You need to reset your Epson EcoTank ET-2850. Maybe the printer went offline after a router swap, the ink levels don't seem right, or you're handing it off to someone else and want to wipe your Wi-Fi credentials. The ET-2850 is a 2021 all-in-one with a refillable ink tank system, a small monochrome LCD, and no touchscreen. The reset options are a bit different from what you might expect on a cartridge-based printer, but they're straightforward once you know where to look.
You have two main reset paths here: a full factory reset that clears everything, and a network reset that only wipes the Wi-Fi connection. There's also a manual print head cleaning cycle that can fix the common clog issue, which I'll cover because it's essentially a recovery procedure for the ink system.
Here's how each one works.
When a Full Factory Reset Makes Sense
A full reset is what you want if the printer is behaving erratically, maybe it keeps throwing random paper jam errors, menus are unresponsive, or you're selling it and need to erase personal data including Wi-Fi passwords and saved scan destinations. It returns the printer to the exact state it was in when you first unboxed it.
The ET-2850's factory reset lives inside the Setup menu. On the printer's control panel, press the Setup button (the wrench icon). Use the arrow keys to scroll to Restore Default Settings and press OK. Select All Settings, then confirm with Yes. The printer reboots and runs its initial setup wizard again, asking for language, date, and region.
This wipes Wi-Fi credentials, your custom paper size defaults, the sleep timer, and any scan-to-folder or scan-to-email configurations. Plan on spending about 10 minutes reconnecting everything afterward.
Clear the Network Settings Without Wiping Everything
If the only issue is that your ET-2850 won't connect to Wi-Fi after a router change, a full factory reset is overkill. The printer has a dedicated network reset that clears the Wi-Fi adapter and forgets the SSID without touching your ink counter, paper size preferences, or scan settings.
Press Setup on the control panel. Scroll to Wi-Fi Setup (or Network Settings depending on your firmware) and press OK. Look for Change or Reset, then choose Reset Wi-Fi. The printer confirms and reboots. When it comes back up, the Wi-Fi light should be blinking or off, indicating it's not connected. You can now set up a fresh connection via the Epson Smart Panel app on your phone.
This reset leaves all your other settings intact, so you won't need to re-enter paper size or language preferences.
Fix a Print Head Clog (Yes, It's a Kind of Reset)
The ET-2850's known weakness is print head clogs when you let it sit unused for two weeks or more. If you're getting streaky prints, missing colors, or the printer tells you "Nozzles are clogged," a head cleaning cycle is the first thing to try. Think of it as a recovery reset for the ink system.
From the printer's home screen, press Setup > Maintenance > Head Cleaning. The printer takes about two minutes to run the cycle and then prints a nozzle check pattern. If the pattern still shows gaps, run a second and third cleaning cycle. I've seen three cycles clear most clogs on this model, but avoid more than three in a row without a break, let the printer sit for a few hours if the issue persists.
If head cleaning doesn't help, you may have an air lock in the ink feed tubes. Try the Power Cleaning option also under the Maintenance menu. It's more aggressive and uses more ink, but it can push through stubborn air bubbles that regular cleaning can't reach.
Reconnect the Printer to Wi-Fi After the Reset
Whether you did a full factory reset or a network reset, you need to re-pair the ET-2850 to your network. This printer only supports 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi, so make sure your phone is connected to the 2.4 GHz band before you start the setup. If your router broadcasts both bands under the same SSID, temporarily separate them or turn off the 5 GHz band in your router settings.
Open the Epson Smart Panel app on your phone. Tap the + icon to add a new printer. The app walks you through connecting to the printer's temporary access point and feeding your Wi-Fi password to it. The whole process takes about two minutes. If the app can't find the printer, press the Wi-Fi button on the printer (if equipped) or navigate to Wi-Fi Setup > Push Button Setup (WPS) on the printer's LCD, then press the WPS button on your router within two minutes. The ET-2850 supports WPS, so that's a fast alternative.
If you have a mesh network and the pairing fails repeatedly, check that your network isn't set to WPA3-only mode. The ET-2850's Wi-Fi radio can't handle the new security protocol when PMF (Protected Management Frames) is required. Switch your Wi-Fi security to WPA2/WPA3 transitional in your router settings and try again.
Reinstall the Printer Driver on Your Computer
After a full factory reset, your computer still thinks the printer has its old IP address. Open Settings > Bluetooth and devices > Printers and scanners on Windows (or System Settings > Printers and scanners on macOS). Remove the existing ET-2850 entry. Then click Add device and let Windows search, it should find the printer on your network. On a Mac, go to the + sign and select the printer from the list.
Once the fresh entry is added, print a test page. If the printer still doesn't respond, check that both devices are on the same 2.4 GHz network. The ET-2850 doesn't support 5 GHz, so if your computer is on the 5 GHz band, they won't see each other. Connect your computer to the 2.4 GHz network temporarily for setup, then you can switch back afterward.
