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PrintDiag

Epson supply replacement

How to change ink in an Epson printer

An EcoTank is refilled from bottles up to the tank's upper line, a cartridge model has the cartridge swapped with the printer switched on, and when the maintenance box fills, Epson blocks printing until it is replaced.

Hazard: Epson warns: if ink gets into your eyes, flush them immediately with water; if ink gets into your mouth, spit it out and see a doctor right away. Keep ink and maintenance boxes out of the reach of children and do not drink the ink.

What you need

  • The exact Epson model number
  • Whether the model uses refillable ink tanks or ink cartridges
  • The bottle, cartridge, or maintenance box part number Epson lists for that model

EcoTank ink bottles

EcoTank models refilled from bottles, such as the ET-2980 (502) and ET-2800 (522)

Caution: Epson recommends wearing disposable gloves while refilling to avoid staining your hands, and warns that ink on clothes or belongings may not come off. Do not shake or squeeze the bottle, and do not touch the top of the bottle once the cap is removed.

  1. 1

    Start the guided fill from the printer

    Turn the printer on and select Maintenance, then Fill Ink. Read the on-screen safety and usage precautions and confirm when done.

    Source: Epson Support — Refilling the Ink Tanks (ET-2980 Series User's Guide)
  2. 2

    Open the correct tank

    Open the ink tank cover, then the cap of the tank you are filling. Check the colour of the tank matches the ink you intend to add — Epson keys the bottles per colour and says not to force them into position.

    Source: Epson Support — Refilling the Ink Tanks (ET-2980 Series User's Guide)
  3. 3

    Open the bottle upright

    Hold the ink bottle upright and slowly turn the bottle cap to remove it. Check the upper line inside the tank before you begin.

    Source: Epson Support — Refilling the Ink Tanks (ET-2980 Series User's Guide)
  4. 4

    Insert the bottle and let it stop on its own

    Position the top of the bottle over the filling port and insert it straight down. Ink flows in and stops automatically at the upper line. Do not squeeze the bottle. Once ink reaches the upper line, do not remove and reinsert the bottle or ink may leak.

    Source: Epson Support — Refilling the Ink Tanks (ET-2980 Series User's Guide)
  5. 5

    Close up and store any remaining ink upright

    Remove the bottle, close its cap securely, and close the tank cap and cover. Epson warns not to leave the bottle inserted, and to store a part-used bottle upright.

    Source: Epson Support — Refilling the Ink Tanks (ET-2980 Series User's Guide)
  6. 6

    Reset the ink levels

    Press the start button and follow the on-screen instructions to reset the ink level for each colour you refilled. Epson notes that running below the lower line can damage the product.

    Source: Epson Support — Refilling the Ink Tanks (ET-2980 Series User's Guide)

Ink cartridges

Cartridge-based Epson inkjets such as the WF-2930 and XP-4200 series

Caution: Epson: do not shake cartridges after opening the packages, or ink may leak; do not touch the green IC chip on the side of the cartridge; and do not replace cartridges with the power off. A removed low or expended cartridge cannot be reinstalled and used.

  1. 1

    Start the replacement from the printer, powered on

    With the printer on, select Maintenance then Ink Cartridge Replacement, or choose Replace now if the display already reports an expended cartridge. Epson says to leave old cartridges in place until you are ready, so the print head nozzles do not dry out.

    Source: Epson Support — Removing and Installing Ink Cartridges (WF-2930 User's Guide)
  2. 2

    Open the scanner unit and remove the cartridge

    Lift the scanner unit until it locks into place. Squeeze the tab on the cartridge and lift it straight up to remove it.

    Source: Epson Support — Removing and Installing Ink Cartridges (WF-2930 User's Guide)
  3. 3

    Prepare the new cartridge for its colour

    Gently shake only the new black cartridge four or five times before opening it. Do not shake the colour cartridges. Then remove the cartridge from its package.

    Source: Epson Support — Removing and Installing Ink Cartridges (WF-2930 User's Guide)
  4. 4

    Remove only the yellow tape

    Remove the yellow tape from the cartridge. Do not remove the transparent seal on the bottom or any other label — Epson warns this can make the cartridge leak or become unusable.

    Source: Epson Support — Removing and Installing Ink Cartridges (WF-2930 User's Guide)
  5. 5

    Seat the cartridge and close the unit

    Insert the cartridge into its holder and push down until it clicks into place. Lift the scanner unit slightly, lower it until it catches, then lift and lower it completely.

