Epson EcoTank ET-3950: Setup, Drivers, Ink and Common Problems

Is the Epson EcoTank ET-3950 right for you?

The EcoTank ET-3950 is the mid-range model of Epson's seventh-generation EcoTank range, launched in the US in July 2025 and in Europe that September as the ET-3956. It replaces the ET-3850 and is the cheapest route into an EcoTank with both an automatic document feeder and two-sided printing and scanning, without paying for the fax on the ET-4950. Epson quotes 18 ppm black and 9 ppm color, noticeably quicker than the entry ET-2900. It suits home offices, students and families who scan stacks of forms or receipts and print more than a few pages at a time. Like every EcoTank, it only earns back its higher price if you print regularly.

Best for: Home offices that want an ADF and duplex scanning without paying for fax

Setting up the Epson EcoTank ET-3950

Fill the tanks with the keyed bottles and let the initial ink charge run to completion before connecting. Join Wi-Fi from the control panel or Epson Smart Panel, and accept any firmware update it offers. Install Epson's full software package from epson.com/support so two-sided scanning from the feeder works in Epson ScanSmart. If the printer sits unused for weeks, run a nozzle check before a big print job. Check the bottle numbers on the box before ordering refills rather than reusing ET-3850 part numbers.

1. Unbox and prepare. Remove every piece of shipping tape and packing material, install the ink bottles (fill each tank to the upper line), and load paper in the tray.
2. Join your Wi-Fi. Keep the printer close to the router for setup. Most printers only connect to the 2.4GHz band, so if your router broadcasts one merged network name you may need to split the bands temporarily. See our Wi-Fi guide if it will not join.
3. Install the setup app. Use Epson's official app rather than a driver you found on a search result — third-party driver sites are the most common source of printer malware.
4. Add the printer. On Windows 11: Settings › Bluetooth & devices › Printers & scanners › Add device. On macOS: System Settings › Printers & Scanners › Add Printer.
5. Print a test page and run a scan if this is an all-in-one, so you find any problem now rather than when you are in a hurry.

Ink, toner and supplies

The Epson EcoTank ET-3950 uses the following consumables. Match the number exactly when you buy: the same printer family often uses several different cartridge numbers by region.

• Epson EcoTank ink bottles in black, cyan, magenta and yellow (confirm the bottle number on the box before ordering)

High-yield (XL) versions almost always cost less per page if you print regularly. On third-party ink and toner, read our honest assessment first, and note that some manufacturers push firmware that rejects non-original chips.

Full specifications