kdp rejected my book

Why KDP Rejects Books

Amazon's KDP upload system runs automated checks on every file you submit — and it is not especially good at explaining what it found wrong. The rejection messages range from vague ('your file does not meet our quality standards') to completely cryptic. But the underlying issues are almost always one of a handful of fixable problems.

Understanding the categories helps. KDP rejects books for three main reasons: formatting problems (the file itself is wrong in some way), content policy issues (something in the book or its metadata conflicts with Amazon's rules), or metadata errors (the title, keywords, or categories trigger an automated flag). Each has a different fix path.

The Most Common Rejection Errors — Translated

'Your file does not meet our quality standards'

This is the catch-all error and the most frustrating to receive. It usually means one of three things: your interior margins are too small (the text is getting cut off at the edges), your images are below 300 DPI resolution, or your cover dimensions don't match what KDP expects for your page count. Use KDP's free Previewer tool to visualise exactly what the problem looks like — it shows margin cutoffs and image quality issues before you resubmit.

💡 TIP:  Always run your file through the KDP Previewer before you upload to the live system. It catches 90% of formatting issues before they become rejection errors.

'The bleed on your cover does not meet our requirements'

This one trips up a lot of authors. 'Bleed' means the extra strip of image that extends beyond the trim line — the area that gets cut off during printing. KDP requires a 0.125-inch bleed on all sides for print books. If your cover was designed without bleed, the cover designer needs to add it. Use KDP's Cover Calculator (search for it in the KDP Help Center) to get the exact pixel dimensions for your trim size and page count.

'Your content may be available elsewhere'

This triggers when Amazon's system detects content that appears to be a duplicate of something already on the platform. If you previously published a different edition, changed your pen name, or uploaded a file that shares a title or significant text with another book, this can fire. Contact KDP support through your dashboard — this one almost always requires human review rather than a file resubmission.

'Your book contains content that does not comply with our content guidelines'

Since 2023, KDP requires authors to disclose when AI tools were used in the creation of book content. If your book uses any AI-generated text and you haven't flagged it during the upload process, this error may appear. Update your content upload details to include the AI disclosure. Separately, this error can appear for content that triggers KDP's automated content moderation — adult content in a non-adult-designated category is the most common cause.

Account holds and 'under review' flags

If your entire account is placed on hold or a book is frozen 'under review' with no clear explanation, do not create a new account — this will make things worse. Contact KDP support directly through your dashboard. Be polite, be specific about your book title and ASIN, and ask for clarification on what triggered the review. Most account holds are resolved within 3–5 business days.

⚠️ WARNING:  Never create a new KDP account to work around a suspension or hold on an existing account. Amazon links accounts by payment method, IP address, and device, and creating a second account when one is under review is itself a policy violation that can result in permanent closure of both accounts.

The Fix Checklist — Before You Resubmit

1. Run your file through the KDP Previewer and look at every page — especially the first and last few pages where margin issues tend to cluster

2. Check that all images in the interior are at least 300 DPI resolution

3. Verify your cover dimensions using KDP's Cover Calculator for your exact trim size and page count

4. Confirm your category and keywords don't include adult terms unless your book is enrolled in the adult content category

5. Check that your title in KDP exactly matches the title on your cover and title page — mismatches cause metadata flags

6. If using AI-generated content, complete the AI disclosure field in the content details section

7. Read the specific error message carefully — KDP often includes a case number you can reference in follow-up support messages

How to Contact KDP Support Effectively

KDP support is reachable through your dashboard — click Help, then Contact Us. For formatting rejections, choose 'Publishing' and 'Manuscript Issues.' For account issues, choose 'Account and Tax' or 'Content Policy.'

A message that gets resolved quickly includes: your book title, the ASIN (if the book is already live), the exact error message you received, and a brief, factual description of what you've already tried. Keep the tone professional — KDP support is a human team and responds better to straightforward requests than frustrated ones.

💡 TIP:  Keep a screenshot of every rejection message you receive. If you need to escalate or reference the issue in follow-up contact, the exact error text is invaluable.

How ScribeCount Helps

Once your book is live on KDP, ScribeCount's Sales Dashboard tracks its daily performance — sales, KENP page reads, and royalties — in a single view alongside all your other platforms. When you fix a formatting issue and relaunch, you can watch the before-and-after sales curve directly in ScribeCount without switching between dashboards.