How to fix the "font not embedded" error in your book PDF
Updated October 31, 2026 · Amazon KDP · IngramSpark · Barnes & Noble Press · Lulu
An unembedded font is a font your PDF names but doesn't carry inside it. The printer's computer doesn't have it, so the file is rejected.
The error: “Font not embedded”
Font not embedded
Often listed with the font's name, such as "Font Garamond not embedded".
Other ways people search for this error
- “Fonts are not embedded”
- “Font is not embedded”
- “Embed all fonts in your PDF”
- “Font not embedded in PDF for KDP”
Quick fix: SparkPrep scans your cover and interior against the exact platform rules, pinpoints the issue, and fixes it for you with one click.
Why you get “Font not embedded”
A PDF can either carry its fonts inside it (embedded) or just name them and hope the next computer has them. Printers require every font to be embedded, even common ones like Arial or Times, so your book prints exactly as designed.
If a font isn't embedded, the printer's system would swap in a different font. Words move, lines break in new places, and pages can shift, so they reject the file instead.
How to fix “Font not embedded” manually (the hard way)
If you want to try adjusting the files yourself, here are the steps you need to follow:
- Open your original manuscript or cover file.
- In Word, go to File → Options → Save and tick "Embed fonts in the file" (and untick "Do not embed common system fonts").
- Swap any font whose license doesn't allow embedding for one that does.
- Re-export as PDF/X-1a:2001, then check in Acrobat (File → Properties → Fonts) that every font says "Embedded" or "Embedded Subset".
- Re-upload it to your printer and wait for the file review again. If it fails, you start over.
Step by step in your app
Microsoft Word
- File → Save As → choose PDF.
- Click Options and tick PDF/A compliant ("ISO 19005-1 compliant"). This forces Word to embed every font.
- Save, then check the fonts in Acrobat (below).
Adobe InDesign
- File → Export → Adobe PDF (Print).
- Choose the preset PDF/X-1a:2001. It embeds all fonts.
- Export.
Adobe Acrobat Pro
- To check: File → Properties → Fonts tab. Every font should say "(Embedded)" or "(Embedded Subset)".
- To fix: Tools → Print Production → Preflight, search for Embed missing fonts and run the fixup.
- If a font can't be embedded, its license doesn't allow it. Switch to a font that does.
You can fix this by hand with the steps above. Or drop your file into SparkPrep and let it find the problem and fix it for you, in minutes. Try it on your file.
How to fix it instantly (the SparkPrep way)
If you don't have expensive design software, or you just want to get your book published without the headache, let SparkPrep handle it.
SparkPrep was built by a self-published author whose own book was rejected 18 times. It checks your files against the exact print rules Amazon KDP, IngramSpark, Barnes & Noble Press and Lulu publish.
When you upload your file to SparkPrep:
- We automatically scan for page size, bleed, spine width, safety margins, ink coverage and embedded fonts.
- We explain any hidden errors in plain English.
- We fix what can be fixed automatically, tell you exactly what's left, and export a print-ready PDF/X-1a, checked again before you download it.
Stop fighting the bots. Drop your file into SparkPrep today and get back to marketing your book!
Fix my fontsWhat it costs to get this fixed
| Hire a professional interior formatter | SparkPrep | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | About $800 | One price per book for the cover, the inside pages, or both |
| Time | Book a freelancer, wait for their schedule, then go back and forth on changes | Upload and get your fixed, print-ready files in minutes |
| Printer check | Depends on the freelancer | Checked against your printer's own rules, every time |
Freelancer prices are Reedsy's own published figures (source). A great designer is worth it for original artwork. If you just need your files right for the printer, you don't need to pay designer prices.
Quick answers
How do I check if fonts are embedded in a PDF?
Open it in Adobe Acrobat and go to File, Properties, Fonts. Each font should show Embedded or Embedded Subset.
Do standard fonts like Arial need to be embedded?
Yes. Printers need every font embedded, including Arial, Times and Helvetica, which many programs skip by default.
More guides
- How to fix "font cannot be embedded because of licensing restrictions"
- How to fix "interior content extends outside the safety area"
- How to fix a KDP margin error (with the gutter table)
- How to fix a PDF page size that doesn't match your trim size
- All guides
SparkPrep is an independent tool and is not affiliated with Amazon KDP, IngramSpark, Barnes & Noble Press or Lulu.