Bixolon SRP-E302 error light and printing problems: fixes

What the Error light on the SRP-E302 means and how to fix paper end, cover open, cutter jams, blank receipts, Windows, serial and network problems.

10 min Difficulty: Easy Updated: 20.10.2026 By SCANSHOP team

In this guide

The SRP-E302 has two lights, Power and Error, and one FEED button. Match what you see to the table, then open the fix. Not sure whether the printer or the computer is at fault? Run a self-test: hold FEED while you switch the printer on.

Find your symptom

What you see	Likely cause	Fix
Error light on, roll empty	Paper end	Fix 1 →
Error light on, paper loaded	Printer cover not fully closed	Fix 2 →
Paper not cut, cover won't open	Cutter blocked by paper	Fix 3 →
Paper stuck or crumpled at the outlet	Paper jam	Fix 4 →
Receipt blank, faint or patchy	Roll the wrong way round, dirty head or unsuitable paper	Fix 5 →
Power light off	No power	Fix 6 →
Self-test prints, Windows prints nothing	Driver, port or print queue	Fix 7 →
Random characters on the receipt	Serial settings or wrong driver	Fix 8 →
Network printer not found (ES version)	IP address, cable or port	Fix 9 →

Fixes

1. Paper endError light on, no paper

CauseThe paper end sensor found no paper. Bixolon lists only a paper end sensor for the SRP-E302, so there is no early warning before the roll runs out.

Fix

Raise the cover-open lever and open the printer cover.
Remove the empty core and place a new 80 mm roll, with the coated side towards the print head as shown on the cover and in Bixolon's manual.
Pull out a little paper and close the cover by pressing firmly on its centre.

Rolls whose paper end is glued to the core may not be detected as empty.

2. Cover openError light on with paper loaded

CauseThe printer cover is not fully closed.

Fix

Open the cover and check that nothing is caught under it.
Close the cover by pressing firmly on its centre.

3. Cutter jam, cover won't openPaper not cut, cover locked

CausePaper is caught in the autocutter and the blade has not returned home, so the cover stays locked.

Fix

Switch the printer off and on again. For a small jam this can return the blade by itself.
If the cover still won't open, switch the printer off. Never force the cover open: it can damage the cutter.
Pull out the cutter cover.
Turn the knob with a cross-head screwdriver, as shown in Bixolon's manual, until the blade is back inside.
Open the printer cover, remove the jammed paper and refit the cutter cover.
Switch the printer on.

Important

Keep your fingers away from the cutter blade and the hot print head.

4. Paper jamPaper stuck or crumpled at the outlet

CausePaper is caught in the paper path, or the outlet was blocked while the printer printed. Bixolon warns that a hand held above the outlet can cause a jam.

Fix

Open the cover and remove the crumpled paper. If the cover won't open, use Fix 3.
Reload the roll and close the cover.
Keep the outlet clear while the printer prints.

5. Blank or faint receiptsPaper feeds but the print is missing or pale

CauseA reversed roll prints blank. Pale print means a dirty print head, unsuitable paper or low density.

Fix

Blank receipt: turn the roll round and check the direction against the mark on the cover.
Faint or streaky print: switch off, open the cover, remove the paper, let the print head cool and wipe it with medical alcohol. Bixolon recommends cleaning at every roll change.
Use thermal paper 62 to 75 µm thick, ideally one of Bixolon's recommended papers.
Still pale? Raise the density with "2 : Set Print Density" in the memory switch menu (see the setup guide) and save with "0 : Exit and reboot printer".

6. No powerPower light off

CauseThe adapter has no power, is not connected properly, or the power switch is off.

Fix

Check the light on the AC/DC adapter. If it is off, check the power cord at both ends and try another wall socket.
Check that the DC plug sits fully in the printer's power port, the right way round.
Switch the power switch on.
Still dark? Contact us with the serial number.

7. Nothing prints from WindowsSelf-test works, print jobs don't

CauseThe printer works, so the problem is on the computer: no Bixolon driver, the wrong port, or the wrong printer selected.

Fix

Check that the cover is closed, paper is loaded and the Error light is off.
Install the Software POS Windows Driver from the Bixolon download page, if it isn't installed yet.
Open Settings › Bluetooth & devices › Printers & scanners, open the printer properties and check on the "Ports" tab that the port matches your connection: USB, the right COM port, or the printer's IP address.
Click "Print Test Page", then check that your POS software prints to the SRP-E302.
Does your POS software need a COM port while the printer is on USB? Install Bixolon's virtual COM port driver for USB (BXLVCOM4USB) from the same page.

8. Garbled charactersRandom symbols or missing text

CauseDifferent serial settings on computer and printer, or software that sends another brand's commands.

Fix

Serial (ES version): set the same baud rate, parity and handshaking in the driver or POS software as in the printer.
Print through the Bixolon driver, or select a Bixolon or compatible receipt printer in your POS software.
To see exactly what the printer receives, use hexadecimal dump mode: with the printer off, open the cover, hold FEED while you switch on, then close the cover. If the printer asks you to choose a mode, select the hexadecimal printing function. Send your print job. Switch off and on again to leave the mode.

9. Network printer not foundSRP-E302ESK over Ethernet

CauseThe printer has no IP address, an address in a different network, or the software uses the wrong port. The SRP-E302K is a USB-only version and has no network port.

Fix

Print the network settings: open the cover, hold FEED for about five seconds, close the cover, then press FEED once briefly and hold it for one second ("1: LAN Information Print").
No IP address on the printout: check the network cable on another device and make sure your router hands out addresses by DHCP.
The address must be in your computer's network: with subnet mask 255.255.255.0, the first three numbers must match.
Use port 9100 in the driver and POS software.

Lost network settings: choose "2: LAN Factory Reset and Reboot Printer" in the same menu to return to DHCP.

Frequently asked questions

What does the Error light on the Bixolon SRP-E302 mean?

The printer has stopped because of a problem such as no paper or an open printer cover. Load paper or close the cover firmly and the light goes out.

Why does the Error light blink after a self-test?

That is normal. The printer is waiting for you: press FEED briefly to continue the test print, or hold it for one second to open the memory switch menu.

Why are my SRP-E302 receipts blank?

The paper roll is probably the wrong way round, or the paper is not thermal paper. Turn the roll round so the coated side faces the print head.

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Used in this guide

Compatible consumables and accessories for the SRP E302.

Compatible receipt rolls

In stock only

Product	Width	Length	Roll Ø	Core	Price
Zebra Z-Perform 1000D 80 Receipt3012973	80 mm	—	40 mm	12.7 mm	3,63 €+VATIn stock
Zebra Z-Perform 1000D 80 Receipt3013287	80 mm	11.28 m	40 mm	12.7 mm	3,86 €+VATIn stock
Zebra Z-Perform 1000D 60 Receipt3013286	80 mm	15.54 m	40 mm	12.7 mm	4,86 €+VATIn stock
Zebra Z-Perform 1000D 60 Receipt3014861-T	80 mm	26.52 m	50 mm	12.7 mm	7,27 €+VATOut of stock	View
Citizen Thermal Paper3623200	80 mm	—	56 mm	12.7 mm	65,18 €+VATOut of stock	View
Thermal paper 80mm / 80m 12 gKK019262	80 mm	80 m	—	12 mm	9,28 €+VATIn stock