Due to a problem in the Intel® Quartus® Prime Software version 18.1, Active Serial (AS) configuration from a Macronix MX25L device fails in Stratix® V, Arria® V, and Cyclone® V devices when programming the MX25L device using AS programming with a programmer object file (.pof) for AS x4 mode.
This is a known problem that is mentioned in the following knowledge article:
Although patch 0.05std for Intel Quartus Prime Standard Edition Software version 18.1 for the problem mentioned above is available from the following knowledge base article, it doesn't improve the problem when programming an MX25L device with a .pof for AS x4 mode:
Program a Macronix MX25L device using JIC programming with a JTAG indirect configuration (.jic) file with Intel® Quartus® Prime Standard Edition Software version 18.1 with patch 0.05std.
This problem is fixed starting with the Intel® Quartus® Prime Standard Edition Software version 19.1.