AirTunes/iTunes remote speaker error (-3256)
 

I have no problems using either the computer speakers, or the remote speakers.

However, when I tried to use both (choosing the "multiple speaker" option in iTunes), I received the message "An unknown error occurred while connecting to the remote speaker "LR Stereo". An unknown error occurred (-3256)."

As I said, there has never been a problem using the remote speaker "LR Stereo" by itself.

Anybody else have this issue, or know how to solve it. A picture is also attached.

iTunes 7.1.1

There are some recent iTunes and audio updates. One of them might fix your problem.

Hmmm, perhaps. I did not update the software due to a flurry of negative strings after it came out. If that is the current solution, I'll wait.

I have the exact same problem.

According to Software Update my machine and iTunes is up to date. So for the moment it seems we are stuck.

There is an apple tech note about this error number, but it just says we need to change the firewall settings to allow UDP. That's not the problem though.

iTunes Error-3256
 

same happened to me. Using iTunes 7.6 and Leopard 10.5.1. After settin firewall to "open" problem disappeared. Workaround is using Airfoil. Airfoil will connect with higher firewall protection-

Correction lies with Firewall
 

The problem is with the firewall, but you can set it up a couple of ways.

In System Preferences select Security, and click the Firewall tab.
You can either "allow all incoming connections" or
"set access to specific services and applications". If you choose the latter, click the plus button and add iTunes as one of the applications. This is the setting that I am using and it corrected the problem.

Siroonian, what system are you running? I cannot follow these instructions. I have 10.4.11 with iTunes 7.5.

In my System Preferences, there is no Firewall tab in Security. The Firewall settings can be found in Sharing Preferences, but again, they don't correlate to your instructions. There is no "set access to specific services and applications" or plus button. You can allow traffic from iTunes Music Sharing with a check mark, but this does not resolve the problem.

Same problem here and I have a solution for os x 10.4

Open System Preferences, choose Sharing, then open the Firewalls tab.
Then click Advanced.
From this window make sure to Un-Check "Block UDP Traffic".

Now from iTunes reconnect to your remote speakers and any other speakers. You should be set to go.

On the Firewall tab under Sharing prefs there is an option for iTunes Music Sharing which you can enable, but I can't work out how to open the UDP ports - when I click "Edit" it shows me the TCP/UDP Port Numbers, but the boxes are greyed out and un-editable.

'Course, I don't have Airtunes, so I'm just shooting blind here :P

MrPidger-

Your solution does solve the issue.

fish3k1-

iTunes Music Sharing does not need to be enabled for MrPidgers solution to work, and enabling iTunes sharing will not work by itself without Unblocking UDP traffic.

I have the same problem and have done (I believe) all the things in MrPidger's solution, but I still have the problem. Are there any specific things I should check? For instance in System Preferences, Firewall, should the toggle button say "Start" or "Stop"? Should iTunes Music Sharing be clicked or unclicked?

I'm afraid I need it bunny-rabbit simple...

Hi I am new here.

I just solved this problem on my old mac mini with OSX 10.4.11.

First an update is needed for the AirportExpress (me) to version 6.3 of the firmware.
Look for it here :
http://support.apple.com/kb/TS2278 and then here : http://www.apple.com/support/downloa...formacosx.html for the download.

If your network connection to AirportExpress is ok (use the Airport administration utility to check if all the information about the Airport device is received including firmvare version) then just run the downloaded application and the firmware will be updated.

In OSX 10.4.11 open system preferences and choose sharing not security.
Select the firewall tab. Enable changes if protected by password and click the advanced button. Now you can choose not to block UDP.

Close and lock your system preferences.

When iTunes is started it may still advise that airtunes is not available but ignore it.

No restart was required but Itunes may need to be restarted. And everything just fine.

I do not recommend to stop or open the firewall. It is best to have your mac in stealth mode and all settings at maximum security and always password protected. That way your mac is invisible and does not respond to any access from the internet.

UDP is a protocol to send data without checking if it arrived correctly as is done with TCP. This increases the amount of data that can be sent over the network. If you have too much traffic on your network your music only starts to drop in quality. Just stop other traffic such as downloading video (youtube etc.) and your music will resume again. With TCP your music playback would stop in case of inadequate bandwith.

guru.

I am using ITunes 8.0.1 (12)

guru.

Installing newest version of iTunes on other computers both mac and pc performs without problems to play through AirportExpress.

guru.

