Joe B.

Expert ★★★★★ 27,853 satisfied customers

Specialities: Windows 11/10, Printers, USB device control, Group Policy, Microsoft Defender for Endpoint

Fix Epson Communication Error 000031 — USB connection blocked by policy, device control, or driver restrictions

Technician

Hey! We’ll track down why your Epson printer shows “Communication Error 000031” when you plug it in via USB.
That error can be a pure hardware jam, but in managed Windows 10/11 environments it often means the USB printer is blocked by policy, Device Installation Restrictions, or Microsoft Defender Device Control / Printer Protection rules that silently deny the Epson USB driver.
Let’s narrow it down: is the printer connected directly via USB to this PC (no hub/dock)? Are you on a work laptop joined to a domain, Intune, or Defender for Endpoint? And do you see messages like “installation forbidden by system policy”, “USB device blocked”, or “unapproved USB printer” in notifications or Event Viewer?

Customer

It’s a work laptop on Windows 11. Epson via USB. As soon as I connect it, I get Error 000031 on the printer and Windows says the USB device or printer driver is blocked by admin policy. It used to work on my home PC.

Technician

Got it — that explains a lot.
Many companies now use Device Installation Restrictions and USB printer protection policies to allow only approved USB printers. When Windows blocks the Epson USB interface or driver:

• The PC can’t complete the Epson setup.
• The printer sees repeated failed handshakes and may trigger Communication Error 000031.

Our plan:

1. Confirm it’s not a basic USB/firmware issue (cable, port, local test).
2. Check if Group Policy / Intune / Defender Device Control is blocking this Epson VID/PID or driver.
3. If allowed, add the Epson to the approved USB devices list or connect it over the network instead of USB.
4. Clear the error 000031 on the device once Windows can talk to it normally.

I’ll walk you through the steps your admin or power user can follow.

Customer

How do I check if USB printing is blocked by policy? I don’t have full admin, just local user.

Technician

Step 1 — Quick checks (no admin needed)

1. Try a different USB port and cable directly on the laptop. Avoid docks and USB hubs.
2. Power the Epson off, unplug USB, wait 30 seconds, power it on without USB, confirm it boots without Error 000031.
3. Now plug in USB: if the error appears only when connecting to this corporate PC, but not on a home PC, that’s a strong sign of a USB blocked by policy scenario.

Step 2 — Signs of policy-based blocking
On the work PC:

• Open Settings → Bluetooth & devices → Printers & scanners — Epson doesn’t appear or shows “Driver unavailable / blocked”.
• Look for notifications like “Device installation forbidden by system policy” or “This USB printer is blocked by your organization”.
• In Device Manager, check under Universal Serial Bus controllers or Printers for warning icons when the Epson is connected.

If you see any of these, your IT policy is likely preventing Epson USB driver installation, which leads to the communication error.

Customer

Yes, I see “installation is forbidden by system policy” in notifications. Can this be changed without breaking security rules?

Technician

Exactly. This is controlled at policy level, so end users can’t override it — but your admin has clean options.
Here’s what your IT team (or you, if you manage the environment) should review:

• Device Installation Restrictions (GPO) under Computer Configuration → Administrative Templates → System → Device Installation — look for rules that block USB printers or only allow specific hardware IDs.
• Microsoft Defender for Endpoint Device Control / Printer Protection — may allow only approved USB print devices by VID/PID.
• Any security suite with USB control that flags the Epson as unapproved.

The secure fix is to:

1. Identify the Epson’s hardware ID from Device Manager.
2. Add it to the organization’s approved USB printers list or create a dedicated exception GPO.
3. Apply the updated policy and reboot / run gpupdate /force.

Once Windows is allowed to install the correct Epson driver, Communication Error 000031 usually disappears.

Customer

If IT won’t change USB rules, can I still fix error 000031 somehow? I only need to print from this laptop.

Technician

Good question — there are policy-friendly workarounds that still clear Error 000031:

• Use the network interface: If your Epson supports Ethernet or Wi-Fi, connect it to the network and add it as a TCP/IP or IPP printer. Most USB-only blocks do not affect network printing.
• Print from an approved host: Connect Epson via USB to a permitted PC or print server, share it, and map that shared printer on your locked-down laptop.
• Reset after failed USB attempts: Power-cycle the Epson with USB unplugged so it clears 000031, then only connect it using the allowed method.

