Epson printers are well-known for their reliability and convenience—especially when connected over Wi-Fi. However, you might occasionally run into a frustrating message that says:

“Error Code 34004: Cannot communicate with the scanner. Check the network connection.”

If you're seeing Epson Error Code 34004, it means your printer or scanner is having trouble communicating with your computer over a wireless network. The good news? It’s typically easy to fix at home, with a few quick steps.

Let’s walk through what causes this error and how to fix it—no tech expertise required.

 

 

🔍 What Is Epson Error Code 34004?

Error Code 34004 generally appears when you try to scan a document from your Epson printer to your computer over a Wi-Fi connection. It means that the printer cannot find or connect to your PC or Mac.

This is especially common when:

  • The printer and computer are on different networks

  • There’s a Wi-Fi signal drop or timeout

  • The firewall or antivirus is blocking the scanner

  • Your IP address has changed or is conflicting

✅ Common Causes of Epson Error 34004

Understanding the root of the issue helps with quicker fixes. Here's what typically causes it:

  • 🛑 Poor Wi-Fi signal or printer moved too far from the router

  • 🔄 Dynamic IP address changed (common in DHCP networks)

  • 🧱 Firewall/antivirus blocking scanner connection

  • 🔌 Computer went to sleep or powered off

  • ❌ Incorrect network selected on printer

  • 🔁 Driver or Epson Scan 2 software not up to date

🛠 Step-by-Step Fixes for Epson Error Code 34004

Follow these simple steps in order. Most people solve the issue before reaching the last one.

Step 1: ✅ Check Wi-Fi Connection

Make sure your printer is connected to the same Wi-Fi network as your computer.

To check on the printer:

  • On the printer display, go to Network Settings or Wi-Fi Setup

  • Confirm the network name (SSID)

  • If it’s incorrect, reconnect using Wi-Fi Setup Wizard

On your PC/Mac:

  • Make sure you're on the same Wi-Fi network shown on your printer

  • If you're using Ethernet on your computer, make sure it's on the same local network as the Wi-Fi your printer is using

Step 2: 📶 Restart Your Devices

A quick reboot can often fix temporary glitches.

Restart in this order:

  1. Power off your printer

  2. Restart your router/modem

  3. Restart your computer

  4. Turn your printer back on

Once everything is back online, try scanning again.

Step 3: 🌐 Assign a Static IP to Your Printer

Sometimes, the printer’s IP address changes when it reconnects to Wi-Fi, which breaks the link with your scanning software.

To fix that:

  1. On your printer, print a Network Status Sheet (usually under Settings > Network > Print Status)

  2. Look for the printer's current IP address (e.g., 192.168.1.101)

  3. Open Epson Scan 2 on your computer

  4. Click Settings > Add

  5. Enter the IP address manually and name it

  6. Click OK and try scanning again

You can also log into your router and assign the printer a static IP so it won’t change again.

 

 

Step 4: 🧱 Temporarily Disable Firewall/Antivirus

Firewalls and antivirus software sometimes block the scanning process, even if printing works fine.

Try this:

  • Temporarily disable your firewall or antivirus

  • Reopen Epson Scan 2

  • Try scanning a document

If it works, you'll need to add Epson Scan 2 and related services to the firewall exceptions list. Don’t forget to re-enable your protection afterward!

Step 5: 🔄 Reinstall Epson Scan 2 Software

If the software is corrupted or outdated, reinstalling it can restore proper communication.

To do this:

  1. Go to the Epson Support website

  2. Search for your printer model

  3. Download the latest version of Epson Scan 2 and Drivers

  4. Uninstall the current Epson software from your PC or Mac

  5. Install the new version and reboot your computer

Then, try scanning again.

Step 6: 📡 Use the Epson Scan 2 Utility to Reconnect

Epson Scan 2 has a built-in tool to reconnect or detect your scanner.

Instructions:

  1. Open Epson Scan 2

  2. Click on Settings > Add

  3. Wait for your printer to be detected automatically

  4. If it doesn’t appear, enter the IP address manually (from Step 3)

  5. Click OK

Now return to the home screen and try scanning.

Step 7: 🖥 Try Scanning From the Printer’s Control Panel

Instead of scanning from your PC, try using the Scan to PC or Scan to Network option on the printer itself.

If you don’t see your PC as a destination:

  • Make sure the computer is on and not in sleep mode

  • Open Epson Event Manager Utility (on your computer) and ensure it’s running in the background

🔄 Bonus Fix: Reset Network Settings

If nothing else works, reset your printer's network settings and set it up again from scratch.

To reset:

  1. Go to Settings > Restore Default Settings

  2. Select Network Settings

  3. Reconnect the printer to Wi-Fi using the setup wizard

Then repeat the steps above to connect Epson Scan 2 again using the new IP.

 

 

🧠 Quick Recap: Checklist to Fix Error 34004

  • ✅ Confirm printer and PC are on the same Wi-Fi

  • ✅ Restart printer, router, and computer

  • ✅ Assign a static IP to the printer

  • ✅ Reconnect Epson Scan 2 using IP

  • ✅ Check firewall/antivirus blocking issues

  • ✅ Reinstall Epson Scan 2 and drivers

  • ✅ Try scanning directly from the printer

🧾 Final Thoughts

Epson Error Code 34004 is usually caused by network miscommunication, and thankfully, it’s easy to fix with a few tweaks to your settings. Whether it’s a router hiccup, a firewall block, or an IP address change, these steps will help you restore scanning functionality over Wi-Fi—without needing a technician.

Still stuck? Let me know your printer model and system setup, and I’ll help you troubleshoot it directly!

Would you like this guide as a downloadable PDF, or want a version written for Mac users specifically? I can do that too—just ask!