{"id":1178,"date":"2025-04-17T13:00:37","date_gmt":"2025-04-17T13:00:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.diveintoaccessibility.com\/?p=1178"},"modified":"2025-04-30T10:26:52","modified_gmt":"2025-04-30T10:26:52","slug":"how-to-fix-epson-printer-communication-error-on-mac","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.diveintoaccessibility.com\/index.php\/2025\/04\/17\/how-to-fix-epson-printer-communication-error-on-mac\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Fix Epson Printer Communication Error on Mac"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Recently, my Epson printer suddenly stopped working with a frustrating Epson <em>printer communication<\/em> error. Everything was fine until I tried printing \u2013 the printer would attempt to connect but then display a <strong>Communication Error<\/strong> message on my Mac.<\/p>\n<p>What made this particularly puzzling was that the printer appeared to be properly connected \u2013 there was even a green status light showing in the Mac\u2019s Printers &amp; Scanners settings page.<\/p>\n<figure><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"http:\/\/www.diveintoaccessibility.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/connected-on-printers-scanners.jpg\" alt=\"Epson printer showing connected status in Mac Printers &amp; Scanners settings\" width=\"1000\" height=\"430\" \/><\/figure>\n<p>When I ran a test print page, it worked perfectly fine.<\/p>\n<figure><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"http:\/\/www.diveintoaccessibility.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/print-test-page-works.jpg\" alt=\"Successful test page print from Epson printer\" width=\"1000\" height=\"413\" \/><\/figure>\n<p>The Epson Printer Utility also showed that the printer was connected properly.<\/p>\n<figure><img src=\"http:\/\/www.diveintoaccessibility.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/epson-printer-utility.jpg\" alt=\"Epson Printer Utility showing proper connection status\" \/><\/figure>\n<p>The issue specifically occurred when trying to print from applications like Notes, Pages, or Chrome. The Epson printer would attempt to connect but then display an Epson printer communication error message in the end.<\/p>\n<figure><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"http:\/\/www.diveintoaccessibility.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/epson-printer-communication-error.jpg\" alt=\"Epson printer communication error message displayed on Mac when attempting to print from applications\" width=\"1000\" height=\"396\" \/><\/figure>\n<p>In this article, I\u2019ll walk you through my troubleshooting journey and share what I\u2019ve done to try resolving this frustrating problem. We\u2019ll explore the potential causes of the Epson printer communication error and, most importantly, how to fix each of them.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2 id=\"what-causes-the-epson-printer-communication-error\">What Causes the Epson Printer Communication Error?<\/h2>\n<p>When your Epson printer displays a communication error, it means your Mac has trouble communicating with the Epson printer and cannot send files to print. Here are the common causes of Epson printer communication errors:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Outdated or missing printer drivers<\/strong> \u2013 macOS updates sometimes break compatibility with older drivers.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Wi-Fi or USB connection issues<\/strong> \u2013 the printer might be connected to a different network or the cable might be loose.<\/li>\n<li><strong>macOS printer settings glitch<\/strong> \u2013 sometimes settings just get corrupted and need to be reset.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Firewall or security software blocking communication<\/strong> \u2013 rare but possible if your firewall is strict.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Printer unable to access local area network<\/strong> \u2013 this was the cause of my problem.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Now that we\u2019ve covered the \u201cwhy,\u201d let\u2019s move on to the actual fixes that worked for me (and should work for you too).<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2 id=\"quick-checks-before-you-start\">Quick Checks Before You Start<\/h2>\n<p>Before getting into the more involved fixes, there are a few quick things you should check. These might sound obvious, but trust me \u2013 I\u2019ve skipped them before and wasted time troubleshooting something that just needed a simple reboot.<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Restart both your Mac and the printer<\/strong>. This clears out temporary glitches and often fixes the connection.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Check all cable connections<\/strong> if you\u2019re using USB. Make sure they\u2019re snug and try a different port if needed.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Make sure the printer and Mac are on the same Wi-Fi network<\/strong>. if printers are connected via wifi, make sure both copmputer and ptinert are on the same network,.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Confirm the printer is powered on<\/strong> and not showing any errors on its screen (like paper jams or low ink).<\/li>\n<li><strong>Try printing a test page<\/strong> from the printer\u2019s control panel to rule out hardware issues.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>If everything here checks out and it\u2019s still not working, don\u2019t worry \u2013 let\u2019s get into the real fixes next.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2 id=\"reset-the-printing-system-for-epson-printer-on-mac\">Fix #1 \u2013 Reset the Printing System for Epson Printer on Mac<\/h2>\n<p>This was the first thing I tried, though it didn\u2019t work for me, but it may work for you. Resetting the printing system essentially wipes all printer settings and gives you a fresh start.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Here\u2019s how to do it:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Go to <strong>System Settings<\/strong> (or <strong>System Preferences<\/strong> on older macOS versions).<\/li>\n<li>Select <strong>Printers &amp; Scanners<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Press <kbd>Control<\/kbd> + click (or right-click) in the list of printers on the left side.<\/li>\n<figure><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"http:\/\/www.diveintoaccessibility.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/reset-printer-settings.jpg\" alt=\"Reset printing system option in Mac Printers &amp; Scanners settings\" width=\"1000\" height=\"444\" \/><\/figure>\n<li>Choose <strong>Reset printing system\u2026<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>Click <strong>Reset<\/strong> to confirm.<\/li>\n<li>Once it resets, click the <strong>+<\/strong> button to re-add your Epson printer.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><strong>Heads-up:<\/strong> This will remove all printers you\u2019ve added. You\u2019ll need to re-add any other printers you use as well.<\/p>\n<p>If this doesn\u2019t work for you, try the next solution.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2 id=\"reinstall-your-epson-printer-driver\">Fix #2 \u2013 Reinstall Your Epson Printer Driver<\/h2>\n<p>If resetting didn\u2019t do the trick, it might be a driver issue. Try reinstalling the Epson printer\u2019s driver.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Here\u2019s what I did:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Go to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.epson.com\/Support\/Printers\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Epson Support site<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>Enter your printer model and download the latest driver for macOS.