Epson ET-2850 error E-02

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

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.

Related codes in this family

E-01

A fatal printer error occurred and the printer needs a restart before anything else.

E-11

The ink pad has reached the end of its service life and needs service attention.

Explore more

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ET-5800, ET-5850, ET-5880.

EcoTank ET-2980 series

ET-2980, ET-2980U.

Keep browsing

Where to go next

Back to EcoTank ET-2850 series

Browse the rest of this printer range and compare nearby messages.

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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

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