Epson EcoTank ET-3850: Setup, Drivers, Ink and Common Problems

Is the Epson EcoTank ET-3850 right for you?

The ET-3850 is Epson's mainstream home-office EcoTank worldwide, combining a 30-sheet ADF, Ethernet, auto duplex and a pigment black that keeps text sharp on plain paper. It is a sensible buy for a freelancer or small household business that needs to scan as much as it prints. The ADF handles only single-sided originals, the cassette tops out at 150 sheets, and the pigment black will show gaps in text if the printer sits idle for a month, so print something weekly.

Best for: Freelancers and small offices that scan as much as they print

Setting up the Epson EcoTank ET-3850

Buy 542 ink in the US and Canada, 102 ink in the UK and Europe; the bottles are keyed differently. Ethernet gives the most reliable office connection, otherwise use Smart Panel over 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi. Install the Epson driver bundle from your regional support site so ScanSmart and the firmware updater are included.

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-3850 uses the following consumables. Match the number exactly when you buy: the same printer family often uses several different cartridge numbers by region.

• Epson 542 Black (US)
• Epson 102 Black (UK/EU)
• Epson 542/102 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