EPUBCheck
EPUBCheck evaluates EPUB 2 and EPUB 3 publications against official EPUB specifications and reports structure, package, markup, and reference problems.
EPUB error guide
Referenced resource could not be found in the EPUB
Plain-English guide to the RSC_007 missing resource error in EPUBCheck and KDP uploads.
Error text
RSC_007: Referenced resource could not be found in the EPUB.
When you usually see it
The EPUB opens in a reader, but KDP or EPUBCheck rejects it because one internal file points to another file that is not present at that path.
Plain English
What it means inside the EPUB.
A chapter, stylesheet, nav file, NCX file, OPF file, or image reference is looking for a file name that the EPUB package cannot actually find.
The target may be missing, declared with different letter case, URL-encoded differently, moved to another folder, or omitted from the OPF manifest.
User checklist
What to inspect before another upload.
These checks keep the repair decision tied to the EPUB package instead of guessing from a generic error code.
- Copy the path from the validator message and compare it with the actual packaged file names and folders.
- Check for case-only path differences, URL encoding differences, and moved image, CSS, XHTML, nav, or NCX files.
- Check whether the OPF manifest declares the referenced resource when the file exists in the EPUB package.
Standards context
Why this error matters to validators.
EPUB 3.3 package document
The package document defines the metadata, manifest, spine, and navigation wiring that validators inspect before a reading system can process the book reliably.
Repairability
Can EPUB Fixer repair it?
Safe repair condition
EPUB Fixer can repair this only when the missing target has one clear match in the package, such as a case mismatch or a manifest item that exists but is not declared.
When it stops at diagnosis
If the image, CSS, or XHTML file is truly missing, the tool should not invent replacement content or guess which file the author meant.
Before / after example
Before: OEBPS/chapter1.xhtml links to images/Cover.jpg but the package contains images/cover.jpg. After: the reference is aligned with the real packaged file.
Next step
Scan the actual file before editing by hand.
The same error code can come from different files and different causes. Uploading the EPUB lets the report show the affected path and whether the fix is deterministic.
Upload EPUB to scanFAQ
Common questions about this EPUB error.
How do I fix referenced resource could not be found in the EPUB?
Start by locating the exact file path in the validator message, then compare it with the real files inside the EPUB package. The fix is usually safe only when there is one clear path, case, or manifest mismatch.
Why does KDP reject my EPUB if it opens locally?
Many reading apps tolerate broken internal references. KDP and EPUBCheck are stricter because missing images, stylesheets, nav files, or XHTML targets can break the published Kindle file.
Is RSC_007 always caused by a missing image?
No. RSC_007 can come from images, CSS files, chapter XHTML files, OPF manifest entries, nav links, or NCX references. The missing target depends on which internal pointer fails.
Can EPUB Fixer repair this automatically?
It can classify the issue as repairable when the EPUB contains one obvious matching file or manifest entry. If the resource is truly absent, the report stops at diagnosis instead of inventing replacement content.