Question 1

my printer says 'incorrect cartridge' for a brand new epson ink i just put in, it's definitely the right model.

Accepted Answer

DIAGNOSIS: The printer isn't recognizing the chip on the new cartridge. This is usually caused by a poor electrical connection or a protective tab you missed. FIX: Reseat the cartridge and clean the contacts. Open the ink cover, remove the cartridge, and check that the orange protective tape is fully removed (peel from the bottom). Use a dry cotton swab to gently wipe the gold chip on the cartridge and the corresponding contacts inside the printer. Reinsert firmly until it clicks. IF THAT DIDN'T WORK: The cartridge chip might be faulty or the printer's cartridge detection system needs a reset. Turn the printer off, unplug it for 2 minutes, then plug it back in and turn it on. If it still fails, try another cartridge—even from the same pack. HEADS UP: Using non-Epson or heavily discounted 'compatible' cartridges can trigger this error more frequently. The WF-2960 is particularly sensitive to chip communication. Genuine Epson cartridges are the most reliable fix.

Question 2

the power light on my epson workforce just blinks nonstop and nothing happens when i press any buttons.

Accepted Answer

DIAGNOSIS: A continuous blinking power light indicates a fatal hardware error, often related to the print head, carriage, or main board. FIX: Perform a hard reset. Unplug the power cord from the wall and from the back of the printer. Wait 60 seconds. While unplugged, press and hold the power button on the printer for 30 seconds. Plug everything back in and turn it on. IF THAT DIDN'T WORK: The error is likely mechanical. Check for a severe paper jam you may have missed, especially under the print head carriage. Gently move the carriage by hand (with power off) to ensure it's not stuck. If it's stuck, clear any obstruction. HEADS UP: If the hard reset doesn't stop the blinking, the printer has detected an internal failure it cannot recover from. The next step is a service center; continuous blinking is Epson's code for a major fault.

Question 3

can't get my computer to see the epson printer over the network for scanning, even though printing works fine.

Accepted Answer

DIAGNOSIS: Network scanning requires the Epson Scan 2 or Epson Event Manager software to be installed on your computer, and firewall permissions are often blocking it. FIX: First, install the full Epson software suite from the Epson website, not just the basic driver. During installation, ensure you select 'Network Connection' and install both the 'Epson Scan 2' and 'Epson Event Manager' components. Reboot your computer after installation. IF THAT DIDN'T WORK: Your computer's firewall is blocking the discovery protocol. On Windows, go to Windows Defender Firewall > Allow an app through firewall. Ensure 'Epson Network Setup' and 'Epson Event Manager' are allowed on Private and Public networks. HEADS UP: The WF-2960 uses a proprietary protocol for network scan discovery. It will not appear as a generic network scanner in Windows without the Epson software. Also, ensure the printer and computer are on the same subnet (same router).

Question 4

my wf-2960 is making a loud grinding noise when it prints, sounds like it's coming from the right side.

Accepted Answer

DIAGNOSIS: That's a worn or obstructed paper feed roller gear or a foreign object in the paper path. The right side houses the main paper feed mechanism. FIX: Inspect and clean the paper feed rollers. Power off the printer. Open the rear cover and the document feeder tray. Look for torn paper bits, paper clips, or staples. Use a flashlight to check. Manually rotate the rollers to feel for grit. Clean the rollers with a damp lint-free cloth. IF THAT DIDN'T WORK: The gear assembly itself may be worn. Try switching to a different paper type setting (e.g., from Plain Paper to Thick Paper) which changes the feed pressure. If the noise persists, the mechanism is likely failing and needs professional service. HEADS UP: Continuing to use it with this noise can cause a catastrophic paper jam or strip the gears. Stop using it if the grinding is metallic or severe until you've cleared the obstruction.

Question 5

the scanner glass on my epson all-in-one looks clean but every scan has faint smudges in the same spots.

Accepted Answer

DIAGNOSIS: You have dust or smudges on the underside of the scanner lid (the white backing plate), not the glass. The scanner reads through the glass and reflects off that backing surface. FIX: Clean the underside of the scanner lid. Open the lid. You'll see a white plastic sheet. Dampen a microfiber cloth with water or mild glass cleaner, wring it out completely, and gently wipe that entire white surface. Let it dry fully before closing the lid. IF THAT DIDN'T WORK: There could be debris on the scanner carriage strip (a thin, clear strip) along the inside edge of the glass. With the power off, use a dry cotton swab to very lightly wipe it. HEADS UP: Never spray liquid directly onto the glass or lid; it can seep into the edges and damage the internal mechanism. Always apply cleaner to the cloth first.

Question 6

my workforce 2960 won't connect to wifi anymore after a router change. it was working fine before.

Accepted Answer

DIAGNOSIS: The printer's stored network profile is for the old router's SSID or security settings. It can't negotiate with the new network. FIX: Re-run the wireless setup wizard from the printer's panel. Press the Home button, navigate to Setup > Wireless LAN Settings > Wireless LAN Setup. Let it search, select your new network name, and enter the new password. The connection light should go solid blue. IF THAT DIDN'T WORK: Your new router might be using a band (like 5GHz-only) or security protocol (WPA3) the printer doesn't support. Temporarily set your router's 2.4GHz band to WPA2/WPA3 mixed mode or WPA2, connect the printer to that, then try. HEADS UP: The WF-2960 does not support WPA3-only or 5GHz-only networks. It must connect to a 2.4GHz band. Also, ensure you're not using special characters in your Wi-Fi password during setup.

Question 7

why is my epson wf-2960 printing everything with faint streaks or missing lines? just cleaned the nozzles and it didn't help.

Accepted Answer

DIAGNOSIS: Your print head is clogged, but a standard cleaning won't fix it because the clog is severe or the ink in the head has dried out. FIX: Run a Power Cleaning cycle. On the printer's control panel, go to Setup > Maintenance > Print Head Cleaning > Deep Cleaning. This uses more ink and takes a few minutes. After it finishes, print a nozzle check pattern (also under Maintenance) to verify. IF THAT DIDN'T WORK: The ink may have sat too long. Manually rehydrate the print head. Soak a lint-free cloth in warm distilled water, place it in the tray under the parked print head (accessed by turning off the printer and opening the front cover), and let it sit for an hour. Then run another Deep Cleaning. HEADS UP: Repeated deep cleanings will rapidly deplete your ink cartridges. If three cycles don't work, the print head itself may need replacement—evaluate if it's cheaper to service or replace the printer.

Question 8

my wf-2960 says 'paper jam' but i've looked everywhere and there's no paper stuck, what's going on?

Accepted Answer

DIAGNOSIS: You're getting a false jam alert. This is almost always a tiny piece of torn paper or a paper dust sensor trigger in the rear paper feed area, which is a blind spot. FIX: Clear the rear feed path. Power off and unplug the printer. Open the rear cover (the flimsy plastic door at the back). Shine a flashlight inside and use tweezers to gently pull out any debris or a paper sliver you see. Manually rotate the white rollers with your fingers to check for anything wrapped around them. Close the cover, plug in, and power on. IF THAT DIDN'T WORK: The error might be a faulty sensor. Perform a full reset: with the printer on, hold the Stop (red X) button for 10 seconds until all the lights flash once. This clears the error memory. HEADS UP: Never yank jammed paper backwards; always follow the arrow direction printed inside the guides to avoid tearing and leaving the fragment that causes this.

Epson Workforce WF-2960 All-in-One Printer

Other Printers