    Source: Epson Support — Removing and Installing Ink Cartridges (WF-2930 User's Guide)
  6. 6

    Let the ink charge finish

    Press the start button. The print head moves home and the printer charges the ink, which takes a few minutes. Do not turn the printer off during charging.

    Source: Epson Support — Removing and Installing Ink Cartridges (WF-2930 User's Guide)

Maintenance box

Both EcoTank and cartridge Epson models — for example T04D100 on the ET-2980 and C9344 on the WF-2930

Caution: Epson: “You cannot print or clean the print head while the maintenance box is full, but you can perform tasks that do not require ink, such as scanning.” Epson also states the maintenance box is a user-replaceable part that is not covered by the product warranty.

  1. 1

    Wait until the printer is idle

    Make sure the product is not printing. Epson warns not to replace the maintenance box during printing, otherwise ink may leak.

    Source: Epson Support — Replacing the Maintenance Box (ET-2980 Series User's Guide)
  2. 2

    Unpack the new box

    Remove the new maintenance box from its package. A plastic bag for the used box is supplied with it.

    Source: Epson Support — Replacing the Maintenance Box (ET-2980 Series User's Guide)
  3. 3

    Open the cover

    Use a flat-head screwdriver to loosen the screw on the maintenance box cover, then remove the cover.

    Source: Epson Support — Replacing the Maintenance Box (ET-2980 Series User's Guide)
  4. 4

    Remove and bag the used box

    Grasp the used box and pull it straight out of its holder. Do not tilt it until it is sealed in the supplied plastic bag, and do not touch the openings or the green chip.

    Source: Epson Support — Replacing the Maintenance Box (ET-2980 Series User's Guide)
  5. 5

    Fit the new box and refit the cover

    Insert the new maintenance box into the holder in the correct direction and push it all the way in. Refit the cover and tighten the screw. If the cover will not refit, the box is probably not seated correctly.

    Source: Epson Support — Replacing the Maintenance Box (ET-2980 Series User's Guide)
  6. 6

    Confirm on the display

    Check the message on the screen and confirm, following any on-screen instructions, so the printer registers the new box.

    Source: Epson Support — Replacing the Maintenance Box (ET-2980 Series User's Guide)

How to confirm it worked

The printer reports no ink or maintenance-box message, finishes ink charging or level reset, and prints one test page with all expected colours.

Verified Epson supplies by model

Part numbers checked against Epson’s own U.S. documentation. Buy against the number listed for your exact model — supplies that look alike are often not compatible.

