RELATES TO:

• Stylus A4 and A3/A3+ printer range
• EPSON Status Monitor reports "Ink Cartridge Could Not Be Recognised"
• The red ink light remains on after replacing an ink cartridge
• The printer is not recognising one or more ink cartridges

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

Explanation

• Article summary

Solution

1. Determine which ink cartridges are not recognised.
2. If the cartridges for your printer have a green IC chip, follow the instructions below to remove the cartridge(s) for inspection.
   • If your printer uses cartridges which do not have a green IC chip, click here to view the alternative instructions. Examples include the Stylus Color Series (not Color 680); the following Stylus Photo models: Stylus Photo, Stylus Photo EX, Stylus Photo 1200, 700, and 750; Stylus C20, C40, and Stylus Scan 200/2500.
3. If the carriage is not in the ink cartridge replacement position and the red ink light is on, always press the Stop/ Maintenance/ Ink/ ink change button (depending on your printer model) to move it.
4. Check that the cartridge is a genuine Epson ink cartridge.
5. Check that the cartridges are correct for your Epson product.
6. Wipe the green IC chip on the cartridge that is not recognised.
7. Check the chip contacts within the ink cartridge holder for any debris or dried ink and wipe with a lint-free cloth if necessary.
8. Check that the plastic at the bottom of the cartridge has been pierced. If it isn't pierced, reinstall the ink cartridge by following Step 9.
9. Check that the cartridges are in the correct slots.
10. Reinstall the cartridges into the ink cartridge holder in the correct slots.
11. Push each ink cartridge down firmly until it clicks into place.
12. Once you have installed the cartridges, push the ink cartridge holder lid down. It should clip into place and be secure.
13. Press the Stop/ Maintenance/ Ink/ ink cartridge replacement button. This will return the ink cartridge holder to the right hand side of the unit. If the cartridges are recognised, the printer will begin to charge the ink.
14. - If the error light flashes after the print head returns to the home position, the ink cartridge may not be installed properly.
15. - If the red light is no longer displayed, but Status Monitor still reports a Non-Genuine Ink warning.
16. - If the red light is still on the printer, and Status Monitor indicates that an ink cartridge is not recognised.
17. If the problem remains, there may be a fault with the ink cartridge(s).

EXPLANATION:

If Status Monitor reports that an "Ink Cartridge Could Not Be Recognised", there may be a problem with the printer's cartridge recognition system or a problem with the cartridge itself. If your printer has a  Stop,  Maintenance, or  Ink button, the red or amber light will be illuminated.  For printers with an LCD panel, an error code or message is displayed on the screen.

This article explains the possible causes of this issue and how you can resolve it.

Note:
If the printer is not displaying an error light or LCD error message and only the green  On light is on, then the issue is likely to be with the software rather than with the printer. Move to Step 15 of the Solution.

SOLUTION:

Follow the steps below to troubleshoot the problem:

1. Determine which ink cartridges are not recognised. For printers with a LCD panel, this is indicated by the message or icon displayed. For printers with buttons and no LCD panel you can check this using Status Monitor.
   
   

   For help with checking Status Monitor, see one of the following Related Articles for help:

   • How to check Status Monitor in Mac OS X
   • How to check Status Monitor in Windows 2000, XP & Vista
   
   

   We recommend using Status Monitor to confirm the status of the ink cartridges because lights can indicate a variety of issues. For example an amber or red error light can also indicate an empty ink cartridge or paper feed error, or if the light is flashing it may indicate a low ink cartridge.

   If your printer has a Stop, Maintenance, or Ink button displaying a red or amber light, as an alternative you can check which cartridge the printer has found an error with by pressing that button. The button type that your printer has depends on the model. For further information, please refer to your product's user guide.

   
   

2. If the cartridges for your printer have an Intellidge Chip (IC) on them (a green chip with gold contacts), follow the instructions in the section below titled "Intellidge Chip ink cartridges" to remove the cartridge(s) for inspection.

   • If your printer uses cartridges which do not have a green chip, see the section below titled "Printers using non-Intellidge Chip ink cartridges" to view the alternative instructions. Examples include the following models: Stylus Scan 2000/2500, C20, C40, Stylus Color Series (not Color 680), and the following Stylus Photo models: Stylus Photo, Stylus Photo EX, Stylus Photo 1200, 700, and 750.

