Epson EcoTank ET-2860: Setup, Drivers, Ink and Common Problems

Is the Epson EcoTank ET-2860 right for you?

The ET-2860 refreshed the European cassette-fed EcoTank in 2024, pairing the faster PrecisionCore head from the ET-2830 with the 150-sheet front tray and auto duplex of the ET-2850. ET-2861 and ET-2865 are retailer codes for the same machine. It is the sensible pick for a UK home office that prints reports every week and wants to stay on the cheap 104 bottles. Newer units benefit from a firmware check in Smart Panel shortly after setup.

Best for: UK home offices wanting a faster cassette-fed EcoTank

Setting up the Epson EcoTank ET-2860

Fill the 104 tanks, let the initial charge finish, then onboard through Smart Panel on 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi. Use the ET-2860 driver for any ET-286x variant. Enable two-sided printing in the driver and keep heavier stock to the rear slot.

1. Unbox and prepare. Remove every piece of shipping tape and packing material, install the ink bottles (fill each tank to the upper line), and load paper in the tray.
2. Join your Wi-Fi. Keep the printer close to the router for setup. Most printers only connect to the 2.4GHz band, so if your router broadcasts one merged network name you may need to split the bands temporarily. See our Wi-Fi guide if it will not join.
3. Install the setup app. Use Epson's official app rather than a driver you found on a search result — third-party driver sites are the most common source of printer malware.
4. Add the printer. On Windows 11: Settings › Bluetooth & devices › Printers & scanners › Add device. On macOS: System Settings › Printers & Scanners › Add Printer.
5. Print a test page and run a scan if this is an all-in-one, so you find any problem now rather than when you are in a hurry.

Ink, toner and supplies

The Epson EcoTank ET-2860 uses the following consumables. Match the number exactly when you buy: the same printer family often uses several different cartridge numbers by region.

• Epson 104 Black
• Epson 104 Cyan/Magenta/Yellow ink bottles

High-yield (XL) versions almost always cost less per page if you print regularly. On third-party ink and toner, read our honest assessment first, and note that some manufacturers push firmware that rejects non-original chips.

Full specifications