How to fix an epson printer: Epson Printer Problems and Troubleshooting

Troubleshooting

Troubleshooting


Epson Stylus Pro 4800
Reference Guide





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Problem Solver






Printer stops printing unexpectedly
The printer does not turn on or stay on
The printer prints nothing
Printouts are not what you expected
Print Quality Could be Better
Color documents print in black only
Printing could be faster
Roll paper cannot be cut
Paper feed or paper jam problems occur frequently
Roll paper does not eject properly
Clearing paper jams
Contacting Customer Support




Printer stops printing unexpectedly


Head cleaning, ink charging, or ink drying is in progress



Check to see if the Pause light is flashing. If so, the printer is in the process of head cleaning, ink charging or ink drying. During head cleaning, ink charging, and ink drying, PLEASE WAIT appears on the LCD. Wait until the printer resumes printing.



An error has occurred



Many common printer problems can be identified by the messages on the LCD.



You can also check the lights on the control panel for errors. See Lights.



For other messages not included in the following table, see Messages.



Error messages




























































Message



Description



What to do



UNABLE TO PRINT



An error may be occurring when you try to print patterns such as nozzle check or head alignment.



End the TEST PRINT MENU first, and solve the error displayed on the LCD. Then try to print patterns again.



MNT TK NEAR FULL



The maintenance tank is almost full.



Replace the maintenance tank with a new one. See Replacing the Maintenance Tank.



INK LOW



Ink cartridge is nearly empty.



Replacement of ink cartridge is nearly needed.
Although you can continue printing in INK LOW situation, it may decline the print quality.



MNT REQ nnnn



A part used in the printer has nearly reached the end of its life. «nnnn» shows the code of the part.



Note the code and contact your dealer. See Contacting Customer Support.



REMOVE PAPER



Cleaning cannot be executed because thick paper is loaded.



Remove the thick paper, and move the paper lever to the secured position.



The printer could not feed the printout.



Remove the printout.



NOZZLES STILL CLOGGED



The nozzles are still clogged.



Run the Head Cleaning utility. For Windows, see Cleaning the print head. For Mac OS X, see Cleaning the print head.



CHANGE PAPER TYPE



The loaded paper does not match the paper type selected.



Match the loaded paper to the paper type. See Buttons.



WRONG PAPER SIZE



The loaded paper size does not match the data size.



Match the loaded paper size to the data size.



PAPER OUT



No paper is loaded in the printer.



Load paper correctly.



Roll paper is out while printing is in progress.



Load a new roll paper.



NO BORDERLESS WITH THIS SIZE



RELOAD PAPER



Note:
Those messages are displayed on the LCD alternately.



A2 size cut sheet media has been installed for borderless printing.



Install a different size of cut sheet media or roll paper. See Making the Borderless setting for Windows or Performing Borderless Printing for Mac OS X.



RELOAD PAPER



The printer cannot detect the loaded cut sheet media, because it is wavy or curled.



Flatten the cut sheet media.



The printer cannot detect the loaded paper.



Move the paper lever.



RELOAD PAPER INSERT DEEPLY



Cut sheet media inserted from the front manual feed slot is not inserted deep enough.



Insert the paper deeper. See Loading paper into the front manual feed slot.



NOT STRAIGHT RELOAD



Cut sheet media is not loaded straight, and needs to be aligned.



Load the cut sheet media correctly. See Loading cut-sheet media.



PAPER NOT STRAIGHT



The paper is not loaded straight.



Load paper straight.



PAPER NOT CUT



Paper is not cut correctly when Roll Auto Cut On is selected.



Open the top cover and remove the uncut paper. If RELOAD PAPER appears on the LCD, reload paper.



The paper cutter may not be installed correctly. See Replacing the Paper Cutter.



Paper cutter may be blunt. Replace the paper cutter. See Replacing the Paper Cutter.



COMMAND ERROR



Damaged data is sent to the printer.



Stop printing, and press the Pause button for 3 seconds.



The printer receives data with a wrong command.



The installed printer driver is not correct for the printer.



Stop printing, and press the Pause button for 3 seconds. Then make sure that the installed printer driver is correct for the printer.



DRIVER INK SET SETTING IS WRONG



MISMATCH ERROR



Note:
These messages are displayed on the LCD alternately.



The cartridge option of the printer driver has not been changed yet.



Stop printing, and then press and hold the Pause button for 3 seconds. Finally, select the correct ink cartridge in the printer driver according to the actual ink cartridge set on the printer. See Updating the printer driver information. If you want to continue printing, press the Pause button.



Non-Epson genuine ink cartridge is installed.



Press the Pause button for 3 seconds to cancel printing. If you want to continue printing, press the Pause button.



LOAD ROLL PAPER



The roll paper is not set correctly.



Load the roll paper correctly, and select or . See Loading roll paper.



LOAD SHEET PAPER IN P. TRAY



The cut sheet media is not set correctly in the paper tray.



Set the cut sheet media in the paper tray correctly, and select . See Loading cut-sheet media.



FEED SHEET PAPER



The cut sheet media needs to be loaded manually.



Load the cut sheet media.



FORBIDDEN MEDIA FROM P. TRAY



Cut sheet media, which is to be loaded from the front or rear manual feed slot, is being loaded from the paper tray.



Remove the cut sheet media from the paper tray, and load it from the proper paper feed slot. See Checking the paper path.



FEED SHEET PAPER MANUALLY



The cut sheet media needs to be loaded manually.



Load the cut sheet media manually from the front or rear manual feed slot. See Checking the paper path.



TIMES REMAINING



The conversion cartridge needs to be replaced soon. (The remaining times of the conversion cartridge appears on the LCD.)



Replacement of conversion cartridge is nearly needed. Press the Pause button.



REPLACE CNVRSION CRTG



The conversion cartridge needs to be replaced.



Replace the conversion cartridge with a new one. Or, complete the replacement of the K ink by pressing the Pause button.



INK OUT



Ink cartridge is empty.



Replace the empty ink cartridge with a new one. See Replacing Ink Cartridges.



INVALID INK CRTG



Ink cartridge with the wrong product code is installed.



Remove the ink cartridge, and install the ink cartridge with the correct product code. See Consumable Products.



WRONG INK CRTG



Ink cartridge that cannot be used with this printer is installed.



Remove the ink cartridge, and install the ink cartridge that can be used with this printer. See Consumable Products.



SET INK CRTG



CSIC error has occurred.



Remove the ink cartridge and reinstall it. If this message appears after reinstalling the ink cartridge, replace it. See Replacing Ink Cartridges.



NO INK CRTG



Ink cartridge is not installed, or ink lever is raised to the released position.



Install ink cartridge, or lower the ink lever to the secured position.



MNT TNK FULL



The maintenance tank is full.



Replace the maintenance tank with a new one. See Replacing the Maintenance Tank.



LOWER INK LEVERS



Both ink levers have been raised.



Lower the ink levers.



LOWER L INK LVR



The ink lever on the left ink compartment has been raised.



Lower the ink lever on the left ink compartment.



LOWER R INK LVR



The ink lever on the right ink compartment has been raised.



Lower the ink lever on the right ink compartment.



TOP COVER OPEN



Top cover is open.



Close the top cover.



LOAD PAPER



The paper lever is in the released position.



Move the paper lever to the secured position.



SET PAPER LEVER



Paper lever is in the released position.



Move the paper lever to the secured position.



RELEASE LEVER
REMOVE PAPER JAM



Paper is jammed in the printer.



Release the paper lever first. Then, open the top cover if necessary and remove the jammed paper. If TURN PRINTER PWR OFF AND THEN ON appears on the LCD, turn the printer off, leave it for a while, and then turn it on again. See Clearing paper jams.



NO MNT TNK



The maintenance tank is not set in the printer.



Install the maintenance tank.



REAR COVER OPEN



The rear cover is open.



Close the rear cover.



UPDATE FAILED



The printer failed to update the FirmWare.



Update the FirmWare again.



OPTION I/F ERROR



The installed interface cannot be used with this printer.



Remove the interface card, and install the interface card that can be used with this printer. See Options.



UNLOCK PRINT HEAD



Print head is locked.



Pull the green tab on the left side of the print head to release the print head.



SERVICE REQ nnnnnnnn



Print head is locked.



Pull the green tab on the left side of the print head to release the print head.



A fatal error has occurred.



Turn the printer off, leave it for a while, and turn the printer on again. If this message appears on the LCD again, note the code and contact your dealer. See Contacting Customer Support.




[Top]



The printer does not turn on or stay on


When the Pause light does not come on and mechanism initialization does not start even when the Power button is pressed to turn on the printer, try the following solutions for the problem.



  • Turn off the printer and make sure the power cord is securely plugged into the printer.

