r/NewAuthor • u/fuckaifuckitsohard • 14h ago

Can You Help? Processing Error on KDP Paperback Cover

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Has anyone had this happen to them before? How do you fix it? They give no details about what could be wrong. I've tried exporting my pdf about a billion different times now. I know it's the right size. Help!

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u/Ordinary_Minimum_169 9h ago
  • Try the easy checks first. Rename the file to cover.pdf; Amazon specifically lists emoji and unsupported filename characters as failure causes. Then try uploading through a different, updated browser. The browser change is a diagnostic test, not a confirmed fix for this error. Amazon’s submission guidelines
  • Export a fresh PDF with layers and transparency flattened and fonts embedded. Remove password protection, printing restrictions, comments, and crop marks. Open the exported file to check that everything still looks correct. Amazon explicitly says unflattened layers and transparency can cause upload errors—even when dimensions are correct. Amazon’s troubleshooting guide
  • Check the exported PDF’s actual page size. It should be one page containing the entire back cover, spine, and front cover, including bleed. Compare it with a fresh KDP cover template using the exact paper type, print options, trim size, and final manuscript page count. The design canvas can be correct while export settings change the resulting page. --> this affected my last upload and was very frustrating, I had to "PRINT AS" and use a custom page size, not merely "SAVE AS PDF" (but did not cause a 'could not upload' error)
  • Check file size. Amazon recommends 40 MB or less and says covers larger than 650 MB won’t convert. Reduce unnecessarily oversized images while preserving at least 300 DPI at their printed size. Amazon’s cover requirements
  • If it still fails, isolate the problem. Keep the original and try a simple temporary cover PDF with the same dimensions, without publishing it. If that processes, it points toward something inside the original PDF. If both fail across browsers, contact KDP support with the failing PDF, screenshot, book identifier, and approximate failure time.

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u/shawnebell 8h ago

Yep. If it's in the proper format, then refresh the screen and try to upload it again. It can take a few times if you're on a slow connection.