On the covered Epson WorkForce printer, "Recovery mode" means an error occurred during firmware updating. First, do not turn the printer off during another update attempt. Then: Epson's steps: connect the product with a USB cable and try downloading the Firmware Update from Epson's support website. If you still need help, contact Epson for support.
Differential
Likely causes of “Epson WorkForce printer showing "Recovery mode"”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
A firmware update failed partway through
What separates it The printer shows a recovery mode message and will not start normally
How to confirm Do not switch the printer off during another update attempt
- 2
The update was interrupted by a power cut
What separates it A storm, a tripped breaker or an unplugged cable happened during the update
How to confirm Reconnect power, with the printer on a surge protector if possible, and start again
- 3
The network dropped during a wireless update
What separates it The update ran over Wi-Fi and the signal was weak
How to confirm Use a USB cable for the next attempt
- 4
The firmware download was corrupted
What separates it The update file did not finish downloading, or was saved incompletely
How to confirm Download the updater again from Epson's support site
- 5
A hardware fault on the main board
What separates it The update fails again and again, even over USB with a fresh download
How to confirm Contact Epson service for a repair
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- The exact message on the display
- How the update began, from the printer's menu or from a computer
- The model number, since the firmware file is specific to it
- Whether a USB cable and a computer are available
Try in this order
0 of 8 completedWhat to do first
ReversibleDo not turn the printer off during another update attempt.
Correct only the documented fault domain
ReversibleEpson's steps: connect the product with a USB cable and try downloading the Firmware Update from Epson's support website. If you still need help, contact Epson for support.
Leave the printer switched on
ReversibleDo not turn it off, since a printer in recovery mode is waiting for new firmware and switching it off does not help.
Connect a USB cable
ReversibleAttach the printer to a computer with a good USB cable. Epson says to use USB for this recovery.
Download the Firmware Update
ReversibleOn Epson's support site, find your model and download its Firmware Update. Make sure that the file matches the model exactly.
Run the updater
ReversibleStart the downloaded file and follow its prompts. Do not disconnect the cable or close the program while it works.
Wait for the printer to restart
ReversibleThe printer reboots when the update finishes, and the display returns to its normal screen.
Contact Epson if it fails
ReversibleIf recovery does not work, Epson support can advise on a faulty main board or a repair.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- The message on this page
- Recovery Mode: an error occurred during firmware updating.
- Parts involved
- The printer's firmware, the USB cable and the computer.
- Source
- Epson's WF-3540 user's guide on product status messages.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !If recovery fails after two attempts, contact Epson support with the model number
- !Never switch off the printer or unplug the cable during an update
- !Keep the USB cable connected until the printer has restarted
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Exact questions
Common questions
What does "Recovery mode" mean on a Epson WorkForce printer?+
An error occurred during firmware updating.
What is Recovery Mode on an Epson printer?+
The printer is waiting for a good firmware file after an update failed, so it cannot start normally until the update completes.
Can I use Wi-Fi to recover?+
USB is the safer route, because a Wi-Fi drop during a recovery repeats the original problem.
Will I lose my settings?+
Some settings may reset after a firmware recovery, so note your network and email settings if you can.
Is the printer broken?+
Usually not. A correct firmware file restores it in most cases.
How long does the recovery take?+
A few minutes once the updater is running, though the download can take longer on a slow connection.