   Caution:
   Do not remove a cartridge which does not have a green IC chip. An example of a cartridge with an IC chip is provided below:

   
   

   Intellidge Chip ink cartridges

   With the ink cartridge holder in the ink cartridge replacement position, lift up the ink cartridge holder lid and remove the cartridge(s) you have identified. See the example below.

   

   
   

   Note:
   For printers with an off-carriage ink cartridge compartment, such as the Stylus Photo RX700, PX700W, and PX800FW, remove the cartridges(s) you have identified from the compartment which is located at the front of the printer.

   
   

   Caution:

   Do not move the carriage by hand as this may damage the printer. Be careful not to break the hooks on the side of the ink cartridge when you remove it. Do not touch the green IC chip on the side of the cartridge with your hands or fingers, as this can damage the ink cartridge and normal operation and printing may not be possible. For further guidance on handling and replacing ink cartridges, please refer to the Replacing Ink Cartridges > Precautions on Ink Cartridge Replacement section of your product's User's Guide/Online Guide.

   
   

   Printers using non-Intellidge Chip ink cartridges

   1. With the ink cartridge holder in the ink cartridge replacement position, lift the lids on the cartridges but do not take them out.
      • If the cartridge holder is not in the ink cartridge replacement position, press and hold the Maintenance/ ink cartridge replacement/ cleaning button (depending on your printer model) until the holder moves out.
      
      
   2. Check the yellow tag/flap has been removed from the top of the cartridges.
   3. Push down firmly on each cartridge to make sure it is clicked into place.
   4. Close the lids down gently but firmly so they click into place. Be careful not to touch the cartridge sensor.
   5. Press the Maintenance/ ink cartridge replacement/ cleaning button on the panel to move the carriage back to the right hand side and start the ink charging process.
      • This process takes about one and a half minutes to complete.
      • When ink charging is finished, the print head returns to its home position on the far right, under the plastic casing. The power light stops flashing and remains on, and the error light goes out.
   6. Move to step 14.
   
   

3. If the carriage is not in the ink cartridge replacement position and the red/amber ink light is on, always press the Stop/ Maintenance/ Ink/ ink cartridge replacement button (depending on your printer model) to move it. Do one of the following:

   • Press the button mentioned above (depending on your model) until the carriage is in the ink change position on the right.
   • Hold down the same button for three seconds to move it to the ink cartridge replacement position.
   • When the carriage moves out, remove the cartridge.
   
   

   Caution:

   Be careful when you handle used ink cartridges, as there may be some ink around the ink supply port. If ink gets on your skin, wash the area thoroughly with soap and water. If ink gets into your eyes, flush them immediately with water. If discomfort or vision problems continue after a thorough flushing, see a doctor immediately. For further guidance on handling and replacing ink cartridges, please refer to the Replacing Ink Cartridges > Precautions on Ink Cartridge Replacement section of your product's User's Guide/Online Guide.

   
   

4. Check that the cartridge is a genuine Epson ink cartridge. Look for the EPSON branding and T0xxx codes on the cartridge labels.
   • Non-genuine Epson ink cartridges are often the cause of cartridge recognition problems, in addition to contributing to print quality issues.
   • Epson do not support the use of non-genuine consumables and Epson cannot guarantee that they will be compatible with our products.
   • If you are using a non-genuine ink cartridge, we recommend that you replace it with a genuine Epson ink cartridge or continue to Step 5 to resume the checks.
   
   

5. Check that the cartridges are correct for your Epson product.
   
   
   • The T0xxx codes are printed on the labels on the top and the side of each genuine EPSON ink cartridge.
   • You can check the correct codes on the Epson Store website or in your printer's user guide (available from Online Support & Manuals on the Epson Support website).
   
   

6. Wipe the green Intellidge Chip on the cartridge that is not recognised.

   • While we generally recommend not touching the green Intellidge Chip on the cartridge, wiping it with a dry, lint-free cloth or dry paper kitchen roll may resolve the issue:

     • Take out the unrecognised ink cartridge.
     • Wipe the chip with a dry, lint-free cloth or dry paper kitchen roll.
     • Repeat this for any ink cartridge that was indicated as not recognised.
   
   
7. Check the chip contacts within the ink cartridge holder for any debris or dried ink and wipe with a lint-free cloth if necessary.
   
   

   The chip contacts in the ink cartridge holder (cartridges removed)

   

   
   
8. Check that the plastic at the bottom of the cartridge has been pierced. If it isn't pierced, reinstall the ink cartridge by following Step 9 and Step 10.

