Olga Weis
Last updated Sep 24, 2026
An Epson waste ink pad counter is a built-in safeguard that can stop your printer mid-job when it thinks maintenance is due – often at the worst possible moment.
In this guide, we'll explain what triggers it, how to reset it with Wic Reset Connect, and how to access an Epson printer remotely with FlexiHub if it's not at your desk.
Epson printers come with a built-in waste ink pad counter. Here, we're using Epson L1800.
The counter tracks estimated waste ink usage and helps determine when the printer's waste-ink system requires maintenance. When the programmed limit is reached, the printer may display a service message and stop printing.
However, if you're in a hurry to print important documents but the printer won't work as it has reached the upper limit, it becomes frustrating. You'll need to manually reset it to make it work, which is time-consuming and tedious.
The good news is dedicated software – such as Wic Reset Connect – is available to reset Epson waste ink pad counters to save you time and effort.
Important: Resetting the software counter does not physically clean, empty, or replace the waste ink pad or waste ink bottle. If the waste ink system requires physical maintenance, resetting the counter alone does not replace that maintenance. Depending on the printer model, continued use with a saturated waste-ink system may result in ink leakage.
Before resetting the counter, check the maintenance instructions for your specific Epson model. On some models, Epson recommends resetting the waste ink counter after replacing the waste ink bottle or other waste-ink components.
Several tools can reset the Epson waste ink pad counter, but not all of them work the same way. In this guide, we're using Wic Reset Connect – it's actively maintained, supports both Epson and Canon printers, and delivers your reset key automatically after purchase. The process below covers three steps: confirming your printer is supported, connecting it correctly, and completing the reset with your key.
We're using Wic Reset Connect in this guide, which supports a range of Epson and Canon printer models. Before proceeding, check that your exact printer model is supported. Other similar resetter tools exist for different printer brands and models – the general process is comparable.
Connect your printer directly to the computer using a USB cable. Wi-Fi and USB-hub connections aren't supported. If you're resetting a Canon printer, you'll need to put it into service mode before continuing – check the Canon service mode instructions for your model.
Note: Wic Reset Connect resets the waste ink or ink absorber counter – it does not repair mechanical, electronic, or print-quality issues with the printer.
If the printer you need to reset isn't on your own desk – say, it's at a client's office, a branch location, or anywhere you don't have physical access – you'll need a way to run Wic Reset Connect on that remote machine as if you were sitting in front of it. This is where FlexiHub comes in.
You can access USB printers remotely over the internet using FlexiHub. This allows compatible printer software, such as Wic Reset Connect, to communicate with an Epson printer connected to a remote computer as if the device were connected to the local computer.
FlexiHub supports Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and Raspberry Pi OS. However, compatibility with Wic Reset Connect depends on the operating system and the Epson printer model.
Epson printers are excellent in performance but many find its waste ink pad counter feature annoying. Using compatible reset software, you can reset the Epson waste ink counter when it reaches its programmed limit. However, resetting the counter does not replace physical maintenance of the waste ink system. When the printer is located at a different site, FlexiHub can provide remote USB access so compatible printer software can communicate with the device.
FlexiHub is a powerful remote access tool that helps you manage your printers remotely. It's compatible across devices and operating systems and comes with an intuitive user interface to access your printer from anywhere.
If you provide remote technical support or run a business remotely, FlexiHub will help ensure seamless operation with little to no downtime.
Note: Nikolai Svarachevsky is a Lead Developer at Electronic Team, Inc., where he leads development on several of the company's remote-access products, including FlexiHub. His background covers device virtualization, network protocol implementation, and secure data transmission – the technologies behind connecting and managing USB and serial devices over a network. This guide was technically reviewed by Nikolai Svarachevsky for the accuracy of the FlexiHub remote-access steps described above.
