Epson W-12: ink cartridge not installed correctly

What causes it

• A cartridge pushed in but not clicked down under its latch
• Protective tape or the plastic clip left on a new cartridge
• Ink or dust on the cartridge chip or the carriage contacts
• A compatible or refilled cartridge whose chip the firmware no longer accepts
• A cartridge fitted in the wrong slot

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. Open the printer and let the carriage move out

   With the printer on, open the front cover or lift the scanner section. The carriage should travel to the cartridge replacement position on its own. If it does not move, press the ink button, usually marked with a droplet, and the carriage will step out to the change position.

2. Identify which cartridge is flagged

   On models with a two-line display the code is often followed by a colour indicator, and on models with lights the flashing droplet shows the affected slot. If you cannot tell, treat all of them as suspect and work through them in order rather than guessing.

3. Remove, inspect and reseat each cartridge

   Squeeze the tab on the cartridge and lift it out. Check for a yellow or clear tape strip still covering the vent on the top, and remove it if present, but never peel the label covering the chip. Push the cartridge back into its slot and press down on the top until you hear a clear click.

4. Clean the chip and the carriage contacts

   Wipe the small chip on the cartridge with a dry lint-free cloth. Then look into the empty slot and wipe the row of metal contacts inside the carriage with a dry cloth or a clean cotton bud. Do not use water or alcohol, and make sure no fibres are left behind on the contacts.

5. Check the colours are in the right slots

   Epson slots are colour-coded and labelled on the carriage. It is surprisingly easy to swap light cyan and cyan on photo models, or to put yellow where magenta belongs on a four-colour machine. Match each cartridge label to the slot marking before you close the cover.

6. Swap in a genuine cartridge for the flagged colour

   If the flagged cartridge is compatible or refilled, fit a genuine Epson one for that colour and see whether the warning clears. Firmware updates change chip validation regularly, so a compatible cartridge that worked before an update can start being rejected without anything else changing.

7. Power cycle and let the printer recheck

   Close the cover and turn the printer off and on with the power button. The detection routine runs at power-on, so a restart is what forces a full recheck of every slot. Print a nozzle check afterwards to confirm all colours are being fed.

Printers that show this code

Frequently asked questions