Epson Printer Error Code W-62 — What It Means & How to Fix It

What Does This Error Mean?

Epson error W-62 is a warning that the ink waste pad inside the printer is getting close to full. This is not an urgent error — the printer can still print. The warning gives you time to plan for servicing or replacement before the pad actually fills.

Affected Models

Epson EcoTank ET-2720
Epson EcoTank ET-2760
Epson WorkForce WF-2850
Epson Expression Home XP-4100
Epson Expression Premium XP-7100

Common Causes

The ink waste pad has absorbed a large amount of ink over many years of printing and cleaning cycles
Frequent print head cleaning cycles (automatic or manual) consume extra ink that drains into the waste pad
Printing many borderless photos puts extra ink into the waste pad compared to standard document printing
The printer has been in use for several years and the pad is naturally reaching its rated capacity
Using third-party inks that are more fluid than Epson inks can accelerate waste pad saturation

How to Fix It

Acknowledge the warning and continue printing. Press OK or Resume on the printer to dismiss the W-62 message. The printer will continue to work normally.

W-62 is a warning, not a critical error. You do not need to do anything immediately.
Reduce the frequency of print head cleaning cycles. Only run cleaning when print quality is actually degraded — not preventively.

Each cleaning cycle flushes ink through the print head into the waste pad. Unnecessary cleaning fills the pad faster.
Make a note to schedule waste pad service. When the pad eventually reaches full capacity, you will need Epson's service or a third-party repair to continue using the printer.

Epson offers a paid waste pad reset at epson.com/support. Local repair shops are often cheaper.
Use the Epson Maintenance Box Reset Utility on your computer to monitor the current waste pad fill level.

This lets you track how close the pad is to being full so you can plan ahead without being caught off guard.
Download and run the Epson Status Monitor (Windows) or Epson Printer Utility (Mac) to see the current pad status and estimated pages remaining.

Knowing the percentage used helps you decide whether you have weeks or months before reaching the limit.

When to Call a Professional

W-62 is a warning — you can keep printing for now. When the pad reaches full capacity, the printer will stop with a different error (E-40 or similar). At that point, Epson offers a paid waste pad reset service. Alternatively, a local printer repair shop can replace the waste pad for $30 to $60.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the ink waste pad and why does it fill up?

Inside every Epson inkjet printer is a small foam pad that catches excess ink. Ink lands on this pad during print head cleaning cycles and when printing borderless photos. Epson sets a page count limit on the pad to prevent ink from overflowing and damaging the printer's internals. Once the limit is reached, the printer locks to protect itself.

Can I reset the waste pad counter myself?

Yes — an Epson waste ink pad reset utility exists, known as the Epson Adjustment Program. This software lets you reset the counter without replacing the physical pad. However, if the physical pad is actually saturated, resetting the counter without replacing the pad risks ink overflow damage. The safest approach is to reset only if the pad still has physical capacity.

How many years does an Epson printer last before the waste pad fills?

It depends on how much you print and how often cleaning cycles run. Light users who print 10 to 20 pages a week may get 5 to 7 years before hitting the pad limit. Heavy users who print daily and run frequent cleanings may reach it in 2 to 3 years. Borderless photo printing is especially hard on the waste pad.