Can you keep using it?
Can you keep using it?
Contact customer support if any of these apply
- !You need borderless printing restored.
- !The printer is used heavily enough that delaying service will create workflow problems.
What to check first
Step-by-step checks
- 1
Safe first step
Switch to bordered printing if you must keep printing temporarily.
Start with the official recovery step before moving on to parts or deeper servicing.
- 2
Escalate
Plan Epson service for the borderless pad replacement.
- 3
Safe first step
Avoid assuming this is a standard low-ink or maintenance-box prompt.
Background
What this message usually means
Epson uses E-12 when the borderless-printing ink pad needs to be replaced on the ET-4700 and L5190 family. Epson says borderless printing is no longer available until service is completed, although regular bordered printing can still remain available.
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
The borderless-printing waste-ink pad reached its service limit.
Heavy borderless printing shortened the remaining service life of the borderless pad area.
The printer's service counter has disabled borderless mode.
Service
When service or replacement is more likely
- -E-12 is narrower than E-11 because it specifically affects borderless-printing capability 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.
See also
Related codes in this family
Explore more
More Epson printer families
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How to separate ordinary cartridge or toner trouble from the kind of printer fault that usually points to real service.
Guide
How to find the right printer model family before using error codes
How to match the right printer family or series before trusting an error page that might only be a near match.
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-4700/L5190 status table identifies E-12 as a borderless-printing ink-pad replacement condition and says bordered printing remains available.
Built around Epson ET-4700 and L5190 official status-message guidance. The same LCD code meanings generally apply across this family, but exact button labels can vary by region and control-panel layout.
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-4700, L5190
Last reviewed: 2026-04-12
Reference: Open reference