How to Reset an Epson Printer

1. Power cycle (fixes most stuck errors)

Turn the printer off using its power button, unplug it from the wall, and wait a full 60 seconds before plugging it back in — this lets internal components fully discharge and clears many temporary error states that a quick off-and-on doesn't. This resolves the majority of "stuck" errors and a printer that's simply stopped responding for no obvious reason.

2. Network settings reset (fixes connection problems)

If the printer keeps dropping off Wi-Fi or can't find your network, a full power cycle sometimes isn't enough — the printer needs to forget its saved network entirely. On the printer's display, go to Settings → Network Settings → Network Restore Default Settings (menu wording varies slightly by model). This clears only the network configuration, leaving other settings intact. Run the wireless setup wizard again afterward to reconnect.

3. Full factory reset (wipes everything)

Use this only if you're preparing to sell, donate, or recycle the printer, or the device is behaving erratically in a way neither a power cycle nor a network reset resolves. On the display, go to Settings → Restore Default Settings → All Settings, and confirm when prompted. The printer erases all custom settings and saved networks, then restarts as if unboxed for the first time. You'll need to run through wireless setup again from scratch afterward.

Resetting the maintenance/waste ink counter

Epson printers track internal ink pad or waste ink usage, and after extended heavy use can show a message indicating the pad needs servicing. This is a different kind of "reset" from the settings resets above — it typically requires either an official Epson service visit or the Epson-provided maintenance reset utility for your specific model, rather than anything available directly on the printer's own menu. Don't confuse this message with a general error; it specifically relates to internal ink absorption components.

Models without a screen

On simpler Epson models without a touch display, a factory reset is sometimes done via a specific button-hold combination on power-up — commonly holding a combination involving the power and resume/stop buttons for several seconds. The exact combination varies by model, so check your printer's manual or Epson's official support site for your specific model number before attempting this, since an incorrect combination typically just does nothing.

What a reset won't fix

A reset clears software-level state — stuck queues, corrupted settings, forgotten networks — but won't fix a genuine hardware fault: a jammed roller, a failed print head, or a physically dirty cartridge sensor. If the same problem returns immediately after a reset and reconnection, the cause is almost always physical rather than a settings issue.