📖 Sound Familiar?
You carefully converted your AZW3 to EPUB, imported it to your reader, and discovered: the cover is blank or completely missing!
Your bookshelf is now a row of gray boxes, and finding books means guessing by title...
Why Do AZW3 Covers Get Lost During Conversion?
This is one of the most common ebook conversion problems. Here's why it happens:
Reason 1: Special Cover Storage Locations
AZW3 files can store cover images in multiple locations:
- Embedded cover: As part of the book content
- Thumbnail cover: For Kindle bookshelf display
- External thumbnail: Stored in .sdr folder
Many conversion tools only process the embedded cover, losing the thumbnail.
Reason 2: Incomplete Metadata
Even if the cover image exists, incorrect metadata references prevent readers from displaying it.
Reason 3: Converter Limitations
Some online tools skip cover processing for speed.
💡 Good News
In most cases, the cover image is still in the file - it's just not properly referenced. The methods below can easily fix this!
Comparing 3 Fix Methods
We tested the 3 most popular repair methods. Here are the results:
| Method | Success Rate | Difficulty | Best For | Mobile Display |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Online Tool (Recommended) | 95% | ★☆☆☆☆ | Quick single file fix | Perfect |
| Calibre | 90% | ★★★☆☆ | Batch processing | Requires setup |
| Sigil | 98% | ★★★★☆ | Precise control | Perfect |
Method 1: Online Tool (Easiest)
For quick fixes of one or two books, online tools are your best choice:
1Upload Original AZW3 File
Drag and drop to our conversion page
2Select "Preserve Cover" Option
Check cover preservation in advanced settings
3Download Converted EPUB
Cover will be automatically embedded and referenced correctly
✅ Online Tool Advantages
- Automatically detects and fixes cover references
- Generates both embedded cover and thumbnail
- No software installation needed
- Best display on phones and tablets
Method 2: Fix with Calibre
Calibre is ideal for users who need batch processing:
1Import AZW3 to Calibre
Drag file into Calibre main interface
2Check Cover Status
View thumbnail in right panel
3Add/Fix Cover Manually
Right-click → Edit metadata → Download cover (or upload manually)
4Preserve Cover During Conversion
Conversion settings → Look & Feel → Check "Embed cover in output file"
Method 3: Precise Fix with Sigil
Sigil is a professional EPUB editor for users needing precise control:
1Convert to EPUB First
Sigil only edits EPUB format
2Open in Sigil
File → Open
3Check Images Folder
Find Images folder in left navigation, verify cover image exists
4Set Metadata
Tools → Metadata Editor → Add cover → Select image
FAQ
Q: What if the original AZW3 has no cover?
Get covers from:
- Amazon website - search and save cover image
- Goodreads book pages
- Calibre's "Download metadata" feature
Q: Cover shows but is blurry?
The cover resolution is too low. Use at least 1400×2100 pixels for clear display on high-resolution screens.
🖼️ Fix Your Ebook Covers Now
Use our tool to convert - covers are automatically preserved
Start Converting →