x3fce3808,len:0x43c
[21:14:49]load:0x403c9700,len:0xbec
[21:14:49]load:0x403cc700,len:0x2a3c
[21:14:49]entry 0x403c98d8
[21:14:49][I][logger:171]: Log initialized
[21:14:49][C][safe_mode:079]: There have been 4 suspected unsuccessful boot attempts
[21:14:49][D][esp32.preferences:114]: Saving 1 preferences to flash...
[21:14:49][D][esp32.preferences:143]: Saving 1 preferences to flash: 0 cached, 1 written, 0 failed
[21:14:49][I][app:029]: Running through setup()...
[21:14:49][C][wifi:048]: Setting up WiFi...
[21:14:49][C][wifi:061]: Starting WiFi...
[21:14:49][C][wifi:062]:   Local MAC: 24:EC:4A:2F:2F:E8
[21:14:49][D][wifi:482]: Starting scan...
[21:14:49][W][component:157]: Component wifi set Warning flag: scanning for networks
[21:14:55][D][wifi:497]: Found networks:
[21:14:55][I][wifi:541]: - 'Bretschneider' (E0:28:6D:7D:21:82) [redacted]▂▄▆█
[21:14:55][D][wifi:542]:     Channel: 6
[21:14:55][D][wifi:543]:     RSSI: -82 dB
[21:14:55][I][wifi:313]: WiFi Connecting to 'Bretschneider'...
Terminal disconnected: NetworkError: The device has been lost.

With esp-idf framework, to FRITZ!Box wifi:

[21:31:43]I (111) esp_image: segment 0: paddr=00010020 vaddr=3c0a00[I][logger:171]: Log initialized
[21:31:43][C][safe_mode:079]: There have been 0 suspected unsuccessful boot attempts
[21:31:43][D][esp32.preferences:114]: Saving 1 preferences to flash...
[21:31:43][D][esp32.preferences:142]: Saving 1 preferences to flash: 0 cached, 1 written, 0 failed
[21:31:43][I][app:029]: Running through setup()...
[21:31:43][C][wifi:048]: Setting up WiFi...
[21:31:43][D][esp-idf:000]: I (486) pp: pp rom version: e7ae62f
[21:31:43]
[21:31:44][D][esp-idf:000]: 0;32m[I][wifi:313]: WiFi Connecting to 'Bretschneider'...
[21:31:44][D][esp-idf:000][wifi]: W (10637) wifi:
[21:31:44][D][esp-idf:000][wifi]: Password length matches WPA2 standards, authmode threshold changes from OPEN to WPA2
[21:31:44][D][esp-idf:000][wifi]: 
[21:31:44]
[21:31:47][D][esp-idf:000][wifi]: I (13507) wifi:
[21:31:47][D][esp-idf:000][wifi]: new:<6,0>, old:<6,0>, ap:<255,255>, sta:<6,0>, prof:1
[21:31:47][D][esp-idf:000][wifi]: 
[21:31:47]
[21:31:47][D][esp-idf:000][wifi]: I (13509) wifi:
[21:31:47][D][esp-idf:000][wifi]: state: init -> auth (b0)
[21:31:47][D][esp-idf:000][wifi]: 
[21:31:47]
[21:31:48][D][esp-idf:000][wifi]: I (14510) wifi:
[21:31:48][D][esp-idf:000][wifi]: state: auth -> init (200)
[21:31:48][D][esp-idf:000][wifi]: 
[21:31:48]
[21:31:48][D][esp-idf:000][wifi]: I (14512) wifi:
[21:31:48][D][esp-idf:000][wifi]: new:<6,0>, old:<6,0>, ap:<255,255>, sta:<6,0>, prof:1
[21:31:48][D][esp-idf:000][wifi]: 
[21:31:48]
[21:31:48][W][wifi_esp32:711]: Event: Disconnected ssid='Bretschneider' bssid=E0:28:6D:7D:21:82[redacted] reason='Auth Expired'
[21:31:48][W][wifi:653]: Error while connecting to network.
[21:31:48][D][wifi:697]: Retrying with hidden networks...
[21:31:48][I][wifi:313]: WiFi Connecting to 'Bretschneider'...
[21:31:48][D][esp-idf:000][wifi]: W (14526) wifi:
[21:31:48][D][esp-idf:000][wifi]: Password length matches WPA2 standards, authmode threshold changes from OPEN to WPA2
[21:31:48][D][esp-idf:000][wifi]: 
[21:31:48]
[21:31:49][D][esp-idf:000][wifi]: I (15029) wifi:
[21:31:49][D][esp-idf:000][wifi]: new:<6,0>, old:<6,0>, ap:<255,255>, sta:<6,0>, prof:1
[21:31:49][D][esp-idf:000][wifi]: 
[21:31:49]
[21:31:49][D][esp-idf:000][wifi]: I (15031) wifi:
[21:31:49][D][esp-idf:000][wifi]: state: init -> auth (b0)
[21:31:49][D][esp-idf:000][wifi]: 
[21:31:49]
[21:31:50][D][esp-idf:000][wifi]: I (16032) wifi:
[21:31:50][D][esp-idf:000][wifi]: state: auth -> init (200)
[21:31:50][D][esp-idf:000][wifi]: 
[21:31:50]
[21:31:50][D][esp-idf:000][wifi]: I (16034) wifi:
[21:31:50][D][esp-idf:000][wifi]: new:<6,0>, old:<6,0>, ap:<255,255>, sta:<6,0>, prof:1
[21:31:50][D][esp-idf:000][wifi]: 
[21:31:50]
[21:31:50][W][wifi_esp32:711]: Event: Disconnected ssid='Bretschneider' bssid=E0:28:6D:7D:21:82[redacted] reason='Auth Expired'
[21:31:50][W][wifi:653]: Error while connecting to network.
[21:31:50][D][wifi:697]: Retrying with hidden networks...
[21:31:55][I][wifi:313]: WiFi Connecting to 'Bretschneider'...