  • Make sure your outlet works and is not controlled by a wall switch or timer.

  • Make sure the supplied voltage to the printer matches the rating voltage labeled on the printer. If not, turn off the printer and unplug the power cord immediately. Contact your dealer for assistance. See Contacting Customer Support.

Caution:

If the supplied voltage and rating voltage do not match, do not plug the printer back in again, as damage may occur.

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The printer prints nothing


The printer is not correctly connected to the computer



Try one or more of these solutions:



  • Turn off the printer and computer. Make sure the printer’s interface cable is securely plugged into the correct terminal of the computer.

  • Make sure the interface cable specifications match the specifications for the printer and computer.

  • Make sure the interface cable is directly connected to the computer without passing through any device, such as a printer switching device, or extension cable.


Your Epson printer is not selected as the default printer



Install the printer driver if it is not installed yet, and follow the steps below to select your Epson printer as the default printer.



For Windows XP



Click the Start button, and Printer and Faxes.



Right-click EPSON Stylus Pro 4800.

Select Set As Default Printer, then close the window.


For Windows 2000



Click the Start button, point to Settings and select Printers.



Right-click EPSON Stylus Pro 4800 in the Printers window.

Select Set As Default, then close the Printers window.



For Mac OS X



Make sure that the printer driver Stylus Pro 4800 is correctly added to the Printer Setup Utility (for Mac OS X 10. 3), and the correct one is selected in the Printer Setup Utility.



Printer port setting does not match the printer connection port (for Windows only)



To select the printer port, follow the steps below.



For Windows XP



Click Start, click Control Panel, click Printers and Other Hardware, and then click Printers and Faxes.



Right-click EPSON Stylus Pro 4800, then select Properties.

Click the Ports tab.

Make sure that your printer port is selected.


For Windows 2000



Click Start, point to Settings, and then select Printers.



Right-click EPSON Stylus Pro 4800 in the Printers window, then select Properties.

Click the Ports tab.

Make sure that your printer port is selected.

 



Try one or more of these solutions:



  • Run the Head Cleaning utility. For Windows, see Cleaning the print head. For Mac OS X, see Cleaning the print head.

  • If the Head Cleaning utility does not work, replace the ink cartridges. See Replacing Ink Cartridges.

[Top]



Printouts are not what you expected


Incorrect, garbled characters, or blank pages print



Try one or more of these solutions:



  • For Windows, clear any stalled print jobs from the Progress Meter. See Using the EPSON Spool Manager.

  • If the problem persists, turn off the printer and computer. Make sure the printer’s interface cable is plugged in securely.


Incorrect margins



Try one or more of these solutions:



  • Check the margin settings in your application.

  • Make sure the margins are within the printable area of the page. See Printable area.

  • For Windows, check the Borderless setting in the Paper menu. Make sure they are correct for the paper size you are using. See Making Settings on the Paper Menu.

  • Make sure the paper set position is correct. See Using Roll Paper, or Using Cut Sheet Media.


Inverted image



For Windows, turn off the Flip Horizontal setting in the Advanced menu. See Making Advanced setting.


For Mac OS X, turn off the Flip Horizontal setting in the Advanced Settings selected in the Print Settings selected in the Print dialog. See Advanced Settings.



Printed color differs from the color on the screen



Try one or more of these solutions:



  • Adjust the Color Density in the Paper Configuration dialog. For Windows, see Paper Configuration. For Mac OS X, see Paper Configuration.

  • Make sure the media type setting matches the paper being used.

  • Since monitors and printers produce colors differently, printed colors will not always match on screen colors perfectly. However, the above color systems are provided to overcome color differences.


For Mac OS X, select ColorSync to color match your system in the Printer Color Management selected in the Print dialog. See Printer Color Management.



  • You can produce sharper images with more vivid colors.


For Windows, select PhotoEnhance in the Advanced menu. See Making Advanced setting.


  • For Windows, select Color Controls in the Advanced menu, and adjust color, brightness, etc. as required. See Making Advanced setting.


For Mac OS X, select Color Controls in the Printer Color Management selected in the Print dialog. See Printer Color Management.



A ruled line shifts



Perform the print head alignment. For Windows, see Aligning the print head. For Mac OS X, see Aligning the print head.



If the problem persists, perform the print head cleaning. For Windows, see Cleaning the print head. For Mac OS X, see Cleaning the print head.



Printout has smears on the bottom edge



Try one or more of these solutions:



  • If the paper is curled towards the printable side, flatten it or curl it slightly to the opposite side.

  • For Windows, if you use Epson special media, check the Media Type setting in the Main menu. See Making Settings on the Main Menu.


For Mac OS X, if you use Epson special media, check the Media Type setting in the Print Settings selected in the Print dialog. See Page Setup.



For paper other than Epson’s, register and select paper thickness in the SelecType mode. Make sure it is correct for the paper you are using. See Making the paper settings.



  • Set the PLATEN GAP to WIDE in the PRINTER SETTING of the SelecType mode. See PRINTER SETUP.

[Top]



Print Quality Could be Better


Click the caption under the illustration that best resembles your printout.













Horizontal banding






Vertical misalignment or banding






Faint printout or gaps






Faint printout or gaps






Blurry or smeared printout






If you are having print quality problems, try the solutions offered here.



Horizontal banding



Try one or more of these solutions:



  • For Windows, check the Media Type setting in the Main menu. Make sure it is correct for the paper you are using. See Making Settings on the Main Menu.


For Mac OS X, check the Media Type setting in the Print Settings selected in the Print dialog. Make sure it is correct for the paper you are using, see Page Setup.



  • Make sure the printable side of the paper is face-up.

  • Run the Head Cleaning utility to clear any clogged ink nozzles. For Windows, see Cleaning the print head. For Mac OS X, see Cleaning the print head.


You can also clean the print head nozzles using the control panel. To clean the print head nozzles, press the Menu button for 3 seconds.



  • Check the Paper Feed value. Reduce the value to improve light banding, and increase it for dark banding. For Windows, Paper Configuration. For Mac OS X, see Paper Configuration.

  • Check the Ink check light. If necessary, replace ink cartridges. See Replacing Ink Cartridges.


Vertical misalignment or banding



Try one or more of these solutions:



  • For Windows, turn off the High Speed setting in the Advanced menu. See Making Advanced setting.


For Mac OS X, turn off the High Speed setting in the Advanced Settings is selected in the Print Settings selected in the Print dialog. See Advanced Settings.



  • Run the Print Head Alignment utility. For Windows, see Aligning the print head. For Mac OS X, see Aligning the print head.


Faint printout or gaps



Try one or more of these solutions:



  • Make sure that the ink cartridges do not exceed the expiration date. The expiration date is labeled on the outside of the ink cartridge.

  • For Windows, check the Media Type setting in the Main menu. Make sure it is correct for the paper you are using. See Making Settings on the Main Menu.


For Mac OS X, check the Media Type setting in the Print Settings selected in the Print dialog. Make sure it is correct for the paper you are using. See Page Setup.



  • Run the Head Cleaning utility to clear any clogged ink nozzles. For Windows, see Cleaning the print head. For Mac OS X, see Cleaning the print head.


You can also clean the print head nozzles using the control panel. To clean the print head nozzles, press the Menu button for 3 seconds.



  • Check the Ink check light. If necessary, replace ink cartridges. See Replacing Ink Cartridges.

  • Select Standard as Platen Gap in the Paper Configuration dialog box. For Windows, see Paper Configuration. For Mac OS X, see Paper Configuration.


Blurry or smeared printout



Try one or more of these solutions:



  • For Windows, check the Media Type setting in the Main menu. Make sure it is correct for the paper you are using. See Making Settings on the Main Menu.


For Mac OS X, check the Media Type setting in the Print Settings selected in the Print dialog. Make sure it is correct for the paper you are using. See Page Setup.



  • If the paper you are using is not supported by the printer driver, make the paper thickness setting in the SelecType mode. See CUSTOM PAPER.

  • Make sure your paper is dry and the printable side is face-up. Also, make sure you are using the correct type of paper. See Paper for specifications.

  • Ink may have leaked inside the printer; wipe the inside of the printer with a soft, clean cloth.

  • Run the Head Cleaning utility. For Windows, see Cleaning the print head. For Mac OS X, see Cleaning the print head.


You can also clean the print head nozzles using the control panel. To clean the print head nozzles, press the Menu button for 3 seconds.



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Color documents print in black only


Try one or more of these solutions:



  • Make sure the color data settings in your application are correct.

  • For Windows, make sure Color or Color/B&W Photo is set in the Main menu. See Making Settings on the Main Menu.


For Mac OS X, make sure Color or Color/B&W Photo is set in the Print Settings selected in the Print dialog. See Color.



