ET-18100 Series L18050 Series

User's Guide

> Solving Problems > The Printer Cannot Connect to the Network > Main causes and solutions for network connection problems

Main causes and solutions for network connection problems

Check the following to see if there is a problem with the operation or settings for the connected device.

Check the cause of the printer network connection failure.

Solutions

Print out the network connection check report to see the issue and check the recommended solution.

See the following related information for details on reading the network connection check report.

Note:

If you want to check more information on the network settings, print a network status sheet.

Use the Epson Printer Connection Checker to improve the connection to the computer. (Windows)

Solutions

You may be able to solve the problem depending on the results of the check.

  1. Double-click the Epson Printer Connection Checker icon on the desktop.

    Epson Printer Connection Checker starts.

    If there is no icon on the desktop, follow the methods below to start Epson Printer Connection Checker.

    • Windows 11
      Click the start button, and then select All apps > Epson Software > Epson Printer Connection Checker.
    • Windows 10
      Click the start button, and then select Epson Software > Epson Printer Connection Checker.
    • Windows 8.1/Windows 8
      Enter the application name in the search charm, and then select the displayed icon.
    • Windows 7
      Click the start button, and then select All Programs > Epson Software > Epson Printer Connection Checker.

  2. Follow the on-screen instructions to check.

    Note:

    If the printer name is not displayed, install a genuine Epson printer driver.

    Checking if a genuine Epson printer driver is installed - Windows

When you have identified the problem, follow the solution displayed on the screen.

When you cannot solve the problem, check the following according to your situation.

Something is wrong with the network devices for Wi-Fi connection.

Solutions

Turn off the devices you want to connect to the network. Wait for about 10 seconds, and then turn on the devices in the following order; wireless router, computer or smart device, and then printer. Move the printer and computer or smart device closer to the wireless router to help with radio wave communication, and then try to make network settings again.

Devices cannot receive signals from the wireless router because they are too far apart.

Solutions

After moving the computer or the smart device and the printer closer to the wireless router, turn off the wireless router, and then turn it back on.

When changing the wireless router, the settings do not match the new router.

Solutions

Make the connection settings again so that they match the new wireless router.

The SSIDs connected from the computer or smart device and computer are different.

Solutions

When you are using multiple wireless routers at the same time or the wireless router has multiple SSIDs and devices are connected to different SSIDs, you cannot connect to the wireless router.

  • Example of connecting to different SSIDs

  • Example of connecting to SSIDs with a different frequency range

Connect the computer or smart device to the same SSID as the printer.

  • Check the SSID that the printer is connected to by printing out the network connection check report.

  • On all of the computers and smart devices you want to connect to the printer, check the name of the Wi-Fi or network you are connected to.

  • If the printer and your computer or smart device are connected to different networks, reconnect the device to the SSID that the printer is connected to.

A privacy separator on the wireless router is available.

Solutions

Most wireless routers have a separator function that blocks communication between devices within the same SSID. If you cannot communicate between the printer and the computer or smart device even if they are connected to the same network, disable the separator function on the wireless router. See the manual provided with the wireless router for details.

The IP address is incorrectly assigned.

Solutions

If the IP address assigned to the printer is 169.254.XXX.XXX, and the subnet mask is 255.255.0.0, the IP address may not be assigned correctly.

Print the network connection report, and then check the IP address and the subnet mask assigned to the printer. To print the network connection report, press the button on the printer's control panel.

Restart the wireless router or reset the network settings for the printer.

The device connected to the USB 3.0 port causes radio frequency interference.

Solutions

When you connect a device to the USB 3.0 port on a Mac, radio frequency interference may occur. Try the following if you cannot connect to wireless LAN (Wi-Fi) or if operations become unstable.

  • Place the device that is connected to the USB 3.0 port further away from the computer.

There is a problem with the network settings on the computer or smart device.

Solutions

Try accessing any website from your computer or smart device to make sure that your device's network settings are correct. If you cannot access any websites, there is a problem on the computer or smart device.

Check the network connection for the computer or smart device. See the documentation provided with the computer or smart device for details.