Fix a rejected book cover file
Find the cause of a cover rejection and correct the size, bleed, spine, barcode, resolution, color, or hardcover setup before uploading again.
Can I fix a rejected cover without starting over?Usually. Find the exact rejection, correct the affected production setting, and rebuild the file from the same editable design.
Choose what you want to do
KDP rejected my cover for spine widthKDP compared the uploaded cover sheet against the spine it expects for the book and the widths did not match. The fix is to recalculate the wrap from the final interior instead of stretching the artwork.Book has fewer than 79 pages and cannot have spine textKDP does not permit spine lettering on a paperback with 79 pages or fewer. Remove the spine text, or finish a genuinely longer interior and rebuild the cover from its new final page count.My cover dimensions do not match the trim sizeThe uploaded cover PDF is a different size from the full wrap KDP expects for the selected trim. The fix is to rebuild the sheet from the current production inputs rather than resizing the file.My KDP cover has missing or wrong bleedThe cover artwork stops at the trim line or carries printer marks, so KDP flagged the bleed. The fix is to extend the background 0.125 inches past every outside edge and export a clean sheet.KDP rejected the cover because the barcode area is blockedKDP can reject a cover when text or imagery occupies the barcode location. Clear the required back-cover area, remove a duplicate barcode when KDP will supply one, and rebuild from the current template.KDP says the cover image is blurry or low resolutionA cover image below KDP's effective-resolution threshold can print soft or pixelated. Replace it with a genuinely larger source, judge it at the final placed size, and export the cover without enlarging missing detail.KDP cover file too largeCheck the current KDP file limit, remove hidden or unnecessary content, and export one flattened print PDF at the exact sheet size without lowering essential image resolution.KDP cover wrong colour profileUse the color mode required by the current KDP workflow and inspect the flattened output. Profile conversion can shift dark detail and saturated colors.KDP hardcover cover errorKDP case laminate needs board allowance, hinge zones, wrap, and a hardcover-specific spine. Do not reuse a paperback sheet or a dust-jacket layout.IngramSpark spine width rejectionDownload a new official IngramSpark cover template for the exact title setup and use its spine width. Do not substitute a KDP paper formula.
Useful routes for the next production decision
Follow the problem into a specific comparison, example, feature, or repair guide instead of stopping at a category page.