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Printing could be faster


Try one or more of these solutions:



  • Select High Speed on the Advanced dialog box. For Windows, see Making Advanced setting. For Mac OS X, see Advanced Settings.

  • For Windows, select the Automatic mode and move the slider towards Speed in the Main menu to increase print speed. See Making Settings on the Main Menu.


For Mac OS X, select Automatic mode and move the slider towards Speed in the Print Settings selected in the Print dialog to increase print speed. See Mode.



  • Do not run too many applications at the same time. Close any applications you are not using.

  • Change the interface card of your computer to IEEE1394 or USB 2.0.

  • Delete unnecessary files to make room on your hard disk drive.

Note for Windows:

Your computer may not have enough memory. For further tips, see Increasing the Print Speed.

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Roll paper cannot be cut


Try one or more of these solutions:



  • Make sure that paper cutter cover is set correctly. See Replacing the Paper Cutter.

  • Make sure that the is selected as the Paper Source on the LCD. Press the Paper Source button if necessary. Then press and hold the Paper Source button for 3 seconds. The printer cuts the roll paper.

  • Make sure that Normal Cut, Single Cut, or Double Cut is selected as the Auto Cut in the printer driver. For Windows, see Making the Auto Cut setting. For Mac OS X, see Auto Cut.

  • Cut the roll paper by hand if necessary. Check that the paper thickness of the roll paper loaded in the printer matches the paper specification (see Paper). If so, the paper cutter may be blunt and require replacement. See Replacing the Paper Cutter.

Note:

If you use roll paper other than Epson special media, see the user documentation included with the paper, or contact your supplier.

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Paper feed or paper jam problems occur frequently


Try one or more of these solutions:



  • Before loading paper and guiding it through the paper insertion slot, adjust paper suction.


To adjust the paper suction using the printer driver, see Paper Configuration for Windows or see Paper Configuration for Mac OS X.



To adjust the paper suction using the control panel, see CUSTOM PAPER.



  • Make sure the paper is not folded or wrinkled.

  • Make sure the paper is flattened.

  • Make sure printing occurs within the operational temperature range.

  • Make sure the paper is not damp.

  • Make sure the paper is not too thick or too thin. See Paper.

  • Make sure no foreign objects are inside the printer.

  • For Windows, check the Media Type setting in the Main menu. Make sure it is correct for the paper you are using. See Making Settings on the Main Menu.


For Mac OS X, check the Media Type setting in the Print Settings selected in the Print dialog. Make sure it is correct for the paper you are using. See Page Setup



  • Make sure that the platen gap setting matches your paper. You can change the platen gap setting in the PRINTER SETUP of the SelecType mode. See PLATEN GAP.

  • For non-Epson special media, check the paper type selected in the CUSTOM PAPER of the SelecType mode. See Making the paper settings.


Whenever loading non-Epson special media, test if the paper can be loaded correctly before printing.



To clear Paper jams, see Clearing paper jams.



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Roll paper does not eject properly


Try one ore more of these solutions:



  • Roll paper is wound tightly and may feed with a curl. Flatten it before you load it.

  • Select Starwheel-Roll Curled as the Feed Roller Type in the Paper Configuration dialog box. For Windows, see Paper Configuration. For Mac OS X, see Paper Configuration.

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Clearing paper jams


When roll paper is jammed



To remove jammed roll paper, follow the steps below:



Turn off the printer.

Open the roll paper cover, and move the paper lever to the released position.



Cut the paper at the paper insertion slot, and remove the roll paper.



Remove the jammed paper from the front or rear side of the printer.



If necessary, open the top cover, and remove the jammed paper.









When paper loaded from the paper tray is jammed



To remove jammed paper, follow the steps below.



Turn off the printer.

Move the paper lever to the released position.



Remove the paper tray from the printer.



Carefully remove the jammed paper.



If necessary, open the top cover, and remove the jammed paper.









If the paper is jammed around the rear cover, remove the rear cover by squeezing the knobs, and remove the jammed paper.









When paper loaded from the front manual feed slot is jammed



To remove jammed paper, follow the steps below:



Turn off the printer.

Move the paper lever to the released position.



Remove the jammed paper from the front or rear side of the printer.





Front











Rear







When paper loaded from the rear manual feed slot is jammed



To remove jammed paper, follow the steps below:



Turn off the printer.

Move the paper lever to released position.



Remove the jammed paper from the front. If necessary, open the top cover and remove the jammed paper.












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Contacting Customer Support


If your Epson product is not operating properly and you cannot solve the problem using the troubleshooting information in your product documentation, contact customer support services for assistance. If customer support for your area is not listed below, contact the dealer where you purchased your product.



Customer support will be able to help you much more quickly if you give them the following information:



  • Product serial number
    (The serial number label is usually on the back of the product.)

  • Product model

  • Product software version
    (Click About, Version Info, or similar button in the product software. )

  • Brand and model of your computer

  • Your computer operating system name and version

  • Names and versions of the software applications you normally use with your product



Where To Get Help

Epson provides technical support and information on the installation, configuration, and operation of professional printing products through the Epson Preferred Protection Plan.

Dial (888) 377-6611, 6 AM to 6 PM, Pacific Time, Monday through Friday. Support hours and days are subject to change without notice.

Before you call, make sure you have your Unit ID number, which is included with the Epson Preferred Protection Plan information that came with your printer. You’ll also need your printer serial number and proof of purchase.

Epson also provides technical assistance 24 hours a day through the World Wide Web. You can reach Epson Support at http://support.epson.com. At this site, you can download drivers, firmware, and other files, look at product documentation, access troubleshooting information, and receive technical advice through e-mail.

You can purchase genuine Epson ink cartridges, paper, and accessories from an Epson reseller. To find the nearest authorized reseller, please call 800-GO-EPSON (800-463-7766). To purchase online, visit www.epsonstore.com (U.S. sales only). In Canada, please call 800-463-7766 for a reseller referral.

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Next


Version NPD1123-00, Copyright © 2005, SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION

5 Quick Way to Fix it

Connection problems are often the trigger to this error

by Milan Stanojevic

Milan Stanojevic

Windows & Software Expert

Milan has been enthusiastic about PCs ever since his childhood days, and this led him to take interest in all PC-related technologies. Before joining WindowsReport, he worked as… read more

Updated on

Reviewed by
Vlad Turiceanu

Vlad Turiceanu

Editor-in-Chief

Passionate about technology, Windows, and everything that has a power button, he spent most of his time developing new skills and learning more about the tech world. Coming… read more

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Epson printers are among the top economical printers out there, which is reason enough for choosing one of these models for yourself.

On the other hand, Epson printers also encounter many issues. For example, the most common problems are printing blank pages, not printing when connected wirelessly, or even not printing after changing the ink toner.

In this article, we’ll be looking at some basic troubleshooting steps hoping to get your printer up and running again.

Before setting off, see if your printer displays an error message. Sometimes, these are clear enough to figure out what’s wrong. If otherwise, keep reading to find a solution.

Why is my Epson printer not printing when the ink tank is full?

It is an odd situation to have a full ink tank but still not be able to print. The common culprits are:

  • A dislodged cartridge – The cartridge may be inserted but not correctly fitted. In such a situation, you still will not be able to print.
  • A turned-off printer – You should double-check that the printer is on and that cables are correctly connected if you use a wired connection.
  • Out of paper – Here is another thing to check. You may not have paper in the tray, so printing will not work.
  • Clogged print head – In this case, you must clean the print head and make sure it is not stuffed with ink.

Here are a few variations to printer errors you may notice:

  • Epson printer not printing color correctly – Verify that your paper’s type setting corresponds to the loaded paper. Also, verify that the printer software does not have selected the Grayscale or Black/Grayscale option.
  • Epson printer not printing black but has ink – In this situation, replace any empty or low-ink ink cartridges.
  • My Epson printer is printing blank pages – This blank print error could be because you are low or out of ink.
  • Epson printer not printing after changing ink – You must ensure that the ink tank is inserted correctly.
  • Epson printer not printing wirelessly – Ensure that your product and PC are connected to the same wireless connection or network.
Why is my Epson printer not working after replacing ink cartridges?

A primary reason for this could be that the printer cartridges are not correctly fitted. In this case, you would have to remove them and reseat them. For particular model-specific instructions, go to the Epson printer manual or website.

If the printer head cleaning option is available, you should also use it.

How do I get my Epson printer to print?

1. Check your printer connection

  1. If it’s a wireless printer, check that the Internet runs OK. Then, disconnect and reconnect the printer to the network, if necessary.
  2. Also, make sure that the printer is connected to the same network as your device.
  3. For a USB-connected printer, check that the cables are seated correctly into the ports. Then, change the USB port to see if there’s any change. For a USB-connected printer, check that the cables are seated correctly into the ports. Then, change the USB port to see if there’s any change.