I had the same iTunes -3256 error message running OSX Leopard 10.5. Apple TS2278 article says it's because IPv6 is disabled. I confirm that I got this problem after disabling IPv6 (who needs it anyways?) and fixed the problem re-enabling it. (i.e. set to AUTOMATIC or MANUALLY CONFIGURED, not DISABLED) and of course the Systems Preferences/Security/Firewall settings to allow iTunes to listen for incoming connections, in order for iTunes to be able to connect to Remote Speakers. Anthony Maw, Vancouver, Canada, anthony@maw.bc.ca

Where in iTunes do you select speakers?

Air Tunes 'just works" again!
 

iTunes 8.0.1 update caused error -3256 when attempting to connect to external speakers.
No success by installing iTunes 8.0.2
Tried suggestion of changing Configure iPv6 from Automatically to Off in System Preferences-Network-Airport Connected Advanced-TCP/IP.
Restarted iTunes and "just works" again! :D

System Preferences-Security-Firewall set to "Allow all incoming connections".

I tried several things and eventually fixed this problem. Details:

iTunes 8.0.2 (I think one of the recent iTunes upgrades is what precipitated the problem, but I'm not sure)
IPv6 set to Automatic (I tried "off" but this failed)
Upgraded the Airport Express device to v6.3 via the Airport Utility (I think this was important)
firewall set to allow all incoming connections (it was this way all along)
restarted iTunes (this was needed; didn't work before, but did afterward)

does anyone know how to solve this issue with Windows XP ? Other than change to Mac :)

Problem solved - for me, at least
 

I struggled with this problem for a while and none of the suggestions above solved the problem. In my config, I am streaming audio from a Mac Pro - which means that my access to the Airtunes speakers is via my Airport Extreme (Mac Pro -> ethernet -> Airport Extreme -> wifi -> Airport Express -> speakers). With the knowledge that this streaming depends on IPv6, I checked the Airport Express' IPv6 config - it was set to Tunnel mode. I changed it to Link Local, and behold, my speakers started speaking.

At the end of the day, the suggestions above are necessary but not sufficient if your Mac does not itself have an Airport interface - and depends on a base station to make the ethernet to wifi jump. Apparently, one must think through IPv6 connectivity from Mac to speakers. If you have non-Apple equipment (Windows, non-Apple access point), you will need to figure out how to make IPv6 work all the way to achieve Airtunes joy and eternal happiness.

Linksys replaces Belkin
 

I have been fighting this problem for months. :mad: Every itunes upgrade did not solve problem. I tried every fix from every site including Apple and nothing worked. I had updated software and hoped there was a fix in. When I went to itunes, I had music for the first time in months...for a few seconds. :o After some messing around I realized I was on the downstairs linksys network and not the upstairs belkin. I had a very weak signal, but I had music for a few seconds. When I switched to Belkin same old problem.

I bought a Linksys WRT54G2 to see if it was a Belkin problem.

WaLa!!! Works like a charm with Linksys.:)

IPV6 tunnel was the problem
 

Thanks, DrAltoids!

My configuration is Macbook->ethernet->Extreme ..> wireless ..> express->speakers.

I had the -3256 error after updating my airport extreme to 7.4. I found the IPV6 tunnel option was on, and turned it off. It works.

P

My Airport express is now working with IPv6 turned off
 

I have been enjoying itunes streaming to my airport express until very recently. However when I tried to listen my favorite music today (July/05/2009), itunes suddenly started complaining with the dreadful error code -3256. I experienced this error several month ago and at that time I was able to fix this problem by following the official solution posted in the Apple web site. But this time with no luck.
After reading this thread, I experimented with my intuition. I turned off the IPv6 in network control panel TCP/IP tab. It worked! I do not understand why because the apple's official solution demand IPv6 to turn on. Anyway I am now happy.
My mac configuration is
MacOS 10.5.7
itunes 8.2
airport (airmac) express 6.3

I had the problem, too, and the same setup as Yoshida (iTunes 8.2.1, Mac OSX 10.5.7). And turning off IPv6 (before it was "automatic") in the TCP/IP tab of the advanced options of my AirPort in the network settings panel (phew ;-)) resolved the issue.

Nothing is working
 

I have gone through all of these solutions and nothing has worked. Been troubleshooting this for 3+ hours now.

I've even tried completely redoing my network and still got nothing. I'm up to date with all firmware and software. My network is MacBook Pro > AirPort Extreme > AirPort Express. Any other ideas?