Can you keep using it?
Can you keep using it?
Contact customer support if any of these apply
- !Recovery mode remains after a clean USB-based firmware retry.
- !The printer cannot leave update recovery state at all.
What to check first
Step-by-step checks
- 1
Safe first step
Connect the printer to a computer with a USB cable.
Start with the official recovery step before moving on to parts or deeper servicing.
- 2
Safe first step
Retry the firmware update using Epson's official update path.
- 3
Safe first step
Do not interrupt the update once recovery has started.
Background
What this message usually means
Epson uses Recovery mode on the ET-4950 series when a firmware update fails. The official guidance is to connect the printer by USB and retry the firmware update, then contact support if it still cannot recover.
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
A firmware update failed before completion.
The printer lost communication or power during an update.
The device entered update recovery state and cannot resume normal operation yet.
Service
When service or replacement is more likely
- -Recovery mode is update-specific and should not be treated like a standard print error.
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.
See also
Related codes in this family
Explore more
More Epson printer families
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Boundary
When to stop troubleshooting and move to support
If the same message returns immediately after one careful recovery attempt or the printer cannot reach ready state, stop there and use the family-specific support path.
Keep browsing
Where to go next
Source notes
Epson's ET-4950 series guide says Recovery mode appears after a failed firmware update and instructs users to retry the update by USB.
Built around the official ET-4950 series user's guide and related Epson support pages for ET-4950, ET-4955, and ET-4958. Message wording can vary slightly by model and firmware, but the status behavior stays close across the family.
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-4950, ET-4955, ET-4958
Last reviewed: 2026-04-12
Reference: Open reference