2. Set your printer as the default printer

  1. Press the Windows key and click the Settings app.
  2. Click on Bluetooth & devices on the left pane, then select Printers & scanners from the right.
  3. Select your Epson printer, and click on the Set as default button.

Alternatively, uncheck the Let Windows manage my default printer box to allow the system to use your most recent printer.

3. Update your drivers

  1. Right-click on the Start menu and select Device Manager.
  2. Find your printer driver, right-click on it and select Update driver.
  3. Select Search automatically for drivers.
  4. Wait for the process to finish and reboot your PC.

Alternatively, you can use automatic updater software. Such tools are created to eliminate the hassle of frequently checking and updating your drivers manually.

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Out-of-date drivers may also cause this issue, so follow the steps above to update yours from Windows settings.

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4. Check ink cartridges

  1. Press the Windows key and click the Settings app.
  2. Click on Bluetooth & devices on the left pane, then select Printers & scanners from the right.
  3. Right-click on your Epson printer and select Printing Preferences.
  4. In the Maintenance tab, click on Epson Status Monitor 3.

Here, you can see whether you should replace any cartridges with a new one. Sometimes, old cartridges can cause issues. So it’s recommended to replace them with new ones.

Always make sure that the cartridges are set correctly into the tray.

Additionally, check that the cartridges, especially the black ones, are clogged. You can de-clog them using a pin.

5. Clear all print jobs

  1. Press the Windows key + R keys.
  2. Type services.msc in the box and hit Enter.
  3. Look for Print Spooler, then right-click on it and select Stop.
  4. Back to your desktop, open File Explorer and, in the address bar, type the address below and hit Enter.
    %windir%System32spoolPRINTERS
  5. Delete all the files in the folder.
  6. Press the Windows key + R keys.
  7. Type services.msc in the box and hit Enter.
  8. Look for Print Spooler, then right-click on it and select Start.

How do you reset Epson ink cartridges?

  1. Flip the ink cartridge so that you can see the microchip.
  2. Press its reset button, which can be discovered on top of the metal contacts, using the end of a pin or toothpick.

Alternatively, use a replacement chip. Depending on your cartridge, Epson ink stores may have Replacement Chips.

At least one of these steps should help you solve the printing issues with the Epson printer. Note that we have not written these solutions in any particular order. Instead, you should attempt what seems most applicable to your case.

Also, note that the Epson software makes it easier to avoid many errors using the printer.

Please comment in the dedicated section below if you have any additional solutions.

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How to Fix Epson Printer Not Printing Black Color Problem

Epson Printer is Not Printing Properly

In this guide, we have explained the causes for Epson printer not printing issues along with its easy to follow troubleshooting steps.

Troubleshooting Steps For ‘Epson Printer Is Not Printing Anything’ Problem :

1 – Set Your Printer as the Default Printer : 

One of the reasons why your Epson is printer not printing color is because it is not set as the default printer on your desktop.

Follow these steps to set your Epson Printer as the default printer : 

  • Firstly, press the Windows logo button and “R” at the same time on your keyboard.
  • Run box will now be visible on your screen.
  • Write “control panel” and press the “Enter” button on your keyboard.
  • Now, Control panel will open on your screen. From here, click on “Devices and Printers” option.
  • Thereafter, look for your printer model and then right-click on it.
  • Now click on “Set as default printer” option.

Still not able to fix the issue, run our

Diagnostic Tool

2- Uncheck/Disable the use of Epson printer offline feature :

Follow the below-mentioned steps to do so :

  • Open the run box by pressing the Windows key and “R” at the same time.
  • Now, type “control panel” and then press enter.
  • From here, select “Devices and Printers”.
  • Now, right click on your printer and make sure that there’s no mark on the “Use Printer Offline” option (Should not be selected). If this option is selected, uncheck this option by clicking on it.
  • Thereafter, right click on your printer again and check if there’s a tick mark on “Set as default printer”.
  • Close the window and see if now you can print or not otherwise proceed to next solution to fix Printer not printing correctly issue

3- Check the print spooler service :

The basic function of the printer spooler service on the computer is to look after the print jobs and manage communication between your printer and computer.

In case if this feature is turned off, your Epson Printer will not work properly. Therefore, ensure that your Spooler is turned ON by following the below steps –

  • Firstly, open the run box by pressing the Windows logo key and “R” at the same time.
  • Type “services.msc” and then press “enter” on your keyboard.
  • Now, services window will be visible on your screen. Here, double click on ‘Print Spooler’ option from the list.
  • Now, check if the startup type is set at “Automatic” and its service status shows as “running”.
  • If you don’t see as mentioned above, select the startup type to “Automatic” and then click on the “start” button.
  • Lastly, click on OK and now your print spooler service will work.

4- Clear all the print jobs in queue :

A print queue is a list of print jobs that are to be printed. Sometimes these jobs gets stuck and disallows you to print anything.

However, you can simply clear the print jobs by following these steps:

  • Firstly, open the ‘Run box’ from windows search option.
  • Type “services.msc” and hit the enter button on your keyboard. Now, services window will be visible on your screen.
  • Now, go to the service window and point to the print spooler and right click on it to open the ‘Properties’.

  • Then, click on “stop” and click on “OK”.
  • Thereafter, open ‘File Explorer’ (Press Windows logo key and “E” at the same time).
  • Now, copy and paste this into the address bar “%windir%\System32\spool\PRINTERS” and press ‘enter’ key.
  • Now, all the print jobs of your computer will be visible on your screen.
  • Remove/Delete every file from this folder.
  • Open the services window again and right-click on the “Print Spooler” to open properties. Here, click on the start option & click on “OK” button.
  • Close everything and turn off the computer and printer. Unplug the power cord as well.
  • Let them off for at least a minute. Then, plug in the cables and turn on the computer and printer.
  • Finally, check if the Epson printer is now able to print either go to the next solution to fix this issue completely.

5- How to update Epson Printer Driver :

Sometimes the Epson Printer not Printing color correctly both side on page due to old or outdated driver.

Therefore, follow the below-mentioned steps to update the Epson printer drivers to its latest version:

  • Firstly, open the “start menu”.
  • At the search box, type the “device manager” option and then press the “Enter” button.
  • Now, in the list of devices and components, right-click on the “Printer” option.
  • At the system manager, click on “Update Driver”.
  • Then, click on the “auto-search” option.
  • Click on “Check for modified driver software”. It will automatically update the printer’s driver.
  • Now, follow the onscreen instructions for driver setup to complete the installation process.

What to do if Epson printer is not printing in Black color ?

Follow these steps below if your Epson Printer won’t print black color.

A) Clean the Epson printer’s print-head :

  • Firstly, open the ‘Control Panel’ from windows search option and search and open the option of ‘Devices and Printers’.
  • Here, you will be able to see your installed Epson printer with a Green check mark on it. Right click on it and select the option of ‘Properties’.
  • Now, click on the Hardware/Maintainance tab.
  • Thereafter, click on “Head Cleaning” option from the next appearing window.
  • Then, press the start button.
  • Now, press the start option for head cleaning and keep on following the onscreen instructions.

Hence, by following these above steps your ‘Epson printer not printing color in black problem’ will be resolved easily.

C) Check the levels of the ink cartridge :

You need to make sure that the level of the ink cartridge is up to the mark. Follow the steps below to check:

  • Open the control panel.
  • Select the “devices & Printers” option.
  • From here, right-click on the Epson printer and then select the “Print Preferences” option.
  • Now, click on the Repair tab.
  • Then, click on the maintenance menu and open ‘Epson Status Monitor’ by selecting it.
  • Now the amount of ink in the cartridges will be visible.
  • If it displays low, then refill them.

D) Connect Epson printer with correct port/slot :

Epson printer will not work if its not connected to correct port. However, this issue can be easily fixed by following these steps –

1. Open up the control panel.
2. Select the “devices & printers” option.
3. Right-click on your Epson printer and then click on “properties”.
4. Then, right-click on the “Epson Printer  is not printing” option and select the “printer options”.
5. Now, go to the “Properties” window, and click on the “Ports” tab.
6. Now, select the “Add Port” option.
7. Thereafter, select the default TCP/IP port and then click on “Epson Printer Properties” on the new port.
8. Now, click on the “next” option.
9. Lastly, click on the “finish” button and restart your computer and printer and take a test print.

