Epson ET-8550 how to run a nozzle check from the control panel
When printouts are light or banded, to see whether the print head nozzles are clogged before cleaning.
Steps
- Make sure there are no errors on the LCD screen and the CD/DVD tray is not inserted for printing.
- Load a few sheets of plain paper in Cassette 2 (lower).
- Select the home icon, if necessary.
- Select Maintenance > Print Head Nozzle Check, then select Print.
- Look for gaps in the printed lines.
- If there are no gaps, select O.
Never turn off the product or open the scanner unit during a cleaning cycle or you may not be able to print.
Marked CAUTION by the manufacturer Source: Adjusting Print Quality: Checking the Nozzles Using the Product Control Panel, p. 233
- If there are gaps or the pattern is faint, select X and follow the screen instructions to clean the print head, check the nozzles and repeat as necessary.
If cleaning up to 3 times brings no improvement, wait at least 12 hours without printing, then try cleaning again. If quality does not improve, run a Power Cleaning; if it still does not, contact Epson.
Source: Adjusting Print Quality: Checking the Nozzles Using the Product Control Panel Source: Adjusting Print Quality: Checking the Nozzles Using the Product Control Panel, pp. 232-233
Used for
- Print Head Adjustment Canceled: A print head adjustment was canceled.
Other ET-8550 procedures
- How to refill an ink tankWhen the ink level is below the lower line on a tank. Fill the tank to the upper line.
- How to clean the print head from the control panelWhen the nozzle check pattern has gaps. The print head may not be cleanable when an ink tank is low; refill first.
- How to run a Power Cleaning from the control panelWhen white or dark lines or missing nozzles remain after cleaning the print head several times.
- How to align the print head from the control panelWhen printouts are grainy or blurry, vertical lines are misaligned, or dark or light horizontal bands appear.
- How to clear a paper jam in the paper cassettesWhen the LCD screen reports paper jammed in a paper cassette.
- How to clear a paper jam inside the productWhen the LCD screen reports paper jammed inside the product.
- How to reset the ink levels when the LCD asks for itWhen the LCD screen prompts you to reset the ink levels. The message can appear even when ink remains in the tanks.
Sources
- User's Guide, ET-8500/ET-8550. Epson America, Inc. Document CPD-59879, revision CPD-59879R1, 346 pages, en-US. files.support.epson.com (PDF). Listed on the manufacturer's support page. Retrieved 13 November 2026.
Page numbers are the numbers printed in the manual. Where this page and the manual differ, follow the manual.