Help with hostapd

Troubleshooting
1

Hi, I’m trying to enable hostapd to make the pi act as hotspot, however, I always get this:

Job for hostapd.service failed because the control process exited with error code.                                   │ 
                          │ See "systemctl status hostapd.service" and "journalctl -xe" for details.

Already tried multiple solutions without success.

2

Can you share some logs please

journalctl -u hostapd
3 
Sep 05 16:35:01 DietPi systemd[1]: hostapd.service: Scheduled restart job, restart counter is at 166.
Sep 05 16:35:01 DietPi systemd[1]: Stopped Access point and authentication server for Wi-Fi and Ethernet.
Sep 05 16:35:01 DietPi systemd[1]: Starting Access point and authentication server for Wi-Fi and Ethernet...
Sep 05 16:35:01 DietPi systemd[1]: hostapd.service: Succeeded.
Sep 05 16:35:01 DietPi systemd[1]: Stopped Access point and authentication server for Wi-Fi and Ethernet.
Sep 05 16:35:01 DietPi systemd[1]: Starting Access point and authentication server for Wi-Fi and Ethernet...
Sep 05 16:35:01 DietPi hostapd[1803]: Configuration file: /etc/hostapd/hostapd.conf
Sep 05 16:35:01 DietPi hostapd[1803]: Could not open configuration file '/etc/hostapd/hostapd.conf' for reading.
Sep 05 16:35:01 DietPi hostapd[1803]: Failed to set up interface with /etc/hostapd/hostapd.conf
Sep 05 16:35:01 DietPi hostapd[1803]: Failed to initialize interface
Sep 05 16:35:01 DietPi systemd[1]: hostapd.service: Control process exited, code=exited, status=1/FAILURE
Sep 05 16:35:01 DietPi systemd[1]: hostapd.service: Failed with result 'exit-code'.
Sep 05 16:35:01 DietPi systemd[1]: Failed to start Access point and authentication server for Wi-Fi and Ethernet.
Sep 05 16:35:03 DietPi systemd[1]: hostapd.service: Scheduled restart job, restart counter is at 1.
Sep 05 16:35:03 DietPi systemd[1]: Stopped Access point and authentication server for Wi-Fi and Ethernet.
Sep 05 16:35:03 DietPi systemd[1]: hostapd.service: Start request repeated too quickly.
Sep 05 16:35:03 DietPi systemd[1]: hostapd.service: Failed with result 'exit-code'.
Sep 05 16:35:03 DietPi systemd[1]: Failed to start Access point and authentication server for Wi-Fi and Ethernet.
4

I have fixed it by copying the hostapd.conf from a template, however, I can’t broadcast an AP because my devices (phone) can’t find it. Seems that everything is working but for some reason the phone can’t find the SSID of the pi.

5

I think I completely messed up with hostapd and wifi settings. How can I reset it?

6

did you tried to uninstall? reboot and new install?

7

Yes. I actually did. Any tips?

8

What exactly is your issue now?

Install the Hotspot. Reboot your system. Ensure configuration file did not exist /etc/hostapd/hostapd.conf. Install Hotspot again. Reboot the system. Check and share logs afterwards.