E) Update Epson Printer Firmware :

Make sure that your firmware is up to date otherwise your printer may encounter functioning problems. You can check this by follow the below steps –

  • Open the start menu and type “Epson”. Here, from shown results select “Epson Software Updater”.
  • Now, from the list select your Epson printer model.
  • Wait until the software checks if there’s an update available.
  • Ensure that there’s a tick mark in the box of “Firmware Updater” and then click on the “Install” button.
  • Click on “Agree” and then click on “OK” to proceed.
  • Wait until the software downloads the update.
  • A new window will open. Click on “Start” button.
  • Now, wait until the software gets completely updated. This process can take several minutes. Don’t turn off the printer between this.
  • Click on the “Finish” button.
  • Now click on “Ok”.
  • Wait until it again checks for the updates.
  • Click on the exit button when you see that there’s no update button.

So, we ensure that if you follow as mention above all the process you will never face again ‘Epson Printer not Printing Black Color’ Problem.

Now, we are going to list the reasons for the most common question of “why Epson printer is not printing black and white color or anything properly ?”. Refer to the below points-

  • Spooler service may be stopped due to improper connection
  • Epson printer is not connected well with computer or other device.
  • Printer status is not set as “Default printer”
  • Due to old or outdated printer driver Epson printer may have stopped printing.
  • Dusty printer head may be a reason for this problem.
  • Epson printer may be in offline mode due to which printing error may have occurred.
  • Issue with the firmware of printer.

Conclusion :

These were some of the easy to-go-through guide for resolving Epson printer errors. Furthermore, if you are facing Epson printer not printing Black color properly , after changing the ink or after refill problem, refer to the last section of this article.  Just follow these carefully to make your Epson printer work again.

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How to Fix Blocked or Clogged Epson Printhead Nozzles: Cleaning and Unclogging Tips


Most
Epson printers have a permanent printhead.  A permanent printhead has better quality and durability than a one-time-use printhead.  However, the permanent printhead becomes a major problem when it is clogged. For the owners of Epson printers, there may be a day that we find the printer prints in stripes.  Most people will blame the poor print on third party cartridges, ink quality, ink type switching, and so on. As an attempt to solve the problem, a person may switch back to an Epson cartridge. If the new Epson cartridge fixes the problem, the person would conclude that he or she should stay with Epson. If a new Epson cartridge didn’t fix the problem, the person would conclude that the refilling process broke the printer.


To understand why 
Epson printers are so easy to clog and why sometimes a new cartridge will solve the problem,  we need to understand the mechanisms behind clogging. There are three kinds of clogging:

  1. Clogging caused by debris, fibers, and other foreign objects
  2. Clogging caused by dried inks
  3. Clogging caused by air bubbles


The air bubble is the most common clog. The bubble can form when you are switching to a new ink, changing a cartridge, or experiencing room temperature fluctuation. It can also occur due to no reason at all.


Let’s explain why Epson’s cartridges seem less likely to clog than a refilled Epson cartridge.  Epson cartridge has a built-in damper (Picture). The damper forces ink to flow one way only: from the cartridge to the damper and then from the damper to the outside.  For a new Epson cartridge, the damper should be full of ink and thus less likely to have bubbles. However, most people use the cartridge until they see that a color runs out.  By this time, the ink is depleted, and the damper is full of air. Once we refill the cartridge, the air in the damper can clog the printer. We recommend using a syringe to suck air from the cartridge ink outlet after each refill.  Consequently, we will remove the air bubbles from the damper.


Another place that air bubbles can form is inside the printhead.  We will take a closer look at where the cartridge feeds ink. There are small cone-shaped ink tubes (ink intake) on top of the printhead.  When we change the cartridge, we may push some air into these intakes and create bubbles. This is why printers tend to clog right after a cartridge change.




 

Picture.   The red circle indicates ink intake.

Picture.  A close-up of the ink intake.


To deal with the air bubbles, many HP and Canon printers have built-in pumps. For example, an HP printer pumps air into an internal bladder, which squeezes ink out of the cartridge, and therefore flushes the air bubbles (or dirt) out of the printhead.  On the contrary, Epson relies on two things: 1) an internal one-way damper that makes ink flow one-way only. 2) a built-in cleaning function which uses an external waste pad to suck and wipe the printhead. Each built-in cleaning cycle will remove some ink out of the cartridge and then dump the ink on a waste pad.  However, the waste pad is poorly designed and often experiences overflowing. Once the inkpad overflows, ink will remain on the printhead and dry. The dried ink will create more clogging and make things worse. Thus, we do not recommend doing more than three head cleanings in a row.


We can illustrate the above scenario with an example. Our printer is missing a color (clogged by air bubbles).  We did 7-8 built-in cleanings continuously and got it to work correctly. The bubbles were sucked out with ink, and we got back to regular printing.  A day later, we found the printer was clogged again. Although the cartridge didn’t have any air bubbles, the printhead was clogged by dried ink.


If you search the word «Epson unclog» on YouTube, you can see most people simulating HP’s method.  They inject fluid from the ink intake and collect waste ink with a paper towel underneath. However, this is a little bit of overkill for most clogs. Here at BCH, we perform this sequence, gradually increasing the effort and intensity of unclogging until a satisfactory result is reached.

Prevention


The best unclogging techniques are to start with prevention


Do not let the ink become depleted.  If we allow the ink to become exhausted, then both the cartridge and the printhead will be full of air.  When we refill a cartridge, we will use a syringe to suck the air from a cartridge’s outlet until we see ink coming out.  Also, we may add a drop (1 ml) of Wetter Solution to each 100 ml ink to prevent it from drying

  •   BCH Wetter Solution

Built-In Cleaning Function 


Epson’s self-cleaning is the most under-estimated and misunderstood method. Actually, Epson built a very powerful cleaning routine in the printer, just people don’t know how to utilize it. Most people only run one or two cleanings and give up. People worries that the cleaning will damage the printhead.  Epson has a counter, that if we run more than 5 cleanings in a row, the printer will display «the printhead is damaged» and prevents from further cleaning.  Therefore, we will never run more than three cleanings consecutively.  We will run three cleanings, go to home screen (don’t need to wait), and then go to maintenance tab and do the next batch of cleanings.


The following video shows how it is done, properly.


We will run the built-in «clean printhead» three times, then go to printer’s home screen, then back to the maintenance screen and run three more times.  Afterward, we wait 12 hours, and then run 6 more times (3+3).  We usually repeat the procedure three times before giving up on this method. If the technique works, we will clean the ink pad to prevent ink from drying on the printhead.


How to clean waste ink pads?


We will turn on the printer.  The printer will unlock the printhead and let it move freely.  Before the printer locks the printhead again, we will unplug the power cord.  Thus, we can move the printhead away from its resting position. Then we will be able to see the exposed waste ink pad.  We will use a paper towel to suck up the excessive waste ink and then power on the printer.

Positive Pressure — Cartridge


Slight positive pressure will wash out the air bubbles too.  If we have a refillable cartridge, we will unplug the refill hole. Once the top of a cartridge is open to the air, there will be slight pressure to push the ink down and move air bubbles up.   For refilled OEM cartridges, we will peel off the sealing tape and expose the drill hole. These methods create a little downward pressure on the cartridge. We will leave the cartridge in the printer overnight.  We will check the result a day later and see if we need to move on to the next step. Furthermore, we will clean the waste ink pad afterward.

Positive Pressure — Titration


We can also use ink tubes to generate positive pressure.  This kit (click here) consists of two tubes. These two different diameter tubes (1 ft each) can be cut and attached to each other.  If we have 4 colors, we will cut each into 4 pieces, then connect to each other.  The smaller tube will be attached to the ink intake and we can add cleaning solution to the larger tube.  We then let the earth gravity to do the cleaning.  The cleaning solution will gradually dissolve the clog and push open the nozzles.  Once we see the cleaning solution is gone, we know the cleaning is completed.  This video shows the process in action.


A less aggressive way of flushing the printhead

Wet Towel Method


If we decide the clog is due to dried ink, we can use a wet towel to soften the dried ink.  We will unplug the printer while the printhead is unlocked, similar to the procedure in (2).  We will put a wet paper towel, soaked with hot water or cleaning solutions (LINK), in the middle of the printer.  Then we will slide the printhead over the towel and let the printhead sit on top of the sheet for a few hours.

Printhead Flushing — Syringe


If we make a more rigorous attempt, we can remove the air bubbles and debris in the printhead by flushing it with liquid.  We will take a syringe, fill it with liquid, and push the fluid through the cone-shaped ink intake. Some ink intakes fit a syringe, so we may not need special tools.  A larger intake may need a tube to connect with the syringe.


If your printer’s ink intake are «nipples», you can use this syringe: 
Size-S Syringe.


 


This method will flood the waste ink pad.  Consequently, we will put a dry paper towel in the printer and slide the printhead on top of it, as in 4).


