Numbers and Words Not Printing Correct After Epson Update – Complete Troubleshooting GuideUpdated 3 days ago
Epson printers are known for their reliability, print quality, and efficiency, but even the best devices can occasionally run into problems. A common issue reported by users after updating their Epson printer firmware or drivers is that text elements, particularly numbers and words, do not print correctly. This may include distorted characters, missing letters, incorrect fonts, or scrambled text.
This guide will explore the reasons behind this issue and provide comprehensive troubleshooting steps to help you resolve it quickly. Whether you're using Windows or macOS, the following solutions will guide you through fixing incorrect text printing after an Epson update.
What Causes Text and Numbers to Print Incorrectly?
When Epson printers begin printing garbled, incomplete, or incorrect text after a driver or firmware update, the issue is often related to software compatibility or driver conflicts. Some of the common causes include:
Incomplete or corrupted driver update
Compatibility issues with the new driver or firmware
Outdated or incompatible application software
Incorrect printer language settings (such as ESC/P-R or PostScript)
Faulty font rendering or missing font libraries
Corrupted print spooler service or printer queue
Conflict with third-party antivirus or firewall software
Understanding the root cause is essential to resolving the issue effectively.
Symptoms to Look For
Here are some common signs that your Epson printer is not printing words or numbers correctly after an update:
Random or missing characters in the printout
Numbers appearing as symbols or blank spaces
Fonts not matching the original document
Entire sections of text missing from printed pages
Letters overlapping or printed out of order
Word spacing issues and layout misalignment
These symptoms can affect printing from applications such as Microsoft Word, Excel, PDF readers, or even web browsers.
Initial Checks Before Troubleshooting
Before diving into detailed fixes, perform these basic checks:
Restart your printer and computer to refresh all services.
Confirm the printer is correctly connected to your system via USB or network.
Try printing from a different application or document.
Check for any queued print jobs or stuck processes in the print spooler.
Ensure your operating system is fully updated.
If the problem persists after these checks, proceed with the solutions below.
Reinstall or Roll Back the Epson Printer Driver
One of the most effective solutions is reinstalling the printer driver or rolling back to the previous version.
How to Reinstall the Driver:
Uninstall the Epson printer driver from your system.
Restart the computer to clear residual driver files.
Reinstall the previous version of the Epson driver that worked well before the update.
Set the printer as default and try printing again.
This process often resolves incompatibility issues introduced by a faulty or incomplete update.
Use Generic or Built-in Windows Driver
If reinstalling the official driver does not solve the problem, consider using a generic driver provided by the operating system.
Benefits of Using a Generic Driver:
Compatible across a wide range of devices
Stable for basic printing tasks
Eliminates conflicts caused by model-specific features
Install a basic driver by removing the current one and adding the printer again using the "Add Printer" option in your settings. Choose the generic Epson ESC/P or Microsoft IPP Class Driver from the list of available drivers.
Change Printer Language Settings
Some Epson models allow configuration of the printer's language or emulation mode. Incorrect settings can result in misinterpreted data and corrupted text output.
Adjusting Language Mode:
Access the printer settings panel via your computer.
Navigate to printing preferences or device settings.
Look for language or emulation options such as ESC/P-R, PCL, or PostScript.
Switch to a different mode, apply changes, and test print again.
Changing the language mode can resolve printing errors related to character rendering and layout distortion.
Clear Print Spooler and Re-add the Printer
Corrupted spooler data may prevent your documents from printing text correctly.
Steps to Clear Print Spooler:
Open the Services panel on your system.
Locate the Print Spooler service and stop it.
Navigate to the spooler directory (usually under system folders) and delete all files in the printer folder.
Restart the Print Spooler service.
Remove the Epson printer from your devices list and re-add it.
This clean slate approach often resolves persistent printing glitches.
Check Fonts and Document Compatibility
If only certain fonts or document types are printing incorrectly, the issue may lie with font rendering or compatibility between the application and printer driver.
Solutions:
Change the font in your document and print a sample page.
Convert the document to PDF and try printing again.
Use the "Print as Image" option when printing PDF files from Adobe Reader.
Reinstall the fonts used in the document if they're custom or third-party.
This can fix issues with missing or broken characters, especially in spreadsheets and PDFs.
Test on a Different Computer or User Profile
Sometimes, the problem is tied to the user environment or account settings. Test the printer by connecting it to another computer or logging in as a different user on the same machine.
If the problem disappears, it suggests a software conflict or corrupted user profile. In such cases, create a new user account or reinstall relevant printing applications.
Temporarily Disable Antivirus or Firewall Software
Some security software may interfere with print spooler operations or block driver communication, especially after a firmware update.
Disable your antivirus or firewall temporarily and try printing again. If the issue resolves, add an exception for your printer software or driver in the security application.
Use Epson Printer Utility Tools
Epson provides various utility tools for printer diagnostics and maintenance. Run a nozzle check and head cleaning from the printer software to rule out hardware issues.
Some utility software allows driver repair or update rollback, which can resolve compatibility problems introduced by a recent update.
Contact Support if All Else Fails
If none of the above solutions work, consider reaching out to Epson customer support. Provide detailed information including your printer model, Windows version, error symptoms, and the update that caused the issue.
They may offer advanced diagnostic steps or confirm if the latest update introduced a known bug, and possibly provide a patch or workaround.
Preventing Future Driver Conflicts
To minimize issues after future updates, consider the following best practices:
Always back up your current driver before updating.
Read update release notes to understand changes.
Avoid automatic updates if you rely heavily on stable print performance.
Manually check for updates and install only after verifying compatibility.
These steps help maintain control over your printing environment and avoid unexpected disruptions.
Conclusion
Experiencing printing issues where numbers and words are not displayed correctly can be frustrating, especially when it happens after what seems like a routine update. However, most of these problems stem from driver conflicts, corrupted spooler data, or compatibility issues introduced by new firmware. With the right approach, you can diagnose the cause and restore normal printing behavior quickly.
From reinstalling drivers to adjusting settings and clearing the print spooler, the steps outlined in this guide offer a comprehensive approach to fixing the problem. Keeping your drivers updated, maintaining system compatibility, and using trusted tools will help ensure your Epson printer continues to deliver reliable and accurate output.