Epson Printer Error Code E-31 — What It Means & How to Fix It

What Does This Error Mean?

Error E-31 means the printer lost communication with its controller or with the connected computer. This can happen over USB or a Wi-Fi network connection. Restarting both the printer and your computer often clears this error.

Affected Models

Epson WorkForce WF-3720
Epson WorkForce WF-3730
Epson Expression ET-3750
Epson EcoTank ET-4760
Epson WorkForce Pro WF-4740

Common Causes

A loose or faulty USB cable interrupted the data connection
The Wi-Fi connection dropped mid-job and the printer lost contact with the computer
The printer driver on the computer crashed or became unresponsive
A print job was sent to the wrong printer port
The computer's USB port or the printer's USB port is damaged

How to Fix It

Turn the printer off and disconnect the USB cable (if using USB). Wait 30 seconds.

For Wi-Fi connections, turn off the printer and disconnect from your router's admin page.
Restart your computer. This clears the printer driver's communication queue.

A stuck print job can cause the driver to hang and trigger E-31 on subsequent jobs.
Reconnect the USB cable or reconnect the printer to Wi-Fi. Power the printer back on.

Try a different USB cable if possible — cables fail more often than ports.
Open your computer's print queue and delete any stuck or pending print jobs.

In Windows, go to Settings > Devices > Printers, click the printer, and open the queue.
If the error persists, uninstall and reinstall the Epson printer driver from Epson's support site.

Download the full driver and utilities package for your specific model.

When to Call a Professional

E-31 is almost always a software or connection issue, not a hardware problem. If the error persists after reinstalling the driver and trying a new cable, contact Epson support. Hardware-level USB port repairs may be needed if the port itself is damaged.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does E-31 mean my USB cable is broken?

It could be. A damaged USB cable is a very common cause of communication errors. Try using a different USB cable before doing anything else. Cables wear out over time, especially if they are bent repeatedly.

I use Wi-Fi, not USB. Can I still get E-31?

Yes. E-31 can occur over any connection type. For Wi-Fi, make sure the printer and computer are on the same network. Temporary Wi-Fi drops during a print job can trigger this error.

After reinstalling the driver, E-31 still happens. What next?

Try a different USB port on your computer, or try connecting via a USB hub. If you are on Wi-Fi, try temporarily switching to a direct USB connection to test. If nothing works, the printer's USB port may be physically damaged.