Epson Printer Error Code 0xE3 — What It Means & How to Fix It

What Does This Error Mean?

Epson error code 0xE3 means the printer has run out of paper or cannot detect paper in the input tray. The printer stops and waits for you to load paper before it continues. In some cases, 0xE3 appears even when paper is loaded — this can mean the paper sensor is dirty, the paper is not loaded correctly, or the paper guides are set incorrectly. Loading paper correctly and pressing Resume usually clears this error immediately.

Affected Models

Epson WorkForce WF-2850
Epson EcoTank ET-2760
Epson Expression XP-4100
Epson WorkForce WF-3640
Epson EcoTank ET-4800

Common Causes

Paper tray is empty and needs paper loaded
Paper is loaded but sitting outside the paper guides — not aligned with the sensor
Paper is loaded too far back or not pushed fully into the feed slot
Paper sensor inside the tray is dirty or stuck in the empty position
Paper type is too thick or too thin for the sensor to detect reliably

How to Fix It

Open the paper input tray and check if it contains paper. If empty, load a fresh stack of the correct paper size (typically Letter or A4 for general printing).

Fan the paper stack before loading to separate the sheets and reduce the chance of multiple sheets feeding at once.
Ensure the paper guides are snug against the sides of the paper. Guides that are too wide allow paper to sit off-center — the sensor may miss it entirely.

The guides should touch the paper edges with slight resistance. Not so tight they crinkle the paper, not so loose the paper slides around.
Check that the paper is fully inserted. On rear-feed models, push the paper in until it stops. On cassette models, push the cassette fully into the printer.

Paper that is partially inserted triggers a no-paper condition because it has not reached the feed sensor.
Press the OK, Resume, or Start button to instruct the printer to try again. The printer will attempt to pick up paper from the loaded tray.

On some Epson models, pressing the paper button (with a paper and arrow icon) clears the 0xE3 state.
If 0xE3 continues with paper correctly loaded, the paper sensor may be dirty. Open the tray and look for the small plastic sensor lever that lifts when paper is present. Gently clean it with a dry cotton swab.

Do not use water or solvents on the sensor — dry cleaning only.

When to Call a Professional

Error 0xE3 is almost always a DIY fix. If the error appears consistently even with paper correctly loaded, the paper detection sensor may be stuck or dirty. An Epson service technician can clean or replace the paper sensor if needed. For printers under warranty, contact Epson support before paying for service.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my Epson printer show 0xE3 even though I have paper loaded?

The most common reason is that the paper guides are set too wide and the paper is not triggering the detection sensor. Adjust the guides so they touch the paper edges snugly. Also check that the paper is not bent or curled at the leading edge — curled paper can miss the sensor.

Can I load any paper type when I see 0xE3?

Yes — but make sure the paper size matches what the print job expects. Loading A4 paper for a print job sized to Letter (US) paper can cause the printer to show a size mismatch warning alongside 0xE3. Always match the paper loaded to the paper size set in the printer driver.

How do I clear 0xE3 after loading paper?

Press the OK, Resume, or paper-feed button on the printer. On most Epson models, pressing OK or the blinking paper button tells the printer to retry the paper pick. If the button does not respond, turn the printer off and back on, then retry.