Epson SureColor P800: Setup, Drivers, Ink and Common Problems

Is the Epson SureColor P800 right for you?

The SureColor P800 was the 17-inch desktop fine-art printer of choice from 2015 to 2020, with 80 ml cartridges that make it far cheaper per print than A3+ models. It produces gallery-quality output and many photographers still run one. Its weaknesses are the ink-wasting photo/matte black switch, occasional roll-feed skew and the need to keep the head in use to prevent clogs.

Best for: Photographers printing 17-inch fine-art work economically

Setting up the Epson SureColor P800

Connect Ethernet or Wi-Fi from the touchscreen and install the driver and Epson Print Layout from epson.com/support. Use Epson or paper-maker ICC profiles. Feed thick art paper through the front path and keep the maintenance tank monitored.

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 SureColor P800 uses the following consumables. Match the number exactly when you buy: the same printer family often uses several different cartridge numbers by region.

• Epson T850 UltraChrome HD 80 ml cartridges (9 colours)
• Epson T5820 maintenance tank

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