Epson EcoTank ET-4950: Setup, Drivers, Ink and Common Problems

Is the Epson EcoTank ET-4950 right for you?

The EcoTank ET-4950 is the flagship home-office model of Epson's seventh-generation EcoTank range, launched in the US in July 2025 and in Europe that September. It replaces the ET-4850 and keeps the full office kit: print, scan, copy and fax, an automatic document feeder, automatic two-sided printing and a touchscreen. Ink comes from bottles poured into front tanks, which keeps the cost per page far below cartridge printers. Europe and the UK sell the same printer as the ET-4956, and it already ranks among Amazon's best-sellers in the UK and Germany. It suits landlords, freelancers and small offices that scan multi-page paperwork and still send the occasional fax.

Best for: Home offices that scan multi-page documents and still need fax

Setting up the Epson EcoTank ET-4950

Fill the tanks and let the initial charge complete before starting network setup. Use the touchscreen or Epson Smart Panel to join Wi-Fi, then install the full driver package from epson.com/support on each computer so feeder scanning through Epson ScanSmart works. To use fax, plug the phone line into the LINE port, run the fax setup wizard on the touchscreen and set the header and receive mode. Check the bottle numbers on the box before ordering refills rather than assuming the ET-4850's bottles carry over.

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-4950 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)
• User-replaceable maintenance box, if fitted (check the manual)

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