With esp-idf framework, to Samsung S22+ wifi:

[21:36:17]I (153) esp_image: segment 1: paddr=0003edcc vaddr=3fc976[I][logger:171]: Log initialized
[21:36:17][C][safe_mode:079]: There have been 1 suspected unsuccessful boot attempts
[21:36:17][D][esp32.preferences:114]: Saving 1 preferences to flash...
[21:36:17][D][esp32.preferences:142]: Saving 1 preferences to flash: 0 cached, 1 written, 0 failed
[21:36:17][I][app:029]: Running through setup()...
[21:36:17][C][wifi:048]: Setting up WiFi...
[21:36:17][D][esp-idf:000]: I (497) pp: pp rom version: e7ae62f
[21:36:17]
[21:36:18][D][esp-idf:000]: 0;36m[D][wifi:497]: Found networks:
[21:36:18][D][wifi:545]: - 'Bretschneider'[redacted] (E0:28:6D:7D:21:82) [redacted]▂▄▆█
[21:36:18][W][wifi:551]: No matching network found!
[21:36:23][D][wifi:482]: Starting scan...
[21:36:26][D][wifi:497]: Found networks:
[21:36:26][I][wifi:540]: - 'Hotspot' (06:FA:10:78:4D:19) [redacted]▂▄▆█
[21:36:26][D][wifi:542]:     Channel: 1
[21:36:26][D][wifi:543]:     RSSI: -55 dB
[21:36:26][D][wifi:545]: - 'Bretschneider'[redacted] (E0:28:6D:7D:21:82) [redacted]▂▄▆█
[21:36:26][I][wifi:313]: WiFi Connecting to 'Hotspot'...
[21:36:26][D][esp-idf:000][wifi]: W (17799) wifi:
[21:36:26][D][esp-idf:000][wifi]: Password length matches WPA2 standards, authmode threshold changes from OPEN to WPA2
[21:36:26][D][esp-idf:000][wifi]: 
[21:36:26]
[21:36:28][W][wifi_esp32:705]: Event: Disconnected ssid='Hotspot' reason='Probe Request Unsuccessful'
[21:36:28][W][wifi:653]: Error while connecting to network.
[21:36:28][D][wifi:697]: Retrying with hidden networks...
[21:36:28][I][wifi:313]: WiFi Connecting to 'Hotspot'...
[21:36:28][D][esp-idf:000][wifi]: W (20203) wifi:
[21:36:28][D][esp-idf:000][wifi]: Password length matches WPA2 standards, authmode threshold changes from OPEN to WPA2
[21:36:28][D][esp-idf:000][wifi]: 
[21:36:28]
[21:36:29][D][esp-idf:000][wifi]: I (20746) wifi:
[21:36:29][D][esp-idf:000][wifi]: new:<1,0>, old:<1,0>, ap:<255,255>, sta:<1,0>, prof:1
[21:36:29][D][esp-idf:000][wifi]: 
[21:36:29]
[21:36:29][D][esp-idf:000][wifi]: I (20748) wifi:
[21:36:29][D][esp-idf:000][wifi]: state: init -> auth (b0)
[21:36:29][D][esp-idf:000][wifi]: 
[21:36:29]
[21:36:30][D][esp-idf:000][wifi]: I (21749) wifi:
[21:36:30][D][esp-idf:000][wifi]: state: auth -> init (200)
[21:36:30][D][esp-idf:000][wifi]: 
[21:36:30]
[21:36:30][D][esp-idf:000][wifi]: I (21751) wifi:
[21:36:30][D][esp-idf:000][wifi]: new:<1,0>, old:<1,0>, ap:<255,255>, sta:<1,0>, prof:1
[21:36:30][D][esp-idf:000][wifi]: 
[21:36:30]
[21:36:30][W][wifi_esp32:711]: Event: Disconnected ssid='Hotspot' bssid=06:FA:10:78:4D:19[redacted] reason='Auth Expired'
[21:36:30][W][wifi:653]: Error while connecting to network.
[21:36:30][D][wifi:697]: Retrying with hidden networks...
[21:36:35][I][wifi:313]: WiFi Connecting to 'Hotspot'...
[21:36:35][D][esp-idf:000][wifi]: W (26765) wifi:
[21:36:35][D][esp-idf:000][wifi]: Password length matches WPA2 standards, authmode threshold changes from OPEN to WPA2
[21:36:35][D][esp-idf:000][wifi]: 
[21:36:35]
[21:36:38][D][esp-idf:000][wifi]: I (29836) wifi:
[21:36:38][D][esp-idf:000][wifi]: new:<1,0>, old:<1,0>, ap:<255,255>, sta:<1,0>, prof:1
[21:36:38][D][esp-idf:000][wifi]: 
[21:36:38]
[21:36:38][D][esp-idf:000][wifi]: I (29837) wifi:
[21:36:38][D][esp-idf:000][wifi]: state: init -> auth (b0)
[21:36:38][D][esp-idf:000][wifi]: 
[21:36:38]
[21:36:39][D][esp-idf:000][wifi]: I (30839) wifi:
[21:36:39][D][esp-idf:000][wifi]: state: auth -> init (200)
[21:36:39][D][esp-idf:000][wifi]: 
[21:36:39]
[21:36:39][D][esp-idf:000][wifi]: I (30841) wifi:
[21:36:39][D][esp-idf:000][wifi]: new:<1,0>, old:<1,0>, ap:<255,255>, sta:<1,0>, prof:1
[21:36:39][D][esp-idf:000][wifi]: 
[21:36:39]
[21:36:39][W][wifi_esp32:711]: Event: Disconnected ssid='Hotspot' bssid=06:FA:10:78:4D:19[redacted] reason='Auth Expired'
[21:36:39][W][wifi:653]: Error while connecting to network.
[21:36:39][D][wifi:697]: Retrying with hidden networks...
[21:36:39][I][wifi:313]: WiFi Connecting to 'Hotspot'...
[21:36:39][D][esp-idf:000][wifi]: W (30855) wifi:
[21:36:39][D][esp-idf:000][wifi]: Password length matches WPA2 standards, authmode threshold changes from OPEN to WPA2
[21:36:39][D][esp-idf:000][wifi]: 
[21:36:39]

