Missing book images
EPUB images not showing on Kindle?
An EPUB can open as text while some pictures disappear because Kindle conversion must resolve every image from the book’s XHTML and package manifest.
Quick answer
What to do first
Confirm that each image is inside the EPUB, declared in the manifest with the correct media type and referenced by a valid relative path with matching filename case. Prefer supported image formats and inspect transparent or CMYK artwork. A missing cover is a separate metadata problem.
Separate cover art from content images
The cover has extra package metadata, while chapter illustrations are referenced from XHTML. If only the library thumbnail is grey, use the cover diagnosis. If images inside chapters are blank, inspect content references.
Confirm the image is packaged
An HTML file can reference an image that was never added to the EPUB archive. The image must exist at the resolved path and normally have a corresponding manifest item in the package document.
Check relative paths and letter case
../Images/map.jpg and ../images/Map.jpg may not identify the same resource. Resolve paths from the XHTML file’s own folder, not from the archive root, and make capitalization exact.
Check image format and color behavior
Amazon’s publishing guidance recommends supported image formats and sRGB. Transparent areas may be converted to white, and unsupported or unusual source images can display differently after conversion.
Test without rewriting the whole book
Fix the missing resource or reference, rebuild a separate EPUB and validate again. Avoid broad format conversion when only one deterministic path is wrong.
Not sure which problem you have?
Answer five questions to separate an EPUB error from an Amazon account, service, email, library or device problem.
Run the troubleshooter →