MobileRead Forums - View Single Post - mobi - missing covers on Kindle? works when converted

jhowell · 11-04-2020, 08:56 AM

There are different types of MOBI files. A MOBI file that you obtain from a store other than Amazon is most likely a Master-MOBI produced using kindlegen. This MOBI contains both the old MOBI 7 format with limited formatting and the newer KF8 (azw3) format with more advanced formatting in the same file.

When you email that file to your Kindle, Amazon delivers only the KF8 part of the file to your device. This gives better formatting but no cover thumbnail.

By converting from MOBI to MOBI you are changing the Master-MOBI into MOBI 7. This has limited formatting, however the Kindle will automatically extract the cover thumbnail in that case.

There are multiple ways to have the better formatting of KF8 along with cover thumbnails, but those involve sideloading to the Kindle via USB instead of using the Kindle email address.

11-04-2020, 08:56 AM	#4
jhowell Grand Sorcerer Posts: 7,271 Karma: 95018123 Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Charlottesville, VA Device: Kindles	There are different types of MOBI files. A MOBI file that you obtain from a store other than Amazon is most likely a Master-MOBI produced using kindlegen. This MOBI contains both the old MOBI 7 format with limited formatting and the newer KF8 (azw3) format with more advanced formatting in the same file. When you email that file to your Kindle, Amazon delivers only the KF8 part of the file to your device. This gives better formatting but no cover thumbnail. By converting from MOBI to MOBI you are changing the Master-MOBI into MOBI 7. This has limited formatting, however the Kindle will automatically extract the cover thumbnail in that case. There are multiple ways to have the better formatting of KF8 along with cover thumbnails, but those involve sideloading to the Kindle via USB instead of using the Kindle email address.