  • EcoTank ET-15000
    • 502120 — Ink cartridge black
    • 502220 — Ink cartridge cyan
    • 502320 — Ink cartridge magenta
    • 502420 — Ink cartridge yellow
    • T04D100 — Maintenance box
  • EcoTank ET-2400
    • 522120 — Ink cartridge black
    • 522220 — Ink cartridge cyan
    • 522320 — Ink cartridge magenta
    • 522420 — Ink cartridge yellow
  • EcoTank ET-2800
    • 522120 — Ink cartridge black
    • 522220 — Ink cartridge cyan
    • 522320 — Ink cartridge magenta
    • 522420 — Ink cartridge yellow
  • EcoTank ET-2850
    • 502120 — Ink cartridge black
    • 502220 — Ink cartridge cyan
    • 502320 — Ink cartridge magenta
    • 502420 — Ink cartridge yellow
  • EcoTank ET-2980
    • 502120 — Ink cartridge black
    • 502220 — Ink cartridge cyan
    • 502320 — Ink cartridge magenta
    • 502420 — Ink cartridge yellow
    • T04D100 — Maintenance box
  • EcoTank ET-3830
    • 502120 — Ink cartridge black
    • 502220 — Ink cartridge cyan
    • 502320 — Ink cartridge magenta
    • 502420 — Ink cartridge yellow
  • EcoTank ET-3850
    • 502120 — Ink cartridge black
    • 502220 — Ink cartridge cyan
    • 502320 — Ink cartridge magenta
    • 502420 — Ink cartridge yellow
  • EcoTank ET-4760
    • 502120 — Ink cartridge black
    • 502220 — Ink cartridge cyan
    • 502320 — Ink cartridge magenta
    • 502420 — Ink cartridge yellow
    • T04D100 — Maintenance box
  • EcoTank ET-4800
    • 522120 — Ink cartridge black
    • 522220 — Ink cartridge cyan
    • 522320 — Ink cartridge magenta
    • 522420 — Ink cartridge yellow
  • EcoTank ET-4850
    • 502120 — Ink cartridge black
    • 502220 — Ink cartridge cyan
    • 502320 — Ink cartridge magenta
    • 502420 — Ink cartridge yellow
  • EcoTank Photo ET-8550
    • 552020 — Ink cartridge black
    • 552120 — Ink cartridge photo_black
    • 552220 — Ink cartridge cyan
    • 552320 — Ink cartridge magenta
    • 552420 — Ink cartridge yellow
    • 552520 — Ink cartridge gray
    • C9345 — Maintenance box
  • EcoTank Pro ET-5800
    • 542120 — Ink cartridge black
    • 542220 — Ink cartridge cyan
    • 542320 — Ink cartridge magenta
    • 542420 — Ink cartridge yellow
    • C12C934591 — Maintenance box
  • Expression Home XP-4200
    • 232120 — Ink cartridge black
    • 232220 — Ink cartridge cyan
    • 232320 — Ink cartridge magenta
    • 232420 — Ink cartridge yellow
    • 232XL120 — Ink cartridge black (high yield)
    • C9344 — Maintenance box
  • Expression Premium XP-6100
    • T302020-S — Ink cartridge black
    • T302120-S — Ink cartridge photo_black
    • T302220-S — Ink cartridge cyan
    • T302320-S — Ink cartridge magenta
    • T302420-S — Ink cartridge yellow
    • T302XL020-S — Ink cartridge black (high yield)
    • T302XL120-S — Ink cartridge photo_black (high yield)
    • T302XL220-S — Ink cartridge cyan (high yield)
    • T302XL320-S — Ink cartridge magenta (high yield)
    • T302XL420-S — Ink cartridge yellow (high yield)
  • Expression Premium XP-7100
    • T410020-S — Ink cartridge black
    • T410120-S — Ink cartridge photo_black
    • T410220-S — Ink cartridge cyan
    • T410320-S — Ink cartridge magenta
    • T410420-S — Ink cartridge yellow
    • T410XL020-S — Ink cartridge black (high yield)
    • T410XL120-S — Ink cartridge photo_black (high yield)
    • T410XL220-S — Ink cartridge cyan (high yield)
    • T410XL320-S — Ink cartridge magenta (high yield)
    • T410XL420-S — Ink cartridge yellow (high yield)
  • WorkForce Pro WF-3820
    • 924120 — Ink cartridge black
    • 924220 — Ink cartridge cyan
    • 924320 — Ink cartridge magenta
    • 924420 — Ink cartridge yellow
    • 924XL120 — Ink cartridge black (high yield)
    • 924XL220 — Ink cartridge cyan (high yield)
    • 924XL320 — Ink cartridge magenta (high yield)
    • 924XL420 — Ink cartridge yellow (high yield)
    • T6715 — Maintenance box
  • WorkForce Pro WF-7840
    • 812120 — Ink cartridge black
    • 812220 — Ink cartridge cyan
    • 812320 — Ink cartridge magenta
    • 812420 — Ink cartridge yellow
    • 812XL120 — Ink cartridge black (high yield)
    • 812XL220 — Ink cartridge cyan (high yield)
    • 812XL320 — Ink cartridge magenta (high yield)
    • 812XL420 — Ink cartridge yellow (high yield)
    • 812XXL120 — Ink cartridge black (high yield)
    • C12C934591 — Maintenance box
  • WorkForce WF-2830
    • T212120-S — Ink cartridge black
    • T212220-S — Ink cartridge cyan
    • T212320-S — Ink cartridge magenta
    • T212420-S — Ink cartridge yellow
    • T212XL120-S — Ink cartridge black (high yield)
    • T212XL220-S — Ink cartridge cyan (high yield)
    • T212XL320-S — Ink cartridge magenta (high yield)
    • T212XL420-S — Ink cartridge yellow (high yield)
  • WorkForce WF-2960
    • 222120 — Ink cartridge black
    • 222220 — Ink cartridge cyan
    • 222320 — Ink cartridge magenta
    • 222420 — Ink cartridge yellow
    • 222XL120 — Ink cartridge black (high yield)
    • T04D1 — Maintenance box

If it did not work

General ink and toner replacementThe brand-independent version of this procedure.Check compatible suppliesUse verified model-to-part matches before buying.New supply is not recognizedDiagnose an installation or compatibility error.Blank pages after replacementCheck seals, seating, and ink delivery.

Documented from official U.S. manufacturer support. Last verified 2026-08-13.

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