Kindle Direct Publishing Updates & Release Notes

We’re excited to share that Kindle Translate now supports translation between English and French!

Beta authors can now create publication-ready translations between English and French, along with existing language options.

Kindle Translate eBooks have an average customer rating of over 4 stars and we're continuing to improve our service. We expect to release more languages throughout the year, so stay tuned for updates.

To learn more about Kindle Translate, visit Getting Started with Kindle Translate.

*Kindle Translate is an invite-only beta for eligible KDP eBooks We plan to grow the beta over time. If you’re interested in participating in the Kindle Translate beta, join our interest list. To receive beta updates from KDP, make sure you’re subscribed to KDP’s news and product announcement emails.

We have made improvements to our translation service, and more eBooks are now eligible for Kindle Translate. To check which of your eBooks are now eligible, go to your KDP Bookshelf and create a translation.

For more information about Kindle Translate eligibility, visit Kindle Translate Eligibility and Troubleshooting. To learn more, visit Beta: Kindle Translate.

*Kindle Translate is an invite-only beta for eligible KDP eBooks. If you're not currently in the beta, some links may not be accessible. We plan to grow the beta over time. If you’re interested in participating in the Kindle Translate beta, join our interest list. To receive notifications and communications about Kindle Translate feature releases, you can update your KDP email preferences.

Standard color printing for paperback distribution is now available on Amazon.co.jp! Standard color is a cost-effective color printing option using the same paper as black-and-white paperbacks.

We'll automatically list existing standard color paperbacks with Worldwide or Japan distribution rights on Amazon.co.jp over the next few days. You can set and adjust your list prices from your bookshelf at any time.

Note: Standard color distribution for right-to-left (RTL) paperbacks is limited to Amazon.co.jp.

To make your paperback standard color available in this marketplace, you must have Worldwide or Japan distribution rights. If you hold the appropriate distribution rights but haven't selected the territories, you can:

• Go to your KDP Bookshelf
• Select the ellipsis button (“…”) next to the book you want to update
• Choose “Edit Rights & Pricing”
• Update your territory selections
• Save selection and republish your book

Please ensure you have the necessary distribution rights before making these changes. Learn more about Color Ink Options, Paperback Distribution Rights, and Pricing Your Book.

We're excited to announce that translation from English to German is now available for Kindle Translate!

Kindle Translate is Amazon's new AI-powered translation service that enables authors to translate their eBooks into multiple languages and share them with readers worldwide. Beta authors can now create publication-ready translations from English to German, in addition to the existing options between English and Spanish and German to English.

Kindle Translate eBooks have an average customer rating of over 4 stars and we're continuing to improve our service. We expect to release more languages throughout the year, so stay tuned for updates.

New to Kindle Translate?

If you're eligible for the beta and ready to translate your eBook, here’s how to get started:

1. Go to your KDP Bookshelf
2. Select Translate your eBook next to the eligible eBook.
3. On the Kindle Translate page, choose the language(s) in which you would like to translate your eBook.
4. Choose your KDP Select enrollment, territorial rights, and pricing. Optionally, edit your cover.
5. Select Submit for publishing.

Already using Kindle Translate?

If you have an existing translated edition and your source eBook is in English, you can now choose German as a translation language. Here’s how to update your translation settings:

1. Go to your KDP Bookshelf
2. Search for your source eBook title in your Bookshelf
3. Under the Kindle eBook title, click Manage translations next to the Kindle Translate book. You'll be redirected to the Kindle Translate Management page.
4. Select Adjust translation settings at the top right corner
5. Scroll to the Languages section. Choose German as a language to translate your eBook.
6. Review your KDP Select enrollment, territorial rights, pricing, and cover options.
7. Select Submit for publishing.

Translations can take a few hours to be created. You can submit for publishing anytime during the translation process. After publishing, it can take up to 72 hours for translations to appear in the Amazon store and your source eBook will be locked for editing until translations are live.

To learn more about Kindle Translate, visit Getting Started with Kindle Translate.

*Kindle Translate is an invite-only beta for eligible KDP eBooks. If you're not currently in the beta, some links may not be accessible. We plan to grow the beta over time.

If you’re interested in participating in the Kindle Translate beta, join our interest list.

To receive notifications and communications about Kindle Translate feature releases, you can update your KDP email preferences.

Standard color printing for paperbacks is launching on Amazon.co.jp on April 21, 2026.

If you hold distribution rights in Japan, between now and launch, we recommend reviewing your list price and estimated royalties for Amazon.co.jp. Take the following steps in preparation to list your paperback in standard color on Amazon.co.jp:

Review list price

Printing costs impact your royalties and are distinct in every marketplace. The standard color printing costs for Amazon.co.jp are as follows:

• Regular trim size: 206 JPY fixed cost + 3.50 JPY per page
• Large trim size: 206 JPY fixed cost + 4.50 JPY per page

To estimate your printing costs and royalties, use our royalty calculator.

Standard color paperback distribution

When we enable standard color in Japan, we’ll automatically list existing standard color paperbacks on Amazon.co.jp if you have selected Japan as a distribution territory.

• If your list price for Amazon.co.jp meets the minimum or maximum requirements, we’ll use your list price to distribute the paperback.
• If a list price is missing, we will automatically convert your primary marketplace list price to Japanese Yen (JPY) and adjust the list price to meet the minimum or maximum list price requirements.

Note: If you set up your paperback with a right-to-left (RTL) reading direction, standard color paperback distribution is limited to Amazon.co.jp.

You can review your list price for Amazon.co.jp on the “Paperback Rights & Pricing” page on KDP.
If you selected Japan as the only territory in which you hold rights, you can review your list price when standard color becomes available at launch.
If you selected Worldwide distribution rights or multiple territories including Japan, you can review your list price at any time.