If policies completely forbid direct USB printing, that’s by design — bypassing them isn’t recommended. Our goal is to align with policy while removing the Epson communication error.

Customer

For admins: where exactly do we unblock this so only specific Epson USB printers are allowed, not every device?

Technician

Perfect, here’s the admin view to fix Epson communication error 000031 — USB blocked by policy without opening the floodgates:

1. On a test PC, plug in the Epson and grab its Hardware IDs from Device Manager (Details → Hardware Ids).
2. In the GPO that enforces USB restrictions, use:
   • “Allow installation of devices that match any of these device IDs” or
   • Defender for Endpoint’s ApprovedUsbPrintDevices list
   to add that Epson model.
3. Keep global rules like “Prevent installation of removable devices” intact; only whitelist this printer.
4. Update policy on the user’s machine, reconnect USB, then install the official Epson driver package.

After this, Windows will complete USB enumeration, and the printer should no longer trigger 000031 communication failures when connected to managed devices.

Customer

What if error 000031 shows even on my home PC with no policies? Could it still be USB related?

Technician

Great point — not every Error 000031 is policy-based.
If it appears on home PCs too, check:

• For ET/EcoTank models: fake paper-jam, carriage, or belt issues that throw 000031 even without USB (inspect paper path, carriage movement, sensors).
• USB side: try another cable/port; avoid USB 3 hubs; reinstall Epson drivers.

If 000031 only appears when connected to one locked-down work PC and is paired with “USB blocked by policy” messages, the root cause is almost certainly device control, not hardware. The troubleshooting above is tailored to that scenario.

Customer

We applied the USB exception and now Windows installs the Epson driver. Error 000031 is gone. Anything else we should lock in so it stays stable?

Technician

Nice — that’s exactly what we wanted.
Final checks so communication error 000031 doesn’t return:

• Keep the Epson hardware ID whitelisted in your Device Installation / Device Control policy.
• Use one stable connection method (approved USB or network), not both at once.
• Install the latest official Epson firmware and driver for your model.
• Avoid unplugging to unapproved ports or using locked-down docking stations that don’t inherit the exception.

If you hit the error again or need help reading group policy/report logs, open the chat and I’ll walk through it live with you or your admin.

Customer

Got it. Epson is online, printing over USB, and policies still look tight. Thanks!

Technician

Summary: When an Epson printer shows “Communication Error 000031” only on a managed Windows 10/11 PC, it’s often a USB blocked by policy issue, not a random fault. Confirm the printer works elsewhere, review Device Installation Restrictions or Defender Device Control, whitelist the Epson’s hardware ID or move it to network printing, then clear the error. Need a tailored step-by-step for your policies? Open the chat.

Quick answer: the accepted fix

Accepted fix when Epson “Communication Error 000031” appears with USB blocked by policy: confirm the printer works without USB, then on the affected Windows 10/11 PC review device installation restrictions or USB printer protection. Add the Epson printer’s hardware ID to the approved list or connect it via network instead of blocked USB, install the official Epson driver, and power-cycle to clear 000031.

FAQ

Step-by-step: Epson 000031 & USB policy issues (Windows 10/11)

1. Test the Epson on another PC to confirm it prints without 000031 when no USB restrictions apply.
2. On the affected PC, check for policy/block messages when the printer is connected.
3. As admin: review Device Installation Restrictions and any USB printer protection rules; whitelist the Epson’s hardware ID.
4. Run gpupdate /force, reconnect the printer, and install the official Epson driver.
5. If policy cannot be changed, connect via network or shared printer instead of blocked USB.

Note for mixed environments (macOS)

1. macOS usually doesn’t use the same USB policy blocks, but corporate security tools might still restrict devices.
2. If the Epson works on macOS but not on Windows, that’s another clue the issue is Windows USB policy, not the printer.

Sources

• Microsoft — Manage Device Installation with Group Policy
• Woshub — Fix: Device Installation is Forbidden by System Policy
• BCH Technologies — Epson Error 000031 background & hardware context

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