What liquid should we use?


Ink.  The original ink is the most non-intrusive way. A «golden rule» in the ink industry says the dried ink must be able to be dissolved by the same ink.  So the best solution is to use the same kind of ink in the cartridge.


Ink Base.  The ink base is the liquid for making the ink before adding colorant.  The ink base is a kind of ink without color. The ink base is less messy and non-intrusive to the printhead. BCH produces two kinds of ink base: dye base and pigment base.

  •  BCH Clear Ink Base for Dye Ink Cartridges
  •  BCH Clear Ink Base for Pigment Ink Cartridges


Warm water.  Water is the cheapest solution.  However, the printer cannot print on water, and we should flush it with a little ink afterward.


Cleaning Solutions.  Cleaning Solution is used for stubborn clogs.  The cleaning solution can add extra push if other liquids have failed.

  •  BCH Dual Action Cleaning Solution for Dye and Pigment Ink
  •  BCH Triple Action Cleaning Solution for Dye, Pigment, and Sublimation Ink

Printhead Flushing — Cartridge


We can also take a set of refillable cartridges and fill them with cleaning solutions.  Some people sell these as «cleaning cartridges».

Professional Cleaning  


If the printhead flushing is not working, we may take the printhead out and clean it.  We start by searching “remove xxx printhead” on YouTube. After we find a way to remove the printhead, we will take the printhead out.


First, we soak the printhead in cleaning solutions for a few hours.  Then, we will use a high-pressure steamer to open up the nozzles and blow away debris.  Finally, we will use an ultrasonic cleaner to remove clogging particles and dried ink.


This procedure should be done by professionals.  We may lose a printhead this way. As a reference, we have a link here:


Videos:


Unclog Epson Artisan 1430


WF-3620 Won’t Recognize Cartridge & Clogged


Unclog WF-3640

Jan 21st 2019 BCH Technologies

Epson Printer not Printing black correctly [Solved] |

Printing errors are common in all kinds of printers. If you are an Epson printer user, you might have also faced the ” Epson printer not printing” issue. In this issue, your Epson printer does not print what you command it to print from your connected devices. As a result, you get no or blank prints from your Epson printer. There could be many factors responsible for this issue. That is why we have specified each & every reason responsible for the “Epson printer not printing” issue along with their solutions below. Have a look at them.

Epson printer not printing Error- Fix

Sometimes, small issues in your Epson printer does not allow it to print anything. That is why it is advised to run a small printer check before troubleshooting the “Epson printer won’t print” problem.

  1. Firstly, you have to check if your Epson printer is turned on.
  2. Now, ensure if your Epson printer is properly connected to the computer through the USB cable.
  3. You have to also verify if you have placed the ink cartridge correctly.
  4. Now, you have to check if you have properly inserted the printing papers into the printer’s tray.
  5. Check your Epson printer for error signals.
  6. Clean Your Epson Printer’s Printhead

If you don’t clean the printhead of your Epson printer properly. Then, it could give rise to the “Epson printer not printing” problem. When you don’t use your printer for a long time, its printhead gets clogged with ink and air. That is why you should print regularly from your Epson printer & clean its printhead. Each printer has an in-built cleaning tool for the printhead, That is why you don’t have to worry about this.

Also Read: Epson Printer is in Error state

  1. Clean out the Printhead of your Epson printer.
  2. Place the printing paper in your Epson printer’s tray.
  3. Open up the control panel of your Windows computer’s search located at its taskbar.
  4. Now, You will need to choose the “Printers and Tablets” option by clicking on it.
  5. Pick Computer & printer from the “Objects control panel” in Windows 10.
  6. Now, you have to Right-Click on your Epson printer and select the Print option from the Options menu.
  7. After that, Right-click on your non-printing Epson printer and click on the printing preferences option.
  8. At that point, you can simply click on the tab “Manage icon”.
  9. Now, you will see the “Epson Printer Preferences Maintenance” page, click on it.
  10. Under Epson Printer Repair, press on the “Head Cleaning” option.
  11. Now, simply push down the “Start” button.
  12. To repair the “Epson printer not printing” issue, you have to press the “Start” option for the Head Cleaning.
  13. Lastly, Follow the On-Screen instructions to complete it.
  1. Place a simple printing paper in the tray of your printer.
  2. Now, open up your Mac computer.
  3. After that, Tap on the Apple Menu And Go to its “Machine Settings”.
  4. On your Mac, click on its “Apple Menu” & select the “Device Preferences” option.
  5. There, Click on the “Scanner and Printer” option it shows you.
  6. Under the Device Preferences option, Click on the “Printers and Scanners” Option.
  7. After that, click on the Epson printer that doesn’t print and click on the mac “option & supplies” choice.
  8. Now, Go to the Utility tab first and then press the “Open Printer Utility” button.
  9. At this point, click on the “Utility” tab and open the “Mac Printer Utility”.
  10. Now, you have to simply click on the “Head Cleaning” option you see there.
  11. Under Printer Utility, press the “Head Cleaning” option to repair the Epson printer not printing error.

If you have already installed many printers with your computer, Then, it could also prevent your Epson printer from printing. For fixing this problem you will have to “Set your Epson printer to the defaults” on your computer, follow these steps.

  1. On your Windows 10 computer, click on the “Start” button & choose its Settings.
  2. Tap on the “Printer & Scanners” choice you see there.
  3. Now, you have to go to the “Devices” option and select “printers and scanners”.
  4. After that, click on the “Select your Epson Printer” from the Printer’s list, and then click on the “Manage” button.
  5. Lastly, you will have to just click on the “Set as Default” button to complete this process.

Note: Uncheck the option if you haven’t seen the “Set As Default option”.

You have now configured the Epson printer as your computer’s default printer. Try printing a paper now. You should patch an Epson non-printing printer error on your PC.

You have to check the ink levels of your Epson printer cartridge if your Epson printer is not printing anything. You can check the ink levels of your Epson by following the instructions below.

  1. Visit the Control Panel of your computer’s start menu.
  2. After that, you will need to Click & choose the “Computer & Printer” option there.
  3. Under the Control Panel option on your Windows 10 computer, press the “Computer & Printer” option.
  4. Now, you should Right-click the Epson Printer option under the “Print Preferences” window and choose the “Print Preferences” option.
  5. Right-click on your Epson printer and Pick the printing preferences option under the “devices & printers” option.
  6. Now, just simply snap on the “repair” tab.
  7. Select Open Status Monitor for Epson option.
  8. Under the maintenance menu, Open up the Epson Status Monitor by clicking on it.
  9. The amount of ink in the cartridges can be seen in the new pane.
  10. If any of them display low ink amounts, you can refill your cartridges by buying a fresh ink cartridge.

When you install your Epson printer incorrectly, It stops working in the desired way. As result, it starts to give you the “Epson printer not printing” error. If you see that error, Then you can re-install the Epson printer on your computer to fix this issue.

  1. Visit the “Program And Features” option by clicking on it under the Control Panel of your computer.
  2. Uninstall your Epson printer by right-clicking on it.
  3. Turn off your PC and printer now.
  4. Disconnect your Epson printer from the computer device.
  5. Restart your computer & Epson printer at the same time.
  6. Connect your Epson Printer to the computer
  7. On your computer, proceed to “reinstall” the Epson Printer.

If you don’t connect your Epson printer to the correct port. Then, it will not print what you command it. That is why be careful while connecting your Epson printer to your computer. Always insert its cables to the correct or accurate slots.

  1. Open up the windows settings of your PC from the settings option available under the start menu of your PC.
  2. Now, you have to tap on the “Computer and Printers” choice, there.
  3. Right-click on your Epson printer’s name and Visit its “Properties”.
  4. After that, you will need to “Right Click on the Epson printer not printing” option and choose the “printer options”.
  5. Click on the “Ports” tab under the “Properties” window, and press on the “Add Port” option.
  6. Now, Pick the default TCP/IP port and click on the “Epson Printer Properties” on the new port.
  7. After that, click on the “Next” option under the next tab.
  8. At that point, tap on the “Finish” button to proceed further.
  9. After that Tap on the “Submit” button.
  10. Lastly, Restart your computer and the printer.

Many times, your Epson printer doesn’t print because it does not have “updated printer drivers”. It results in your Epson printer, not printing. If you update your Epson printer drivers. Then, it will remove the printing error from it and your printer will start to print.

  1. Open the “Start Menu” of your computer by clicking on it.
  2. In the search box, search for the “Device Manager” option and press the “Enter” button.
  3. Now, Right-Click on the “Printer” option you see there in the list of devices & components.
  4. Under System Manager, press Update driver to repair the Epson printer, not printing issue.
  5. Then press on the “Auto Search” option for getting modified driver Apps.
  6. Now, Click on the “Check for modified driver software” automatically to upgrade the Epson printer’s
    driver on your Windows 10 computer.
  7. Follow Directions available On-Screen.

