cannot start access point mode for Raspberry Pi Pico W. the error is: RuntimeError: Wifi is in station mode.

[didakus]

CircuitPython version

Adafruit CircuitPython 8.0.2 on 2023-02-14; Raspberry Pi Pico W with rp2040
Board ID:raspberry_pi_pico_w

Code/REPL

import os
import wifi

ssid = os.getenv('CIRCUITPY_WIFI_SSID')
password = os.getenv('CIRCUITPY_WIFI_PASSWORD')

print("Activating Access Point SSID...", ssid)
wifi.radio.start_ap(ssid, password)

Behavior

code.py output:
Activating Access Point SSID... ReS_AP01
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "code.py", line 11, in
RuntimeError: Wifi is in station mode.

Code done running

Description

I can not start an AP in my raspberry pi pico w. I tried to add the next lines, before the start_ap method:

tried 1:
wifi.radio.stop_station()
wifi.radio.enabled = False
wifi.radio.enabled = True
wifi.radio.start_ap(ssid, password)

tried 2:
wifi.radio.enabled = False
wifi.radio.stop_station()
wifi.radio.enabled = True
wifi.radio.start_ap(ssid, password)

and with multiple secuences i always receive the same error.

Additional information

i was searching for an start_ap example in the adafruit-circuitpython-bundle-examples and in the documentation and i did not find anything about it. It could be possible to add some code?

[anecdata]

There are currently limitations in the Pico W implementation due primarily to external submodules. This will hopefully improve in the future. But for now, here's a summary of the limitations:
#7101 (review)

Basically, a device can either be a Station connected to an external Access Point, or be an Access Point itself. In the Code/REPL example above, Web Workflow has been started (via the presence of CIRCUITPY_WIFI_SSID & CIRCUITPY_WIFI_PASSWORD in settings.toml), and the device therefore became a connected Station at startup, which precludes the device from becoming an AP.

Without Web-Workflow-connected Station at startup, an AP can be started:

Adafruit CircuitPython 8.0.2 on 2023-02-14; Raspberry Pi Pico W with rp2040
>>> import wifi
>>> wifi.radio.ipv4_address. # no IP address at startup is an indication that Web Workflow is not enabled
>>> wifi.radio.start_ap("Bob", "YourUncle")
>>> wifi.radio.ipv4_address_ap
192.168.4.1
>>> wifi.radio.ipv4_subnet_ap
255.255.255.0
>>> wifi.radio.ipv4_gateway_ap
192.168.4.1

Both sequences in the issue Description above should work. You can stop a Web-Workflow-connected Station to disconnect it, then start an AP:

Adafruit CircuitPython 8.0.2 on 2023-02-14; Raspberry Pi Pico W with rp2040
>>> import wifi
>>> wifi.radio.ipv4_address
192.168.6.198  # Web Workflow is enabled
>>> wifi.radio.stop_station()
>>> wifi.radio.enabled = False  # not needed
>>> wifi.radio.enabled = True
>>> wifi.radio.start_ap("Bob", "YourUncle")
>>> wifi.radio.ipv4_address_ap
192.168.4.1

Adafruit CircuitPython 8.0.2 on 2023-02-14; Raspberry Pi Pico W with rp2040
>>> import wifi
>>> wifi.radio.ipv4_address
192.168.6.198  # Web Workflow is enabled
>>> wifi.radio.enabled = False  # not needed
>>> wifi.radio.stop_station()
>>> wifi.radio.enabled = True
>>> wifi.radio.start_ap("Bob", "YourUncle")
>>> wifi.radio.ipv4_address_ap
192.168.4.1

(But you can't currently stop an AP and start a Station)

Minimal code.py (wifi.radio.enabled is not needed):

import time
import wifi

time.sleep(5)  # wait for serial etc.
print(f"Web Workflow is enabled, and this Station is connected to an external AP:")
print(wifi.radio.ipv4_address)

print(f"Stopping this Station and starting an AP:")
wifi.radio.stop_station()
wifi.radio.start_ap("Bob", "YourUncle")
print(wifi.radio.ipv4_address_ap)

Reset fully between tests to start clean (microcontroller.reset() in the REPL).

[didakus]

Thank you so much @anecdata . It Works for me your explanation and the code shared. I deleted the lines of wifi configuration in the settings.toml and changed my code to this lines:

if wifi.radio.ipv4_address_ap is None:
print("Activating Access Point SSID...")
wifi.radio.start_ap("Cookie", "franemma")
else:
print("Access Point SSID already active...")

This scheme is neccesary to avoid an error when AP is already started. And when a i need a change in AP parameters i code a microcontroller.reset()

[anecdata]

There are some edge cases where the IP address may be None or "0.0.0.0" while the connection is being made or possibly while the connection is being broken. Milliseconds typically, but you might encounter it.