Epson ยท ET-2870 / ET-4800 / ET-2820 family

Epson Recovery Mode

Recovery Mode appears when a firmware update did not complete successfully. Epson's guidance for this family is to recover through a direct USB connection because network firmware updating is not available while the printer is in Recovery Mode.

What this code means

The printer is waiting for firmware recovery rather than normal printing. This is different from an ordinary Wi-Fi or driver problem and should be handled with the exact model's Epson firmware updater.

Affected models / family scope

  • ET-2870 Series
  • L3280 Series
  • ET-4800 Series
  • L5290 Series
  • ET-2820 Series
  • L3260 Series

Common formatting

  • Recovery Mode
  • recovery mode
  • Firmware Recovery
  • firmware recovery

What to try

Step 1

Keep the printer on stable power.

Avoid interrupting power while attempting firmware recovery.

Step 2

Connect directly to the computer by USB.

Epson's Recovery Mode guidance for this family calls for USB rather than a network update.

Step 3

Use Epson's firmware updater for the exact model.

Do not use firmware intended for a similar-looking EcoTank model or another region/family.

Step 4

Run the update again and let it finish.

Keep power and USB connected until the updater and printer indicate completion.

When to stop and get help

If the correct firmware cannot complete or the printer returns to Recovery Mode, stop repeated attempts and contact Epson support. Do not use unofficial firmware or service tools to bypass the recovery state.

Related information

Verified source

Epson โ€” ET-2870 family LCD error-code reference โ†—

Printer Triage is independent and is not affiliated with Epson.