Sometimes, a few technical issues stop your printer from printing. In this case, you should wait for some time before proceeding forward. If your Epson printer’s printing does not resume even after a few minutes. Then, you should look out for a few things.

  1. Your PC will show you a “Waiting message” if it has any technical issue.
  2. Check your Epson printer, if it’s showing you any “odd signal lights”.
  3. The printer may require “head cleaning” for the cartridges, or it may take time due to job overload. If this is the case, Then, you should wait for at least 4-5 minutes to see if your Epson printer is working.

A very long printing task’s queue could also arise the “Epson printer not printing” error. If you face this issue, Then, you have to clear down the printing tasks que to fix this issue.

  1. You will see the long printing queues on your Epson printer. If you have given it the hundreds of documents to print or you have used it for a very long time, stopping your Epson printer from printing.

Follow these measures to clear your Epson printer’s printing queues

  • Firstly, you have to press the Windows and R Key together from your Computer keyboard.
  • It will open up the “Run” box on your computer.
  • Now, you will have to type the “Services.MSc” in that run box.
  • Now, click on the “ok” button from your computer’s mouse.
  • It will open the “Services” window on your computer screen.
  • Now, you have to right-click on the “Print spooler” option & click on the “Stop” option.
  • After that, you will be required to open the “File Explorer” on your computer.
  • Now, paste the %Windir%\System32\Spool\PRINTERS into its address bar.
  • After a second, a folder will open up before you & you will have to remove all the files from it.
  • Now, go back to the “Services” window & “start” the print spooler again by clicking on it.
  • It will surely troubleshoot the “Epson printer not printing” issue.

Also Read: Epson communication Error

Epson printer printing Blurry

Sometimes, An Epson printer starts to print blurry documents, images you command it to print. You can solve this issue by following a few simple steps inside the settings menu of your Epson printer.

  • First, you have to go to the “Menu” of your Epson printer device,
  • Now, you will have to click on the “Main menu” option available there.
  • Opt for the “Media type” according to your prints you need.
  • Now, make sure if your paper settings are correct and correct it according to your printing needs to eliminate the “Epson printer printing blurry” error.

Epson Printer not printing black

Problematic printer cartridge & printhead is the main reason responsible behind the “Epson printer not printing black” issue. You should follow the below-mentioned steps to fix this issue.

  • Firstly, Open your Epson printer’s panel & insert the printer cartridge correctly after taking it out from its place.
  • Secondly, Make sure your Epson printer has sufficient black ink levels by checking its ink status.
  • Sometimes, the Printer cartridge clogs down because of ink flow. In that case, you should clean the Clodges from it using a pin or something else.
  • You can fix the “Epson printer not printing black” ink issue by cleaning its printhead using the distilled water, and sponges.
  • The printhead of the printer can also be cleaned by running a cleaning cycle on your printer.
  • In that case, you can also turn off your Epson printer and leave it for at least 15 minutes on rest.
  • Using a clean & dry towel, wipe the printhead with it and slide it to its original place.
  • Always use genuine cartridges and printing sheets that are compatible with your Epson printer.

Epson Printer Not printing properly

There could be multiple reasons responsible for the “Epson printer not printing properly” issue. You can follow the direction below to fix this issue properly.

  • You should always place the printable side of the print sheet faced up while inserting it in the paper input tray.
  • It is advised to “Run the Head Cleaning Utility” to clear the clogged ink nozzles on your Epson printer.
  • After that, you can run the “Print Head Alignment Utility” to correctly address the Epson Printer Not Printing issue.
  • Open the “main menu” of your Epson printer app.
  • In the mode settings, you will have to select the “Automatic” mode.
  • If the ink light is flickering, replace the dried-up ink cartridge on your Epson printer.
  • Now, you will have to “Customize” the settings of the “Printable area” according to your needs & requirements.
  • Change the Color settings in your printer program to print colors correctly & accurately while printing.
  • Check if you have the correct “Media Type” setting in the driver of your Epson printer.

Also Read: Epson scanner not communicating with Epson scan

Epson printer not printing colors correctly

  1. Firstly, you have to check the color settings of your Epson printer & make sure it is not selected to “Black/Grayscale or Grayscale” settings.
  2. You will need to perform a nozzle search to check if any of the print head nozzles are clogged. You can clean the printhead of your Epson printer if you find any of the nozzle clogged.
  3. Check the ink cartridges of your Epson printer. It might be old or low on ink and needs to be replaced.
  4. You will need to manage the colors of the prints on the color management option available under Epson printer’s software and get an almost similar color print of what you see on your computer screen.
  5. You should always use authentic Epson ink and paper to get the best printing performance.

If your Epson printer is not printing colors, or black ink properly, despite of performing all of the troubleshooting steps mentioned above. Then, you can contact Epson tech support to get the best help regarding it within no time.

You may also read: Epson printer offline

Epson Printer Not Printing: FIXED (Easy Troubleshooting Guide)

If your Epson Printer is Not Printing or getting problems with printing. Read this guide to resolve all Epson printing related issue with easy troubleshooting steps.

Table of Contents

Epson Printer Not printing problems and solutions

It is really very annoying when you have some urgent printing work & your Epson printer not printing as desired. Sometimes Epson printer stops printing suddenly. this problem is not with only Epson printer but it could be the case with any printer due to some technical reasons.  Suddenly printer users may face problems in printing. There can be several reasons behind this problem with the printer. Most of these problems can be easily fixed by you. Read this post to know more.

 

Contents

Steps to Fix Epson Printer Not Printing Problem

More Problems with Epson Printer

 

Epson Printer Not printing: Problem Overview

Is your Epson printer not printing properly? Or is it not printing at all? whatever may be the situation or problem this post will help you resolve these Epson printer printing problems for sure. Several technical factors can cause Epson printer not working issue. Some of these factors can be very complicated in nature. Other factors may be simple. Reading this post can make you able to fix Epson printer and get it to work. You will be able to resolve below problems & queries of Epson printer.

  • How to fix Epson printer not printing
  • printer not printing properly
  • printer not printing after changing/refilling ink
  • Epson printer not printing wirelessly
  • Why is Epson printer not printing black?
  • Epson printer printing blank
  • Epson printer problems and solutions

 

Steps to fix Epson Printer Not printing problems

  • Clean Printhead For Windows OS
  • Clean The Printhead For Mac OS
  • Set Epson Printer As The Default Printer
  • Check Ink Cartridge For Low Ink
  • Use New Ink Cartridge
  • Reinstall Epson Printer On Your Computer
  • Installing Epson Printer On Windows
  • Install Epson Printer On Mac OS
  • Correct Port For Epson Printer
  • Update Epson Printer Driver
  • Wait For Epson Printer To Resume
  • Clear Long Print Queues And Go Easy On Long Queues

 

How to Fix Epson Printer Not printing

Sometimes, it is possible that Epson printer not printing problem is caused by a small and simple reason. Hence, it is advisable to run a small check before troubleshooting the printer with complicated technical steps.

  • Check whether the printer is turned on
  • The printer is properly connected with the computer via USB
  • Check whether the ink cartridge is set properly
  • Check whether you have paper properly put in the tray
  • Make sure that the printer is not giving any error signal
  • Clean the Printhead of Your Epson Printer

Epson printer not printing issue may occur if the printhead is not clean properly. Sometimes due to less use of printer, Printhead get clogged. You need to clean the printhead to perform the print. Every printer has inbuilt tool to clean the printhead so you need not worry about this. To clean the printhead follow the below-given steps

  • Step-1

Clean Printhead For Windows OS

  1. Keep a plain paper in the tray.
  2. Search “Control Panel” in the search box on the Taskbar and open it.
  3. Click on devices and printers.
  4. Right-click on your Epson printer and choose Printing Preference from the options menu.
  5. Click on the manage tab.
  6. Now click on Head Cleaning.
  7. now click on Start.
  8. Follow the on-screen Instruction.
  • Step-2

Clean the Printhead for Mac OS

  1. Keep a plain paper in the tray.
  2. Go to the Mac OS desktop.
  3. Click on Apple Menu and Go to System Preferences.
  4. Click on printer and scanner.
  5. Now click on your printer and click on options & supplies.
  6. Click on utility tab and click on Open printer utility.
  7. now Click on Head Cleaning.

 

  • Step-3

Set Epson Printer as the Default Printer

When there are multiple printers installed then not setting the Epson printer as default will cause the Epson printer not working problem. Follow these steps to set the Epson printer as default on your computer

  1. go to the Start Menu and click on Setting.
  2. Click on the Printer & Scanners menu item.
  3. Go to Devices then Printers and Scanners.
  4. Select the Epson printer from the list of printers and click on the Manage option.
  5. then click on Set as default button.

