Files and uploading overview

Important: Google Play partners can sell eBooks in certain countries/regions. The features described here aren't available in every country/region. Currently, selling audiobooks on Play is available to some partners. Google isn’t currently accepting new audiobook partners. Check back for updates.

File formats

Google accepts the following file formats:

• .pdf files
• .epub files
• .jpeg, .tiff, .pdf and .png files accepted for covers only
• .zip files that contain only the file formats listed above

We do not accept .doc, .html and other file formats.

To sell your book on Google Play, you must provide your book content in either .epub or .pdf format. We recommend that you provide both file formats to give your readers more reading options.

• Learn more about .pdf file configuration.
• Learn more about .epub files.

Tip: Even if the cover image is embedded within the .epub or .pdf file, you can submit the cover image as a separate file. We use this file to display a thumbnail of the book cover.

Content guidelines

Before you upload any files, make sure that your content meets Google's guidelines. If you plan to sell your books on Google Play, review our publisher content policies for books on Google Play.

Size and quality limits

• The book should be at least four pages long.
• Each file must be less than 2 GB. This limit includes cover image files.
• Cover files must have a minimum resolution of 640 pixels. The maximum height and width are 7,200 pixels.

Format-specific guidelines

.pdf

The .pdf file must consist of the complete book or be one of a set of specially named multi-part files.  Do not upload sample content such as an excerpt. You can control the number of pages that a user can preview in your Google Search preview settings. The .pdf file can’t be password protected. Password-protected files can’t be processed. To automatically generate a table of contents, include bookmarks in the .pdf file.

.epub

The .epub file must contain the front cover image. The .epub file must include the complete book.  Do not upload sample content such as an excerpt. You can control the number of pages that a user can preview in your Google Search preview settings. The .epub file must be validated by EpubCheck.

Filenames

Check the table below for example filenames, depending on how you plan to submit your files.

Important: Incomplete sets of files can’t be processed. Learn more about files and uploading.

A single .pdf file that includes the cover	Content and cover ISBN.pdf
A .pdf file that doesn't contain covers. Cover images provided in separate files	Required: Content, no cover  ISBN_interior.pdf Front cover  ISBN_frontcover.jpg File extensions  differ. .tiff, .pdf and .png are allowed Optional: Important: If you submit optional files, submit them first. Back cover ISBN_backcover.jpg File extensions may differ. .tiff, .pdf and .png are allowed
A book split into multiple .pdf files	Content and cover ISBN_1of3.pdf ISBN_2of3.pdf ISBN_3of3.pdf Numbering in filenames can vary based on the number of files.
An .epub file	Required: Content and cover ISBN.epub Optional: Front cover  ISBN_frontcover.jpg File extensions may differ. .tiff, .png and .pdf are allowed

Which identifier to use

• If you upload a single book from the book's Content tab: You don't need to include the identifier in the filename. The filename extension is used to determine what kind of file you've uploaded.
• If your books already have unique identifiers such as an ISBN or a Google-assigned GGKEY: Use the filename conventions above, but replace ISBN with the book's actual identifier. The identifier is required for us to associate the file with the correct book. 
  • For GGKEY identifiers, you don't have to include the GGKEY: prefix.
  • For print and electronic ISBNs:
    • Name your .pdf files using the print ISBN. 
    • Name the .epub files using the electronic ISBN. Learn more about ISBNs.
• If your books don't have unique identifiers: You can use your own filenames. Use the filename conventions above, but replace ISBN with the text of your choice.  Follow these guidelines when you create filenames:
  • Don’t use 10-digit or 13-digit numbers as these can be confused with ISBNs. 
  • Don’t use underscores(_) except as noted in the example filenames. For example: _interior or _frontcover.

Cover files

Cover files should be in .jpeg, .pdf, .tiff or .png format and have the appropriate filename extension.

Upload and update files

You can upload one or more files for a single book or for multiple books in the Partner Centre.

To update a file, upload the new version, which replaces the old version.

One file for a single book

To upload a file for a single book:

1. In the book’s settings, go to the 'Content' tab.
2. Upload the new file.

To update content or cover images, upload a new .pdf or .epub file to the existing book listing.

Multiple files for a single book

To upload multiple files for a single book:

1. In the book’s settings, go to the 'Content' tab.
2. Make sure that your files follow the naming requirements.
3. Upload and submit all the files at the same time.
   • If you don't submit all the required files at the same time, the files are listed under 'Pending Content' on the book's Content tab. The content or cover doesn't process until you submit all the expected files. For example, ISBN_frontcover.pdf stays listed under 'Pending Content' until you upload ISBN_interior.pdf.

When you update a book with multiple files:

• For multi-part .pdfs, like ISBN_1of2.pdf and ISBN_2of2.pdf: Resubmit all the files, even if not all of them are getting updated.
• For a .pdf file without the cover, like ISBN_interior.pdf and ISBN_frontcover.jpg: Resubmit the content (ISBN_interior.pdf) to trigger the process for the most recent set of files. Alternatively, if you update the cover image with a .pdf file and don't change any other files, name the file as ISBN_frontcoveronly.pdf.

Multiple files for multiple books

To upload multiple files for multiple books:

1. Go to the book catalogue.
2. Select Advanced Add multiple content files.

Each updated filename must have either:

• The same filename as its original file, or
• The identifier as a prefix

If you use a filename that doesn't meet these requirements, you get a new book listing in your book catalogue.

Tips:

• You can’t delete a file. You can upload a new file to replace the previous one.
• Users who downloaded the old version must redownload the book to get the new version. Learn how to fix book loading issues.
• The file that you use to replace the book can’t negatively impact the user’s experience, which violates the programme policies of Play Books. Learn about publisher content policies for Play Books.

File status and history

To check the status of your files:

1. Go to the Play Books Partner Centre.
2. At the left, click Book catalogue.
3. Click the book title.
4. Go to the Content tab.

Pending content: You can find your most recently uploaded files that aren’t processed  with a status message. 

• If there are any issues, click the error message for more information.

Processed content or cover files: You can find the latest versions of your .epub, .pdf and cover image files that were successfully processed.

Tip: Files submitted through the Content tab are renamed to include the identifier and may differ from the filenames that you used to submit the files. The change in filenames doesn’t interfere with the processing of your files.