Epson / EcoTank ET-2850 series

E-02 - The scanner reported an error and the unit needs a restart before anything else.

The scanner reported an error and the unit needs a restart before anything else.

This guide is scoped to the EcoTank ET-2850 series family. Exact menu wording, cartridge naming, and service behavior can still vary by model variant and firmware.

Severity

Medium

Most likely cause

The scanner subsystem failed during startup or use.

Can you keep using it?

Maybe after the first checks

Consumables involved

Not usually the first suspect

Can you keep using it?

Can you keep using it?

Contact customer support if any of these apply

  • !E-02 returns after one restart.
  • !The scanner will not initialize or the error appears every time you power on.
If the printer still starts normally: Finish the first checks once, then stop if the same message repeats or the printer still cannot return to ready.

What to check first

Step-by-step checks

  1. 1

    Safe first step

    Turn the printer off and back on once before trying to scan again.

    Start with the official recovery step before moving on to parts or deeper servicing.

  2. 2

    Safe first step

    Check that the scanner lid and glass area are clear before retrying.

  3. 3

    Escalate

    If the code returns, stop repeated retries and contact Epson support.

Background

What this message usually means

Epson uses E-02 on the ET-2850 family for a scanner error. The official guidance is to turn the product off and then back on again. If the scanner error continues, the problem is no longer a simple restart issue and Epson support becomes the next step.

Before the message

What users usually notice first

Messages like this often appear after the printer fails one of its normal startup, supply, or paper-path checks and cannot return to ready state cleanly.

Diagnosis

Likely causes

Most common

The scanner subsystem failed during startup or use.

Common

A temporary control fault interrupted scanner initialization.

Possible

The product did not clear a prior scanner state cleanly.

Service

When service or replacement is more likely

  • -Treat E-02 as a scanner-side fault rather than an ink, paper, or network issue.
  • -If the printer is otherwise printing normally, the scanner half of the device is the part to focus on first.

Avoid wrong turns

Common misreads of this message

  • -Treating the message like a confirmed failed part instead of a support clue about which system has stopped the printer.
  • -Assuming any supply-related wording means the next step is automatically to buy a cartridge, toner, drum, or printhead.
  • -Assuming no physical path issue exists just because no full sheet is visible at first glance.

See also

Related codes in this family

Explore more

More Epson printer families

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Helpful guides for this problem

Boundary

When to stop troubleshooting and move to support

Use the message once to classify the problem, then move to support if the printer still cannot return to ready after the first safe checks.

Keep browsing

Where to go next

Source notes

Epson's ET-2850 product status message table identifies E-02 as a scanner error and recommends turning the product off and then back on again.

Built around Epson EcoTank ET-2850 support guidance and the linked control-panel error-code help for this family. Panel wording can vary slightly across regional ET-28xx variants.

Printer error codes can vary a little by firmware, region, and exact model variant. Use this guide as a family-level starting point and stop if the next step would require disassembly or service-mode changes.

Known family variants: ET-2800, ET-2803, ET-2805, ET-2850

Last reviewed: 2026-04-12

Reference: Open reference

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