Epson Expression Premium XP-970: Setup, Drivers, Ink and Common Problems

Is the Epson Expression Premium XP-970 right for you?

The XP-970 is the 2019 successor to the XP-900 and the only Expression Premium that prints up to 11x17 or A3 while scanning at letter size. It appeals to hobbyists making occasional enlargements or scrapbook pages and to small offices needing tabloid spreadsheets now and then. Five small cartridges make large prints costly, and the rear feed needs careful loading. It was one of the last Expression Premiums before Epson shifted its photo focus to EcoTank.

Best for: Hobbyists wanting occasional A3 photos without a wide-format printer

Setting up the Epson Expression Premium XP-970

Smart Panel onboards it on 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi, or use Ethernet. Install Epson Print Layout and the driver from epson.com/support, then define A3 or 11x17 as a custom size for the rear feed. Use 312XL black for documents to stretch the cartridge budget.

1. Unbox and prepare. Remove every piece of shipping tape and packing material, install the ink cartridges, 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 Expression Premium XP-970 uses the following consumables. Match the number exactly when you buy: the same printer family often uses several different cartridge numbers by region.

• Epson 312 / 312XL (US)
• Epson 33 / 33XL (UK/EU)

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