Epson WorkForce WF-2850: Setup, Drivers, Ink and Common Problems

Is the Epson WorkForce WF-2850 right for you?

The WF-2850 was the under-100-dollar WorkForce of 2019-2022 with an ADF, fax, auto duplex and a colour LCD, built on the XP-4100 engine with 212 cartridges. It is the printer many small home businesses picked up during the pandemic. It prints slowly, the cartridges are small, and the rear paper feed sits under the ADF, which makes jams fiddly. Cartridge recognition problems with third-party ink follow firmware updates.

Best for: Budget home businesses needing fax, ADF and duplex

Setting up the Epson WorkForce WF-2850

Use the LCD wizard or Smart Panel on 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi; the printer cannot see 5 GHz-only networks. Install the driver from epson.com/support, enable duplex, and set up the fax header from the panel. Remove all packing tape from the ADF before the first scan.

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 WorkForce WF-2850 uses the following consumables. Match the number exactly when you buy: the same printer family often uses several different cartridge numbers by region.

• Epson 212 / 212XL (US)
• Epson 603 / 603XL (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