How to fix an e-ink display that won't connect, shows an old picture or has ghosting

Read what the display says, charge it and press the side button, and check it is on a 2.4 GHz network. As a last resort hold buttons A and C together for 5 seconds to reset it, then give it Wi-Fi again from a computer. Ghosting is normal and can be cleared from the display's page.

What you need

  • Your e-ink display
  • A charger
  • A computer with Chrome or Edge, if it has to be set up again

Steps

  1. Read the message on the display. It shows a message when something is wrong. Can't reach Wi-Fi means it has Wi-Fi saved but can't join it, and it retries every minute. Server unreachable means it is on Wi-Fi but can't reach Inklyng; it retries every 30 seconds and keeps the last picture.
  2. Charge it and press the side button. A flat battery gives a display that looks fine but is switched off.
  3. Check your Wi-Fi. It must be a 2.4 GHz network. If you changed your router or Wi-Fi password, the display needs the new one.
  4. Power it off completely if it is frozen. If it is stuck on a picture and the buttons do nothing, hold the side power button for about 10 seconds, wait a few seconds, then press it once to switch on.
  5. Reset it, as a last resort. Hold buttons A (top left) and C (top) together for 5 seconds. It says Resetting. This clears the Wi-Fi and pairing, so you need a computer to set the Wi-Fi again at inklyng.app/wifi-setup.
  6. Add it again if needed. After the Wi-Fi connects it shows a 6-digit code. Choose Add display, pick E-ink and type the code. Then remove the old grey offline display from your list.

Get started free

Tips

  • Stuck on Connected! Getting your pairing code for more than 2 minutes: hold the side button about 10 seconds to switch it off, switch it on without holding A or C, wait 90 seconds and check inklyng.app opens on the same Wi-Fi. If it kept retrying, it may need to wait up to an hour, because each network can ask for 30 codes an hour.
  • Device removed means the display was deleted from your account. Reset it, give it Wi-Fi again and add it again.
  • Ghosting, the faint traces of the last picture, is normal on color e-ink and doesn't harm the display. Open the display's page and choose Clear screen: it shows black, white, yellow, red, blue and green for 5 minutes each, about 30 minutes in all.
  • Reduce ghosting in the display's Settings clears it automatically, but means more redraws, more battery use and a little more wear, so leave it off unless you need it.
  • Light backgrounds show less ghosting than dark ones, and room temperature is best because e-ink is slower in the cold.

Questions

Plugged in or on battery, when does Inklyng show a display as offline?

A plugged-in display shows as offline after 4 minutes, and one on battery after 40.

Should I reset to get rid of an old picture?

No. A reset clears the Wi-Fi and pairing and you would need a computer to set it up again. Charge it and wait a minute instead.

Where are the buttons?

A is at the top left, B is in the middle of the left side, C is on top, and the power button is on the side.

More guides

Set up a color e-ink display (M5PaperColor)Set up the M5Stack M5PaperColor color e-ink display with Inklyng: charge it, give it your 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi from Chrome or Edge with a USB cable, then add it with a 6-digit code.Use a color e-ink display as a weather stationShow the weather on a color e-ink display with Inklyng: pick your location, units and a theme, and optionally show the room's own temperature and humidity from the display's sensor.Show photos, weather and more in one playlistBuild a playlist so one display rotates through photos, weather, the Earth, stock prices, text and messages on its own, from every few minutes to every fifteen.

Still stuck? Visit support or write to support@inklyng.app. Last updated 2026-10-26.