Best way to put cover on epub? Make your digital books more attractive with this method!

Using Ebook Management Software (e.g., Calibre)

This is generally the most user-friendly method for adding or changing an EPUB cover.

• Installation: Download and install Calibre, a free and open-source ebook management tool.
• Add Book: Launch Calibre and add your EPUB file to its library by clicking the "Add books" button.
• Edit Metadata: Select the book in the library list. Click the "Edit metadata" button on the toolbar.
• Change Cover: In the "Edit metadata" window, you will see a section for the book cover on the right. You can:
  • Click "Browse" to upload a cover image (e.g., JPG, PNG) from your computer.
  • Use the "Download cover" feature if Calibre can find one online.
• Save Changes: Click "OK". Calibre will update the metadata. For the cover to be embedded in the EPUB file itself (not just in Calibre's database), you typically need to:
  • Use the "Embed metadata" feature (select the book, then find this option, often in a submenu or via right-click). Some versions of Calibre do this automatically when metadata is edited.
  • Alternatively, convert the book from EPUB to EPUB format again (select book, click "Convert books", ensure output format is EPUB, and check cover settings). This rebuilds the EPUB with the new cover.

Manually Editing the EPUB File (Advanced)

This method offers direct control but requires care. An EPUB is essentially a ZIP archive.

• Unpack EPUB: Rename your .epub file extension to .zip. Extract the contents using a standard ZIP utility.
• Add Image: Place your desired cover image file (e.g., ) into the main image folder (often named OEBPS/images, images, or similar). Ensure it's an appropriate format like JPEG or PNG.
• Edit OPF File: Locate the .opf file (e.g., , ) within the extracted folders. Open it with a plain text editor.
  • In the <manifest> section, add or update an item entry for your cover image. For EPUB 3, it should look like this:
    

    

    <item id="cover-image" href="images/*" media-type="image/jpeg" properties="cover-image" />

    (Adjust id, href path to your image, and media-type accordingly. The properties="cover-image" attribute is crucial.)

  • For EPUB 2, you would declare the image in the <manifest>:
    

    

    <item id="cover" href="images/*" media-type="image/jpeg" />

    And then reference this id in the <metadata> section:

    <meta name="cover" content="cover" />

  • Optionally, for some older EPUB 2 readers, ensure a <guide> section reference exists or add one:
    

    

    <reference type="cover" title="Cover" href="images/*" /> (The href should point to your cover image file.)

• Repack EPUB: Select all the extracted files and folders. Create a new ZIP archive. Crucially, if a mimetype file was present, it must be the first file added to the archive and stored without compression. Rename the new .zip file extension back to .epub.

Using Dedicated EPUB Editors or Online Tools

Several standalone EPUB editing applications (like Sigil) or online EPUB editors can also be used to change or add a cover, often with a more visual interface.

• Standalone Editors (e.g., Sigil): These applications provide comprehensive EPUB editing features. You would typically open the EPUB, then use a specific menu option like "Add Cover" which handles the OPF modifications and image placement for you.
• Online Tools: Various websites offer EPUB editing capabilities, including cover replacement. You upload your EPUB, then upload the new cover image, and the tool processes the file for download. Important: Always be cautious about privacy and the security of your files when using third-party online services.