9. Check that the cartridges are in the correct slots. On many printers, the correct order is shown on the coloured label guide, located on the plastic above the ink cartridge replacement position. An example of this can be seen in Figure 3 above.
   
   

10. Reinstall the cartridges into the ink cartridge holder in the correct slots. When installing a new ink cartridge, the User's Guide recommends that for best results, to shake the new ink cartridge four or five times before opening the package. If this has not been done, shake the cartridge four or five times before reinserting the ink cartridge(s).
    
    

    Caution:

    The valve in the ink supply port is designed to contain any excess ink that may be released. However, careful handling is recommended. Do not touch the supply port of the ink cartridge or its surrounding area. Be careful when you handle used ink cartridges, as there may be some ink around the ink supply port. If ink gets on your skin, wash the area thoroughly with soap and water. If ink gets into your eyes, flush them immediately with water. If discomfort or vision problems continue after a thorough flushing, see a doctor immediately. For further guidance on handling and replacing ink cartridges, please refer to the Replacing Ink Cartridges > Precautions on Ink Cartridge Replacement section of your product's User's Guide/Online Guide.

    
    
11. Push each ink cartridge down firmly until it clicks into place.
    
    

    

    
    
12. Once you have installed the cartridges, push the ink cartridge holder lid down. It should clip into place and be secure.
    
    
13. Press the Stop/ Maintenance/ Ink/ ink cartridge replacement button. This will return the ink cartridge holder to the right hand side of the unit. If the cartridges are recognised, the printer will begin to charge the ink.

    

    
    

    Caution:
    The On light continues to flash while the printer is charging ink. Never turn off the printer while this light is flashing. Doing so can result in incomplete charging of ink.

    • This process takes about one and a half minutes to complete.
    • When ink charging is finished, the print head returns to its home position on the far right, under the plastic casing. The power light stops flashing and remains on, and the error light goes out.
    
    

14. If the error light flashes after the print head returns to the home position, the ink cartridge may not be installed properly.
    1. Press the Stop / Maintenance / Ink / ink cartridge replacement button until the ink cartridge holder is in the ink cartridge replacement position.
    2. Open the lid of the cartridge holder.
    3. Press down on the ink cartridge until it clicks into place.
       
       

       

       
       
    4. Push the ink cartridge holder lid down. It should clip into place.
    5. Press the Stop/ Maintenance/ Ink/ ink cartridge replacement button again.

       This will return the ink cartridge holder to the right hand side of the unit. If the cartridges are recognised, the printer will begin to charge the ink.

    
    

15. If the red light is no longer displayed, but Status Monitor still reports a Non-Genuine Ink warning when the cartridges are genuine, perform a full uninstall and reinstall of the printer driver, using the latest driver from the Drivers & Software section of the Epson Support website.
    
    

    For help with this step, see one of the following Related Articles:

    • Mac OS X: See How to uninstall a printer driver from Mac OS X
    • Windows 98SE and ME: See How to fully uninstall a USB printer on Windows 98 and ME
    • Windows 2000 and XP: See How to fully uninstall an All-In-One from Windows 2000 / XP
    • Windows Vista: See How to fully uninstall a USB All-In-One from Windows Vista
    
    

16. If the red light is still on the printer, and Status Monitor indicates that an ink cartridge is not recognised, follow the steps below:
    1. Power the printer OFF.
    2. Disconnect the power lead for 60 seconds.
    3. Reconnect the power lead. Do not power the printer on yet.
    4. Perform a printer operation check.
       • For help with performing a printer operation check, refer to your printer's user guide (available from Online Support & Manuals on the Epson Support website) or the following Related Article: How to perform a Printer Operation Check (Self Test)

    
    
    

17. If the problem remains, there may be a fault with the ink cartridge(s).
    • To diagnose the issue further, replace an unrecognised cartridge with a new genuine Epson ink cartridge. If there is more than one unrecognised cartridge, replace them one at a time.
    • Once a cartridge has been replaced, the printer will either work without issue or show the same error. If there is more than one unrecognised cartridge, repeat Step 1 to check whether or not the replacement is now working.
    • If the printer now works correctly this confirms the issue lay with the previous ink cartridge(s).
    • If the printer does not recognise replacement cartridges i.e. the red ink light remains illuminated and/or Status Monitor reports an error, this indicates the issue is with the printer. Contact Epson for further advice.

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