How to Display Covers on Kindle Color for Books Not Bought on Amazon (Using Calibre)

[lilik]

Hello,

I recently got a Kindle Color and I'm using Calibre to transfer my ebooks — including books not purchased from Amazon.
However, the covers don't show up properly on the Kindle home screen.

I’ve installed the necessary plugins (KFX Input/Output), and tried converting to KFX and MOBI, but the issue remains.

➡️ What is the best format to use to ensure cover compatibility on the Kindle Color?
➡️ Are there any specific steps I should follow (metadata editing, file renaming, sideloading method)?
➡️ Does cover display work differently with the new Kindle Color models?

Thanks a lot for your help!
lilik

[BionicGecko]

Amazon has blocked on the Colorsoft (and only on the Colorsoft AFAIK) the folder that calibre uses to put covers for sideloaded books. Please have a look at this thread, and in particular at this post from Kovid Goyal (the developer of Calibre).

In a nutshell, you either have to use Amazon’s Send To Kindle functionality to send your books via the cloud (in which case your books will be stored on Amazon’s servers), or change the book type to PDOC (personal document) in the conversion options of your book (the “MOBI output” or “KFX output” section in the Calibre conversion screen), but this comes with a loss of functionality, in particular WhisperSync.

[JBaby]

https://www.reddit.com/r/kindle/s/Z5chubHeI2

If you want Goodreads integration set the KFX Output settings to EBOK. Otherwise the plugin will make every book a PDOC. Go to Preferences > Output Options > KFX Output

[lilik]

ok thanks a ot for your help !

[lilik]

Originally Posted by BionicGecko

Amazon has blocked on the Colorsoft (and only on the Colorsoft AFAIK) the folder that calibre uses to put covers for sideloaded books. Please have a look at this thread, and in particular at this post from Kovid Goyal (the developer of Calibre).

In a nutshell, you either have to use Amazon’s Send To Kindle functionality to send your books via the cloud (in which case your books will be stored on Amazon’s servers), or change the book type to PDOC (personal document) in the conversion options of your book (the “MOBI output” or “KFX output” section in the Calibre conversion screen), but this comes with a loss of functionality, in particular WhisperSync.

thanks but unfortunately it's not working

[lilik]

Originally Posted by JBaby

https://www.reddit.com/r/kindle/s/Z5chubHeI2

If you want Goodreads integration set the KFX Output settings to EBOK. Otherwise the plugin will make every book a PDOC. Go to Preferences > Output Options > KFX Output

thanks but unfortunately it's not working

[JBaby]

Originally Posted by lilik

thanks but unfortunately it's not working

I should’ve added this only works when you send books to your Kindle via USB.

[lilik]

Originally Posted by JBaby

I should’ve added this only works when you send books to your Kindle via USB.

yes, that's exactly what I’m doing — I transfer my books via USB, not by email.
The format I use is .azw3, with covers and metadata properly set in Calibre, but the covers still don’t show up on my Kindle Color.
I’ve tried everything:
– Sending via USB
– Correct ASIN
– Clean metadata
– Valid cover image
– DRM-free files

But still, no cover appears in the library or home screen.

So it seems that even USB transfers are restricted on the Kindle Color, which is extremely frustrating, especially since I bought this model specifically to see my book covers in color.

If anyone has a working method on the Kindle Color or Colorsoft, I’d love to hear it.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by BionicGecko

Amazon has blocked on the Colorsoft (and only on the Colorsoft AFAIK) the folder that calibre uses to put covers for sideloaded books. Please have a look at this thread, and in particular at this post from Kovid Goyal (the developer of Calibre).

In a nutshell, you either have to use Amazon’s Send To Kindle functionality to send your books via the cloud (in which case your books will be stored on Amazon’s servers), or change the book type to PDOC (personal document) in the conversion options of your book (the “MOBI output” or “KFX output” section in the Calibre conversion screen), but this comes with a loss of functionality, in particular WhisperSync.

It's not only the Colorsoft. It's the PW6 as well. I don't know about the 2024 Scribe.

[tomsem]

Originally Posted by lilik

yes, that's exactly what I’m doing — I transfer my books via USB, not by email.
The format I use is .azw3, with covers and metadata properly set in Calibre, but the covers still don’t show up on my Kindle Color.
I’ve tried everything:
– Sending via USB
– Correct ASIN
– Clean metadata
– Valid cover image
– DRM-free files

But still, no cover appears in the library or home screen.

So it seems that even USB transfers are restricted on the Kindle Color, which is extremely frustrating, especially since I bought this model specifically to see my book covers in color.

If anyone has a working method on the Kindle Color or Colorsoft, I’d love to hear it.

By default, calibre converts to EBOK content type (for both AZW3 and MOBI). Those will not get a cover thumbnail. You need to check the 'Enable Sharing' output option to make it PDOC, then Kindle will generate a cover thumbnail.

It's confusing because 'Enable Sharing' does the opposite of what you might think it does (allow sharing to Goodreads). You can only do that with EBOK.

[JBaby]

Originally Posted by lilik

yes, that's exactly what I’m doing — I transfer my books via USB, not by email.
The format I use is .azw3, with covers and metadata properly set in Calibre, but the covers still don’t show up on my Kindle Color.
I’ve tried everything:
– Sending via USB
– Correct ASIN
– Clean metadata
– Valid cover image
– DRM-free files

But still, no cover appears in the library or home screen.

So it seems that even USB transfers are restricted on the Kindle Color, which is extremely frustrating, especially since I bought this model specifically to see my book covers in color.

If anyone has a working method on the Kindle Color or Colorsoft, I’d love to hear it.

It doesn’t work with AZW3. That’s why my instructions said KFX.

[tomsem]

Originally Posted by JBaby

It doesn’t work with AZW3. That’s why my instructions said KFX.

It worked when I tested it.

[JBaby]

Originally Posted by tomsem

It worked when I tested it.

Good to know. AZW3 has never worked when I’ve tried it. Only KFX has ever worked for me. I think AZW3 is hit or miss because on Reddit I see some people say it works with AZW3, but most seem to agree with me that it doesn’t. I don’t know why it works for some and not others.

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by BionicGecko

Amazon has blocked on the Colorsoft (and only on the Colorsoft AFAIK) the folder that calibre uses to put covers for sideloaded books. Please have a look at this thread, and in particular at this post from Kovid Goyal (the developer of Calibre).

The MTP Kindles block access to the thumbnails folder. The original Scribe which was updated to use MTP may not but I wouldn't bet more than jellybean money on that.

[lilik]

thanks but unfortunately nothing is working