KDP troubleshooting
KDP help center
KDP help: the questions authors ask most, answered in one place.
We analyzed 250,000+ questions from the KDP community and grouped them into the topics below. Each answer links to a free tool or guide that fixes the problem.
Checked:
✓Organized by the topics authors actually ask about✓Every answer links to a free tool✓Based on 250,000+ real KDP community questions
Searches the FAQ of every KDP guide on this site. Nothing is uploaded.
Uploads and error messages
Upload failures are the single biggest blocking topic in the KDP community. Most have a named cause: file size, fonts, margins, or metadata.
Covers and formatting
Cover blur, wrong dimensions, and bleed mistakes lead the formatting questions. The cover calculator and preflight checks catch them before upload.
Royalties and payments
When does KDP pay? Where is the money? These are the most repeated payment questions, and the answers are calendar and settings, not lost sales.
Accounts and verification
Identity verification and account termination are the fastest-growing account topics. The guides cover prevention and appeals.
Reviews and policies
Reviews disappearing and removal rules are constant questions. Most have fixed policy answers.
Sales and marketing
Zero sales, no ranking, and promotion confusion dominate the marketing threads. The diagnoser and promotion guides turn them into action.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Why did my manuscript upload fail?
The usual causes are file size, unembedded fonts, margins outside the safe area, or metadata that does not match. Paste the error into the rejection decoder for the specific fix.
When will I get paid for my sales?
Roughly 60 days after the end of the sales month, once your balance clears the payment threshold. See the payment schedule for the full calendar.
Why is my book not showing up in a marketplace?
Territory settings, per-market delays, or format restrictions. Re-save the pricing and territory step and allow 72 hours for indexing.
Why did my account get terminated?
Linked accounts, rights claims, content violations, or a missed identity verification are the common causes. The termination guide covers each and how to appeal.
Why are my reviews disappearing?
Amazon sweeps reviews that break its guidelines: friends and family, compensated reviews, and shipping complaints. Legitimate removals are usually a filter error you can report.
Why is my book not selling?
A searchable listing, a hooking sample, and traffic are the three basics. The launch diagnoser scores all seven launch areas and returns a 30-day plan.
How much does editing a book cost?
Copy editing runs ~$0.015–$0.02 per word; line editing ~$0.017–$0.025. Get the exact word count and run the free format checks before you take a quote.
Should a first-time author run Amazon ads?
Only after computing break-even: ad spend vs royalty per sale. The ad break-even calculator shows the click cost you can afford before you bid.
Where do I find ARC readers?
Your email list converts best, then writing communities and paid ARC platforms. Send a clean EPUB — a readable file is the entry ticket for every channel.
Are AI covers allowed on KDP?
Yes, with honest disclosure when applicable and a cover that represents the book. Check DPI, bleed, and legibility at thumbnail size before upload.
How do I promote my first book with no budget?
Trade community goodwill: answer real questions, link the free tools, and make the launch sample flawless. The zero-budget guide lays out the week-by-week stack.
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