If an Epson prints nothing, Epson's status list and nozzle tools separate the causes. Read the LCD code first: E-01 is a printer error, turn off and on and check for a jam; E-02 a scanner error; E-11 and E-12 mean an ink pad needs replacing, contact Epson, with scanning still available; W-01 a paper jam; W-11 and W-14 mean an ink pad is nearing the end of its service life and you can continue by pressing the start button.
The checks in more detail
If there is no code, print a nozzle check from Maintenance: gaps mean clogged nozzles, so follow the head cleaning steps; a fully blank pattern points to Power Cleaning or an ink problem. Check the ink tanks visually against the lower line, since continued use below it can damage the product, and refill if low, then reset the ink levels when prompted. Check the paper size and type match, and cancel stuck jobs from the queue. Make sure the right printer is selected and not offline.
If the nozzle check prints fine but documents do not, reinstall the driver from Epson's support page. If USB prints and wifi does not, fix the network. Check for a firmware update, and if a firmware update failed and the product shows Recovery Mode, connect it by USB and update again. If printing stalls only on borderless jobs, E-12 and W-14 relate to the borderless pad. Keep a routine: a nozzle check from the control panel first, then from the computer.
Whichever fails tells you where to look, and it stops you reinstalling drivers when the printer wants ink or a clean. If a job leaves the computer but the printer stays idle, check the LCD for a message waiting for a paper size or type confirmation, which some Epson models show before printing. If the printer prints from the panel but not the computer, note whether other applications print, since a single failing application points at its own print settings.
Differential
Likely causes of “Epson printers receives jobs but does not print”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
An LCD error code
What separates it The printer stops because an error code is showing on the screen
How to confirm Follow the fix for the code that shows on the screen
- 2
Clogged nozzles
What separates it The printing is blank or gappy because the nozzles are clogged
How to confirm Run head cleaning from the Maintenance menu, and print a nozzle check
- 3
Ink below the lower line
What separates it There is no output and a damage risk because the ink is below the lower line
How to confirm Refill the tank to the top line, and reset the ink levels
- 4
An ink pad at end of life
What separates it The screen shows E-11 or E-12 because an ink pad is at the end of its life
How to confirm Contact Epson, since an ink pad needs to be replaced by a service provider
- 5
A failed firmware update
What separates it The screen shows Recovery Mode because a firmware update failed
How to confirm Update the firmware again over USB, following the steps on the screen
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- A nozzle check pattern that you print from the printer
- The ink levels in the tanks
- Whether the printer prints when connected by USB
Try in this order
0 of 7 completedRead the LCD
ReversibleRead the screen, and note the code and what it means, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Print a nozzle check
ReversiblePrint a nozzle check from the Maintenance menu, to see whether the nozzles are firing.
Clean the head
ReversibleClean the head, up to three times, and print a nozzle check after each clean.
Check ink levels
ReversibleCheck the ink levels, and refill any tank that is low, then reset the levels.
Clear the queue
ReversibleClear the queue on the computer, and pick the right printer before you print, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Update firmware
ReversibleUpdate the firmware, using Epson Software Updater, and then try to print again, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Contact Epson
ReversibleContact Epson for pad or hardware codes, since you cannot fix these yourself, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- Ink pads
- Waste ink pads are not user replaceable on EcoTank models.
- Borderless
- E-12 and W-14 concern the borderless printing pad.
- Other models this page answers
- These steps also fit models EcoTank ET-2800, EcoTank ET-2850, EcoTank ET-3850, EcoTank Photo ET-8550, Expression Premium XP-7100, P700, WorkForce Pro WF-4830, WorkForce Pro WF-7840.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !If E-11 or E-12 shows, contact Epson for the ink pad
- !If the nozzle check stays blank after Power Cleaning, contact Epson
- !If Recovery Mode persists, contact Epson support, and give them the model
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
E, W and I codes, ink pads and Recovery Mode.
Head Cleaning, nozzle check and Power Cleaning.
Refilling and resetting ink levels.
Firmware updates in Windows and macOS.
The company and its products.
Exact questions
Common questions
Can I still scan with E-11?+
Yes, you can still scan with E-11, since scanning stays available.
What is Recovery Mode?+
A firmware update failed; connect by USB and retry.
Can I keep printing with low ink?+
No, do not keep printing below the lower line, since that can damage the printer.
How do I refill an ink tank?+
Fill it to the top line, and then reset the ink levels when the printer prompts you to.
Why does the printer ask to reset ink levels?+
It estimates ink use, and does not measure it, so it needs telling when you refill.
How long between Power Cleanings?+
Wait at least twelve hours between Power Cleanings, since each one uses a lot of ink.