Epson I-10: paper cassette not inserted or empty

What causes it

• The paper cassette left partly out after refilling
• The cassette empty, or the last few sheets sitting below the pickup roller
• The paper size and type settings not confirmed after a reload
• The cassette inserted at an angle so the presence switch does not close
• Paper loaded in the rear feeder while the job was set to use the cassette

How to fix it, in order

Work down the list and stop when the printer recovers. The steps are ordered from most likely and least invasive to last resort.

1. Pull the cassette right out and check the contents

   Slide the cassette out completely rather than nudging it. Look at how much paper is in it and whether the stack is sitting flat under the retaining tabs at the front. A stack that has slipped over the tabs, or one that is down to five or six sheets, gives this code even though there is technically paper present.

2. Load the paper squarely

   Tap the stack square on a desk, fan one edge, and lay it in with the print side down on most Epson cassettes. Slide the side guides in until they touch without pinching, and set the front guide to the paper length. The stack must sit under the small plastic tabs at the front edge, not on top of them.

3. Push the cassette fully home

   Push the cassette in level, with even pressure on both sides, until it stops with a solid feel. If one corner goes in first the presence switch at the back may not close. On some models there is an audible click, on others just a firm stop; either way it should sit flush with the printer's front panel.

4. Confirm the paper size and type on the panel

   The printer normally shows a paper setup prompt as soon as the cassette goes back in. Use the arrows to select the size, usually A4, and the type, usually Plain Paper, and press OK to confirm. If you dismiss that prompt without confirming, the printer keeps waiting and the code stays on screen.

5. Check whether the job wanted the rear feeder

   If your model has both a cassette and a rear slot, look at what the print job specified. A job set for the rear feeder will ask for paper there and ignore a full cassette. Either feed a sheet into the rear slot or change the paper source in the print dialog before resending.

6. Look for an obstruction under the cassette

   With the cassette out, shine a torch into the empty bay. A sheet that fell out of the stack and folded under the cassette can hold the presence switch in the wrong state. Remove anything you find, then refit the cassette.

7. Restart if the code persists with paper loaded

   Power the printer off, wait 30 seconds and switch it on. That forces a fresh read of the cassette switch. If the code returns immediately with a full, correctly seated cassette, the switch or its actuator is faulty rather than the paper being the problem.

Frequently asked questions