Learn more about Pricing Your Book, Paperback Distribution Rights, and Color Ink Options.

Thank you for using Kindle Direct Publishing

We're excited to announce a new self-service feature that makes it easier for you to access your files. You can now download the latest version of your uploaded manuscript and cover files directly from your KDP Bookshelf for eBooks, paperbacks, and hardcovers.

What you can do

Download the latest version of your uploaded manuscript and cover files anytime through the Bookshelf ellipsis button (“…”). This gives you quick access to your original files without waiting for support.

For step-by-step instructions, visit our help page:

https://kdp.amazon.com/help/topic/G200641240

Important

• You can download files when your book is in live or draft status. You cannot download files when your book is in review, publishing, or blocked. For print books, you also cannot download files within five days of a scheduled release date.
• If your file is not eligible for download, the download option may not appear when you select the ellipsis button (“…”), or you may see an error message. If you need help with your file, contact us.
• Covers created with Cover Creator cannot be downloaded. To make changes, use Cover Creator to view and edit your cover.
• If you did not upload a manuscript or cover file, you cannot download it.

This new feature gives you quick access to your files and more control over your publishing process.

We’re excited to share that you can now upload your own cover with Kindle Translate!

You can still use the default cover, which displays your existing cover image with a white border and the translated language edition at the top.

Publish your translations with either option and update your cover preferences at any time from the Kindle Translate Management page.

To upload a cover:

1. Go to your KDP Bookshelf
2. Select Manage translations next to the translation you want to edit
3. On the Kindle Translate Management page, select Adjust translation settings
4. Scroll to the Covers section and select Edit covers
5. Select Upload cover and choose a JPG or TIFF file.
6. Save your changes to return to the Kindle Translate Management page
7. Select Submit for publishing

Updates to your translations can take up to 72 hours to appear in the Amazon Store. Both your eBook and translations will be locked for editing until the changes are live. To learn more about Kindle Translate, visit Getting Started with Kindle Translate.

*Kindle Translate is an invite-only beta for eligible KDP eBooks. If you're not currently in the beta, some links may not be accessible. We plan to grow the beta over time. If you’re interested in participating in the Kindle Translate beta, join our interest list.

To receive notifications and communications about Kindle Translate feature releases, you can update your KDP subscription preferences.

UPDATE

Starting the week of January 12, 2026, we’ll begin showing “Read Samples” for some eBook pre-orders on Amazon. We’ve updated the information below with the latest information.

Similar to the “Read Sample” feature that displays for books today, Amazon will test offering the same for pre-orders, starting the week of January 12, 2026. It’ll show a preview, up to 10% from your current manuscript’s content to engage potential readers.

Here are some key things to know:

• If a manuscript has not been uploaded to KDP, no reading sample will be shown on Amazon. You are not required to upload a manuscript to maintain your existing pre-order until 72 hours before your release date.
• If you’ve uploaded a final manuscript, no action is needed. A sample will be generated automatically from your book.
• If you have a draft manuscript in KDP that doesn’t represent your book, we recommend updating the file by January 7, 2026. If you need a placeholder, you can upload a “Coming Soon” manuscript. Keep in mind, final manuscripts are due 72 hours before your release date.
• If you don’t want to show a reading sample, you can ask us to remove it.

To update your manuscript:

1. Log in to KDP: https://kdp.amazon.com/bookshelf
2. Under your eBook pre-order, click the ellipsis button (“...”).
3. Select Edit eBook content.
4. In the Manuscript section, upload your new file.
5. Scroll down. Click Save and continue, and then finish submitting your book.
6. On the Kindle eBook pricing page, click Submit for pre-order.

For more details about the Read Sample feature, visit our Help article.

Hello,

Starting January 20, 2026, Amazon will make it easier for readers to enjoy content they have purchased from the Kindle store across a wider range of devices and applications by allowing new titles published without Digital Rights Management (DRM) to be downloaded in EPUB or PDF format. If you take no action, the DRM-status of your previously published titles will not change but the EPUB and PDF downloads will not be enabled for existing DRM-free titles. If you want to allow reader downloads for these titles, follow the directions below on or after December 9, and select the option not to apply DRM.

To check or change the DRM status of an eBook at any time:

1. Log in to the KDP author portal and navigate to the "Kindle eBook Content" page
2. In the "Manuscript" section, review the "Digital Rights Management (DRM)" selection to see your book’s current DRM status.
3. If you want to make your book available DRM-free and allow readers to download it as an EPUB or PDF:
   • Select "No, do not apply Digital Rights Management"
   • Then check the box that confirms: "I understand that by not applying DRM, customers who buy and have already bought this book will be able to download it as a PDF or EPUB file. My DRM selection applies to all previous and future purchases of this book."
4. If you do not want your book to be available DRM-free and you want to prevent readers from downloading it as an EPUB or PDF:
   • Select "Yes, apply Digital Rights Management"
5. Select “Save and Continue”. This takes you to the Pricing Page
6. Select “Publish Your Kindle eBook” at the bottom of the Pricing page. Changes may take up to 72 hours to be live on Amazon.

For additional information, please visit:

https://kdp.amazon.com/help/topic/GDDXGH9VR22ACM8U

The Kindle Direct Publishing Team

We listened to your feedback — you can now publish eBooks in Persian, Hebrew, and Latin. This update opens up new opportunities to connect with readers around the world in more languages.

To publish, simply select one of these languages when entering your eBook details, then upload your manuscript in .doc/.docx or EPUB format. Your eBook will be available for purchase on Kindle eReaders and reading apps.

For specific formatting guidelines and best practices for publishing in these languages, please refer to our Help page:
https://kdp.amazon.com/help/topic/GML3FXP998V8WS4U