Wi-Fi Connection Issues on ESP32-WROOM-32D: "Incorrect Password"

[pcdevs]

Hello everybody!

I am facing an issue with ESP32-WROOM-32D modules related to Wi-Fi connection. On some modules (not all), I receive the error "Incorrect password" when trying to connect Android devices to the network generated by the ESP32. The issue is intermittent and seems to be related to the firmware or memory.

Interestingly, after several attempts to reflash the ESP32, the password starts working normally again. This leads me to believe the problem might be related to the module's memory, although I always erase it before flashing new firmware.

Commands Used for Flashing:
I am using esptool.py for flashing, and the commands are as follows:

Memory Erase:

Code: Select all

esptool.py erase_flash

Firmware Flashing:

Code: Select all

esptool.py --chip esp32 --port "COM3" --baud 460800 --before default_reset --after hard_reset write_flash -z --flash_mode dio --flash_freq 40m --flash_size 4MB 0x1000 bootloader.bin 0x8000 partitions.bin 0xe000 boot_app0.bin 0x10000 firmware.bin

ESP32-WROOM-32D Module Specifications:

IDF Version: v4.0.1
AT Version: 2.1.0.0
Firmware P/N: ESP32U012

esp32reellabel.png (291.32 KiB) Viewed 1521 times

Has anyone faced a similar issue with the ESP32?
Is there any additional step I should consider during the flashing or configuration of the module?
Could this be a specific issue with the firmware version or AT commands?

Thank you in advance for any guidance or tips to help resolve this issue!

[lbernstone]

These password errors when you are certain you have put in the correct password (ie, other devices connect) typically are due to old devices that are unable to use WPA2 or CCMP to connect. Try setting the security level to WPA (WIFI_AUTH_WPA_PSK) when you call softAP. Note that WPA can be cracked (but it is not trivial to do so in 2025), and is currently considered insecure.
Setting the core debug level to verbose will give you a lot of information about the connection process, and likely show you where in the negotiation process the authentication is breaking down.

[pcdevs]

Hello lbernstone, how are you?

Thank you very much for your response and suggestions! It really makes sense to consider compatibility with the WPA protocol and check the debug levels to identify potential authentication issues. I will definitely explore these options.

However, what makes this problem even more curious is that I use the same Android device to connect to different ESP32 modules, and some of them connect without any issues, while others show the "Incorrect Password" error. This leads me to believe that the problem might be more related to differences between the ESP32 modules themselves (firmware, memory, or even hardware) rather than the Android device.

I will conduct some additional tests, including:

. Checking the debug level to better understand where the connection is failing.

Once again, thank you so much for your time and help! If you have any additional tips or insights, I would greatly appreciate it.

Best regards!