<\/li>\n<li>On your Mac, open the <strong>Applications<\/strong> folder and look for any Epson software. If you see Epson Printer Utility or Epson Scan, uninstall them.<\/li>\n<li>Run the installer you just downloaded and follow the prompts to reinstall the driver.<\/li>\n<li>Once installed, go back to <strong>Printers &amp; Scanners<\/strong> and add your Epson printer again using the <strong>+<\/strong> button.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Make sure when you re-add the printer, under the <strong>\u201cUse\u201d<\/strong> dropdown, it says something like <strong>Epson [Model] Series<\/strong> \u2013 not \u201cAirPrint.\u201d (Assuming your Epson model supports AirPrint.) If it says \u201cAirPrint,\u201d you\u2019re not using the full driver, and that can cause problems.<\/p>\n<p>After reinstalling, try printing a test page.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2 id=\"verify-epson-printer-settings-on-mac\">Fix #3 \u2013 Verify Epson Printer Settings on Mac<\/h2>\n<p>If the driver\u2019s installed and it still won\u2019t print, your Mac might be using the wrong settings. Sometimes settings can get unintentionally changed, so this is worth checking.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Check these settings:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Open <strong>System Settings &gt; Printers &amp; Scanners<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Select your Epson printer from the list.<\/li>\n<li>Click <strong>Options &amp; Supplies<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Go to the <strong>Utility<\/strong> tab and click <strong>Open Printer Utility<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Check for any error messages or connection warnings.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Now go back to the main printer list:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>If you see multiple Epson printers, remove the ones you\u2019re not using \u2013 especially if one says \u201cIdle\u201d or \u201cOffline.\u201d<\/li>\n<li>Make sure the correct driver is being used. Under the printer name, it should say something like <strong>\u201cEpson [Model] Series\u201d<\/strong> and not just \u201cGeneric PostScript Printer.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<h2 id=\"reset-network-connection-wi-fi-models\">Fix #4 \u2013 Reset Network Connection (Wi-Fi Models)<\/h2>\n<p>If you\u2019re using a wireless Epson printer and getting the communication error, there\u2019s a good chance it\u2019s a network problem.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Reset the network settings on the printer:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>On the printer\u2019s screen, go to <strong>Setup<\/strong> or <strong>Settings<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Navigate to <strong>Network Settings<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Select <strong>Reset Network Settings<\/strong> or <strong>Restore Default Network Settings<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>After it resets, go back and select <strong>Wi-Fi Setup<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Choose your Wi-Fi network and enter the password.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><strong>Then, on your Mac:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Go to <strong>Printers &amp; Scanners<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Remove the Epson printer if it\u2019s already added.<\/li>\n<li>Click the <strong>+<\/strong> button to re-add it. Make sure the one you pick says \u201cBonjour\u201d or \u201cEpson [Model] Series.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>If you\u2019re using a USB connection instead of Wi-Fi, try a different USB cable or port. That\u2019s solved things for me before when I thought the printer was broken.<\/p>\n<p>Once the printer is back on the right network, try a test print to see if it\u2019s working.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2 id=\"allow-printer-to-access-local-network\">Fix #5 \u2013 Allow Printer to Access Local Network<\/h2>\n<p>And here we are \u2013 the fifth fix and the culprit that caused my printer to give that communication error message.<\/p>\n<p>If your Epson printer is connected via Wi-Fi (like mine) but can\u2019t communicate with your Mac, it\u2019s likely blocked from accessing the local network. This typically happens if you accidentally clicked \u201cDo not allow\u201d when prompted about network access.<\/p>\n<p><strong>To check and fix network permissions:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Open <strong>System Settings<\/strong> on your Mac<\/li>\n<li>Go to <strong>Privacy &amp; Security<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>Scroll down and select <strong>Local Network<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>Look for any applications starting with \u201cEpson\u201d in the list<\/li>\n<li>Make sure the toggle switch is turned on for all Epson applications<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>After enabling access, try printing again to see if the communication error is resolved.<\/p>\n<figure><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"http:\/\/www.diveintoaccessibility.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/local-network.jpg\" alt=\"Mac Local Network settings for Epson printer permissions\" width=\"1000\" height=\"488\" \/><\/figure>\n<hr \/>\n<h2>When to Contact Epson Printer Support<\/h2>\n<p>If you\u2019ve tried all these fixes and your Epson printer communication error persists, you may need professional help. I researched through printer forums and Reddit for additional Epson printer solutions, though they didn\u2019t resolve my specific issue.<\/p>\n<p>The post <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hongkiat.com\/blog\/epson-mac-communication-error-fix\/\">How to Fix Epson Printer Communication Error on Mac<\/a> appeared first on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hongkiat.com\/blog\">Hongkiat<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Recently, my Epson printer suddenly stopped working with a frustrating Epson printer communication error. Everything was fine until I tried printing \u2013 the printer would [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1180,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[9],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.diveintoaccessibility.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1178"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.diveintoaccessibility.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.diveintoaccessibility.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.diveintoaccessibility.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.diveintoaccessibility.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1178"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"http:\/\/www.diveintoaccessibility.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1178\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1187,"href":"http:\/\/www.diveintoaccessibility.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1178\/revisions\/1187"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.diveintoaccessibility.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1180"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.diveintoaccessibility.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1178"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.diveintoaccessibility.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1178"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.diveintoaccessibility.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1178"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}