Note: If you didn’t see “Set As Default” option Uncheck the box “Let Windows manage my default printer” screen-short has given Below.

Now you have set the Epson printer as the default printer on your computer. Now try printing a document. Epson printer not printing error should be fixed on your PC.

 

  • Step-4

Check Ink Cartridge for Low Ink

You can also check your Epson printer for low ink levels of cartridges to make sure it is not causing the Epson printer not printing/working problem. Epson Status Monitor 3 is the tool provided by Epson to view ink levels and printer status. Follow the below-given steps

  1. Search “Control Panel” in the search box on the taskbar.
  2. Now Click On Control Panel.
  3. Click on Device and Printer.

    Note: If You Didn’t Find Device & Printer, Look Right Top Of The Page View By > Click On Down Arrow Icon  > Then Select Large Icon.

  4. Right-click on the Epson printer listed in the window and Select the printing preferences option.
  5. Now Click on the maintenance tab.
  6. Click to open the Epson Status Monitor 3.
  7. In the new window you can see the ink level in the cartridges.

 

You Should refill your cartridges if any of them show low levels of ink. It is best practice to buy a new ink cartridge after few refilling.

 

  • Step-5

Use New Ink Cartridge

If you are using an old ink cartridge from a very long period of time then you will also need to change the cartridge as it may cause the Epson printer not working and printing. Many times, people get their old cartridges refilled but this does not always go well with the printers.

 

  • Step-6

Reinstall Epson Printer on Your Computer

Epson printer not printing/working can arise due to improper installation. Reinstall the Epson printer on your system to fix this issue. Follow the below-given steps

  1. Go to the Control Panel -> Programs -> Programs and features.
  2. Right-click on the Epson printer and click on uninstall.
  3. Now turn off your computer and printer.
  4. Disconnect the printer from the computer.
  5. Restart the computer and printer after a few minutes
  6. Connect the Epson printer with Computer
  7. Proceed to reinstall the Epson printer on your computer

 

  • Step-7

Installing Epson Printer on Windows

  1. Go to the Start Menu.
  2. Click on Settings.
  3. Now Click on Select Devices.
  4. then click on Printers and Scanners.
  5. Now Click on Add a printer or scanner.
  6. Follow the on-screen instructions.

 

  • Step-8

Install Epson Printer on Mac OS

  1. Click this link to download and install the Epson Connect Printer Utility for Mac
  2. Click on Continue upon opening the utility.
  3. now click continue and then click on Agree.
  4. Click on Install and
  5. pop-up window open and asking your mac computer login password.

Now the Epson printer is reinstalled on your Mac computer. This should fix the Epson printer not working issue.

  • Step-9

Correct Port for Epson Printer

Due to lack of proper port during printer installation Epson printer not working problem may occur. You can change the printer port for Epson printer without reinstalling the printer. Follow these steps to reassign a correct port for the printer

  1. Search “Control Panel” in the search box on the Taskbar and open it.
  2. now click on Device and printer.
  3. Select your Printer and Right Click on it and Go to printer properties.
  4. In the properties Window Select Ports Tab and click on add port.
  5. Select the Standard TCP/IP port and click on the new port.
  6. Click next on the Next page.
  7. Click Finish to close the wizard.
  8. Now click on the Apply button.
  9. Restart the computer and the printer.

When you will restart the computer and the printer, it should work fine.

 

  • Step-10

Update Epson Printer Driver

When the printer driver for Epson is out of date then it may also lead to Epson printer not working. To solve this problem is easy. Just perform the following steps to update Epson printer driver on your computer or laptop

Update Printer Driver on Windows

    1. Go to Start Menu
    2. Type Device Manager in the box and press Enter.
    3. Now Find the Printer and Expand it.
    4. Select your printer and right-click on it.
    5. Now click on update driver from the options menu.
    6. Then click on Search automatically for updated driver software.
    7. Follow the on-screen instruction.

 

 

  • Step-11

Wait for Epson Printer to Resume

Sometimes as it happens, the Epson printer may stop working unexpectedly. It is possible that some error has occurred or some technical process has halted the printer. In this case you should be patient. Do the following

  • Check your desktop carefully for any wait messages
  • Observe the Epson printer for any unusual signal lights

It is possible that printer is head cleaning the cartridges or it is taking time due to overload of work. If this is the case then you should wait for 4-5 minutes to see if printer starts to work.

 

  • Step-12

Clear Long Print Queues and Go Easy on Long Queues

A very long print queue on your Epson printer may result in Epson printer not working issue. If you are printing hundreds of documents or using your printer for a very long time then long print queue will be formed and prevent Epson printer from working.

Follow these steps to clear queues on computer

  1. Press the Windows logo key and R Key simultaneously.
  2. Type the services. msc in the box.
  3. Find the printer Spooler.
  4. Right-click on Print Spooler and Click on Stop.
  5. Now go to Desktop and open File Explorer
  6. Type this address in the address bar (You can copy and paste as well).
  7. %windir%\System32\spool\PRINTERS.
  • Delete all the files in the folder that opens.
  • Now go back to Print Spooler Properties.
  • Right-click on printer spooler and click on start.

This should fix the Epson printer not working problem

Epson Printer Not printing / Working Properly – More Problems with Epson Printer

 

Not Printing Black Ink

Epson printer may be unable to print in black ink. The reason behind can be some problem with the cartridge or Printhead. If your Epson printer not working properly and not printing the black ink while printing then follow the below given steps.

 

Set the Cartridge Properly

One of the major reasons behind Epson printer not printing black can be improperly set cartridge.

  1. Open the cabinet of the Canon printer
  2. Get the Black ink cartridge out
  3. Put the Cartridge back inside
  4. Take care to properly snap the cartridge in the place

 

Check the Ink Status

This is the first step to take. If the Epson printer is not printing black ink then ink can below.

  1. Double Click Epson Printer Icon on Your Desktop
  2. Go to Tools à Epson Status Monitor 3
  3. Check the level of Black Ink

If the black ink level in your computer is low then you need to change it.

 

Clean the Black Ink Cartridge

Sometimes the clog on the cartridge can be jammed because of the ink flowing through it. This jam can create Epson printer not working problem. Take out the cartridge from the printer and clean the clog with a pin.

Epson Printer Not Printing properly – Printing problems solution

Users of Epson printer sometime face problems related to the quality of print out. You get print but quality you do not get as expected. Due to improper settings on your computer Epson printer printing quality can be compromised on your computer. Following problems, you may face while printing, we will explain the solution to these problems.

 

Blurry Print Out

It is possible that Epson printer not working properly and giving a blurry printout. Configure the following settings in your printer

  1. Go to Epson Menu
  2. Click on the Main menu
  3. Select Media Type
  4. Check the settings for paper

 

Print out with Gaps

There can be many reasons for an improper print out with gaps. Try the following

  1. Go to Media Type in Main menu and check for Papers
  2. Check the Expiration Date of Ink Cartridge
  3. Run the head cleaning Utility

 

Horizontal or Vertical Misalignment

If the Epson printer is going too fast then it can cause horizontal and vertical misalignment. This can be fixed in the advance settings of Epson printer

  1. Open the Epson printer window
  2. Go to print settings
  3. Now go to advance settings tab

Here you can set the printing speed at a low pace. This will solve the misalignment problem on the printer.

Printer is Too Slow

If you have heavy printing work at your expense and you think that the printer is going slow then you can speed up the printing process.

  1. Go to the desktop
  2. Double click on the Epson printer icon
  3. Go to print settings
  4. Click on the Advance Tab
  5. Set the speed for printing

 

Tips to Avoid These Problems in Future

You can avoid printing related problems with your Epson printer and keep it as a new one even after a long time. Just take care of maintaining the printer. Follow the below guidelines to keep your Epson printer fine for a long period of time.

  1. Change ink cartridge after every few months
  2. Keep the print head clean during its use
  3. Keep cleaning the printer once in a month
  4. Use the Epson printer gently
  5. Keep the power cord and USB cable in shape
  6. Always take the printer to the authorized service center only until in the warranty period
  7. Do not try to fix the Epson printer by yourself

Contact Official Epson Support

If the above guide is not able to solve your Epson printer not working problem then you can also contact the official support for Epson printers. Here you will get expert support that can solve problems with your Epson printers.

Final Words: Conclusion

Epson printer may not work properly all the time. This blog can help you fix major issues with your printer. Do let us know in the comments below your thoughts about our blog. You can also ask us any questions related to your Epson printer.

 

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