neel-m · March 15, 2025, 10:46pm

you are likely running into band steering issues. This is than man page on it What is band steering and how does it work? | FRITZ!Box 7590

Turn it off. It does not work well on most routers and it typically causes issues like this. You should also consider getting a better router. I have heard of many people having issues with FRITZ-Box routers. If it is working for you great.

I used to use different SSIDs for 2.4 and 5GHz. I now use Ubiquity and just turn off band steering, since I find using 5GHz doesn’t really work well for my area (you really have to be in the same room to get much benefit from 5GHz, it doesn’t go through walls at all well).

orange-assistant · March 16, 2025, 12:27am

Probably not. The ESP32 is 2.4GHz only AFAIK

In order for the wireless devices to be steered by the FRITZ!Box, the devices must support the wireless standards 802.11k and 802.11v

neel-m · March 16, 2025, 5:41am

you might think that, but the way some (poor) implementations handle band steering is to deauth the client on 2.4 GHz to force it to 5GHz, which doesn’t work so well for 2.4 GHz only devices.

This matches the first log.

breti · March 16, 2025, 7:52am

Thanks, but I’m sure it’s not a router issue, as it’s the same with the Samsung S22 mobile hotspot as well. In addition, I already have many ESP8266 and ESP32 in operation here, all of which work without any problems in my network.

neel-m · March 16, 2025, 3:55pm

Then what is different between this one and the others that work?

The idf log from your router seems very clear, auth expired. That sounds like the AP (your router) said you should try again.

You might find this thread informative: Unable to connect to wifi: Auth Expired and Association Expired - #5 by czunit

cathiele · March 16, 2025, 8:56pm

The default transmit-power was to high for the esp32-s3-zero board. Setting it to 8.5 solved the problem for the board of @breti that i have here on my desk at the moment.

wifi:
  [...]
  output_power: 8.5
  [...]