A good Epson lamp projector can last a long time if you take care of it.
While the projector as a whole can last for years, its lamp can burn out after a few thousand hours.
When this happens, you need to replace the lamp with a new one. But then you get an annoying lamp replacement message which won’t go away until you reset the Epson projector’s lamp timer.
So, to help you, we’ve compiled all the possible ways to reset an Epson projector lamp timer!
Everything you need to know is right here, so you can get back to using your projector in no time.
For most Epson projectors, you will need to navigate to the Reset section in its menu, then select Reset Lamp Hours. If the lamp replacement message still persists, you may choose Reset All, then Reset Lamp Hours again. If this still doesn’t work, you may want to visit a repair shop.
Quick Navigation
What is a lamp timer?
A lamp timer records how many hours the projector has used a particular lamp, and displays this information in the menu.
By keeping track of the hours, the lamp timer serves as a good warning system.
This is because every lamp comes with an expected lifespan that is measured in hours, and indicates how long you can use it before it’s at half of its original brightness.
So, with the lamp timer, you have a way to know when to prepare a backup lamp for seamless replacement and continued use.
Of course, you can continue to use your lamp even if the lamp timer goes past the expected lifespan. However, you should replace the lamp if you see the following:
- Dark or deteriorated projected images
- A flashing orange lamp light paired with a flashing blue power light
- The lamp replacement message
Why should I reset my lamp timer?
Technically, you may be able to use your projector even without resetting your lamp timer.
However, if you don’t, the lamp replacement message will keep popping up – which isn’t that great when you want to present something.
The only way to get rid of this lamp replacement message is to reset your lamp timer. The projector can sense when an old lamp is replaced, and it will insist on resetting the lamp timer to record the hours of the new lamp.
But annoying messages aside, it’s just best practice to reset your lamp timer, so you know when to get another replacement lamp .
How do I reset the lamp timer in an Epson projector?
There is more than one way to reset the lamp timer in an Epson projector, so we’re going to break it down into two parts: how to reset just the lamp timer and how to reset everything in the projector.
How do I reset just the lamp timer?
The simplest way to get rid of the lamp replacement message is to reset the lamp timer in your Epson projector.
This may seem intimidating, but all you need to do is follow these steps:
- Turn on the projector.
- Press the Menu button. This will show you different sections.
- Navigate to the Reset section, which is usually at the bottom of the menu. Press Enter.
- From there, you should see several Reset options.
- Select Reset Lamp Hours and press Enter.
- A prompt will then pop up to confirm that you want to reset the lamp hours.
- Select Yes and press Enter.
- Finally, press Menu or Esc to exit the menus.
The lamp replacement message should now be gone!
However, there are times when the lamp replacement message persists due to some bug. This is when we need to reset everything in the projector.
How do I reset everything on the projector?
If the lamp replacement message still shows after you reset the lamp timer, you will need to reset the projector to its factory settings.
This will erase all of the settings you’ve inputted over the years, so be sure to take note of your preferred settings before doing a factory reset.
To do a factory reset in your Epson projector, follow these steps:
- Turn on the projector.
- Press the Menu button. This will show you different sections.
- Navigate to the Reset section, which is usually at the bottom of the menu. Press Enter.
- From there, you should see several Reset options.
- Select Reset All and press Enter.
- A prompt will then pop up to confirm that you want to reset everything.
- Select Yes and press Enter.
- Navigate back to the Reset section.
- Select Reset Lamp Hours and press Enter.
- A prompt will then pop up to confirm that you want to reset the lamp hours.
- Select Yes and press Enter.
- Finally, press Menu or Esc to exit the menus.
And the lamp replacement message should be gone!
You can now input your preferred settings and continue using your projector as normal until the next lamp replacement.
What if I still see the lamp replacement message?
In most cases, doing a factory reset should get rid of the lamp replacement message, along with any other bugs.
However, sometimes your Epson projector may still show the message, or perhaps it won’t record the new lamp’s hours properly.
In these cases, it is best to consult licensed professionals.
You can search for an official Epson service center in your area by using their Service Center Locator. Their website allows you to narrow down service centers first by product name, then by area.
Conclusion
As we’ve learned, a lamp timer keeps track of how long you’ve used a certain lamp for your Epson projector.
This lets you anticipate the need for a new lamp, and helps you prepare a spare lamp for when the current one stops working. There will also be a lamp replacement message that will warn you when the current lamp isn’t working anymore.
When you replace the lamp in your Epson projector, you will have to reset your lamp timer to get rid of the lamp replacement message.
To do this, you must go to Reset in the projector’s menu and select Reset Lamp Hours. If the lamp replacement message still shows, go back and select Reset All, then select Reset Lamp Hours.
Finally, if these steps still do not work, locate the nearest Epson service center for professional repairs.
We hope this guide helped you get your projector up and running!

Vance is a dad, former software engineer, and tech lover. Knowing how a computer works becomes handy when he builds Pointer Clicker. His quest is to make tech more accessible for non-techie users. When not working with his team, you can find him caring for his son and gaming.