Epson Printer Says Needs Service? How to Reset the Waste Ink Counter
Your Epson printer stopped working and says it needs servicing. Here is how to reset the waste ink counter yourself for under 10 dollars.
What the Waste Ink Pad Error Means
Every time your Epson printer runs a print head cleaning cycle, the excess ink goes into absorbent pads at the bottom of the printer. Epson programs each printer with a maximum cleaning count. When that count is reached, the printer displays a message saying the ink pads are at the end of their service life and stops printing entirely. This is not a mechanical failure. The pads may have capacity remaining. It is a software counter that Epson uses to prevent potential ink overflow.
How to Reset Using WIC Reset Utility
Download the WIC Reset Utility from the official website. It is available for Windows and Mac. Connect your Epson printer to your computer via USB cable — the reset does not work over WiFi. Open the utility and it will detect your printer model. Click Read Waste Counters to see the current count. To reset, you need a reset key which costs about 10 dollars from the WIC website. Enter the key, click Reset Waste Counters, and the counter resets to zero. Your printer will work again immediately.
What About the Physical Pads?
After resetting the counter, the physical pads inside the printer still contain ink. For most home users who print occasionally, the pads have enough capacity for several more resets before they actually saturate. If you print very heavily, you can replace the pads yourself with an aftermarket kit that costs about 15 to 20 dollars. It requires removing the bottom cover of the printer to access the pads. YouTube has step-by-step videos for most Epson models.
Alternative: Contact Epson Support
If you do not want to use third-party software, contact Epson support directly. If your printer is still under warranty, they may reset the counter for free. Out of warranty, Epson authorized service centers can reset it and replace the pads for about 50 to 80 dollars. However, the WIC Reset approach at 10 dollars is significantly cheaper and achieves the same result.
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